TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Temple of Kukulcan]

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning and the majestic flute melody. The piece has a great sense of atmosphere, and the tone is both warm and mysterious at the same time. I like how the texture opens up at :45 with the foreboding drums. There’s a sense of wonder that comes with the grand moment of suspense at :54, which then devolves into the frantic, ominous textures at :59. It’s as if that’s the moment the protagonist decided to steal the chalice from the temple and make a break for it as the walls cave in around him. By 1:28, you’ve done an effective job at heightening the tension behind the piece. The transition at 1:48 is pretty sudden, but it still fits the sense of drama here. I envision the protagonist nearing death, only to escape by 1:48. Only then does the larger evil become apparent. The part at 2:19 is extremely evocative, and provides a neat point of inflection for the piece imo. At 2:25, I begin to feel that you’ve built a strong element of cohesion into the instrumental hierarchy here, despite the fact that this piece seems designed for storytelling more so than structural coherence. I also appreciated how you brought that instrumental framework full-circle with the haunting flute solo at the end. Overall, this is really strong work again, CloakedSoup. Is there somewhere I can download this? :D

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

CloakedSoup responds:

Hey! Thanks for the awesome and detailed review! I had a bit more time to work on the mixing in this piece, so I'm glad it seemed to have paid off. Many of the comments you made in terms of the storytelling during each section reflected what I was actually thinking when I wrote it, so that's really cool to hear!

In terms of downloading it, I plan on releasing this as well as several other pieces from NGADM on an EP/album once I get knocked out and/or the competition ends. I want to re-work/mix some stuff on previous pieces before releasing everything together as a whole. This piece as well as the others will be available for individual download though.

Unfortunately, that may not be until sometime in November or December, because I'm actually working on another album for Atom Music Audio at the moment, so any big re-working will have to wait until I finish that!

Thanks for the fantastic review again! :D

[endK - Funkadunk]

I like the vinyl scratches at the beginning and the quirky pads at :02. The thin-sounding bass, brass, and organ synths combine to form a fun, jazzy texture that still doesn’t take itself too seriously. The rhythmic elements of the piece are really enjoyable, and I like the more laid-back bridge at 1:31. The strings there sound pretty fake, but they blend in with the cheesy, VGM tinge of the rest of the sound design. As fun as all the little melodic riffs and call-and-response format of the texture are, I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content here. I don’t think you had much novel content in the last minute of the piece, which gives the composition a bit of a stagnant vibe towards the end. The ending itself also comes on pretty suddenly. Still, you nailed the sound design, rhythmic content, and mixing here. Keep at it, EndK! ^^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

endKmusic responds:

Yeah, I think that both me and you see the pattern here. :D
And that iiiis - I'm not really god with the deadlines so I barelly changed any melodic content in the last minute.
This was also a thing in one or two other tracks during the contest.
Thanks TL - for this and all other review during the contest, I really appreciate your input.

[Cursing the Loverender]

I like the emotional quality of the piano at the beginning and the distinct pattern of rhythmic emphasis. Wonderful sense of flow and atmosphere. The quirky percussion and echo/delay effects are just engrossing. The piece is a tad slow to progress, and some of the instruments sound a bit thin. The cello at :52, for example, sounds like it needs to breathe a bit more in the EQ. After a while, the piece starts to lose its momentum, so I was really glad when you pushed the reset button at 1:26. The rolls at 1:43 are beautiful, and the soulful, rich melodies thereafter have a profound sense of emotion in them. Your knack for combining synthetic and orchestral elements is quite admirable. Sometimes, the structure of the piece is a bit meandering, but I like how you keep bringing the rolls and soulful melody instruments back. The spacious, foreboding tone of the percussion starting at 3:59 really helps hit the piece home towards the end. At 5:44, that stringed instrument cuts off a bit suddenly, and I think you could’ve done more with the dynamics during the outro to maximize the emotional appeal of that section. The ending cuts off a little suddenly, too. This piece is honestly one of my favorites of the competition so far, though. It’s very unique and evocative, melodic and atmospheric, cohesive and diverse, all in one. Wonderful job, Syamori. I look forward to the release of Sky Prancer.

