TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Can't]

I like the perky piano riff at the beginning and your characteristically crisp and creative drum patterns. Again, I'm tempted to say the texture of the piece is minimal, but the piano just feels so full and echo-y that it helps fill out the texture nicely. I also wasn't sure this piece was what I would call "jazz" at first, but I can see some of the jazzy harmonic elements start to come through at the piano solo at 1:20. There are also a lot of cool additions to the sound design later in the piece, from the airy guitar and percussive elements to the prominent hi-hats. The core harmonic framework here is pretty simple, but you have built such a luscious tapestry of sound around it. I also think the abrupt ending of the piece works really well here. Another 10/10, LLAAPPSSEE! ^^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

This may be the most minimal or faux-"traditional" piece I've made to date. It's the first in a theme of tracks that would come to be over the years.

A bit of an oddity in my work. I think I'm a bit hypocritical in my taste. I love densely ever-changing complicated pieces and I also like loop-based chill-out stuff. Timbre & texture really help though. When it works, it works.
If it ain't jazz in the beginning what would you call it? I guess I attune to a nebulous idea of jazz...the free spirit/syncopation/improv/self-styling? There are many sub-genres and sub-sub-genres XD. None of that really matters to me. I simply want to make stuff. No pretense. I find myself dipping into any of those lines. I'm really just trying to stuff myself into some kinda relatable hole. Especially on a website that offers only some niche genres. As an autodidact you do what you do. Human brains gotta box stuff up though, it's what we do. I'm not much of a music theorist. I just make stuff and try to force into a pretty little dress.

The ending of this leads into an old song I've not release yet.
Really appreciate the thoughtful reviews. Thank you.

[Glow]

I like the dark, moody tone of the (E-piano?) at the beginning. The airy guitar-like instrument at :56 is awesome, and you contrast the smooth legato of the guitar nicely with the plunky piano riff at 1:26. At times, the mix sounds a bit over-compressed here, but that may just be the bitcrush. It's hard to tell. The piano solo at 2:10 helps hit the piece home nicely. Despite the somewhat bizarre sound design and rhythmic content of the piece, the fairly "tame" structure of the piece helps me stay grounded and follow the flow of it. Strong work yet again, LLAAPPSSEE! ^^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

It is a rhodes throughout for the general ambience. There is no guitar in this. I think what you're hearing at :56 is a kalimba sample? I can't remember, heh. It may just be modified and resampled e-piano plucks. A lot of the sounds in this track have some kinda distortion on them. The mix is hopefully a bit stuffy...cottony; warm...like a thick blanket or something. I could be making fluffy excuses, too. Maybe the mix ideas just don't pan out in retrospect. Bizarre can be good or bad, no? Hopefully intriguing. I'll leave tradition/expectation/normality to someone else. This is mine -- warts and all. Someone's oddity can be another persons normality? Wait till you hear some of my other stuff? :P

[TheSheepman'sKnots]

Yeah, I'm beginning to regret the fact that I didn't discover your music earlier. Rhythmically, this is an extremely creative piece. The crisp drums, pulsating synth riffs, and pensive piano lines all blend in really well, and the texture overall feels really grating, harsh, and distorted, despite being pretty minimal and even furtive-sounding for most of the piece. Really evocative work, my friend. You've earned yourself a new follower. Cheers!

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

It's ok. You're here now, and that's all that matters. There's too much everything out there and it's wonderful you've found me here, in this little corner of the digital world.

The pensive/furtive feeling you mention is pretty spot on. Was also trying to capture a sorta frightened/mysterious/beckoning vibe.

In the book, the MC finds himself impossibly transported to a dark hotel hallway once he exits an elevator. Far down the corridor he can see a very dim light coming from the Sheep Man's room and navigates towards it.

Thank you for your follow. I'm brewing the spiked kool-aid now.

