You're an example of a kid saying "I wanna be a Musician" and your parents saying "You can be whatever you want" everyone with a TH-cam account is a DJ or Musician or Beatmaker. even My Dog, he's a "Musician"
i thought this song was quite similar to the material from siverchair (diorama, my favorite from them). progressive songs with a weird structure are definitely up in my alley!
lol i love your voice by the way, love your halloween tracks, but i guess people love the arrangement, and see other people singing it or styles they envision it. maybe they just want you to produce artist like a music producer. lol i remember seeing these type of comments on some songs, like way to ruin a dope beat with your shitty rap style or shitty lyrics and voice. or the classic, give this beat to a real artist 😹
It's so prog metal. Hits all the hot points for me. I also loved that he was hearing church hymn in that one section and all I was hearing was Dream Theater 😂
Many consider "Bohemian Rhapsody" to be Queen's masterpiece, and it has a similar kind of no-clue-what-to-expect-next vibe as this. Just a musician(s) letting the rest of us tag along for a journey through your creative process. Also, digging the hair!
I've been listening to your songs for years, and as a professional singer I've never understood the folks commenting that they don't like your voice. Your singing is really good, and cloud collapse does a great job highlighting your strengths as a singer and lyricist.
to me it always seemed a little "disney", like kind of too soft/commercial/friendly sounding and not quite gelling together with the type of songs he was making but the strained vocal delivery + vocal processing in this one perfectly matches the song and it feels like the intention and the result fully matches and just sounds right (plus the entire rest of the song is incredible)
The best way I could describe this song is by comparing it to a modern day Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s both structureless and well thought out, and full of individually great ideas that should in theory clash, but somehow culminate in one big beautiful masterpiece. Every new verse is one surprise after another. Just goes to show how great Andrew is bridging starkly contrasting ideas and giving them form. Great work Andrew!!
@@andrewhuang I totally see the Bohemian Rhapsody comparison, but to me it most reminded me of Pink Floyd with songs like Shine on You Crazy Diamond or Echoes or even Opeth. I actually find your a bit short for that kind of song haha. The through-composed stuff usually speaks more to me, I agree that this could very well be your best.
Paranoid Android and A Day In The Life by the Beatles are two other good examples of this. I think in all three cases they're actually literally multiple songs that were stitched together, they work but are very unpredictable. And of course the B-side of Abbey Road.
This song came totally out of left field for you and felt so tangible despite it being a 6 minute progressive rock song! As a HUGE metalhead i’d love to see more of that song’s style come from you
I suspect it landed particularly well with the general audience on this one because it's such a good fit for the style. Taking advantage, intentionally or not, of the specific characteristics of the instrument.
i remember hearing this song in your video and laughing out loud when the song suddenly ended and you just nonchalantly continued with your review, like something incredible didn't just happen!! Such a dope song!
As a prog metal music listener this was right up my alley, I literally listened to this daily for some time and I still put it on regularly. I'm really happy other people like it! I'd guess that while the arrangement and mix and structure certainly contribute I feel like it's the melodies (and chords) that are simply amazing throughout the whole piece. Little repeats here, but I can't find a better word than a "hook". It's just that instead of having a single hook, there's a hook after hook after hook. Love it!
Cloud Collapse gave me big Chris Christodoulou vibes. Reminds me a lot of his work on Risk of Rain 2, and con lentitud poderosa in particular. Using a synth like a guitar and doing crazy solos with it is super badass, and taking classic rock and pop inspirations too. Absolutely loved Cloud Collapse.
exactly this. between the chris-style leads that drip with emotion, drum fills in verse 3 that feel straight out of a lena raine track, and some of the best vocals andrew has recorded to date it's no surprise it's one of my favorites.
This song is fantastic, Andrew! It actually blew me away when I first heard it on that new synth vid; I was star struck! The punchiness of the drums and how forward the synth and bass are in the mix really separated it from so many other tracks you've done, and I could tell you put a *lot* of work into the vocals and really sang with your heart. Awesome work, man, this is hands down my favorite song from you, and probably the best new song i've heard in quite a while!
You thought wrong my friend lol. I will say it is one of your masterpieces in my opinion. Your choice of arrangements and theory created a piece that I think hits home with a lot listeners. From the lyrics merging with the ominous tones hinting at a hope. Love your content and music dude. And as for electronic and rock music being which is more popular; for myself (also a musician) I want innovations when I hear music that I can't anticipate. You and Rob create plenty of that.
I think a big part of why I liked this so much is that it actually tells a story. So many songs these days have like one section and last for 90 seconds. This song has phases and transitions, it explores different parts of a related sonic world. It's actually interesting and moving! It's really got Shine On You Crazy Diamond vibes. It's like you condensed Pink Floyd making modern music, but it's just you doing it!
Seven minutes into a synth overview was the perfect spot for this track. It gave us emotional context about the instrument that made the music so much sweeter.
Thank you for this video. I'm trying my absolute best to learn how to make music. I have all the pieces to record it all and the instrument and vocal skills; I'm just missing the know-how with composition and mixing. This video really helped show the WHOLE process.
I think it was your singing in this song that really impressed me. I feel like every time I hear you sing you have more and more control. The genre did help. Overall, your emotiveness an tonality really fit the vibes ⭐️
Love how creative the song is. The different parts feel different enough yet still cohesive. I think the one complaint with the end is that there isn’t any deadspace after the abrupt cut. With I Want You (She’s So Heavy), there’s about 2-3 seconds of silence at the end of the track. That’s just enough time to give the abrupt cut to actually breathe and (at least for me) highlights that the song is in fact over before the next song is played. With streaming services now, they try to pick songs that go well with the song you are playing and they don’t have any airgap between your song and the next. This usually isn’t an issue because most songs have a less abrupt end and our brains can register the change from one song to the next. Cloud Collapse seems to be an even rarer case because the song itself changes to multiple different styles as it progresses. These abrupt changes happen enough where my brain expects the song to continue to cut to new ideas. So when the next song plays with no air gap, my brain goes “oh hey new part of the song.” There have been a few times where the next song fits so well after the end that I didn’t even notice that it was a new song until that artist starts singing. Which is cool in its own right, but slightly disorienting as a listener. Really awesome song. It’s a super fun listen. Heard it for the first time after watching this video and I’ve already played it way too many times since then
Heck YEAHH! This song inspired me to start writing a song on my own (still in progress, but really takes inspiration from the kinda dark chords contrasted eith the bright solo and the the drums coming crashing in and etc...) and this song is genuinely sooooo good. And so is Sparkle mountain... And so is ALL your music. You are really one of the best musician/teachers I found on TH-cam❤❤❤
Okey, so, this song showed that your voice shines when you sing with anguish and on the verge. Like Chester did. Also, this song has very pleasant chord progression, but most important is that instruments for these chords are perfect. What describes this song best is two words: powerful emotions.
