TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ireland]

I like the dark, wavering synth bass at the beginning, although the panning there is a bit strong for my tastes. The beat is really coming together nicely by :30 or so, and the eerie "screeches" at :35 help add some flavor. The texture is still pretty minimal, though, with not a lot of mid-range frequencies. There are a lot of cool individual riffs here, like the ominous synth riser at 1:32, and I'm digging the prominent hi-hats there too. The "Ireland" vocal line is a bit overused after a while, and overall the piece doesn't have a very strong sense of progression. There's some variation in the synth patterns, bass, and beat over time, but I'm not sure it's leading anywhere in particular.

In the future, I'd challenge you to structure your piece around a couple of climactic "events" - it could be a particular melody, or an atmospheric bridge, or a notable change in the sound design, etc. Any stand-alone piece (i.e., not part of a video game soundtrack or playing in the background at the mall) should feel like it's telling a story, and this piece isn't quite doing that for me right now.

That said, I really like the instrumentation and the creative drum patterns in this piece. The production quality is also solid - the frequencies are well-balanced and come through the mix clearly. I also appreciate the neat compositional details, like the white noise/filtering effect at 5:50. The transitions are all very smooth, and the breakdown at 6:05 before you slowly brought back the beat for a "last hurrah" was a good idea. As I alluded to earlier, the somewhat aimless structuring and minimal texture are my main complaints here.

Keep at it, C-Lehman! ^_^

Caustic responds:

Thank you so much for your insightful and sage wisdom!

[enough rest]

I love the atmosphere at the beginning and the moody dissonance at :30. I'm really impressed with the way you used these instruments - very creative. I think the ukulele could come through a little more in the mix during the second half of the piece, since it's the main melodic element of the texture. But otherwise, this is a really relaxing piece with some killer sound design. Keep at it, Midi! ^_^

[daze]

I like the mysterious mood at the beginning and the gradual crescendo into :16. The rhythm at around :30 threw me off a bit at first, but I'm getting into the groove once the beat comes in shortly thereafter. I really like how you're playing with the reverb and filters here, although the stop-start nature of the beat makes the arrangement sound a bit choppy at times. The bridge at 1:30 is super cool - I love the gradual build-up there too. The variations during the second drop are subtle, but they really help keep the energy up later on. Nice work overall, Crysstal! ^_^

Crysstal712 responds:

reverb swell overuse !!

[Lunar Fractals]

I like the feeling of underlying tension at the beginning and the spacey pads. Stylistically, the piece certainly feels very retro and minimal, and the mix is a tad bottom-heavy at times. That said, the sound design has a good amount of variety in it, between the koto, mid-range techno synths, and stringed instruments later on. The mix sounds a bit dry in places, and I would've liked to hear a richer atmosphere, with a bigger role for the pads and drone-like instruments that appear in the background at around 3:35. The melodies at 4:00 are really nice, tying the piece together well towards the end. Solid work, fellas! ^_^

[-Astroid Groove-]

Alright, I have some catching up to do with your tracks, WF. I love the blissful melodies and catchy harmonies in this one. I'm also not used to hearing a four-on-the-floor beat from you, so that was refreshing. The drum breaks during the bridge at 1:53 or so are also really nice. The mix is punchy and full, and I like the mid-range electronic bass that kinda sounds like a slap bass too. Overall, this is a really solid track! And the flirtatious string flourish at the end is just icing on the cake. :D

[song for a very small friend]

I love the sense of dignity and grace in this one. Sounds like a good alternative to Pachelbel's Canon for a bridal party walking down the aisle. Some of the cadences are a little cliche, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm sure you did your cat proud, Midi. ^_^

[a lofty nest]

Love the atmosphere and pensiveness of this one. The rhythmic content is a bit square, but the little swells of the pads at various points help keep me engaged, and the last 30 seconds or so really encapsulates a sense of wonder and discovery. Strong work, Midi! Keep it up. ^_^

[unseen]

I like the grouchy bass at the beginning and the crisp beats at :09. I would like to hear more of the atmosphere/harmonies in the mix here. Otherwise, the texture sounds a tad empty, although the rich pads at :44 are really nice. I like how the sound design of this track evolves in a really subtle way throughout the piece, which helps neutralize the somewhat repetitive and minimal harmonic content. The piece could still use some more mid-high range frequencies at times, but the catchy rhythmic content, neat instrumentation, and solid production quality are all highlights for me. Keep it up, Crysstal! ^_^

[Santa's Prison Stint]

I like the edgy guitar riff at :17 and the crisp drums. The intro vocals were a bit cheesy, but the lyrics starting at around :35 are very amusing. Sometimes the vocals don't come through very clearly in the mix, though - ideally, they should be a little more front-and-center than the guitars. The snare could also sound a bit punchier in the mix. The solo at 3:18 is great, and generally the composition here is really strong. Despite my complaints about the production quality, the rugged and gritty texture of the piece are really enjoyable. Keep it up, guys! ^_^

[gutter rap oldhead type beat]

I like the guitar riff at the beginning and the crisp beats later on. Could use some vocals or otherwise stronger melodic content, but I appreciate the quirky variations at 1:02 and the vinyl scratch at 1:25. Mix sounds really clean and punchy. Keep at it, Midi! ^_^

midimachine responds:

some weeks are better than others hehe - only gonna get busier but the beats still be weekly'd :)