This review covers the trance track Altitude – Night Stalker (Chris Raven Remix).
This track was released in 2001 as a single. It was released along with the original mix.
The track starts with an effect, then a few percussion elements. One element has some automated filtering. A synth effect is also present here. A bassline also joins the track. After a brief snare roll, another percussion element joins the track. The kick then joins the track. An additional synth effect makes an appearance. The drum kit then fills out more. A high hat joins the track. A lead hat is layered in.
Shortly after, a synth makes a few brief appearances. A synth pad joins the track and the synth fills out some more. The drum kit then drops out, leaving a few synths behind.
Another synth joins the track, serving as a secondary melody to the first. The first synth fills out even more, becoming much more melodic. Those synth pads make a return. A small cymbal crash with a delay effect makes an appearance as the synths become more full. That cymbal crash makes another appearance. The cutoff frequency of some of those synths drop out a bit as the kick makes a return.
From there, the high hat makes a return. The rest of the drum kit makes a return as well. The cutoff frequency of the synth melody is moved up again.
After that, the drum kit drops out and the cutoff frequency resets for the synth melody. The drum kit then gets re-added. Gradually, the cutoff frequency is pulled forward again, letting the higher frequency sounds shine through again. A cymbal crash then makes an appearance as the drum kit drops out.
Shortly after, the synth melody drops out and the drum kit continues. Parts of the drum kit then drops out as some of the synth effects drop out. A synth then leads the track out.
One thing I like about this track is that it showcases the power of automation. Sudden changes in elements aren’t always the way to go and automating elements in synths can be just as powerful as just dropping things and removing things along the way. The elements themselves are quite simple, but all that automation adds so much to the overall sense of progression.
Having said that, I think the track did play things a bit too safe in sticking with a few elements. I think I would have liked to have heard a few more more prominent elements shine through along the way. Otherwise, I think the track can seem a bit flat.
Overall, this is a pretty solid track. It’s got a great sense of progression and showcases how good simple elements can be with a bit of automation along the way. It might come off as a bit flat with only a small handful of elements, but it’s still a fairly solid track all around.
Overall
7/10
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