I absolutely love these song breakdowns - and I especially find it fascinating on such a complex, unique song. You can really see *why* this is such a standout song: from really intricate chord progressions that do a lot more than just looping around, to unique solo sections - it really is so good! I absolutely love the reverb vocal trick! The solos really feel like they belong because this track feels so prog rock. Your vocals really fit well - especially with the drive. It's just such a standout song. In all honesty, I think you can hear much more performative the song feels with the reliance on the Osmose, that is, that it lends itself to this sort of really emotive composition and performance. Such love!
I think it's a stars aligning situation. There's a lot of popular songs that were ones the artist just "threw together" thinking everybody would hate it. But when you put the pieces together the vibe is impeccable, for a lot of people. I liked that song because I like weird, experimental, through composed, proggy, passionate, loud, rollercoastery stuff. It's the kind of music I would make if I had the time, interest, skill.
This song is your best yet, because it's so solid. You took metal, molten down by your beautiful singing, and poured it into the mold you composed until everything fit perfectly. No gaps, no overflow, just perfectly solid.
Only realising now how much your channel and videos like this have shaped my entire creative process and career. Having someone as talented as you are take you through their workflow and show how something incredible got put together is such a valuable thing to put out there. Especially since there’s no “here’s the big message” “I need to explain my art” vibes. You let the song speak for itself and let people interpret it how they feel it while still giving us such thorough insight that lets us appreciate it on a deeper level.
I honestly consider it a bit of a privilege to be able to feel like I have a "favorite singer/band/artist" cause I feel like I'll talk to friends or peers and they won't be able to name a singular singer/band/artist definitively as their favorite. A lot of your music over the years has introduced me to many new genres or sounds that I probably would not have known to seek out otherwise. The variety in your discography has always been something I enjoyed and been a fan of for so many years. This song is yet another example of that and I'm glad a lot of people have been digging it too! I've always found your music and video work so inspiring and am always looking forward to whatever you put out next.
Bro I really thought your voice was always amazing and now it just keeps getting better. The RASP that you had in this song was just amazing! I appreciate these types of songs from you, it's my favorite part.
Here's why some random musician on the internet thinks this song slaps: 1) The feeling is so solid here. A great rock song (to me) is one where you get chills. I think there's different physical sensations for each genre, but for rock it's chills. Cloud Collapse simply just evokes that vibe, and there's nothing really I can point to other than that. It's the combination of your vocals, the ear candy, the chord progression, those fat drums all together. It kinda reminds me of 2WEI, especially the ear candy and chords 2) This vocal chain fits your voice very well, especially those insane belts. You're an incredible vocalist. 3) Everything feels intentional and cohesive. The weird chords, sick solos, and different sections don't stick out. The key changes don't feel like you're doing a key change just to flex and do a key change. They feel like you're going for something very specific that serves the story of the song, and that's cool.
you make this seem so simple, then when i go into ableton i get tangled up. what i mean is your process is so nice and organized, compared to my simple chaotic mess. keep being you thanks for a new perspective, and vocabulary you have unlocked
I think the reason for all the love for this is song is that the chord progression is bases in a timeless feeling that many people have heard and fallen in love with over and over again!! Chromatic decent clichés just feel so good, and always a good idea to contrast it aswell. That and the production is on point!! great song, good job ⚡
I think the INCREDIBLE composition is the foundation that makes everything else work. Just terrific voice leading throughout. The listener has no choice but to come along for the ride.
If anyone here is a Depeche Mode fan, the flute-like part greatly reminds me of the haunting synth lead from Speak To Me, in both the chromatic decline of the bass note as well as the general ethereal feel of it (especially apparent in the live version where the higher synth part is stripped back)
For me the greatness of this song was the sick drum fills (and the drums were just so nice and fat), the innovative chord progressions, the vocals where especially the distortion just makes the song go so much harder, and the damn incredible synth solos
Your work is so inspiring! I've been gathering these random tips and inspirations for music creation and then applying them at random into every track I make, gradually attaining a larger toolbox. It's a process I enjoy a lot and feels like I've been witnessing the same thing happen with you through your channel over the years and this song feels like an amalgamation of so many inspirations, tricks and ideas you've gathered and shared over the years. It's super cool to see! Thank you for providing so much inspiration and knowledge
I think something that's different about this song is that it *sounds* like there is so much more emotion behind every inch of it, compared to a lot of your other music that sounds a lot more experimental, emotionally chill or dry, or kinda cerebral in nature (just like... very music nerd heavy). But Cloud Collapse doesn't feel like that. It feels like you put your soul into the entire performance and composition, from vocals, to chord structure choice, to the unusual sections that just got more and more intense within themselves and moving from one to the next. It's all about feelings not composition. (Even though composition is how you communicate feelings... but yeah, you can't really quantify it, you just gotta feel it.) Most people listen to music for the emotions of it, not the musicality of it. It's a passionate sounding song, and people LOVE passionate songs. I know I do~
I had missed this song. I would agree, it's an awesome song. Cool walk through of the process too. I say it like every video, but you are awesome at music, Andrew, and it's inspiring.
It could just be my own roots in progressive rock, but I’ve always loved when people are willing to pour themselves into something non traditional like this, especially in the electronic music world. It’s very emotionally powerful to me and I think it resonates with people. A similar vibe to me are songs like Heavyweight by Infected Mushroom or most of the Risk of Rain soundtracks, but especially the song Coalescence off the first OST (closely followed by The Raindrop That Fell To The Sky from Risk of Rain 2). In many ways, I think you and the composer for those games, Chris Christodoulou, did a lot of similar things with these songs and I love that
It is a song, whose mood is reflective of the times we live in. Your level of artistry is reflective of your level of attunement, @ANDREWHUANG. THANK YOU, Sensei.
