pandoras-musicbox-blog

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Upvote #127: Blue Moon

Blue Moon

by Blank & Jones on Relax Edition Four

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Summary: Not Beck’s new song, this is something a little different.

Soft dulcet ambient tones and a hard stepping baseline make up the majority of Blank & Jones’ Blue Moon. There is a little movement throughout the song, but it keeps the same basic formula throughout.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it’s like a spirit knocking on your door

Best Youtube Comment: this is where i come to sleep

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist looks out of the window on her spaceship as it travels in hyperspace. The stars blur across the sky, like they are running across the galaxy. All the planets and nebulas just sort of blend together and form of whirling shimmer of lights that glide along the ship’s sight. She looks at the plants she’s been trying to take care of, hoping that one of them will help when she brings them home.

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Downvote #127: Reverse World

Reverse World

by David Toop on Screen Ceremonies

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Summary: Toop's song is filled with rattling that feels like it's in the corner of your ear and other tense otherworldly sounds. A distant scratching or the bells ringing on some far off creature. There is only a little bit of overt instrumentation and it comes in at times to merely underline the tension.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like a demon knocking on your door

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist has stepped into the Building of All Sufferings. Each of the rooms is supposed to be a new way to suffer so horribly you wish death upon yourself, but right now he is just walking through the halls, leaving all the doors closed. There are few scratched skulls and dirty bones piled up against one of the walls. Many have tried to get to the top of this building because there is a magical item there for the taking, and our protagonist is now with careful steps trying as well. He steps softly on the blue carpet.

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Upvote #126: The Morning Room

The Morning Room

by Helios on Unleft

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Summary: Helios' song is downtempo and chill. Although it does slowly build to a climax towards the end. The song is filled with more rosiness and hope than a lot of the more recent songs which have tended toward melancholy.

Getting lots of morning/sun songs lately, which is a weird coincidence.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like letting go of a pair of dice without rolling them

Three Unrelated Statements Youtube Comment:  ...and then you realize life is a journey only you can make. I wish mine had more of this music in it. My soul weeps...

What part of the movie is it playing over: The sun falls under the sea and the blue-ish twilight takes over the bridge. The two lovers grasp each other's fingers and walk along the sidewalk as cars whisk by them. The sound of waves below them and cars besides them, but nothing seems to distract. We zoom out slowly to see them crawling along the city bridge. They become smaller and more distant.

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Downvote #126: Dear Sun

Dear Sun

by October Tide on Grey Dawn

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Summary: Dear Sun is a solemn little tune composed mostly of a guitar track that rolls along. It follows a wallowing rhythm, dragging you into slight depression.

This is another one of those soft tunes from a metal band.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like when you're in a submarine and drinking a sip of water

Best Youtube Comment: meow

What part of the movie is it playing over: Rome burns below as our protagonist sits atop the palace, gloating over his conquered foe. Cinders float up and the flames give the whole city a glow in the night. History will remember his as a barbarian. He sees himself as a conqueror, even if he knows it will not last. This is an empire that does not stay conquered for long, which is why he takes the time to savor driving his sword through the one who thought so little of him before.

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Upvote Station Summary: 101-125

  Chill Electronic (+5): electronic beats, chill/calm ambient backgrounds

Transition by Alex Gordon

Breathe by Telepopmusik

Canoe Canoa by Populous

My Friend T3 (Remix of Resynthesize) by Mrs. Jynx

Moan by Trentemoller

  Chill Beat (+3): strong drum beat, calm/peaceful ambient tones

Highroad by Ron Cohen and DJ Free

Barrio Beats by Michael Tello

Berlincoast by Chubbanak Club

  Piano Minimalist (+3): use of piano, minimal elements

Love's Secret by Michael Whalen

Where is My Mind by Maxence Cyrin

Krokodill by Johann Johannsson

  Groove Hop (+2): elements of Hip Hop, elements of Trip Hop, hopping groove beat

Groovin' by Kero One

Droplets by The Amalgamation of Soundz

  Spirit Sound (+2): drum beat, flute, rattle, calm ambience, tribal/spiritual feel

