These are the underdog tracks of 2024 that for whatever reason did not get as much attention as they deserved. This is a chance for people to again discover some unearthed gems of sonic bliss.

Gems of 2024

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Mitch Murder - Ocean Avenue (FREE DOWNLOAD)

The track "Magnetized Lens" is an acid house instrumental mix. It starts with a lead synth and an epic hook synth for texture, both with automated fading. The synth harmonizes with the UAD Polymax synth horn and eventually transitions joined by a big room after-party electronic drum kit. The middle part of the mix features an electrifying dance beat with various TB-3 acids and synclavier sub-bass. These were all sent through bus processing before the final master bus. My intention with this composition was to journey the listener in their mind through cosmic light as if bouncing from one "Magnetized Lens" to another.

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Magnetized Lens

Floating on top of the pantheon on top of the clouds. Jumping weightless as if no gravity exists to hold you down. The sound of strings echo through the pantheon and the crystalline magic of the moment takes your soul to new heights.

Top Of The Pantheon

I was watching a sports game once, and the score was close as both teams competed for a victory. The crowd was riveted and completely invested in trying to will their team to win. I could see the intensity on their faces as they hoped for this more than anything. It made me wonder what would happen if we used this same type of intense focus to make the world better. Why do we seem to waste so many moments? The harbinger of Warlock awaits as we continue to embrace apathy.

Warlock

As I sprinted up the platforms, the Pantheon towered above me, illuminated by the setting sun. Clouds drifted below as I leaped hundreds of feet in an attempt to reach the highest floating rise. With each step, I struggled to catch my breath. The serene evening provided a picturesque backdrop as I finally reached my destination: the top of the Pantheon. Also, listen to the track "Top of the Pantheon."

Solid Levels

I hurried across the dance floor, the vibrant colors swirling around me. The hot night and the bright lights made it hard to see as sweat dripped down my forehead. I saw the rabbit trying to escape and chased it as the music throbbed and the crowd danced on. Finally, I cornered it at the plaza and watched it climb the wall and disappear out the window. It had taken my pocket watch, money, and most importantly, my time. That darn rabbit!

Leap Year

The music was created using the Roland MC-101 groovebox, and then mixed, bus processed, and mastered in Logic Pro X.

Mammatus

The chorus of "Merry Go Round (Neon City)" originally started as a bridge section for another track I was working on called "Sedate". I created a new track template and built this song around it. I still plan on releasing "Sedate" as well. It's a very different, darker style of track, more intended for Halloween or a gothic theme. It features the same darkwave and synth-wave pads and beats. "Merry Go Round (Neon City)" is similar but focuses on a retro-futuristic landscape with hedonistic zombies searching for drinks and gambling their lives away in the desert heat.

Merry Go Round (Neon City) 

Dust is settling down on the dark hallways
Where we’re supposed to meet 
Clock strikes midnight again as you
Scamper down the stairs
Holding your little feet

Make my way through the merry go round 
Laser lights dragon wings
Go and grab the sound 

All these zombies on the strip keep holding
out for fresh drink in the summer heat 
Loss of reality impairs their judgment 
and they’ll desperately gamble everything 

Make my way through the merry go round 
Laser lights dragon wings
Go and grab the sound 
Make my way through the merry go 
Merry go round 

Life in the retrofuturistic desert is 
a mix 
of escape and debauchery 
Watching my shoulder for the 
Warlocks waiting out the next prey
their compelled to seek 

Make my way through the merry go round 
Laser lights dragon wings
Go and grab the sound 
Make my way through the merry go 
Merry go round 

Neon city beckons me for another hand 
Don’t throw it out for love’s sake 
Rolling the dice could be your last test 
Pulling you down or maybe richer than you’ve ever dreamed

Make my way through the merry go round 
Laser lights dragon wings
Go and grab the sound 
Make my way through the merry go 
Merry go round 

Your hot sweat keeps me up til the dawn 

Merry Go Round (Neon City)

A common term related to investing can also apply to various aspects of life. The fear of missing out, driven by others' participation, can lead to negative outcomes. This track was started about a month ago using Model 84 and 77 Softube synthesizers, along with a Juno emulation. I incorporated guitars similar to those used in "Endless Summer Daze" and "Unrealized Future," and it features a synth bass Arturia preset called "Pet Shop Boys."