I have no idea how anyone could hate your voice. Every time I hear it in your music I can’t imagine anyone else’s voice fitting. It’s awesome and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
What an awesome song! It reminds me a lot of what The Dear Hunter and Casey Crescenzo do, which, in my vocabulary, is a very nice compliment haha. Excellent work Andrew! (:
I think the touch of roughness really sells your voice, especially in this more prog rock sorta context. Absolutely love the song, it has quickly become one of my favorite songs to listen to!
I found you and Rob about a month ago and I have been loving going back-and-forth watching the content so enjoyable I am a 61-year-old Prague guy and that is how the algorithm led me to you. I’m sure but I have so enjoyed watching what you guys do and our arms are forever wrapped around you here in Kennewick Washington Washington state on the mighty Columbia river.
It bums me out that you don’t like your own voice. I love it 🥺 like this song is incredible and your voice on it is amazing, but your voice on your First of October and Sonic Boom stuff is superb
Evidence that progressive music-making is powerful. Truly an excellent song! Some of the production reminds me of Genesis and Rush, specifically song's like Jacob's Ladder. Really great work :) Edit: There's a song called Bahamian Rap City by Joe Hawley that definitely comes to mind with a piece like this.
Cloud Collapse is so emotional, with so many raw emotions swirling around when I listen to it. I get happy, I get into the grove and I start crying, it just shifts from one to the other. I love it so much.
It's a masterpiece, and a whole album like this would be absolutely amazing. On one hand it's "just prog" or whatever, but it still has hints of "modern electronic stuff" thrown in and some interesting unique things going on, and I've never heard any other artist/band do anything exactly like it even though it's similar to a lot of great ones. Personally I think the reason the solos "work better" than solos usually might (although I like solos in general) is because they don't feel like "here's a solo" that come out of nowhere but like a natural direction for the song to go, and the lack of a chorus might also be a factor since there's no "waiting for the solo to end and the chorus to repeat again" or anything like that... it also feels like a unified coherent whole, so they could just be thought of as "extended lead stuff" and not explicitly solos.
yea what the heck this is so good, Andrew is a fantastic producer but something that prevents me from putting his music on repeat is his voice, similar to Jacob collier I can't listen to it for that long, but this song is an exception. Super well done Andrew
About the thing you said about your singing voice: I don't know exactly why but it fits so well here. I never found your singing voice bad at all. I just think that, of course, every voice has a shortlist of certain vibes that it's just perfect for. And, I suppose, for whatever reason, the vibe of Cloud Collapse was one of those perfect vibes for your voice. I don't even really know fully why beyond that but I know that you just own it in this song.
For me this song falls into the same category as purple rain. Even if you don't listen to the lyrics it just sounds meaningful; almost spiritual. It leaves me behind with the feeling of having experienced a very special unique moment and wanting the song to last longer (even though it's already 6 minutes long). Absolutely well done ❤ It's a beautiful song. PS: I really like your voice regardless of the genre :)
This is easily your best work. I am completely blown away by it. I love the prog elements, the composition is superb, your vocals are their absolute best.
I love this song and your voice is great! I don't know how people can think that it's like the worst part of your songs. I love the flow and the tone of all the instruments. The slower parts are almost haunting, and the faster parts feel almost jazzy, despite it being a rock song. Overall, wonderful track! Thank you for sharing your fantastic music with us :-)
This has been the song I actively show friends of mine. We all largely are into rock music, some hip hop, not a large amount of electronic music. I think the the slow burning builds of the song really get payed off well and I remember at “burst wide open now”, one friend specifically said “he should sing like that more often”. You do have a great break up in your voice when you scream (like in Bookmobile). I think your production gave a lot of extra oomph with the growing distortion as well, not to detract from the vocal performance (I love your voice ❤️). Thank you for going so into detail on this song, Ive been subscribed for a decade and was one of the people who commented saying it was their favorite song of yours. I’ve been teaching myself Reaper for the last year and your insight into production has been a constant help and inspiration. Keep making awesome music, you always have ❤️
I can't believe I missed this song! I love it so much! And yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head: Through-composed electronic music is extremely niche. I was always interested in taking rock influence into electronic music, but so far that didn't really work out too well. Rock guys have a lot more tolerance for such stuff demographically in my experience. Also, rock guys rarely really cross into electronic music, which is a shame, because electronic music could do so much, but the people who *usually* listen to it often don't appreciate that kind of complexity, while the people who probably would *usually* don't listen to a lot of electronic music. Also, there *is* something to be said about 'just' executing very well on a concept. Like a 2 minute solo can kill a song or help make it one of the best songs ever written - it depends completely on the actual solo. Same for other "advanced" concepts, such as key changes and/or modulation. It can feel amazing and lift a song from "good" level into "excellent" territory. Or it can feel forced and contrived. This song executes extremely well on all it does, imho. One last thought: I think it helps, that the palette of sounds is more like a "big" rock production and less like a "here is every sound and timbre imaginable" EDM kind of approach. I think that helps glue everything together more, a lot. The - relatively - low count of types of sounds (instruments/timbres) allows the listener to focus more on the actual content. Kinda the antithesis to Bro Step (I love both genres a lot, for extremely different reasons).
I love the chord progressions, modal mixtures, diminished chords, multiple synth solos, and through-composed structure! Maybe it's just all of it together just works? Like how if you have 1 really dissonant chord in the context of a diatinic song it really sticks out, but if you have a more complex chord progression surrounding a very dissonant chord it doesn't stick out as much.
My absolute favorite song you dropped for sure. Stuff with Sonic Boom are sick too, but that one is just pure chef's kisses. I'd say I would've loved a resolution at this end, but the sharp cut at the end kinda grew on me.
it's so fun watching andrew try out a gang of different styles/genres while at the same time perfecting his craft at his particular space-themed signature sound. like my personal favourite andrew album is still cosmos, but his recent stuff really has me believing he has a way better project in him
I immediatelly fell inlove with this song, not only because it is interesting musicaly but also, and I think it grabbed my attention first, because your voice really shines here. I don't remember a lot of songs when you have so great and also not so easy melody. You sang it well and I could hear so much emotion in your voice, it's beautiful.
i want you to know that i instantly appreciated the "i want you (she's so heavy)" reference with the noise and the abrupt ending. love that track. love that album. love this track. nice work
The Glyn Johns setup really compliments your playing style on the drums. They sound awesome! Love the non-traditional crafting of some more traditional methods. Thank you for sharing!!