Threshold of Information by Byron Metcalf featuring Steve Roach

Homunculus Within by Steve Roach & Vir Unis

  Chill Pop (+2): melodic tunes, pop influences, calm/peaceful ambient tones

In the Waiting Line by Zero 7

With or Without You by Cellar 55

  Art Rock (+1): guitars, drums, wildly unusual elements, no concern for structure

Zhuddiposshk by Keiji Haino

  Calm Ambience (+1): long drones, minimal elements, calm/peaceful feel

Even if You're Never Awake by Stars of the Lid

  Tension Ambience (+1): long drones, minimal elements, creepy/horror/tense feel

I by Nurse with Wound

  Tropical Strum (+1): wave sounds, acoustic guitar(s), peaceful tones

A Balearic Dinner (Chill Mix) by Sunlounger

  Egypt Hop (+1): middle eastern/indian influences, hip hop influences

Take a Flight (Ramasutra Remix) by Omar Faruk Tekbilek

  World Dance (+1): foreign instruments, quick tempo, dance feel

El Baile by Juan Carlos

  Trip Hop (+1): slow tempo alternative electronic, experimental breakbeats

You Wish by Nightmares on Wax

  Art Minimalist (+1): very few elements, strange/unusual elements

Untitled Track 6 by Keiji Haino

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Downvote Station Summary: 101-125

  Minimalist Strum (+12): guitars with no other elements/nearly no other elements

Blinded by Love by Tim McCarthy

Cloud City by Harris Newman

Sweet Tears by Lace Walker

Fingerprint by Jacques Stotzem

Matters Most by Tim Reynolds

Reflection Pool by Marcus Volk

Improvisation on Guitar Piece No. 1 by Derek Bailey

Secret Garden by Shastro

Ghost/Part 2 by Buckethead

Planet Reentry by Aaron Lewis

Snail by White Fort

Nad-Tuk by Elliott Sharp

  Jazz (+3): trumpet/saxophone, improvisation, blues notes

Blue Mongol by Roswell Rudd

The Camel by Roswell Rudd

The Morning is Full by Mel Graves

  Minimalist (+2): often only one solitary element played in a vacuum

Untitled Track 2 by Keiji Haino

The Master's Anger by Stephan Micus

  Improv Art Jazz (+2): jazz influences, improvisation, wildly unusual elements

Event on 10th Avenue by Marc Ribot

Morning Moves by Adam Rudolph, Yusef Lateef, Roscoe Mitchell &  Douglas Ewart

  Tension Ambience (+1): long drones, minimal elements, creepy/horror/tense feel

Duet for Violin and Squeaky Door by Bob Moses

  Art Rock (+1): guitars, drums, wildly unusual elements, no concern for structure

Fiujkdfgpokwom by Keiji Haino

  Dark Classic (+1): piano, violin, somber feel

When Angels Mourn by Ezurate

  Noise (+1): wildly unusual elements, no concern for structure, melody or rhythm

25 No Seimeitai by Keiji Haino & Derek Bailey

  Tribal Flute (+1): Native American flutes, minimal other elements

Rhythm of Stone by Douglas Spotted Eagle

  Spirit Tense (+1): tribal/spiritual feel, drum beat, foreboding/tense feel

Clay, Wood, Bone, Dirt by Steve Roach

[pandoras-musicbox-blog]

Upvote #125: Droplets

Droplets

by The Amalgamation of Soundz on Man Ray

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Summary: The return of water sounds to background a track. That sound always adds a calming influence, although it quickly fades away in Droplets.

The rest of the track slides along with its groove beat and simple rhythms. A light guitar presence keeps the rhythm going while a heavy bass dominates the track.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like that moment where you slide past where you want to stop because you have too much momentum

Best Youtube Comment: I call it "Coolest elevator music ever." 

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist is driving around the city in her little boxy black car while a rain drizzles down. In her trunk sit thousands of dollars in stolen money. Cut to all the other thieves who are arguing where the money went. It will take them a little time to figure out when she switched bags with them. Cut back to our protagonist who merges onto the interstate and turns up the radio.

