“Reconstitution” straddles the line between dub and trance(Dub-trance?  Is that even a word?).  Earlier on, there was more focus on the trance elements, like the synth line(which has a rhythm I would consider very important to this track).  The dub influences didn’t come until the later stages of making the track.  I’m happier for it; the dub piano(with just a hint of glitch), along with the echoey drums and the big bassline, really help this track stand out.

Karl D – Reconstitution

This EP will be called “Mumble and Slouch”.  Today, I present the title track to you.

Obviously, there’s not much going on here.  The whole idea was for this track to be a little less “in your face”, but there was some room for some interesting elements.

This EP will collect “Dum Spiro Spero“, “Foresight“, “Aeon“, this track, and one yet to be produced.  As soon as it is complete, it will find a home in the Free Downloads section, among the rest of the material available on this site.

Like the last mix, several of the songs are available freely, here on randombeats.com.  Many other tracks help build this predominantly electronic-influenced mix.

Someone recently said that advances in technology have made us forget how to listen to music.  For this reason, I strongly encourage the use of one or more of the following “focus devices” during the course of this mix: big speakers, adult beverages, dim lights, and a reclined posture.  This is One Minute to Midnight.

Tracklist:

1. Lemn Sissay – The Flag(Man From Atlantis mix)
2. Karl D – Foresight
3. Karl D – 3rd Level Down
4. Karl D – 4_03(Remix)
5. Unkle – Unreal
6. Portishead – Machine Gun
7. Karl D – Evening(Karl’s Sunset mix)
8. Kosheen – Under Fire

Karl D Presents – One Minute to Midnight(Download – Right click and choose Save As)

What started as a hardcore-sounding trance tune lost about 40 BPM to become a much more glitchy trip hop jam.

I’m feeling very comfortable with the 110-BPM tempo right now.  Another favorite of mine is the remix of Evening, which has a similar tempo.

Karl D – Foresight

“Penitence” clocks in around 7 and a half minutes long, just about the longest I ever remember doing.  Of course, length by itself can never make the song.  Similar to both “3rd Level Down” and “The Exchange“, this track is deeply saturated in trip-hop essentials. There’s a point about midway where the tempo drops from the steady 95 bpm throughout the song down to a crawl.  I really thought this was a good way to isolate some of the elements and explore the emptiness of the sounds(in this case, a good thing, I think).  Certainly a pensive track which fits the title as well as the overall theme of the album.  I hope you can find as much meaning in the album as a whole as I’ve injected into it.  That said, the compilation is now available for your downloading pleasure in the Downloads section.

Karl D – Penitence

“3rd Level Down” is a dark, illbient-style trip-hop experience. Slow to build up, this track has a definite apex as all the elements come together to make this track very moody and dramatic.

Those who are clever and informed enough may infer that the title’s inspiration comes from Inception. I’d be lying if I said the movie wasn’t an influence; in fact, the basics of this track were put down only minutes after I saw the film.

Enjoy a free download of this song below the player!

Karl D – 3rd Level Down

Much more straightforward(not to mention mellow) than the last several posts, this one combines few elements to make something I find quite pleasant.

The lead melody was originally concocted with lyrics in mind; however, they’ve never left the confines of my brain.  About half were since forgotten anyway.

Karl D – Afraid of What You’ll Say

“Love Theme”, like several songs I’ve produced, was inspired by what I imagine I might have written for a film score.

Karl D – Love Theme

12/26/09 – Whoops, forgot the download link. -KD

This EP is quickly evolving into a series of experiments on the tempo of the remixed tracks.  The Modify Your Mind EP changed the remixed songs dramatically, but without much change to their tempo.  The first song remixed for this new EP, “The Exchange”, gained around 50 BPM in it’s remix.

“Evening” is a fascinating track to me in it’s original form because on different days, it sounds different to me.  Some days, it sounds fast and vibrant, others, slow and paced.  “Evening” loses 15 BPM in this mix(down to 110 from 125).  This remix is decidedly slow and chilled out, and generates a much different listening experience.  Although the original “Evening” is meant to be enjoyed much later in the evening, the “Sunset Mix” is meant, as the title suggests, to be enjoyed closer to dusk, cold drink in hand.

Karl D – Evening(Karl’s Sunset mix)

After a few days of inactivity with this particular beat, I found myself thinking about the melody at a much slower pace.  I slowed it down significantly and changed the tune from what would have likely been kind of a incoherent turnoff to a pretty effective, creepy sounding downtempo track.

Similarly, I intended for this tune to be a little more difficult of a listen.  The tension manufactured by the dissonant chords is meant to be somewhat uncomfortable. The piano is one of the only consonant sounds in the mix.

Although I hope none of the music on this site evokes any kind of response similar to watching “Funny Games”, I hope you can appreciate this track”s significance in it’s own “ugliness”.