From the first time I heard it I wanted an extended mix. It feels like it ends so abruptly, and it pains me every time I get lost in the solo at the end and then just... nothing. Maybe that's one of the reasons it sticks so strongly in my mind, but man, everything about this song is phenomenal and I want a resolution. Taking you on a journey that climaxes in this massive solo, never repeating, then a reflection at the end wrapping it all together. Regardless, I think you hit the nail on the head with what you said at the end of the video. I listen to a lot of genres and this says prog rock which makes me not expect any repetition and if it's not 10+ minutes, then it's too short. Lol We love you, Andrew. Thank you for all you do. It's evident to me you put your heart and soul into this craft and from the bottom of my heart I appreciate you.
I just really enjoy that kind of synth/space rock sound, it's sad yet so beautiful and the solo's just hit really hard. I saw a few comments on the original video saying this as well, but it makes me think of the soundtracks of games like celeste and risk of rain 2. It's a really cool genre and honestly i'd love it if you made more of these types of songs. Thank you so much for making this song it is actually one of my favourite songs right now
I love you experimental stuff, some of your best work is when you just go all in and make something weird that you love, and this sprawling soundscape is wonderful! I've been following your work since the SongsToWearPantsTo days, and your incredible versatility and neverending growth never ceases to amaze. And I do love your voice, your singing has always been great!
Hey Andrew o/ If there's any one comment I would want to make, it's that your takeaway about making what you're inspired to make is 100% what makes hearing your music really fun :) In a lesser addition to that, I think the people who in the past may have not enjoyed different song structures or an aspect of your vocals, may have found familiarity in your references. I think the execution of the references gave those people a sonic foundation where they felt more supported in digesting new ideas. Really enjoy your music!
I think the reason all the synth solos work so well and don't seem excessive is because they are like verses unto themselves. They are doing just as much storytelling as the lyrics. Reminds me of the guitar solo at the end of the Eagles' Hotel California, or the one at the end of Boston's Hitch a Ride. The melodies do my very favorite thing in music, they transcend the notes themselves to somehow carry emotional weight and meaning entirely their own. I feel that in the solos in Cloud Collapse too and I think it's why, yeah, maybe it's objectively too much, but it doesn't matter because you just want more anyway. It's like when your crush likes you too and they're talking way too much and it's just the best thing ever to listen to them go on and on.
Your last comment in the video about how maybe this shows that you should just make the music you enjoy is probably the number one reason I love your music. I feel like you can really hear it in your songs when your enjoy them!
Loved how well presented your chord progressions were. It really added such a clear map of what you were breaking down. Super appreciate this banger breakdown for a banger beat.
Keys with the same root note are usually called "parallel keys", so changing between them can be called "parallel modulation", though technically it isn't modulation, but actually a change in modality.
The thing I liked so much about this song is how much it *didn't* stick to just one thing. It was always building, always evolving, and just when you think you know what's coming next you get hit with the vibe-af synths and vocoder verse. I like electronic stuffs, I like rock stuffs, I love when the two are combined, and I love music that embodies a sort of orderly chaos that just breaks rules and doesn't care. Also your voice is top notch, especially when singing (one of those that sounds just different enough that it kinda surprises me).
You’re so damn inspiring dude, I love your music and your content. It’s what helped me get into music production 2 years ago and is now a dominant part of my life and a passion I love. This song is so awesome man
This is probably my fav work you've done apart from 1st of October. Love the electronic elements with the rock stuff. The vocals sound very good within the composition but I generally like your vocals.
Stream "Cloud Collapse" here fanlink.to/andrewhuang-cloudcollapse and I'd love to know what was most helpful to you in today's video!
You're an example of a
kid saying "I wanna be a Musician"
and
your parents saying "You can be whatever you want"
everyone with a TH-cam account is a DJ or Musician or Beatmaker.
even My Dog, he's a "Musician"
@@joeysaturday3420 congratulations to your dog!
i thought this song was quite similar to the material from siverchair (diorama, my favorite from them). progressive songs with a weird structure are definitely up in my alley!
lol i love your voice by the way, love your halloween tracks, but i guess people love the arrangement, and see other people singing it or styles they envision it. maybe they just want you to produce artist like a music producer. lol i remember seeing these type of comments on some songs, like way to ruin a dope beat with your shitty rap style or shitty lyrics and voice. or the classic, give this beat to a real artist 😹
You and @ApproachingNirvana should do a collab together! :D You both have a similar style and I bet you'd make an amazing song too!
god this is an insanely crafted song, i love these kind of sprawling non-traditional song structures !
It's so prog metal. Hits all the hot points for me. I also loved that he was hearing church hymn in that one section and all I was hearing was Dream Theater 😂
Many consider "Bohemian Rhapsody" to be Queen's masterpiece, and it has a similar kind of no-clue-what-to-expect-next vibe as this. Just a musician(s) letting the rest of us tag along for a journey through your creative process. Also, digging the hair!
I prefer innuendo. While I like bohemian rhapsody I just don't think it's quite as good.
The structure reminded me of Queen a lot, they have a ton of songs that suddenly shift to a different vibe.
We call it Prog Rock. King Crimson would be so much more popular if people gave it a shot.
I've been listening to your songs for years, and as a professional singer I've never understood the folks commenting that they don't like your voice. Your singing is really good, and cloud collapse does a great job highlighting your strengths as a singer and lyricist.
real
They need to listen to Slide With You and see if that changes their mind
Maybe it’s a timbre thing? His voice seems to be mostly mids and highs, so maybe it’s “whiny” to them.
Because it's subjective. It's okay for people to like different things. There are many things I don't enjoy that I don't think are objectively bad.
to me it always seemed a little "disney", like kind of too soft/commercial/friendly sounding and not quite gelling together with the type of songs he was making
but the strained vocal delivery + vocal processing in this one perfectly matches the song and it feels like the intention and the result fully matches and just sounds right (plus the entire rest of the song is incredible)
The best way I could describe this song is by comparing it to a modern day Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s both structureless and well thought out, and full of individually great ideas that should in theory clash, but somehow culminate in one big beautiful masterpiece. Every new verse is one surprise after another. Just goes to show how great Andrew is bridging starkly contrasting ideas and giving them form. Great work Andrew!!
