TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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! ^^

[MELT (OST)]

I like the quirky synths and generous use of bass. The drums sounded a tad generic, but the ominous tone and smooth flow really get me in the mood for some gaming. ^^ I think my favorite detail is the catchy, creepy arpeggios at :48. The bass drum hits at the breakdown at 1:05 or so were also nice. Fun track overall, CG! Keep it up. ^^

[Procrastination]

Really catchy beat! I'm loving the quirky pads and flute trills. The vocals are TOO REAL, but also really well done musically. The escalation of intensity in the first 10-12 seconds is a great way of channeling the frustration behind the lyrics. Then it seems really fitting that the next line after the intensity stops is "I just want to lay my head down." You've just captured your emotions here really well - it's a treat to hear. I hope tomorrow is a more productive day, my friend, but until then keep up the good work on the music front. ^_^

[Go Crazy]

Admittedly, I was going to be more critical of this piece, but then I realized that you made it in ONE HOUR, which is actually insane. There's a lot of detail in this piece for one hour of work, wow - even variations in the final refrain. A lot of the compositional elements (arrangement, chord progression, etc.) are pretty generic, but the cheesy sound design and lively drums still have me sold. The vocals are strong as usual, and the upbeat mood and piano solo are highlights. I think the drums could've been stronger, but, again, I'm hesitant to criticize the mixing too much because you made this in ONE HOUR. Rock on, LunacyEcho! ^_^

LunacyEcho responds:

thanks TL!!! tbh the reason the drums suck is because i was experimenting with plugging in and recording straight from my electronic drum kit—so that is actually me playing! but it's an old kit so the sounds aren't that good. plus, i can't separate the tracks for separate mixing because i only have an audio cable and not a working midi cable :(((

but who knows??? if i release this somewhere, anywhere, i might just reprogram with drum samples and clean up the mixing that way. thanks again for stopping by!!

[Rising Hero]

I like the uplifting mood and the sound design. There's a noticeable delay on those strings that's a little disorienting at times, but I have a feeling that's a built-in part of the sample. Either way, my main complaint here is that it ends. I love the contrast between the climactic first minute and the more subdued final 30 seconds. The ending is really abrupt as it is, which is really a shame because the rest of the piece has a really evocative narrative form, and that same element of dynamism is even present in the title. You've left yourself a lot of space for a grand finale in those last 30 seconds, so if you ever write one please PM me. Until then, keep up the good work! ^_^

Bosa responds:

What would it take for you to write it for me

[Drop Point]

I like the groovy sax riffs and bass-y toms. The brass hits really give the piece a grounded quality, serving as a launching pad for the fun solos throughout. The middle section is nice too, although I think the balance may be a tad off there. I wanted the funky descending line at 1:33 to be way stronger somehow - I felt like it was meant as a display of swagger as far as the instruments can represent characters, but it was too self-conscious a display to really captivate my attention (this is a weird analogue and it's late at night here, okay?). That said, the transition into the refrain at 2:07 was flawless, and the constant barrage of smooth melodic riffs really has me sold. Fantastic work overall - cohesive, fun, well-mastered, flowing, catchy, even nostalgic in a way. Love it, SFW! ^_^

[GOOP (OST)]

I like the haunted house vibe I'm getting from this. The heavy bass and square rhythms actually work well to enhance the creepy, mechanical vibe this has. I'm envisioning a chase between our overzealous teen protagonists and a horde of zombie robots. Structure-wise, it reminds me a lot of your recent track "WIZ," probably because of the longer, more mellow second half and subsequent loop. Overall, solid stuff! Glad to say you've gotten plenty of business writing OSTs recently. ^^