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Downvote #125: Nad-Tuk

Nad-Tuk

by Elliott Sharp on Arc 2: The Seventies

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Summary: Elliott Sharp has a way with the bobbing and tapping of the strum of the guitar. This is one of those acoustic guitar tracks without as much structure. There's no central rhythm followed and it seems like improvisation most of the time. Sharp's playing fades out and fades in.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like the taste of dry tequila

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist is walking through the desert. His car overheated and a trail of smoke lifts above it. The sun beams down and he keeps his baseball cap tucked over his eyes to shield himself from the light. He hears a car in the distance, coming up behind him. It is roaring through the road. As it gets closer he signals for help but it drives past him.

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Downvote #124: Snail

Snail

by White Fort on Two Kings

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Summary: This song tip-toes along with its guitar playing. I mean it never really becomes anything but really weak plucks and stabs at the strings. I don't mean this is as a criticism, just the opposite really, it's odd for a song to never try and back itself up more.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like deflecting a light thrust when fencing

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: A robotic fly drone makes its way through a top secret scientific laboratory. Our spy did not count on scientists being so averse to flies so he has to hide it in the corners where nobody is looking for it. He flies it into the sides of computers and keeps it moving around the different rooms where they appear to be growing some sort of orange flower. One scientist is spraying all the specimens for the day with some sort of water.

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Downvote #123: Clay, Wood, Bone, Dirt

Clay, Wood, Bone, Dirt

by Steve Roach on Origins

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Summary: Steve Roach keeps the low buzzing of a didgeridoo going for most of this song. A soft patter of drums in the background helps provide a little flavor. The whole thing is a little terse and dirty.

Clay, Wood, Bone, Dirt is a wonderfully evocative name. I much prefer the titles that keep away from abstract ideas though, so I'm biased.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like a snake that sneaks into the ventilation system

Best Youtube Comment: Most have seen it. In the movie "The Coca-Cola Kid", the drink salesman is down in Australia to talk to somebody about soft drinks(this is fiction). He sees a guy who HAS to be from the outback, and the guy is playing a digideroo. Speaks English as well. Sounds like a lime. That's the strange woodwind we hear Steve Roach playing.

What part of the movie is it playing over: The ivory tusks of hundreds of dead elephants sticks out of the ground. They were planted to give the impression of grass, although this place is dead with only the black earth remaining. Smoke chokes the air and our protagonist drifts through the area with her musket at her side. She hears a mocking call from behind the curtain: "Come find me, come find me."

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Upvote #124: Even if You're Never Awake

Even if You're Never Awake

by Stars of the Lid on Kompilation

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Summary: A hallowed humming and genuinely beautiful ambiance make up most of the song. It's been awhile since we've had one of these songs that carry themselves with just ambiance, but Stars of the Lid makes a return here. These songs are never that intrusive, and seem like they prefer to stay in the background, which is why I call them 'ambiance.'

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like the light that runs through stained glass

Best Youtube Comment: music of the stars...

What part of the movie is it playing over: In a recurring dream our soldier has been trying to retreat into this building in the desert. He's camped up against a hill and turns with his comrades in tow to make a dash for it but, and as he looks back he sees one of his friends take a bullet. This is the part where his legs always turned to stone before. However, in the dream this time he doesn't look back, but the panic still shows on his face. He goes through the door and enters his childhood room. He walks up to the chipped old bookshelf and the window and stares outside to the street he hasn't seen in more than a decade.

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Upvote #123: I

I by Nurse with Wound has been featured previously as Downvote #41.

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Downvote #122: The Morning is Full

The Morning is Full

by Mel Graves on Day of Love

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Summary: Pablo Neruda's poem The Morning is Full is taken off the page and put into a baleful little jazz beat in Mel Graves' song here. The deep drums make it almost feel like a spoken word beat poem, but the dominant flute playing adds a lot more than that. The lyrics are sung really skewed and awkwardly though.

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Representative Lyrics: wind that topples her in a wave without spray/and substance without weight, and leaning fire

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like a grandiose marching

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our villain has given a love potion to one of our protagonists, who is just now waking up. Her eyes slowly creep open to see the villain standing there with a grim smile. She stumbles over to him and puts her arms around him. Their lips lock for just a second before we cut to our other protagonists. They're on the way to the villain's castle but they are having a lover's quarrel, and both walk away and stand alone in the forest, as they don't want to see each other.