Thanks so much! 😭
@@andrewhuang I totally see the Bohemian Rhapsody comparison, but to me it most reminded me of Pink Floyd with songs like Shine on You Crazy Diamond or Echoes or even Opeth. I actually find your a bit short for that kind of song haha. The through-composed stuff usually speaks more to me, I agree that this could very well be your best.
Yes, Bohemian Rhapsody came to my mind as well.
Now that's a comparison to be proud of!
Man... Every time - Andrew is a genius with his music 😌
Paranoid Android and A Day In The Life by the Beatles are two other good examples of this. I think in all three cases they're actually literally multiple songs that were stitched together, they work but are very unpredictable. And of course the B-side of Abbey Road.
dawg chillllllll
Make this man do the next James Bond theme song. I NEED this in my life.
This song came totally out of left field for you and felt so tangible despite it being a 6 minute progressive rock song! As a HUGE metalhead i’d love to see more of that song’s style come from you
Your voice is one of the things I like the most on your songs.
Truuu
I suspect it landed particularly well with the general audience on this one because it's such a good fit for the style. Taking advantage, intentionally or not, of the specific characteristics of the instrument.
It needed to grow on me for a while, but yeah, Andrew does have a really cool voice! :D
i remember hearing this song in your video and laughing out loud when the song suddenly ended and you just nonchalantly continued with your review, like something incredible didn't just happen!! Such a dope song!
As a prog metal music listener this was right up my alley, I literally listened to this daily for some time and I still put it on regularly. I'm really happy other people like it! I'd guess that while the arrangement and mix and structure certainly contribute I feel like it's the melodies (and chords) that are simply amazing throughout the whole piece. Little repeats here, but I can't find a better word than a "hook". It's just that instead of having a single hook, there's a hook after hook after hook. Love it!
I 100% agree with all of this
It’s the mix. Trust me lol
I was thinking it sounded very prog-y to me as well. The only thing that he could have added to make it full on prog is having a bunch of unison runs.
The song is amazing, and your hair looks so lush as well. You’re really on top of your game right now!!
Hahaha thank you
Lol, I was looking at that slick hair too throughout the video 🤭
Looking good 😙👌
It's that second family addition!! Dad looks good on you Andrew!
Cloud Collapse gave me big Chris Christodoulou vibes. Reminds me a lot of his work on Risk of Rain 2, and con lentitud poderosa in particular. Using a synth like a guitar and doing crazy solos with it is super badass, and taking classic rock and pop inspirations too. Absolutely loved Cloud Collapse.
oh wow I never thought of this before now but you're so right. that's gotta be part of why I love this song so much
Absolutely, there is never enough synth solos
exactly this. between the chris-style leads that drip with emotion, drum fills in verse 3 that feel straight out of a lena raine track, and some of the best vocals andrew has recorded to date it's no surprise it's one of my favorites.
also the synth layering and calling back to the core melody is very reminiscent
I totally hear RoR2
This is classic prog rock! What a killer track Andrew. And wow I just love your lead lines on the Osmose. Your creativity is so inspiring🙌
This song is fantastic, Andrew! It actually blew me away when I first heard it on that new synth vid; I was star struck!
The punchiness of the drums and how forward the synth and bass are in the mix really separated it from so many other tracks you've done, and I could tell you put a *lot* of work into the vocals and really sang with your heart.
Awesome work, man, this is hands down my favorite song from you, and probably the best new song i've heard in quite a while!
You thought wrong my friend lol. I will say it is one of your masterpieces in my opinion. Your choice of arrangements and theory created a piece that I think hits home with a lot listeners. From the lyrics merging with the ominous tones hinting at a hope. Love your content and music dude. And as for electronic and rock music being which is more popular; for myself (also a musician) I want innovations when I hear music that I can't anticipate. You and Rob create plenty of that.
I think a big part of why I liked this so much is that it actually tells a story. So many songs these days have like one section and last for 90 seconds. This song has phases and transitions, it explores different parts of a related sonic world. It's actually interesting and moving! It's really got Shine On You Crazy Diamond vibes. It's like you condensed Pink Floyd making modern music, but it's just you doing it!
Seven minutes into a synth overview was the perfect spot for this track. It gave us emotional context about the instrument that made the music so much sweeter.
What is even more impressive is that on top of being able to compose that, you are able to backtrack all of your reasoning, inspiration and process!
Love to see the longer videos!!
same here, 45 minutes or so is the sweet spot for me
That type of key change is called a parallel key change. Awesome work Andrew. Also congrats on the second child!
Thanks yes that’s it!
Came here to say that. Good stuff!
Glad I looked through the comments. I figured at least a few of us knew this term.
Thank you for this video. I'm trying my absolute best to learn how to make music. I have all the pieces to record it all and the instrument and vocal skills; I'm just missing the know-how with composition and mixing. This video really helped show the WHOLE process.
I think it was your singing in this song that really impressed me. I feel like every time I hear you sing you have more and more control. The genre did help. Overall, your emotiveness an tonality really fit the vibes ⭐️
Love how creative the song is. The different parts feel different enough yet still cohesive.
I think the one complaint with the end is that there isn’t any deadspace after the abrupt cut. With I Want You (She’s So Heavy), there’s about 2-3 seconds of silence at the end of the track. That’s just enough time to give the abrupt cut to actually breathe and (at least for me) highlights that the song is in fact over before the next song is played.
With streaming services now, they try to pick songs that go well with the song you are playing and they don’t have any airgap between your song and the next. This usually isn’t an issue because most songs have a less abrupt end and our brains can register the change from one song to the next.
Cloud Collapse seems to be an even rarer case because the song itself changes to multiple different styles as it progresses. These abrupt changes happen enough where my brain expects the song to continue to cut to new ideas. So when the next song plays with no air gap, my brain goes “oh hey new part of the song.” There have been a few times where the next song fits so well after the end that I didn’t even notice that it was a new song until that artist starts singing. Which is cool in its own right, but slightly disorienting as a listener.
