Happy Monday and welcome to the first edition of "Nick's Picks" in which I will be exploring - in classical terms - a piece of electronic music of Nick's (Nick Valente aka Rex Riot) choice. This week's pick: Tommy's Theme by Noisia.
The first section (or as the classical folks are fond of calling it: the exposition) runs from 0:00 to 1:05. We will call this section A. We can break the A down into two main parts and a codetta (return to the home key after the exposition). The first main part of the A section we will call a repeats four chords - C#minor, A, F#minor, G#minor - the entire time. While there is no further harmonic development within a, almost every iteration of the four chords ushers in a new voice. Plucked (pizzicato) strings with drums, synths, hi-hats, basses.
At 0:39, the key and instrumentation both change. This is b. The same four chord progression is played but this time it sounds three semitones higher, or in the key of E minor. It becomes E minor, C, A minor, B. This key change on its own would create a striking shift in atmosphere, but Noisia couples it with the addition of a choral melody to beautiful effect.
From 0:51 to 1:05 there is a string codetta.
The next section we can call B. While no new harmonic material is introduced, Noisia makes this section as distinct as can be from the previous section through the use of timbre. Also, the iterations of four chords from the a and b sections only occur twice each before switching and each progression is played three times in the B section. So you can break it down as a'b'a'b'a'b' with a' and b' being variations of a and b.
At 2:22 A returns. It is repeated from the exposition but shortened to create symmetry with the B sections.
At about 3:00 B' is heard and lasts until the Coda at 4:20.
Simple right? It's the timbre that makes all the difference. It would be hard to play this song on guitar and keep it interesting the whole time because it's just the same two sets of chords repeated over and over. That said, the amount of energy which went into the creation of these specific timbres is what makes the piece great.
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