[C] First Round #7 (Displaced vs. LG Orbifold)

Listen to both songs and select the one you prefer.

Download Links:

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Displaced
Half-Life 2 - LG Orbifold

Streaming:

Displaced: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
LG Orbifold: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:

Wow, Displaced is fantastic. Damn, I love it. Really, really good. Amon Tobin ain't no joke. From the first two and a half minutes (which were really nice), I thought that maybe it would never actually go into the frantic breakbeat that I so wished it would, but it does. It does everything right. It might not be for everybody, but I will save this fucker to my mp3-man isn't it amazing how I still say mp3-man and not iPod, and it only has 20GB and it's always full.

It's unfortunate for LG Orbifold that it's paired with what basically plays out like a vastly superior version of itself.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Displaced
My only real exposure to Splinter Ringtones has been "Ruthless;" given that, it's easy to see why my expectations are low. The endless succession of off-key loops and grinding noise that opens the track isn't encouraging, though unlike "Ruthless" things eventually do shake up. Unfortunately, the addition of a frenetic backbeat only works for a second; the track still never goes anyplace until it's almost over. The last quarter has some real promise; it's too bad it was such a slog to get there.

Half-Life 2 - LG Orbifold
So, will this be the Half-Life track that finally breaks away from the heavy-handed industrial sound design to present something listenable outside of context? The inclusion of a melody, even in a harsh electronic form, is an encouraging step, but it's soon all but drowned out by sound design. If this track had taken that melody and really run with it, things would have been oh so different.

Surasshu is correct in that these songs are cut from similar cloth, though I can't share his enthusiasm. Vote goes to the underdog, which as of now is Displaced.

Displaced is ok for the opening gameplay cinematic in Chaos Theory (well you let it hang on the press start screen), but outside listening is mediocre as well. Just wanted to point out there are some very good tracks in the series besides Ruthless and Displaced. Wouldn't have been my choices, but they are not bad though.

You people have no ears on you. Just because it's not from a game/genre you're familiar with doesn't mean it can't have melody and wonderful sound.

Displaced could be said to take a while to go somewhere but give it a proper listen and you'll notice it is a constant build up and a direction. The first build up ends, the new beat picks up and start building up to the next part. The delivery is nothing sort of awesome, constantly adding a new layer to marvel at, and it really only hangs still at the last 30 seconds or so, but that's something Tobin does all the time and I can't say I'm that fond of it. I suppose the song's biggest "flaw" is how it doesn't cater for everyone. Luckily I love it.

It's a real shame it's up against LG Orbifold. I am one of the biggest HL2 music supporters here but I'm forced to vote for the song I like better.

Damn... Well as I was listening to 'Displaced' I was just generally disappointed with it until the last little section where things picked up a bit, however listening to 'LG Orbifold' afterward actually made Displaced sound better (which, after listening to that horrible 'Ruthless' song, I'm glad). Vote goes to Displaced, I suppose, though it's more like a win by default than me actually liking it.

'LG Orbifold' - This is so boring. I don't really hear a melody as much as I hear random notes (in key) being pressed in a rhythmic fashion that doesn't offset the bland drumbeat underneath the piece. Why is the click track still on in the background? This is not much of a song, more like an interlude that belongs over an over-stylized heist scene in a bad movie.

'Displaced' - This one has a little more to say for itself than the other piece, but it still just sounds like random musical ideas strung together into another montage of modern electronica ideas. This is alright, but not very hooky or song-like in any way.

Displaced gets the vote, but I'm hoping that it gets swiftly eliminated in coming rounds.

Displaced is not as horrible as Ruthless, but I can´t say I do like it. Don´t really enjoy the electronic sound wall of LG Orbifold either, but it´s shorter and less of an ordeal, so it gets my vote.

Displaced certainly does live up to its namesake, as I was eagerly awaiting the whole time when this awesome breakbeat would come in. It's neat when it does but it takes too long to get to that nice part, which LG Orbifold avoids by getting to its nice percussion parts sooner. What a distinctive pairing, as these atmospheric electronic songs definitely seem to be a niche crowd.

Oh hell yes more Tobin. "Displaced" actually sounds displaced and disjointed, but other than other pieces in the contest, that quality really enhances the music here. I think I prefer "Ruthless", though this one is also insanely awesome, replete with distortion and eerie progressions (the break at 4:38 is crazy awesome). Yeah, disjointed, but quite progressive.

Sadly, "LG Orbifold" won't get my vote but it's still really impressive, and similar in sound to its opponent. Nicely percussive, minimalist and electronic. Perfect blend, and executed with class.

"Displaced" - 9/10
"LG Orbifold" - 8.5/10

Amon Tobin for BSC 2008.

LG Orbifold decimated my speakers within the first 10 seconds, it was awesome. Crazy stuff happening, too bad it gets weaker as it goes on. Displaced presents an atmosphere that keeps me interested and the last minute and 30 seconds make this an easy choice between two seemingly similar tracks.

Amon Tobin is awesome. Portion 2 of this song is fantastic. Actually, the whole is pretty neat.

LG Orbifold is in EXACTLY THE SAME GENRE AND STYLE AS THE FIRST HALFLIFE 2 TRACK YOU BASTARDS VOTED ON. HOW THE HELL CAN YOU NOT FUCKING TELL YOU MORONS. This is pretty good, too. Wait, is this a version of one of the songs from the 1st Half-Life? Killer. This is pretty awesome, and it will get my vote.

This Splinter Cell track feels a bit more sensical than the previous one... for some reason. It's very surreal and off-putting but is interesting to listen to, still don't quite feel where it's going but I think it covers it's tracks fairly well in terms of how it develops.

LG Orbifold is a bit more conventional but doesn't balance that with anything particularly exciting in terms of melody or development.

I can't say I enjoy these 2 but Displaced impressed me a bit more.

: Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Displaced
: Half-Life 2 - LG Orbifold

LG Orbifold is pretty much downhill from the start, but honestly, you really can't get better than the intro, so all is forgiven. Cool beats, nice synths, it's the sexy.

Total shame it's up against Displaced, though, which is the double sexy. Awesome tense intro, and then awesome beats, and then the final section comes in and completely melts your face off. I love this man.

I'm sure Amon Tobin's work on Chaos Theory makes for excellent in-game ambiance, but as far as listening music goes, it's shit.

Instavote for LG Orbifold, which is atmospheric, but actually has a melody.