I’m very sorry to hear about your family situation, by the way. I hope your mother comes around to accept who you are.

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.75/10

[Marine Mayhem!]

I like the goofy sound effects and lively, broadway-like instrumental tracks. The way the vocals were mixed is a bit bizarre. They sound really thin, high-pitched, and over-processed. It’s really hard to make out the lyrics, but maybe that’s the point given the author’s description (?). I like the solos at :45. The mix is otherwise good here, but I wish the drums came through a little stronger. I even think I hear a bit of Johnfn influence at around 1:15 with the synth vibrato. The kazoo solo lived up to expectations, and cemented the goofy, blissful tone of the piece quite well. I like how lively the drums are here, even if you overused the crashes after a while. The modulation at the end worked well enough to tie things together, although I might’ve liked to see a little more development in the composition after a relatively bland bridge at 1:55. Overall, great job with the sound design, melodies, and progression of this one. You definitely took some risks with the flavor and texture of the piece, but by the end I’m (mostly) on board. The vocals might still be a bit much for me. Keep at it, LunacyEcho! ^^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Into the Old Way]

I like the somewhat contained, furtive sound at the beginning and the generous use of sustain. The piece has a great sense of wonder about it, and 1:01 feels like a grand arrival point - a moment of discovery. I think you overuse the rolls a bit at around the 1-minute mark, but the cutesy melody that follows at 1:14 helps bring back a more humble and innocent tone to the piece. The chords at the transition at 1:54 are a bit bizarre, but I also understand that the section that follows is something of an inflection point for the piece. From 2:00 to 2:20 or so, the piece sounds very still, and 2:15 feels like an apex of nostalgia but also longing, as if the protagonist is reading a letter from a deceased loved one. The descending scale at 2:22 is a very good transition. Once the low, richer tones seep back into the piece, it’s all the more effective at captivating my attention because of the high-pitched melodic swells of the section before. I also like how the section at 2:26 has some of the same melodic motifs, with some added decoration. It’s as if the protagonist is able to carry on after the death of his mother, but keeps her memory alive by employing the lessons she taught him every day. I also like the mysterious, pensive theme that starts at around 3:23. The key change at 3:41 sounds pretty jarring, and the ending of this piece comes on pretty suddenly. Still, this piece has a deeply satisfying arrangement, a remarkable amount of cohesion, and some super fun transitions/compositional details. Strong work again, Ale! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Nice catch with 1:01! It definitely sounds like you describe; something really sinking in. I can also see your point about 1:54. The transition comes right after a unique part of the piece, which makes it feel a bit different from the rest of the piece. That is where I feel that there is some kind of change that makes the feeling of determination stronger. But before that determination blooms fully, I bring back the intro a bit at 1:54, which might be why the change back feels sudden. I also agree with your analysis and pointers with the time marks in general; that's more of less how I intended the structure to feel. As for 3:41, I agree the key change is a bit unexpected, but that's partially why I like it. I feel that the reason it works, is because it specifically brings the piece back to the original key.

"It’s as if the protagonist is able to carry on after the death of his mother, but keeps her memory alive by employing the lessons she taught him every day."

=> As per usual, I really like hearing your story-like interpretations of music, since they're always so specific, and allow me to hear the piece again, perhaps a little bit through someone else's eyes (ears?).

I definitely took a more melodic and clearly structured approach to this track than some of my more experimental tracks. I still feel like I challenged myself quite a bit with this one. I'm very glad to see that you enjoyed it!
As always, thanks for your hard work with the reviews, good luck with the rest of the competition, and thank you for listening!

[SoFtBOILeD-Un Viaje a Mi Propio Multiverso]

I like the cheery mood at the beginning. Some of the melodic riffs are pretty jumpy - take the one at the very beginning for example. It's got a lot of big intervals (in terms of pitch) between notes, which makes it harmonically a bit hard-to-follow sometimes. A lot of the instruments also sounds a little dry and generic, too.

