TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sky Prancer (Album Out Now!)]

I like the suspenseful vibe at the beginning and the rhythmic framework. The sound design is top-notch as usual, and your production is also quite clean here, even with the generous dose of reverb and atmosphere here. The call-and-response between the flute and sitar (and later violin) at around :40 is nice, and I love the live cello. The vibrato is impressive, and the level of concentrated intensity in the sound is really wonderful for a live instrument. The escalating intensity through 3:25 is nice - the piece often feels a little contained before that point. The violin solo at 3:26 is nice too, although the re-entry of the cello and other instruments was a tad sudden. This piece has a bit of a predictable phrase structure at times, without many longer melodic phrases for the listener to really sink their teeth into. I'm not sure it has quite the strong sense of ebb and flow that a lot of your other tracks have. That said, I still really like it as a pensive cinematic track with some evocative sound design and glorious atmosphere. Keep it up, Syamori! I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of the album. ^_^

[Amber]

I like the contained, groovy sound at the beginning and the tape-shifting noises in between that and the cutesy beat at :15. The mix is really clean, and the sound design has a really funky and refreshing vibe. I like the melodic flair that comes later on (at around :45), and the post-chorus instrument that sounds like whistling (:55). The breakdown at 1:20 was also really cute, and the rhythmic variations at 1:45 work well to provide a bit of a burst of energy. The organic-sounding drums is a nice touch here in an otherwise very electronic-sounding piece. I think the texture often has a lot of staccato-y elements, but that doesn't bother me too much because the melodies are pretty smooth and the flow of the piece is still solid. Overall, not much to complain about here! Strong work, 8-bitheroes. ^^

8-bitheroes responds:

Thanks very much for taking the time to leave some excellent feedback :)

[Terminal Velocity (demo)]

I like the bright-sounding guitars and underlying cinematic vibe this has. Almost sounds like an anime soundtrack. The element of suspense is nice, and there also lots of cool riffs like at :42. Sometimes I think the synths and guitars are fighting against each other a little too much, though, especially since they're both pretty staccato-y and frantic. I'm really liking the added intensity by around 2:20, especially since that section had a more melodic flair. I'm looking forward to hearing the vocals! Seems like it's a piece worthy of some storytelling to go along with it. :) Keep it up, MetalRenard! ^^

[Time In a Bottle (Cover, Jim Croce)]

Lovely to see you posting again, Ceevro! I like the smooth, soulful guitar at the beginning. The vocals are good, but sometimes they were a little weak in the mix relative to the guitars. The piece has a really nice flow, and I like how before every vocal entrance there's a slight anticipatory pause. The slightly darker, pensive vibe after the last verse is a nice touch too. The composition is fairly simple, and part of me wishes you tried to add more onto it vis-a-vis the original, but regardless you guys are clearly talented guitarists. Hope to see more of you around the Grounds soon! ^^

Ceevro responds:

Dude, if you had any idea how tricky this is to perform as a duet...I'm amazed at how well my brother did at this...his guitar skillz are amazing, but he does it for himself...no interest in performing or recording at all. Sometimes I wish I could be like him. He just gives zero fucks about the outside world. I was honoured that he recorded this, entirely because he knew I wanted to. I doubt he's ever even pulled the page to see how it sounded. There's something inspirational in that.

[Moonflower, II: Close]

A fittingly emotive and relaxing conclusion to this wonderful and diverse EP! It has a great sense of ebb and flow about it, especially with the tempo and contour of the melody line. Very human-sounding music here. That's what I like to hear. :)

[Sunday]

I really like the tranquil mood at the beginning. The cutoff at :08 really threw me off, and you definitely took the piece in a different direction starting at :10. I like the smooth, jazzy undercurrent of the piece and the sound design. The bouncy piano, quirky pads, and groovy bass are especially good choices. The breakdown at 1:58 is also a nice melodic interlude. During some of the busier sections of the piece, I couldn't help but feel like you could've done a little more with the drums, but the melodic variations towards the end help keep me engaged, and besides the first 10 seconds the flow and phrasing of the piece is really smooth and pleasant. Strong work overall, Miyo! ^^

[In My Garden (feat. annapantsu & feebeechanchibi)]

Wow, Rose's voice sounds really cute. :3 You really told a story with this one, Miyo. Sounds like something right out of a broadway musical. I'm really engrossed by the quality of the vocals and how well the instrumental palette complements them. Rose and Eden are the perfect names, too. ^^ The emotional appeal of 4:30 is great, and the extended melodic section ("la la la's") at the end was a great way of hitting the piece home. It's pretty cheesy at times, but the little snippet of dialogue at the end made me laugh. This is wonderful work. Remind me to book a train ticket to New York so I can see your broadway hit in a few years or so, Miyo. ^_^

[Moonflower, I: Bloom]

I like the sense of wonder and majesty at the beginning. The reverb is really heavy, but that adds to the mystery and divinity of the piece. The delicate stringed instruments in the background at :45 sound amazing. I also like the slightly darker tone of the piece by 1:15 or so. The piece certainly comes full-circle by the end, but it still sounds a tad ambivalent, as if the flower shed its petals as quickly as they had once opened. Either way, haunting work here, Miyo. ^^

Miyolophone responds:

i'm really glad your takeaway was "haunting." a lot of people have told me that this one sounds peaceful or happy but i personally think it's quite sad & full of longing

thank you for the many perceptive reviews. they are all very kind and accurate and i appreciate them

[Hammock]

I really like the jazzy textures at the beginning and the malleable tempo. After :40 or so, it's got a great sense of flow and tranquility to it - sounds like background music in a fancy restaurant. There isn't a ton of variety in the texture for a lot of the piece, but I appreciate the brief injection of energy at around the 3-minute mark and the spaciousness in the mix shortly thereafter. Really interesting decision to make what is probably the most transient-sounding part of the piece (i.e., 3:20-ish) into a refrain here. At 4:50, it sounds like a dog just jumped into the hammock with me in a fit of excitement before running off to chase a squirrel. I really like the playful banter at 5:30. I'm not sure the ending sounded very conclusive, but I'm beginning to think that's kinda the point with this album. Beautiful work again, Miyo! ^_^

[철쭉 (Royal Azalea)]

I like the instrumental palette and the energy. The percussion is really crisp and the string melodies are gorgeous. I think my favorite part is the breakdown section at 1:26 - feels like someone pushed the reset button on the flurry of action in the garden. You also channel the energy really well with that frantic violin line at around the 2-minute mark. The ending sounded a tad inconclusive, but I guess that's why it's the 2nd track on the album. :) Keep up the good work, Miyo! ^_^