Production Analysis of Two Musical Compositions

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Production Analysis of Two Musical Compositions

This paper will give a production analysis of two chosen compositions, Daft Punk’s Get Lucky and Alt-J’s Tessellate. The areas to which attention will be paid, will be instrumentation and spectrum analysis, this will determine the spectral character of the sound and the overall impression that it has on the mix. This will also demonstrate an understanding of the space of specific elements suggested by the recording techniques and how they sit within the mix. Reference will also be given to cultural background, identifying influences and concepts, with particular examples of pieces, which may have had an impact aesthetically. A brief comparison of the two compositions will also be given.

Daft Punk Get Lucky

During the introduction, Nile Rogers’ ‘clean’ sounding guitar riff, is in the forefront of the mix, with its energy based in the mid frequency spectrum 300-800 Hz with some higher overtones which end at around 5k Hz. It appears to be comprised of two layers, which is a typical feature of the band Chic; Rogers (2013) provides an insight to Daft punk’s goal for Get Lucky:

They [Daft Punk] asked me specifically, how did you make Chic records in the old days? And I said, well in those days, everything was a workaround because we were limited by technology, so I said, I do this part first [rhythmic]… then I play the other part [melodic] on top of it and combine it and put it up the middle… and there you have a Chic track.

It was apparent with this piece, having a single note rhythm section, further back in the space and less dominant, also a melodic section, which is comprised of four chords; this demonstrates the influence late 70’s disco had upon this piece and ...

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... Last accessed 2nd Feb 2014.

Comerchero, D. (2013). How Mick Guzauski Mixed Daft Punk.Available: http://theproaudiofiles.com/daft-punk-mixing/. Last accessed 20th Feb 2013.

Milton, J. (2012). The Producers: Charlie Andrew. Available: http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/features/the-producers-charlie-andrew/. Last accessed 19th Jan 2014.

O'Brien, M. (2012). Alt-J An Awseome Wave. Available: http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/alt-j/an-awesome-wave/69093/. Last accessed 19th Feb 2014

Sound on Sound. (2013). The Mix Review, Productions Analysed. Available: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov13/articles/tmr-1113.htm. Last accessed 28th Jan.

Tingen, P. (2013). Daft Punk Peter Franco & Mick Guzauski: Recording Random Access Memories. Available: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul13/articles/daft-punk.htm. Last accessed 1st Feb 2014.

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