Really awesome song. It’s a super fun listen. Heard it for the first time after watching this video and I’ve already played it way too many times since then
smart
Heck YEAHH! This song inspired me to start writing a song on my own (still in progress, but really takes inspiration from the kinda dark chords contrasted eith the bright solo and the the drums coming crashing in and etc...) and this song is genuinely sooooo good. And so is Sparkle mountain... And so is ALL your music. You are really one of the best musician/teachers I found on TH-cam❤❤❤
💖💖 thank you!
@@andrewhuang You're welcome❤️
There can never be enough synth solos! You should make an entire song that’s just a long synth solo ballad
Okey, so, this song showed that your voice shines when you sing with anguish and on the verge. Like Chester did.
Also, this song has very pleasant chord progression, but most important is that instruments for these chords are perfect.
What describes this song best is two words: powerful emotions.
I absolutely love these song breakdowns - and I especially find it fascinating on such a complex, unique song. You can really see *why* this is such a standout song: from really intricate chord progressions that do a lot more than just looping around, to unique solo sections - it really is so good! I absolutely love the reverb vocal trick!
The solos really feel like they belong because this track feels so prog rock. Your vocals really fit well - especially with the drive.
It's just such a standout song. In all honesty, I think you can hear much more performative the song feels with the reliance on the Osmose, that is, that it lends itself to this sort of really emotive composition and performance. Such love!
This song has the amazing vibes of “the hero’s have lost/are losing” and we’re all watching them get beat up helplessly. I LOVE THIS SONG!!!
I think it's a stars aligning situation. There's a lot of popular songs that were ones the artist just "threw together" thinking everybody would hate it. But when you put the pieces together the vibe is impeccable, for a lot of people. I liked that song because I like weird, experimental, through composed, proggy, passionate, loud, rollercoastery stuff. It's the kind of music I would make if I had the time, interest, skill.
This song is your best yet, because it's so solid. You took metal, molten down by your beautiful singing, and poured it into the mold you composed until everything fit perfectly. No gaps, no overflow, just perfectly solid.
Only realising now how much your channel and videos like this have shaped my entire creative process and career.
Having someone as talented as you are take you through their workflow and show how something incredible got put together is such a valuable thing to put out there. Especially since there’s no “here’s the big message” “I need to explain my art” vibes. You let the song speak for itself and let people interpret it how they feel it while still giving us such thorough insight that lets us appreciate it on a deeper level.
I honestly consider it a bit of a privilege to be able to feel like I have a "favorite singer/band/artist" cause I feel like I'll talk to friends or peers and they won't be able to name a singular singer/band/artist definitively as their favorite. A lot of your music over the years has introduced me to many new genres or sounds that I probably would not have known to seek out otherwise. The variety in your discography has always been something I enjoyed and been a fan of for so many years. This song is yet another example of that and I'm glad a lot of people have been digging it too!
I've always found your music and video work so inspiring and am always looking forward to whatever you put out next.
Huge respect for a 5+ minute song that deserves that runtime and is a banger all the way through!
Bro I really thought your voice was always amazing and now it just keeps getting better. The RASP that you had in this song was just amazing! I appreciate these types of songs from you, it's my favorite part.
Here's why some random musician on the internet thinks this song slaps:
1) The feeling is so solid here. A great rock song (to me) is one where you get chills. I think there's different physical sensations for each genre, but for rock it's chills. Cloud Collapse simply just evokes that vibe, and there's nothing really I can point to other than that. It's the combination of your vocals, the ear candy, the chord progression, those fat drums all together. It kinda reminds me of 2WEI, especially the ear candy and chords
2) This vocal chain fits your voice very well, especially those insane belts. You're an incredible vocalist.
3) Everything feels intentional and cohesive. The weird chords, sick solos, and different sections don't stick out. The key changes don't feel like you're doing a key change just to flex and do a key change. They feel like you're going for something very specific that serves the story of the song, and that's cool.
you make this seem so simple, then when i go into ableton i get tangled up. what i mean is your process is so nice and organized, compared to my simple chaotic mess. keep being you thanks for a new perspective, and vocabulary you have unlocked
through composing is so much fun now i got a name for it hehe
I think the reason for all the love for this is song is that the chord progression is bases in a timeless feeling that many people have heard and fallen in love with over and over again!! Chromatic decent clichés just feel so good, and always a good idea to contrast it aswell. That and the production is on point!! great song, good job ⚡
@ 3:30 wow! what an eye-opening reminder that "perfection" isn't necessary
I think the INCREDIBLE composition is the foundation that makes everything else work. Just terrific voice leading throughout. The listener has no choice but to come along for the ride.
If anyone here is a Depeche Mode fan, the flute-like part greatly reminds me of the haunting synth lead from Speak To Me, in both the chromatic decline of the bass note as well as the general ethereal feel of it (especially apparent in the live version where the higher synth part is stripped back)
I dare say this song was a masterpiece. Just had a bit of everything that make a good song imo
For me the greatness of this song was the sick drum fills (and the drums were just so nice and fat), the innovative chord progressions, the vocals where especially the distortion just makes the song go so much harder, and the damn incredible synth solos
Your work is so inspiring!
I've been gathering these random tips and inspirations for music creation and then applying them at random into every track I make, gradually attaining a larger toolbox. It's a process I enjoy a lot and feels like I've been witnessing the same thing happen with you through your channel over the years and this song feels like an amalgamation of so many inspirations, tricks and ideas you've gathered and shared over the years. It's super cool to see!
Thank you for providing so much inspiration and knowledge
I think something that's different about this song is that it *sounds* like there is so much more emotion behind every inch of it, compared to a lot of your other music that sounds a lot more experimental, emotionally chill or dry, or kinda cerebral in nature (just like... very music nerd heavy). But Cloud Collapse doesn't feel like that. It feels like you put your soul into the entire performance and composition, from vocals, to chord structure choice, to the unusual sections that just got more and more intense within themselves and moving from one to the next. It's all about feelings not composition. (Even though composition is how you communicate feelings... but yeah, you can't really quantify it, you just gotta feel it.) Most people listen to music for the emotions of it, not the musicality of it.
It's a passionate sounding song, and people LOVE passionate songs. I know I do~
I had missed this song. I would agree, it's an awesome song. Cool walk through of the process too. I say it like every video, but you are awesome at music, Andrew, and it's inspiring.
It could just be my own roots in progressive rock, but I’ve always loved when people are willing to pour themselves into something non traditional like this, especially in the electronic music world. It’s very emotionally powerful to me and I think it resonates with people.
