TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Firefly Waltz]

I like the cheesy piano riffs at the beginning and the cutesy electronic elements that come in soon after. The melodies at :20 or so really remind me of 2014 Johnfn. :) The panning is a little heavy for my tastes, though, and some of the transitions are a little sudden (like :34). The melodies at :50 are really good, but I can't help but feel that the balance in the texture is a little off at 1:05, with the chords/harmonies overwhelming the melodies. Same thing at 1:27, but at least you've got a thematic justification for it, lol. The melodies in the last minute, especially with the flute at 2:25, are also solid. I especially like the heavy bass drum at 2:10 or so. Overall, strong work! I hope you'll post here more frequently over the summer - also, we should catch up sometime. PM me. ^^

[MELT (Credits Theme)]

Okay, this is awesome. I love the orchestral sound palette and the crisp drums. There are a lot of fun riffs and industrial-sounding percussion samples that really contribute to the character of the piece, and the rhythmic elements are quite strong as well. Strong work! ^^

[Decryption OST (Main Loop)]

I like the sound design and atmosphere. The texture is a bit minimal, though, and the mix is pretty quiet. I like the strings that start becoming prominent at around :40, and the slight dissonance in the texture at times as the synths reverberate. The sudden cutoff of a lot of the instruments at 1:40 caught me off guard a bit, but the minimal piano solo there is really nice. I like how you bring back the bass and the quirky synths towards the end. Overall, this is really different from your previous work, so it's good to see you experimenting with new styles. Might've needed some drums or other fill to make it function as a stand-alone piece, but as a video game soundtrack it's both atmospheric and not too distracting. :) Keep it up, CG!

[Will of the Wisp - 05 - Withers]

Wow. Much more energetic texture compared to the rest of the soundtrack. You've really created a well-varied and evocative OST here. The rhythmic component is also a bit stronger here - I especially like the low strings at :58. Paired with the ominous piano, it really lives up to its title, which suggests both an air of mystery and a state of decay to me. I've got to compliment you on being quite prolific recently. You keep producing, I keep fanboy'ing...it's a win-win. Bravo on this lovely and versatile soundtrack, Miyo! ^^

Miyolophone responds:

thank you once again for all your kind words, TL! we'll see if i can keep up this pace for the rest of the year, but i promise i have even more music coming soon :)

[Will of the Wisp OST - 04 - Vines]

Nice to hear a more playful and lively song on this soundtrack - my eyes are still red from crying over the last one. The articulation of the piano at around :20 is nice, and the melodies at :30 help give the piece a nice verse-chorus sort of feel, albeit at a shorter, more minimal scale. The more legato string section thereafter made for a nice bit of contrast, and I like how you bring it full-circle with the flirtatious string melodies at the end. Very well-crafted piece, my friend. And the loop is flawless. ^_^

[Will of the Wisp OST - 03 - The Tree of Sprights]

Okay, so all of these tracks are awesome. This piece feels both seductive and melancholic at the same time, like our protagonists know this is going to be the last night they're ever together. The clarinet solo at the beginning is gorgeous, and the piano stabs at around 1:40 give me chills. I really like the pacing of the melodies too - they come in these languid bursts of passion, much like the love affair of our protagonists, you see. Nice work, Miyo. I'm going to be curled up on my couch with a pint of ice cream sobbing over this 1940's romance movie all night. ^_^

[Will of the Wisp OST - 02 - Sanctuary]

Oooo...very moody and atmospheric. I love it when the strings start bleeding into the texture at around :40, and the furtive piano solo later on is just haunting. You've completely unearthed my soul in 2 minutes flat, Miyo. The steady rhythm of the arpeggios and the swelling atmosphere around it is the perfect embodiment of a transient state of tranquility. Keep up the good work!

Also, that's a straight-up badass team you got there. I need to check out this game too. ^_^

[-Frenetic -]

I like the "oom-pah" bass at the beginning and the gradual acceleration of the tempo. The quirky synth melodies at :20-ish are really nice, and the mixing does indeed sound more polished than usual. Drums are really crisp, and the bass reminds me a lot of an old track of yours called "Fuzzy." I liked the introduction of the more legato elements at 1:43, and I kinda wish you had kept on that theme for a while longer, as this piece was lacking a distinct moment of contrast in the texture. Still, the melodies totally have me sold on this one, and top of that your production is really improving. The ending was a tad sudden, though - makes me wonder if this was originally supposed to be a loop.

I also want to say that, in general, it's always a fun surprise to listen to your new tracks because I never know which Waterflame I'm going to get - the uplifting, cutesy one or the moody ambient one or the angry techno one. ^_^ Keep it up, WF!

[Äventyraren]

I like the flute melodies at the beginning and the background noise. It has a very organic sound. The percussion is great, and the key changes, instrumental palette switches, and octave jumps add some flavor and variety to an otherwise relatively repetitive piece. The strong clap at the end is a nice touch of added energy, although I thought the applause at the end was a bit cheesy, especially since the timing there sounded so unnatural. Still, this piece has a lot of character to it, and your mixing is getting better. Good luck in AIM, EverErratic! ^^

Everratic responds:

Thank you for the review :)

I'm glad the sound is organic and you notice the progress I've made in mixing.

With regards to the timing of the applause, the setting I envisioned is one where the song is played in a tavern in a popular market area, and there are many spectators. Because it's a folk song, the townspeople heard it hundreds of times, and therefor they know exactly when it ends, and thus, I thought it would make sense for the applause to begin relatively early. With that said, this is something I'll pay more attention to if I use the applause effect again. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for the luck wish, but this isn't an AIM submission. I'm not sure if I'll enter any competitions this year.

[Volty's Quest OST]

I like the lively tempo and pitch-bending. Certainly has a fun, retro vibe. It's full of catchy riffs and charismatic synths. During the second minute, the texture might've needed a bit more fill for my tastes, but I understand that it's meant to not be too distracting in-game. The melodies later on are cute, but pretty minimal. Still, I particularly like the sound design of this one, up to and including that distinctive snare. You've been quite prolific recently. Keep it up! ^^