The part at :46 with the cutesy synth bass and beat is nice. I think you overdid the reverb on the kick there, even while most of the other atmospheric elements were really minimal. For a lot of the first half of the piece, the harmonic motifs are pretty succinct, even if the track is quite long. I liked the transition at 2:16 too, although some of your transitions later in the piece (like at 8:00) didn't work as well for me.

Sometimes you went for a little too much with some of the rhythmic elements, like at 3:03. The percussion there gives off a frantic, energetic vibe that doesn't fit too well with the blissful, downtempo melody. You definitely fleshed out the ideas you had a lot with this piece, and some of the more experimental elements of the piece work well.

The ghostly-sounding part at around 4:15 was super nice. The mix is pretty clean, although the quality of the instruments you're using isn't great. It could be just the limitations of your DAW, but if you're at all able to make your own synths or download higher-quality samples, I'd suggest looking into it.

You definitely have quite a few good ideas between the catchy riffs (like at 8:24) and some of the more interesting rhythmic components. The piece does start to lose coherence after a while, with a lot of distinct sections that don't sound very interconnected. I get the sense that you didn't really know how to end the piece. I think it's worth consolidating some of your ideas here in order to keep the listener following the "storyline" of the piece.

I'd still like to see you find more creative ways of giving the piece variety besides adding and subtracting instruments over time. Mixing tools like filtering and automation, as well as changing the volume levels over time, can help channel the emotion in a piece even if the harmonies and instrumental arrangement are slow to change.

I'd also like to hear a richer atmosphere and fuller texture at times. Much of this piece is really minimal, which gets a bit bland in such a long piece.

Overall, the highlights of this piece for me were probably the loud, clear mix, rhythmic components, fun individual riffs, and creative percussion/drums. I think you should work on creating structural cohesion, gradual transitions, and more original sound palettes. Otherwise, I can already tell you're improving, which is great to hear. :)

Since you asked for a NGUAC/NGADM-style rating, here it goes:

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[Lost With You (feat. Ruby Chase)]

I like the emotional appeal of the beginning and the rich atmosphere. The vocals are beautiful, if a bit quiet at times relative to the instrumental tracks. The production quality is top-notch as usual, and I also like the rhythmic aspects of this piece. Some aspects of the arrangement and lyrics are a little cliche (e.x., "caution to the wind" at 2:10), but the way you channel the energy here is also really effective. I would've liked to see you vary the post-chorus the second time around, but I enjoyed the haunting, airy outro. Nice work overall, FarOut! ^^

[PUMP (OST)]

Cute piece! I like the somewhat foreboding harmonic elements combined with the quirky, cute instrumentation. The melody instrument at :09 is especially nice. The percussion also solidifies the somewhat raw, industrial edge to the texture, despite the rich atmosphere and flow. Perhaps the mix could've been a bit louder, but it's still very clear and well-balanced. Cool stuff, CG! ^^

[~Fore~ On Your Own]

I like the crisp hats and spacey synths. The dissonant texture at around :45 was really neat, and I like how it gradually builds into the more cathartic "arrival" moment at 1:22. The production quality is super high as always with you, and I like the more spacious feel of the texture by 2:10. There's a real victorious feel to the quirky synths by 2:40, and overall the piece comes together really well by the end. It also feels incomplete in a way, though, especially with the fade-out at the very end. Is that on purpose? Regardless, solid work here, Aliaspharow! Looking forward to hearing the rest of the EP. ^^

[Tempest Engine (demo)]

I like the grainy, hollow ambient sounds at the beginning and the bright piano at :26. There's a great cinematic flair to the piece, and the guitar solo at 1:05 is really refreshing. The mix is relatively quiet, but also clean and clear. I like the bridge at 2:31 - it's spacious enough to offer some structural relief while also retaining the cool sound design and rhythmic elements of the rest of the piece. The rhythm at around 3:21 is a little hard-to-follow, but the piece has a great sense of climax and resolve by 3:40 or so. Nice job with the filtering at around 3:58, and overall the piece comes together well towards the end. Solid work! I especially like the instrumentation and atmosphere on this one. ^^

MetalRenard responds:

Thanks for the comments on this track. I ended up going back through and making changes such as shortening it, I think it works better this way since originally it repeated to allow for vocals/lyrics.