A similar vibe to me are songs like Heavyweight by Infected Mushroom or most of the Risk of Rain soundtracks, but especially the song Coalescence off the first OST (closely followed by The Raindrop That Fell To The Sky from Risk of Rain 2). In many ways, I think you and the composer for those games, Chris Christodoulou, did a lot of similar things with these songs and I love that
This song is so masterfully written and produced. That chord progression is magic!
It is a song, whose mood is reflective of the times we live in.
Your level of artistry is reflective of your level of attunement, @ANDREWHUANG.
THANK YOU, Sensei.
I really liked the vocals in this one...a lot of passion behind it
I have no idea how anyone could hate your voice. Every time I hear it in your music I can’t imagine anyone else’s voice fitting. It’s awesome and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
What an awesome song! It reminds me a lot of what The Dear Hunter and Casey Crescenzo do, which, in my vocabulary, is a very nice compliment haha. Excellent work Andrew! (:
That's literally what I was thinking!
Man that’s my favorite band ever, so cool to see other people love and admire them
andrew your singing is amazing. you have an incredible talent for vocal expression that overflows with emotion, and i can’t get enough of it!!
When you listen to enough Dream Theater, a song is never too long, nor are there too many synth solos :))
I think the touch of roughness really sells your voice, especially in this more prog rock sorta context.
Absolutely love the song, it has quickly become one of my favorite songs to listen to!
Inspired by the Beatles, Radiohead and J.S. Bach. And you've ended up with something that reminds me of Muse. Wonderful!
thought fro 100% the same...from the beginning i could close my eyes and see mathew bellamy sing this masterpiece
I found you and Rob about a month ago and I have been loving going back-and-forth watching the content so enjoyable I am a 61-year-old Prague guy and that is how the algorithm led me to you. I’m sure but I have so enjoyed watching what you guys do and our arms are forever wrapped around you here in Kennewick Washington Washington state on the mighty Columbia river.
It bums me out that you don’t like your own voice. I love it 🥺 like this song is incredible and your voice on it is amazing, but your voice on your First of October and Sonic Boom stuff is superb
This is 1000% my favorite song of yours, theres something synth and apocalyptic about it. But the first thing that came to mind Is BLOOD MACHINES
Evidence that progressive music-making is powerful. Truly an excellent song! Some of the production reminds me of Genesis and Rush, specifically song's like Jacob's Ladder. Really great work :)
Edit: There's a song called Bahamian Rap City by Joe Hawley that definitely comes to mind with a piece like this.
Cloud Collapse is so emotional, with so many raw emotions swirling around when I listen to it. I get happy, I get into the grove and I start crying, it just shifts from one to the other.
I love it so much.
Your voice sounded so POWERFUL in this song, and the chain you used in it complimented that so WELL!
It's a masterpiece, and a whole album like this would be absolutely amazing. On one hand it's "just prog" or whatever, but it still has hints of "modern electronic stuff" thrown in and some interesting unique things going on, and I've never heard any other artist/band do anything exactly like it even though it's similar to a lot of great ones.
Personally I think the reason the solos "work better" than solos usually might (although I like solos in general) is because they don't feel like "here's a solo" that come out of nowhere but like a natural direction for the song to go, and the lack of a chorus might also be a factor since there's no "waiting for the solo to end and the chorus to repeat again" or anything like that... it also feels like a unified coherent whole, so they could just be thought of as "extended lead stuff" and not explicitly solos.
yea what the heck this is so good, Andrew is a fantastic producer but something that prevents me from putting his music on repeat is his voice, similar to Jacob collier I can't listen to it for that long, but this song is an exception. Super well done Andrew
About the thing you said about your singing voice: I don't know exactly why but it fits so well here. I never found your singing voice bad at all. I just think that, of course, every voice has a shortlist of certain vibes that it's just perfect for. And, I suppose, for whatever reason, the vibe of Cloud Collapse was one of those perfect vibes for your voice. I don't even really know fully why beyond that but I know that you just own it in this song.
For me this song falls into the same category as purple rain. Even if you don't listen to the lyrics it just sounds meaningful; almost spiritual. It leaves me behind with the feeling of having experienced a very special unique moment and wanting the song to last longer (even though it's already 6 minutes long).
Absolutely well done ❤ It's a beautiful song.
PS: I really like your voice regardless of the genre :)
This is easily your best work. I am completely blown away by it. I love the prog elements, the composition is superb, your vocals are their absolute best.
I love this song and your voice is great! I don't know how people can think that it's like the worst part of your songs. I love the flow and the tone of all the instruments. The slower parts are almost haunting, and the faster parts feel almost jazzy, despite it being a rock song. Overall, wonderful track! Thank you for sharing your fantastic music with us :-)
This has been the song I actively show friends of mine. We all largely are into rock music, some hip hop, not a large amount of electronic music. I think the the slow burning builds of the song really get payed off well and I remember at “burst wide open now”, one friend specifically said “he should sing like that more often”. You do have a great break up in your voice when you scream (like in Bookmobile). I think your production gave a lot of extra oomph with the growing distortion as well, not to detract from the vocal performance (I love your voice ❤️).
Thank you for going so into detail on this song, Ive been subscribed for a decade and was one of the people who commented saying it was their favorite song of yours. I’ve been teaching myself Reaper for the last year and your insight into production has been a constant help and inspiration.
Keep making awesome music, you always have ❤️
damn andrew i think this may possibly be your best song
😄
This song still makes me emotional, I can’t even put it into words how much of a masterpiece it is.
every song you make is your best song imo
❤️❤️
I can't believe I missed this song! I love it so much! And yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head: Through-composed electronic music is extremely niche. I was always interested in taking rock influence into electronic music, but so far that didn't really work out too well. Rock guys have a lot more tolerance for such stuff demographically in my experience. Also, rock guys rarely really cross into electronic music, which is a shame, because electronic music could do so much, but the people who *usually* listen to it often don't appreciate that kind of complexity, while the people who probably would *usually* don't listen to a lot of electronic music.
Also, there *is* something to be said about 'just' executing very well on a concept. Like a 2 minute solo can kill a song or help make it one of the best songs ever written - it depends completely on the actual solo. Same for other "advanced" concepts, such as key changes and/or modulation. It can feel amazing and lift a song from "good" level into "excellent" territory. Or it can feel forced and contrived. This song executes extremely well on all it does, imho.
