Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Tom Birbeck - Mistakes that Make Us

2/24/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Tom Birbeck

Mistakes that Make Us
self-released; 2014

3.0 out of 5

Bt Jamie Funk
Tom Birbeck is an artist from South East Kent in England but is currently attending university for popular music in Falmouth, Cornwall. I didn’t know you could even study popular music in the first place. He recently released Mistakes that Make Us, which is a five-song EP.

The biggest issue we have with the EP is the quality of the recording. Birbeck isn’t a great singer as he often slurs his words together and is sometimes off key but there is nothing done to treat this problem in post-production. A major problem is the dynamics. He vocals go from being way too loud to being barely audible and both happen in the same song. 

Just take a listen to the last song “Mistakes That Make Us” to know what I’m talking about. Using a compressor in this situation is more than necessary. On that same track I barely even noticed the drumming, which is so low in the mix I was honestly baffled. That is just the beginning of the problems that come from the quality of the music. Birbeck is either going to have to get more experience an as engineer or work with someone who know what they are doing. 

Birbeck makes a variation of metal that feels like a mix between old Spinal Tap and ‘80s metal. It revolves around a distorted guitar that is usually playing power chords with marginal lead work. There is some talent that shines through on certain songs such as “Savior” and “World On Fire” but it was almost impossible for me to get past the bad production value. There really isn’t a whole lot that needs to be said about this release. 

If Birbeck hopes to have a career in playing music for a living there is going to have to be a number dramatic changes that need to happen. Hopefully he has some good teachers to lead him in the right direction and if you’re an engineer in the area you might want to reach out to him if you think he has potential.
Become A Fan
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact