T minus 46: Help us choose a track
by GMM on April 30th 2009, at 21:40 CET

46 days left until the album is out, we need professional help: Listen to two tracks, and voice your opinion. Help us decide which track to put on the album.

We are now finalizing the album track listing. Some of the tracks are somewhat mutually exclusive - both cannot go on the album. I cannot agree with myself, or others, which track to select. So I thought to crowdsource opinions.

These two tracks are both calm and soothing vocal tracks, beautiful and melodic. Great vocals by Christine, as always. However they are somewhat similar, I feel there is only room for one of them. But which? Here is a minute excerpt from each:

Sandtraps, featuring Christine Litle.

Nightswim, featuring Christine Litle.

What do you think? I am happy for opinions, post a comment and let me know your thoughts. If you only want to give a vote, that's fine. Numbers are sexy too: 

Of course, as imminent world dominance and dictatorship awaits me, I can not guarantee the public opinion a safe passage. The most popular track is not necessarily the best track for the album. However, both tracks will eventually be released and available.

 

 
Permalink  |  Tags: nightswim, preview, christine litle, crowdsource, album, countdown, reminiscience, ugress, sandtraps


Comments:
#1, by MJarnot on April 30th 2009, at 22:35
Mmm, both are really good. Her voice is haunting in the best way.

I'm going to have to listen to them both a bunch before I make my decision.

#2, by vonux on April 30th 2009, at 22:49
After listening to both excerpts at least twice and spending more than thirty seconds carefully contemplating the matter, my conclusion is that of the two excerpts, I prefer Sandtraps, but if those were full tracks I suspect my vote would go to Nightswim.

#3, by Braqua on April 30th 2009, at 23:18
I preferred Nightswim, but to be honest, they both sound 95% like Moloko...hmmm...a challenge...

#4, by Aleksander Mørch on May 1st 2009, at 00:18
This is not easy, but I have to say Sandtraps. It's difficult to judge 1 minute of Nightswim, because it may be better as a full track.

#5, by Starshot on May 1st 2009, at 00:30
I absolutely adore the almost up and down bouncing sort of feeling that Sandtrap has, as well as the vocal mix. It really feels full and downright awesome; Calming, yet still able to hold and release tension.

Plus, the breakdown with the horns at the end of the chorus pretty much sells it for me. Nightswim is nice, but just doesn't have the type of energy I prefer from a song.

#6, by Amo on May 1st 2009, at 01:09
Nightswim is best. It adds something new to the Ugress sound, maybe?
Sandtrap sounds too much like "Ugress" -- I get the feeling I´ve heard it before...

#7, by Christian on May 1st 2009, at 01:23
I agree with Starshot in that I prefer the energy of Sandtrap over Nightswim although like others here have said it's hard to choose without listening to the full track. Both tracks have lovely vocals.

#8, by Thoth on May 1st 2009, at 06:34
My vote is for Nightswing. The lyrics in Sandtraps are a bit cheezy, which is what you get when the chorus revolves around a cliché. That might be the point, but...

#9, by Sykkelthor on May 1st 2009, at 09:16
Sandtrap gave me assosiations to Thievery Corporation's Richest Man in Babylon. Totally got my vote!

#10, by sysrq868 on May 1st 2009, at 10:01
I prefer Sandtraps, too. It's just the classic Ugress which I thought was long lost...

I can't really grasp Nightswim... but I'm certain it will sound better as a full track, as said before.

#11, by shabbytech on May 1st 2009, at 11:13
Nice previews. I think I like Sandtraps best. It's fun on a bun right from the start. Nightswim seems to show it's interesting parts towards the end of the clip, which for me makes Sandtrap win this close race :)

#12, by Knut Arne Vedaa on May 1st 2009, at 13:54
It's difficult to say without the context of the rest of the album. Being similar does not necessesarily mean there's only room for one of them either, but again, that depends on the context and the overall feel of the album (variety vs. homogenity).

But out of context I would say that Sandtraps is the most accessible, while Nightswim is the most interesting. My personal vote would go to the latter.

#13, by Johnny B Goode on May 1st 2009, at 14:58
Hmmm... better chorus on Sandtrap, but I suspect the laidback/reggae feel is a bit far from the Ugress musical landscape. Nightswim didn´t get my wote as a stand alone track, but my guess is that it would sound better on the album.

#14, by Sprengstoff on May 1st 2009, at 16:26
Sandtraps ftw.

#15, by doro on May 1st 2009, at 17:27
Sandtraps, after first listening. I'm even more convinced after the 5th listening. There's more diversion in it - or tension somehow.

