I stumbled across an old Choose Your Own Adventure book (named the song title) outside a shop in a freebies box, so I grabbed it and got a bit nostalgic.
I made an attempt at writing lyrics based on the story (of a young space explorer seeking to help find life on another planet), but gave up after it was feeling a bit forced.
So instead I had some fun messing around with the OP-Z synth and tried to get some vintage spacey sounds happening.
@splittybooms Mar 2022
I'm drooling at the intro arp...that fuzzy kick hit...that barely there bass.
Just that stuff alone could've been the whole 3:42 and I'd have been satisfied.
Ohhhh, that sawy growl bass coming in.
This percussion, tho.
Whatever you did at 1:30 with the percussion for some reason made me rewind 3 times - love it, just that small bit adds tons to something that was already firmly in Lovely Town.
That bubbly arp mixed with the drums here is doing something to me internally - like its waking up very specific groove preferences that get way too little activation.
Every element you bring in is placed just so, and the arrangement is FLAWLESS.
Good grief, there are people here at FAWM that I think if you teamed up with, I'd probably not be able to handle the resulting tracks.
Anyway, this is perfection, just straight up.
Every sound choice, where to put it, what level it should be at and where it should go in the mix, every rhythm, every little variation, all the different little flavors...just perfect.
Absolutely loved this.
@nahlej381 Mar 2022
Nailed it. This has that classic sci-fi feel. Sounds great. Then the percussion hits and gets the head moving. Lots of cool ear candy. Nice one!
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
Great sounds of course, and I like the understated journey it takes. I've got my fingers stuck in this song at about three places in case I need to go back. Love the little intrusions on the right channel near the end, made me think of a (much) more mellow take on Autechre's 'Surripere'.
@shortdan Feb 2022
You've created a super cool sonic landscape here. The electro stuff from the OP-Z is super cool - I'm a sucker for an arpeggiated synth line as I'm sure you're aware. Haha! Takes you on a bit of a journey does this one - really enjoyed it :-)
@christmascard Feb 2022
Oh this is lovely, I dig the glitchy blips.
@jbp123 Feb 2022
I really like this! Think you nailed the ambience totally - love the sci-fi feel, and the modulating arpeggiation works a treat. Really enjoyed the techno vibes towards the end. Nice one, mate!
@leepat Feb 2022
you should check out what @ryako is doing this year...
fun vintage sounds here - always been fascinated by those passage where one beat merges into a different one...
@paulh1237 Feb 2022
The dreamy (spacy, of course) was unexpected but lovely there! That main repeated piano-y motif is really really good. Love the percussion towards the end as well.
@sailingmagpie Feb 2022
I used to love those CYOA books when I was a kid!
This is great. Love the arpeggios and skittery drums. The dreamy guitar is a nice addition when it comes in and I like that you made us wait until the last minute for the kick!
@psyt Feb 2022
Right from the intro it feels like it lines up perfectly with the inspiration you had, though I'm not sure the dirty percussions are the right choice. Everything here feels proper 80s-futurisitic-sci-fi, except for those. I think I would've went with clean and precise percussion instead (The kick drum later in the track does feel right for me).
All the synth work is admirable, both in respect to the sound design and the melodies. Lovely stuff. And yay for ending with reverb tails, feels appropriate, but kinda gives the impression that perhaps we wound up at a "dead end" (as far as CYO adventure books go) :)
@adforperu Feb 2022
So many excellents sound here, that beat is utterly infectious. Is this ALL from the OP-Z? I really need to source one myself if you can create lush landscapes like this. Really like where the inspiration was born out of for this, the track sort of does have a feeling of propulsion, with multiple personalities jumping out, trying to take you on 'their' story.
@circle Feb 2022
help, I'm a alien stuck inside hanley's song. I wanted to have an adventure but he didn't let me, and now I have to listen to this song instead. luckily it's good. the laser sounds remind me of the time i shot a alien with a laser. the weird alien sounds remind me of being a alien. the drums remind me of Autechre, the number 1 musician on my planet. the excellent rising climax and eventual release reminds me of the impending destruction of earth by my kin. thanks hanley!
@judypie Feb 2022
Loved those books! There are a whole lot of adventures going on within this tune too, they all sound wonderful together! Ooh sounds like I just took a wrong turn and am now floating off into space only to die 15 seconds later, waaaaa! Gonna rewind and try again :D
@zecoop Feb 2022
Well, you had me with the titleā¦ I literally jumped into this song. I loved that book and all of those CYOA books. Absolutely nailed the vibe with lots of unexpected sonic adventure coming in and out. Cool electronica and then someone chose to have a beautiful guitar come in. This song twists and turns perfectly. I think you really did compose a story in song. Loved