FOMO 

They all wait in line for the money machine 
Caught in an avalanche of emotion 
Don’t wanna rain on your parade

Fear of missing out
Now you’ve jumped into the
shark tank
You thought you’d join in too late 
Now the bank has taken it all away 
 
So you found what your hoping to emulate 
Everyone’s winning and you wanna 
partake in it

Fear of missing out
Now you’ve jumped into the
shark tank
You thought you’d join in too late 
Now the bank has taken it all away

FOMO

Retro wave synthwave remix abstracted version. 

Original version: https://soundcloud.com/markantares/unrealized-future

I reminisce about old TV shows and books we read in the 80s and 90s that depicted what the future would be like. None of them seemed to accurately predict what it turned into. However, I believe it’s more of a delayed phenomenon, where there are unforeseen technological advancements and other developments that are still far beyond our current timeline.

This was not my first song choice for remix yet I opened up the track one day and started switching synths around, made a different style beat and then put an overall layer of vertigo over the top of the mix. I sat with it for a few weeks until I liked where it was at. I hope you enjoy this version as well as the first. 

Unrealized Future

The future we thought was the 80s dream
in 2025 was not the same thing
Visions of where we hoped to be
Was a stranger reality

Some might say I’m stuck in my ways
That I like living in the past
Retrofuture dream that our society
would not realize

We said at the time in 30 years
we’ll have flying cars
with jetpacks hovering skates
Ended up with small tv screens
plastic everywhere in our oceans
and lakes

Some might say I’m stuck in my ways
That I like living in the past
Retrofuture dream that our society
would not realize

The temperatures warm and the climates changed
and there some who believe we live in an ice age
You will know when life it has improved
Spend some time outdoors without burning away

Some might say I’m stuck in my ways
That I like living in the past
Retrofuture dream that our society
would not realize

Unrealized Future - Abstracted Remix

I completed this track last May. Although I hadn’t felt like sharing it, I thought it was important to include it in the tracks I’ve finished this year. It’s an unusual track to me because it evokes a sense of hiding from the spotlight. It mentions superheroes battling villains and captures a unique intensity. I’m not sure how this peculiar track will be received, but it does seem to have a strong emotional impact, even if it’s not as upbeat as some of my more recent tracks. I also created a music video for it with some interesting imagery which briefly shared and again now:

https://youtu.be/qRz3-hKlZbo

Hiding out from the Spotlight 
Go from street to street  
Corner to corner 
Aisle to aisle all before the escape 
Scurry down the hillside 
trailing meadow disguise my cape
One time I found my bearings 
Won’t be long until the return 

Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Where is the spotlight
Find my way over 
Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Why are the answers
Always 
in front of me 

One can bring one can try 

Gliding out with super powers
Now this ancient city trusts me 
Battle to battle 
Counting the hours
Waiting to save the day 
All the villians running for cover
They all fail to make their run
They all never had no fun and 
can’t take ours away
If I can’t make this journey
What will be left to return 

Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Where is the spotlight
Find my way over 
Oh yeah yeah yeah 
Why are the answers
Always 
in front of me 


Hiding out - from the spotlight beams 
See them silhouette the dark sky
through the mountains they make pathways
Looking for one they’ll just have to wait 
until the return  
Hiding out - battling villains with steel
Save the city from being burned

Spotlight

This track was one of the last holdouts from April that I hadn't shared yet. Originally titled "Acid Rain (the Good Kind)," the music has always resonated with me, though the title never quite fit. I even uploaded a live studio jam of it, combining the track with Arturia and a Roland MC-101:

https://youtu.be/cE6TVjUCZ9w?si=y3Nuc4hlwBe55T6u

At that time, I was deeply exploring Arturia Acid V emulations, but I feel this piece leans more toward electro-funk dance than acid. It certainly had the potential to be on my "Pantheon Escape" album, but for some reason, it didn't make the final cut. I attribute that to being in the midst of a move and taking a critical look at my life and musical journey. Hence the new title, "Salient Reflections."

When I listen back to the creation of this jam, its best traits are the production, bass melody, and the rocking solo at the end, similar to the one found in "Sea vs Sky."

Gems of 2024

Mark Antares