Less common time signatures in dance music - Thoughts?

Sky King

I felt I would like to get away from the 4/4 buzz for a change so I went and produced a track in 5/4. I think it works:

http://soundcloud.com/v-force/uwip-11-5-4

It's a work in progress so bear that in mind.

I really don't do much DJing myself so I would be very interested to see what are people thoughts on using odd time sigs? I have stuff in 7/8 as well.

Would it just bust a DJ's nut trying to mix it in or would it be a welcome change from the 4/4 on da floor, so do speak?

And producers - ever consider doing something in different time sigs like that?

krd

It would make a great opening soundtrack piece for a really low budget, exploitative, 80s grindhouse zombie movie.

One where the zombies' tear the girls' shirts open, exposing their breasts, before they eat them.

Terrible wooden acting, awful script, plot holes, jarring soundtrack, like everyone involved in the production was really messed up on drugs, or going through a very difficult time in their lives; experimenting with their sexuality.....when is it ready.. this is a movie, I want to see it.

El Disco De la Muerte - A Columbian drug money laundering vehicle - and hey...some of those deaths might have been real. You never know with these crazy Latins. I think you need to add some VHS noise and wobble to the track

Sky King

So.... that's a resounding no then?

krd

Sky King wrote: »

So.... that's a resounding no then?

In all seriousness.

I want you to listen to........suspend your prejudices and judgements - you'll also hear the funny time signatures.

As George Michael usetah say.....listen without prejudice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUqypLbK41U

And .. if you're not convinced, I'm serious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZurS1L3cV48

ICN

4/4 Base.

Have stuff flapping about over the top in 5/4.. over 2bars & 2 beats.. 5 bars..10bars.. over whatever.

Sky King

Ah right so it's phasing yeah.... I suppose that makes sense. Kinda nice to do something different tho.

Anyone know famous dance tracks anything other than 4/4?

Apart from those smelly 6/8 numbers from basshunter et al.

ICN

Phasing??

Its just music Man

Sky King

You're talking to a guy who's bangin on about rhythm theory at 12 on a saturday night.

Go figure :pac:

rcaz

Some VS in 7/4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QAqJAfBjN8

and some in 13/8 (phrased like 4/4 + 5/8 if you're into that)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amnK5BNBJcM

That whole album Huge Chrome Cylinder Box Unfolding is amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOJf0pPNxe8

Autechre in 5/4 (my favourite Autechre tune, too):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-w3BBIh6ss

More Autechre in 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVQcwCOA0-8

(Wow, actually, that might be my favourite :P )

electrogrimey

House music in 3/4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=097BVAezbhw

Hayte

5/4 doesn't make it hard to mix because any song with a constant rhythm is easy to mix. Difficult songs to mix are ones that have irregular phrases and the rhythm or tempo changes during the song.

One take live drums can also hard to mix because of drift. It just means that you can't really hold it in the mix for a long time or if you do, you have to constantly speed it up and slow it down to keep it from trainwrecking. If the song is beatless and has no regular rhythm (i.e. ambient) sometimes you just have to cue it in quick and crossfade before it turns into a complete mess.

Chemical Brothers do a fair bit of live drums and irregular phrasing making some of their songs a bit arsey to impromptu mix. You need to plan ahead or it could all go disastrously wrong.

seannash

I think the most important part is that even if the track has weird time signature you would still have to have a good enough track that people would like to play it regardless of what time signature it is.

krd

Maybe you shouldn't be thinking of interesting time signatures, but interesting rhythm patterns.

Things like patterns in Brazilian music. That kind of thing.

What makes Drum and Bass, and Dubstep interesting is the signature rhythms.

Logical Fallacy

krd wrote: »

Maybe you shouldn't be thinking of interesting time signatures, but interesting rhythm patterns.

Things like patterns in Brazilian music. That kind of thing.

What makes Drum and Bass, and Dubstep interesting is the signature rhythms.

Proper Garage is great for it as well.

Executive Steve

"These round wheels are so boring, anyone have any decent square ones?"


:pac:

bulletdodge records

Venetian Snares is your man! Lots of artists experiment with crazy time sigs but that guy can still bring the funk!!!