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Upvote #122: El Baile

El Baile

by Juan Carlos on Las Cumbias...Las Guitarras

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Summary: A jaunty little exotic dance number from Juan Carlos Quintero. The guitar player does most of the work for this song with quick chords which swing along the background of rattles, creating a very tropical feel but with more energy than the previous tropical guitar songs on this station.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like when a apple changes flavors

Google Translated Youtube Comment: What a beautiful melody, Juan Carlos GOD you vending millet

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist is wearing a white suit with some sort of fancy white hat as he makes his way through a casino on a boat. He has previously won his court case and will be receiving a hefty sum of money for his troubles and is spending some time here wasting a bunch of that money. He shoves a handful of chips onto the roulette table. He flirts with one of the waitresses and takes a glass of some sort of alcohol. He loudly brags about his recent income.

[pandoras-musicbox-blog]

Downvote #121: When Angels Mourn

When Angels Mourn

by Ezurate on Blasphemous Hierarchy

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Summary: When Angels Mourn is the type of name I expect from a metal band reaching for some grandiose romantic form of sadness. The track itself is a little more restrained than that though. There is an ominously low presence in the background with a simple string progression playing in front.

I don't really know much about the metal genre, are these types of soft reprieves common in albums, because they're coming up a lot?

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like when the last bit of fire dies out

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: After the battle our protagonist, a lieutenant in the conquering army, walks through the ruins of the town. He walks along the path out of town and the burning glow gets put more and more into the distance as he walks to his tent on the outskirts. He prepares to sleep and rests his head down on his pillow. After drifting away in darkness, he dreams of how the town used to look before and walks through it anew.

[pandoras-musicbox-blog]

Upvote #121: Krokodill

 Krokodill

by Johan Johannsson on Englaborn

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Summary: It's amazing how different the stations are right now. While the Downvote Station gives me artists purposefully eschewing conventional aesthetics, the Upvote Station wants to give me classically beautiful compositions.

Johannsson's piano piece, Krokodill, is wonderfully sorrowful. It's minimalistic in its composition and very slow, but at the same time heavy and powerful.

Krokodill is the Russian word for 'crocodile' and I know that because of the recent attention the Russian drug 'krokodil' has received. I have no idea if the song is touching on the drug (probably not?) but now they're inevitably mixed up in my mind.

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Representative Lyrics: n/a

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like when time seems to be going slower than usual, but not because you're bored

I Too Have a Search History that Makes me Look Like a Russian Drug Addict Youtube Comment: Kinda creepy that youtube keeps directing me to the russian drug

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our lesbian protagonist is recounting finding her lover dead, inside their apartment. She is talking with the police. It's proper procedure. She talks about walking in and finding the place in shambles, everything knocked about and a broken vase on the floor with the flowers and dirt splayed out. And then she recounts turning around the corner and seeing the dead body in the hall. We do not see a flashback of the event. The camera stays panned on her in a cheap chair and a dark interrogation room. There is no one else in frame except her and the dark walls.

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Downvote #120: 25 No Seimeitai

25 No Seimeitai

by Keiji Haino & Derek Bailey on Songs

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Summary: When you begin your song with a series of ear-splitting whines you are not trying to make pleasant music. The introduction here is a haphazard  series of guitar strums and distortion with an unholy screeching. And I'm not saying this is an insult to the music, it seems to be purposefully trying to annoy you. Thankfully things quiet down a bit and there is just some more guitar strumming.

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Representative Lyrics: eeeeeeeeeeeee

Representative Nonsense Simile: it's like hearing someone complain about something you've already fixed

Best Youtube Comment: n/a

What part of the movie is it playing over: Our protagonist is freely switching between his various lives in history. He will be asked something by his corporate boss and look beyond his cubicle only to answer to one of his commanding officers in the Crimean War. As shrapnel flies all around the office he'll look and see metal skyscrapers fly around him as his hovercar jets past them. He tries to hide himself in the darkness under his desk or in his car. He tries to hide from all the visions. He shuts his eyes and hums to drown out all the different noises around him.