#16, by Wouter on May 1st 2009, at 22:28
Sandtraps reminds me of the more mainstream music style from Unicorn. Seems nice but not something that will be remembered for long. Somehow, Nightswim seems more interesting to me and closer to the Ugress style i love the most.

#17, by Jørn-The Bjørn on May 1st 2009, at 23:15
Sandtraps is really nice...kind of a smooth sexy dub-feel..LOVE the bassline!
Nightswim, has a REALLY nice chorus! ...kind of...not so interesting the verse..too mellow for my taste..(sorry)

LOVE the vocals!!! wow..totally melted like butter in the sun when i hear that voice.....


#18, by Gatelli on May 2nd 2009, at 09:28
Sandstrap.. definitely !

#19, by Atle Frenvik Sveen on May 2nd 2009, at 13:44
If the part that begins around 0.40 on nightswim is continued i'd say go for it! Fresh and new, interesting and catchy!

#20, by Vastaphonic on May 3rd 2009, at 06:50
Interesting that most people have gone for Sandtraps. I prefer Nightswim myself, Christine's voice seems to just fit better with the laid back lounge sound. But that's just the way my ears work.

#21, by dot on May 3rd 2009, at 17:34
I love the haunting futurist feeling of Nightswim. It feels perfect. But, as silly as it may sound, to me Sandtraps is way cheesy, somehow reminding of folk dances is barns. Just feels like a big no-no. I must admit both pieces are beautifully constructed, though.

#22, by georgeblunt on May 4th 2009, at 09:07
Hard to say. As a lot of tracks that seem awesome at first wear out pretty fast and tracks that feel strange at first often develop as "best on album" candidates after a lot of listens.
So.. Sandtraps sound awesome to me, while Nightswim is kindof meh. But this might change. Take it with a grain of salt.
(I can't vote at the moment, as the widget has problems displaying correctly here.)

#23, by sarah... on May 7th 2009, at 18:38
hey gisle, since im in uganda and they have let a monkey operate the internet conection today (like any other day) i can't listen to the songs. so i did the second best thing: just voted for the song that had the coolest title...

nattesvømmeren!



#24, by Karbonara on May 8th 2009, at 06:51
The vocals are great on both and nightswim feels eerie and sometimes soothing at the same time. However, being a man of beats, I did enjoy the basic, rhythm in Sandtraps a lot and I caught myself moving my head and upper body to the beat.

My stars are on Sandtraps (but please let the fans download Nightwim on the web!)

#25, by smh on May 8th 2009, at 10:27
Sandtraps FTW ! more groovy

#26, by Mamuf on May 8th 2009, at 12:06
Both tracks are really good, this is tough. It is really matter of the context of other tracks in the album, I would love to see/hear both of these somewhere :-). But now the winner is Nightswim (regardless of which one will make it to the album), it's lovely and I love slow songs of this kind. Not to mention the Eastwood-movie-like whistle at the end of the sample!

#27, by Zaknafein on May 8th 2009, at 12:31
Helt klart Sandtraps!
Both tracks were nice but Sandtraps had a much better beat to it, and the overall feeling it produced (at least in me) was much more wonderful and inspiring compared to Nightswim, which is a different kind of song I think.

So Sandtraps win in my book.

#28, by Gaffel on May 8th 2009, at 13:22
Hmm. Seems like I am the only one who is tired of that female vocal. Ugress is more than female vocals, and I for one want to hear more instrumentals with sample recordings of film noir than a vocalist. I get very bored of the voice and hope Ugress will sound like something more than sophisticated jazz-electronica with female vocals in the future.

#29, by Kerouax on May 8th 2009, at 13:31
Sandtraps, for the groove, but Nightswim, for the atmosphere... can't we have both?

Gaffel, maybe you should check out the Nebular Spool sideproject, thats a lot of noir instrumentals and no women in sight :---)

#30, by Zaknafein on May 8th 2009, at 18:33
I want Sandtraps NOW! :D

#31, by David on May 10th 2009, at 22:52
Great.. but I miss Terese!

#32, by Yariko on May 10th 2009, at 22:57
I would prefer both of them :) Though the Sandtraps was just a bit more exciting.

#33, by Theresa on May 14th 2009, at 17:24
Sandtraps is absolutely more exciting!Hey Guys when will you be in Germany in the next months?Greetz

#34, by help me please on May 16th 2009, at 15:54
does anyone know the song in this video?i thought it was ugress but cant find the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg-zjgWqFkE

#35, by Sgt.Kallle on May 20th 2009, at 10:16
I preferred Nightswim, but also like Sandtraps. Hope both songs will be released in some form.



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