[Tired of This Place]

I like the catchy piano riff at the beginning. The rhythmic content is super nice between the piano and drums, and once the piano solo takes off I'm really captivated by the piece despite the minimal texture. The fade-out and subsequent fade-in during the last minute or so was a bit odd, and really disrupted the organic vibe the first part of the piece had imo. That said, this has to be one of the more unique pieces I've heard on NG recently, and I'm impressed by the production quality and melodic content here. Keep at it, LLAAPPSSEE! ^^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

There is more to this song -- 2 other pieces. I might release the unfinished follow up/companion piece (I've been currently messing around with). It was intended to be a lead in to another song that uses that modified backwards section as a base for an entirely different track. Unfortunately, the follow up track's file got a bit corrupted. I might get around to fixing it or something if I can, or releasing as is. Just the way these things go some times. I could easily cut that out, but I dunno, I just kinda like it, haha. In general, I have a thing for weird outros. These particular songs you've reviewed so far are a bit tamer than my usual stuff -- more focused on that organic feeling you mentioned. A bit stripped down. Thank you so much for listening. : )

[Just Say OK]

Really relaxing and catchy piece! I'm hearing a couple of non-traditional jazz sounds in here, especially the clap, but otherwise it sounds pretty organic and down-to-earth. I really like the sax solos, although the backing track gets really repetitive and stale after a while. The rhodes help break up the sax solo, though, even if after 5 minutes of listening to the same exact texture it's hard to keep focus. Given that this is for a video game, I think you did a great job of balancing the variability and dynamism of a genre like jazz with the repetitive constraints of composing for a video game. The melodic content is great, btw - refreshing, but also not too distracting. If I'm ever the manager of a wine bar at a country club, this easily plays through the speakers most night. Keep up the good work, Kejayco! ^_^

[Welcome to Ram Ranch - Cloppin' Clyde]

Ah, yes. Love the bluesy vibe and fun vocals. You tread the line between April Fools' joke and actually good piece really well - I love the mic distortion at 1:09 and "yee-hoo"s in the background. You really sell the organic country feel and old-timey ranchers' gathering theme really well throughout. The little excited kid speech at 1:40 is another highlight, and the production work with this many vocals in the mix is seriously impressive. Really well-executed feel-good piece with comedic upside here, "y'all." Also, special SO to @Dryest for not being able to talk to women. I feel you, man. :P

Also, let me know when you're doing another one of these. I'll bring my boots and stirrups!

Dry responds:

fr.

[Null Chillah // Chaffeur]

Again, I'm loving your eerie atmosphere and sound design. The frantic, crisp drums here are especially nice. The prominent bass at 2:30 is a great touch - I can't tell if it's actually louder there or just more conspicuous because the rest of the texture drops off. I would've liked to see you sell the transition between the "two songs" here a little better. With the similar sound design and tone to the vocals, it's totally doable. The very ending could also use a bit more creativity imo - the end of the verse feels pretty abrupt, but following it is a straight fade-out that provides a jarring sense of continuity. The lyrics during the second song are especially cool, though. "I've got bills to pay, but they were never mine" is probably my favorite mine. Solid work again, Kalviter. Keep it up! ^^

Kalviter responds:

It's just a texture thing, but glad it's coming across! Thanks again for the tips and glad you like the lyrics

[AIM - Navigatah]

Fun vocal effects at the beginning. The atmosphere is really eerie, which is nice, although the drums at :18 sound a bit soft in the mix. The rap vocals are great. They might need a bit of a boost in the mix, or maybe even some harmonizing/layering to push some of the softer consonants through more. The lyrics themselves are really neat, though, and overall I like the low-pitched and conspiratorial tone of the verses. We really need more quality hip-hop on NG. Kudos on a strong track, man! ^^

Kalviter responds:

Appreciate the mixing tips, glad you like it!

[Psybot - Digital love]

I like the dreamy synth pads and grouchy bass towards the beginning. The piece comes together well by :56 - the rhythm of the phrases (or maybe it's the meter overall?) feels really wonky and front-loaded, but it creates a nice sense of ebb and flow in short bursts. The vocals don't quite work for me, though - they sound a tad thin and nasally. The melodic content later in the piece - 3:05 or so, for example - was well done, though, and with the harmonies you layered on to the final refrain at 3:45, the piece felt conclusive and climactic, unlike the last piece I reviewed. Overall solid work, Psybot! ^_^

[Psybot - Neon lights]

I like the mysterious mood at the beginning and the 80s dance vibes inherent to the sound design. The progression is a little slow-paced, but the mix is super clear and the rhythmic elements help keep things interesting. At some point, I would've liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content or other major point of structural contrast. The transitions are smooth here, but the piece doesn't feel like it's leading much of anywhere. Maybe you were going for more of a "slow burn" sort of piece, but the climax towards the end felt a little underwhelming imo. The sound design, atmosphere, and production quality are very good, though. Keep at it, Psybot!