The drop is a strange and misunderstood part of music. On the one hand, there are a group of a people who consider drops to be exclusive to dubstep, and so they despise the whole idea. Today we’ll attempt to prove to you that that drops do not have to fit the common definition of “crazed descent into half-drunk mania in the form of music.” There are lots of different kinds of drops, and they vary in size and frequency. Many songs have more than one drop, some of the drops are actually soothing, if you can believe it. Some drops follow a massive buildup, it’s usually like the finale of a fireworks explosion, where they’ve saved the best combinations of sound for the sake of an interesting climax. Other drops appear suddenly and take the listener by surprise. They always represent a shift, noticeably different than the rest of the song, into a new series of melodies. Some drops actually escalate, which seems contrary to their title. It’s a difficult thing to explain, so without further ado, this is the super drop.
This is the Blisswave.
1. Danger – 1:42
This song illustrates two principles listed above quite well. The surprise drop, and the drop in general. One expects a peaceful trance song, and then when the epic drop happens about 30 seconds in, it takes you quite by surprise. The buildup is not a steady escalation. A small sound trickles around for a moment, trails off, and then a magniloquent explosion rocks you off your feet. I am particularly in love with this song. It gives one an epic feeling. The drops which follow sound like the footsteps of an enormous monster.
Support the artist: https://soundcloud.com/2emedanger
2. ODESZA – Bloom
Here is an example of the relaxing drop. This one has more of an escalation effect pre-drop, but it’s just to introduce the sample that will exist throughout the song. When it does come, one is surprised to feel even more relaxed. You might feel the desire to dance slowly, but there is still something inherent in the melody which insists that we, as the listeners, adopt a tranquil mood. Drop occurs at 29 seconds, and then again at 1:43.
Support the artist: http://odesza.com/
3. James Vincent McMorrow – Cavalier (SAFIA cover)
Here’s another great example of a chill drop. This one has a really long buildup, and the song doesn’t really peak out until about 3:28 seconds. There’s a smaller drop that kicks off the vocals at 1:29, but after that one there’s mostly just electronic soul food. I love the synth vibrations under McMorrow’s voice. Real quality.
Support the artist: http://jamesvmcmorrow.com/
4. Noisia – Tommy’s Theme
Let me preface this one by saying right off the top that half of you are going to turn it off when it hits about 1:04 seconds. I put this track on the list to illustrate what a typical drop sounds like. It’s too big a part of the definition to be left off of the list. This song is kind of anarchical and chaotic. Full of angst, trepidation, and rawness. I applaud you if you can listen to the whole thing with an open mind. You might like it, but then again, you probably already know if you will. It takes a special kind of person. Enjoy, maybe?
Support the artist: https://www.noisia.nl/
5. Chrome Sparks – Goddess
This song is definitely special. It begins with a long, slow-burn melodic approach, and then at about 1:44 it pretty much picks you up and launches you into outer space. It does this again at 2:51. Very loud speakers or good headphones, plus a lot of volume are the best way to listen. This is definitely not the last time Chrome Sparks gets featured on this blog. Super quality work.
Support the artist: http://chromesparks.bandcamp.com/
Here’s a link to a playlist!
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHi8W5D5pPtq1yjZyneFiYtp2IUi-iEI5
That’s all for this week of Blisswave. If you want to email suggestions for future themes, or have requests for music you’d like to see featured, email me at ethantrunnell@gmail.com. The only promise I can make is to consider your suggestion. See ya next week, and enjoy the beats.
Ethan Trunnell
Blog Writer – Aggie Radio