One last thought: I think it helps, that the palette of sounds is more like a "big" rock production and less like a "here is every sound and timbre imaginable" EDM kind of approach. I think that helps glue everything together more, a lot. The - relatively - low count of types of sounds (instruments/timbres) allows the listener to focus more on the actual content. Kinda the antithesis to Bro Step (I love both genres a lot, for extremely different reasons).
I love the chord progressions, modal mixtures, diminished chords, multiple synth solos, and through-composed structure!
Maybe it's just all of it together just works? Like how if you have 1 really dissonant chord in the context of a diatinic song it really sticks out, but if you have a more complex chord progression surrounding a very dissonant chord it doesn't stick out as much.
My absolute favorite song you dropped for sure. Stuff with Sonic Boom are sick too, but that one is just pure chef's kisses. I'd say I would've loved a resolution at this end, but the sharp cut at the end kinda grew on me.
it's so fun watching andrew try out a gang of different styles/genres while at the same time perfecting his craft at his particular space-themed signature sound.
like my personal favourite andrew album is still cosmos, but his recent stuff really has me believing he has a way better project in him
The synth and drum solo at the end of the song is absolute PEAK bro amazing
I immediatelly fell inlove with this song, not only because it is interesting musicaly but also, and I think it grabbed my attention first, because your voice really shines here. I don't remember a lot of songs when you have so great and also not so easy melody. You sang it well and I could hear so much emotion in your voice, it's beautiful.
i want you to know that i instantly appreciated the "i want you (she's so heavy)" reference with the noise and the abrupt ending. love that track. love that album. love this track. nice work
The Glyn Johns setup really compliments your playing style on the drums. They sound awesome! Love the non-traditional crafting of some more traditional methods.
Thank you for sharing!!
the fact that the song ends in the middle of such an intense part just leaves me hanging
From the first time I heard it I wanted an extended mix. It feels like it ends so abruptly, and it pains me every time I get lost in the solo at the end and then just... nothing. Maybe that's one of the reasons it sticks so strongly in my mind, but man, everything about this song is phenomenal and I want a resolution. Taking you on a journey that climaxes in this massive solo, never repeating, then a reflection at the end wrapping it all together.
Regardless, I think you hit the nail on the head with what you said at the end of the video. I listen to a lot of genres and this says prog rock which makes me not expect any repetition and if it's not 10+ minutes, then it's too short. Lol
We love you, Andrew. Thank you for all you do. It's evident to me you put your heart and soul into this craft and from the bottom of my heart I appreciate you.
I just really enjoy that kind of synth/space rock sound, it's sad yet so beautiful and the solo's just hit really hard. I saw a few comments on the original video saying this as well, but it makes me think of the soundtracks of games like celeste and risk of rain 2. It's a really cool genre and honestly i'd love it if you made more of these types of songs. Thank you so much for making this song it is actually one of my favourite songs right now
I love you experimental stuff, some of your best work is when you just go all in and make something weird that you love, and this sprawling soundscape is wonderful! I've been following your work since the SongsToWearPantsTo days, and your incredible versatility and neverending growth never ceases to amaze. And I do love your voice, your singing has always been great!
u did a gr8 job, congrats! ur love and passion for music is contagious
Hey Andrew o/
If there's any one comment I would want to make, it's that your takeaway about making what you're inspired to make is 100% what makes hearing your music really fun :)
In a lesser addition to that, I think the people who in the past may have not enjoyed different song structures or an aspect of your vocals, may have found familiarity in your references. I think the execution of the references gave those people a sonic foundation where they felt more supported in digesting new ideas.
Really enjoy your music!
I think the reason all the synth solos work so well and don't seem excessive is because they are like verses unto themselves. They are doing just as much storytelling as the lyrics. Reminds me of the guitar solo at the end of the Eagles' Hotel California, or the one at the end of Boston's Hitch a Ride. The melodies do my very favorite thing in music, they transcend the notes themselves to somehow carry emotional weight and meaning entirely their own. I feel that in the solos in Cloud Collapse too and I think it's why, yeah, maybe it's objectively too much, but it doesn't matter because you just want more anyway. It's like when your crush likes you too and they're talking way too much and it's just the best thing ever to listen to them go on and on.
Andrew, this is brilliant!!! We need an entire album of this. Your singing is great!
Let's gooooooo man 🔥
I guess a lot of us fell in love with the song because it's so deeply rooted in classic/prog rock and... y'know, 70s vibes
The songs for your daughter on the first of October albums are some of my favorites. Your voice sounds great on those and makes the song for me
Your last comment in the video about how maybe this shows that you should just make the music you enjoy is probably the number one reason I love your music. I feel like you can really hear it in your songs when your enjoy them!
Loved how well presented your chord progressions were. It really added such a clear map of what you were breaking down. Super appreciate this banger breakdown for a banger beat.
Honestly that was the most intricate part of editing so I appreciate that haha
@@andrewhuangmade it really clear!!!
this is your calling, I am so enthralled by this, please make more
The sound and composition of this song is so unique and powerful, I could get lost in it.
omg thanks for featuring this song on a video, I love it!!!! BANGERS lately with this, and the song from Sonic Boom I'm here whenever you need me
Keys with the same root note are usually called "parallel keys", so changing between them can be called "parallel modulation", though technically it isn't modulation, but actually a change in modality.
The thing I liked so much about this song is how much it *didn't* stick to just one thing. It was always building, always evolving, and just when you think you know what's coming next you get hit with the vibe-af synths and vocoder verse. I like electronic stuffs, I like rock stuffs, I love when the two are combined, and I love music that embodies a sort of orderly chaos that just breaks rules and doesn't care. Also your voice is top notch, especially when singing (one of those that sounds just different enough that it kinda surprises me).
The Dear Hunter vibes with a signature Andrew spin, absolutely love it. Love this style of breakdown, too!
You’re so damn inspiring dude, I love your music and your content. It’s what helped me get into music production 2 years ago and is now a dominant part of my life and a passion I love.
This song is so awesome man
This is probably my fav work you've done apart from 1st of October. Love the electronic elements with the rock stuff. The vocals sound very good within the composition but I generally like your vocals.
The biggest reasons I resonated with this one so much are the amazing vocal melodies