Top Tunes Worthy of Echoing Glory: A Spotlight on Remarkable Music
Toxic, Unbiased Assistance: A guide to Reverb is the aural secret weapon you've been missing out on. Songs with reverb amplify the thunder, soften the melodies, and transport the listener to far-off spaces. Reverb is a versatile auditory effect that's as essential as a drummer's stick.
What makes those vocals hit like a holy hymn? How does that guitar sound so rapturous? Why do I feel like I've stumbled upon a celestial realm where these instruments dwell?
It's all thanks to reverb, baby!
This wondrous audio effect is as much a technical tool as it is a creative one. Reverb generates emotion, a vintage vibe, space, and depth - not to mention a punch that'll make your heart skip a beat (take a peek at number 7). It helps create natural sounding spaces as well as surreal atmospheres.
Show some love for the tracks that take reverb beyond the ordinary. Below are eight tracks from different genres that showcase reverb in extraordinary, inventive ways. Get inspired and get your fingertips ready for some knob-twiddling!
1. Morticia Addams' Rise from the Grave: King Tubby's "Dub You Can Feel"
Osbourne Ruddock, better known as King Tubby, was a pioneer of Jamaican sound system culture in the 50s. His production and sound engineering work was crucial to the development of dub and reggae in the 60s and 70s. Not only was he renowned for his innovative technical prowess, but he is also widely credited with essentially inventing the concept of the remix.
Reverb is one of Tubby's signature secret weapons, and it's what makes dub sound so magical. Dub tunes often have the vocal track on one side of the 45, and an instrumental "version" on the other. Revel in the reverb on King Tubby's "Dub You Can Feel" - snap, crackle, and pop as the spring reverb "boing" effect transmits you to the mystical land of dub.
2. He's the Mad Genius of Spaced-Out Sounds: Joe Meek's "I Hear a New World"
Joe Meek is a quirky, groundbreaking sound engineer, record producer, and songwriter from the 50s and 60s. His experiments with effects like overdubbing and sampling are the backbone of space age pop and psychedelic outsider music.
Check out his cult classic album I Hear a New World from 1960, where Meek uses various types of effects, including pitch shifting, panning, and natural reverbs. His feats in home recording include using different reverberant spaces within his studio and home for incredible natural room sounds, such as under his staircase or in his bathroom. Don't miss the otherworldly, spacey reverb on the backup vocal line in "I Hear a New World."
3. Satan's Got a Gnarly Drum Solo: Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks"
Led Zeppelin's unique use of multiple effects is showcased brilliantly in this song. The iconic drum performance was famously recorded on a brand new Ludwig kit in a three-story staircase – specifically, the hallway of Headley Grange. Two Beyerdynamic M160 microphones were placed at the top of the stairwell for the recording, giving it its distinctive "big room" reverb and muffled sound.
After the scorching drum solo, listen for the swirly effect achieved through reversed harmonicas, backwards echo, phasing, flanging, and panning. The swirling effect will have you feeling like you're caught in the midst of a sonic tornado.
4. Drowned in Dreamy Vocals: Grimes' "Venus In Fleurs"
Reverb and vocals are a heavenly pair, especially in the ethereal dream-pop sphere. Forget about deciphering the lyrics; it's all about the feeling and the ambiance created by the vocal melody and reverb. Canadian producer, songwriter, and vocalist Grimes is the reigning queen of this approach to experimental pop in the 2010s.
The vocals in "Venus In Fleurs" float like a distant memory, thanks to the reverb. The reverb on the drone guitar complements the dreamlike quality. Grimes epitomizes a generation of bedroom producers who've taught themselves the ins and outs of DAWs, intentionally pushing effects to the max, and creating their own stylistic mark - the ultimate punk move for pop music!
5. Modern Indie Pop: The Drums' "Down By The Water"
The dreamy sound of indie pop band The Drums is a modern marriage of The Beach Boys, The Smiths, and Joy Division. In "Down By the Water," everything is enshrouded in an embracing hall reverb that binds the entire track together. The snare, tambourine, and vocals all linger with a dreamy, intentionally muddy quality that adds to the song's melancholic, vintage vibe. Let the reverb embrace you as the song ends and the reverb tail lingers before reversing.
6. Arabian Nights in the Courtyard: Shinedoe's "Cosmic"
DJ and producer Shinedoe brings the melodic richness of Detroit techno and Chicago house to life in her tracks. "Cosmic" demonstrates a clever use of reverb on synths pads, vocal samples, and claps. Listen for the extended decay as the reverb adds to the harmonic content of chords, creating an enveloping ambient layer that glues the various synths together. Dance the night away with Shinedoe as she weaves intricate reverb-powered patterns in the club.
7. Phil Collins' Epic Drum Solo Disguised as a Ballad: "In The Air Tonight"
The chart-topping pop hit "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins features gated reverb, which gives the drums a punchy, big sound. The carefully timed reverb effect is most noticeable on the snare and drums. This type of reverb creates a powerful, iconic drum solo perfect for those moments when you need to let out your deepest emotions.
8. When the Reverb Touches Your Soul: Blake Mills' "Shed Your Head"
Blake Mills, guitarist, songwriter, and GRAMMY award-winning producer, is famous for his impressive instrumental skills. "Shed Your Head" is an excellent example of recreating a realistic space using organic reverb. The reverb on this track envelops the instruments with a warm, natural sound that adds a rich texture to the entire performance.
The reverb in this song places all the instruments in a natural sounding space, making it a perfect demonstration of how reverb doesn't always need to be blown out or excessively wet to be effective.
Get inspired by these examples, artists, and their unique reverb styles, and don't be afraid to play around with reverb in your own productions. Let your inner genius loose and create something truly extraordinary!
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"Guitar has such a history of flashy playing," says Mills. "But after spending more time with records by Nina Simone and Thelonious Monk, I soon dropped my desire to be an 'impressive' player: 'I just wanted to be a moving player.'" Maybe part of the magic is in the right reverb!
Home is Where the Reverb Is
Reverb knows no genre boundaries, and it's as essential to music production as an electric guitar or a drum kit. Whether you're a techno whiz, indie pop icon, or experimental sound sculptor, reverb is your ever-flexible partner. Use these examples and techniques as inspiration for your own musical adventures.
Remember, as Leticia Trandafir so eloquently puts it, "Reverb is the ultimate shaper of moods and spaces." Embrace the power of reverb, and get ready to make history! 🎵🎶
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- The reverb on King Tubby's "Dub You Can Feel" creates a mystical experience, with the spring reverb "boing" effect transporting listeners to the realm of Jamaican dub music.
- In Joe Meek's "I Hear a New World," various types of effects, including natural reverbs, are used to create an otherworldly atmosphere, with the backup vocal line featuring a note-worthy otherworldly, spacey reverb.