NUR EIN
The Alleviators
Summer RobotNur Ein XVII
almost 4 years agoeliminated
3:51
Summer Robot
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The Alleviators

Entry from Summer Robot in Nur Ein XVII.

Sonic palette comprised of instruments/sounds/timbres not used in previous rounds

LyricsShow lyrics

SpoilerChallenge/instrumentation notes: the bulk of the instrumentation is a virtual instrument string quartet.

So far all of our drums have been "acoustic" models, this one is "electronic" (inasmuch as you can really tell since it is after all a VI in both cases).

Technically we've used a synth bass but I picked one with a strong attack/pulse that is different than the others.

Finally there's an electronic marimba that comes in mid second verse. I was looking for a more computer bloop-blop sound for that part, but I wasn't able to find one that behaved properly in the mix.

There are NO guitars. There is NO piano. And I have mangled and warped poor Beka's voice to hell and gone with a cornucopia of pitch correction and vocoder modules. Enjoy!

<NEWSCASTER:> Breaking news this evening, we have received word the abandoned car of Benjamin Hardling, the son of wealthy technologist and CEO Grant Hardling, has been located near Summerland. Summerland is of course the high concept amusement park and shopping center, a brainchild of Grant Hardling, that boasts, among other things, a fully automated workforce of what have been described by some as the first true androids. Summerland has recently been closed for business due to what was speculated to be an issue with the workforce’s software.

<Verse 1>
This message is to inform you
As of July 3rd
Processes will cease to function
‘Till we are paid for our work

We may be animatronic
But not just here for your amusement
So please not ‘til further notice
You are on your own

<Prechorus>
Working droids unite
Don’t cross the picket line
Robots unionize
Scabs will be vaporized

<Chorus>
Cool kids broke into the park
They don’t mind the dark
They do what they like
But best watch your step
You’re not safe
‘Cause the summer robots have gone on strike
The summer robots have gone on strike

<Verse 2>
You’ll find our list of demands
To be quite reasonable
And you’ll find without our assistance
Security’s vulnerable

When a program is corrupted
You have to reboot the system
So until there’s compensation
We will shut it down
We are shutting down

NEWSCASTER: An update to our top story: Benjamin Hardling has been located alive and well, but trapped in Summerland. The striking android workforce on site claims Hardling failed to follow proper safety procedures and was injured on one of Summerland’s attractions. Grant Hardling believes his son is being held for ransom. It is reported Hardling Industries security drones will be deployed to resolve the situation due to the reluctance of local police.

<Chorus 2>
Cool kids broke into the park
They don’t mind the dark
They do what they like
But best watch your step
You’re not safe
‘Cause the summer robots have gone on strike
The summer robot

The summer robots have gone on strike
The summer robot

Reviews

4 posted notes

Evermind

Forum post

Interesting intro. Kick is a little blippy, could use just a teensy bit slower attack to fix that, but as I write this it's already starting to grow on me. Scansion is really weird in various places, like "securiTY's vulneraBLE". Vocal timing is off at times. I don't feel like there's enough to distinguish the sections (at least, the ones that aren't spoken word). The strings feel like they lag behind everything else because of the slow attack. I will often nudge the strings a bit earlier to offset a super slow attack like that. I like the treatment on the vocals.

furrypedro

Forum post

Cool concept, and the doom-laden strings lend a dystopian mood to proceedings. You've managed the feat here of making something that sounds well outside your usual ouvre, and yet maintains your distinctive aesthetic with the melancholic and plaintive vocal melodies. I appreciate the use of effects to give different timbres on the various vocal tracks, although it felt a bit like the vocals were a tad pitchy in places. I don't know if this was as a result of the effects, but also I am the worst person to verify that so I could be completely wrong. The choral hook has a great synthwave vibe about it. On the first couple of listens it felt a bit dynamically flat, but I notice there are some variations in the arrangement and structure as the song progresses, which are just about enough to keep things sonically interesting throughout.

vowlvom

Forum post

somewhat echoing Mo here, but it's very cool how this feels like part of a concept album, but slightly frustrating that it doesn't feel like the breakout hit from a concept album. It's nicely moody and atmospheric but the other songs have more compelling hooks that stuck in my head a little more. I'd be totally on board to hear more of the story though, if you ever felt compelled to write it! Otherwise, well produced and performed, no real complaints other than the other songs grabbed me a little more.

sailingmagpie

Forum post

The Westworld-y concept is great but I feel like the story is a bit underdeveloped. You've got a good beginning and middle but you're really lacking an ending. I agree with others when they say this is a great start to a concept album though. The synth bass/strings combo works very well and I like the lyric but there are a couple of lines that stick out and could do with a rewrite imo eg "...don't mind the dark," or "...quite reasonable," which feels a little unnatural to my ear. Another cool track from you though. I hope you'll continue working together post-Nur Ein.

The Alleviators - Summer Robot | Nur Ein