TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[-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 :)

[Thorn]

It's a little hard to follow the rhythm at first, but by :25 this is turning into a really neat, if a tad minimal, groove. I love the distorted second layer of drums that sounds so bottled up in the mix (comes in at :52). The prominent guitar riff at 1:20 really provides a nice, soothing melodic contrast to the gritty beats characterizing the rest of the piece. The heavy bass at 2:35 was a great touch, too - really felt like the pendulum swung the other way back towards the gritty and down-to-earth. The synth melody at the very end is nice too, although the fade-out ending was a bit of an underwhelming way to end the piece. Still, this is another great example of a slow-burning composition that really takes the listener on a journey by the end. Keep at it, LAPSE! ^_^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

All the strings are done on bass. No geetar. :D

Yeah, sorry about the ending. I think I had more material. Sometimes I think of it as like the "yadda yadda" of a conversation or something, I guess. I can't quite tell what compels the fade outro. Some laziness? I think I want the listener to think "...and it went on like this for eternity" or something, haha.

<3

[Cotard Has Me Pegged]

I think your piano-heavy songs are my favorites in general. From a relatively tame beginning, you concoct a storytelling masterpiece here. With those characteristic spacey pads and quirky drums as a base, over time you weave a thick atmosphere full of echo-y guitars, dreamy synths, and eventually a frantic, jazzy piano riff and glitchy compositional details. The piece is simultaneously full of variety and intimately cohesive, cycling through a variety of moods and textures while remaining squarely in the same narrative universe. The last minute or so of the track felt a tad mellow, but also has a great slow-burning energy about it, like the tension from the piece has not been resolved and there is going to be a sequel (maybe wishful thinking on my part?). Either way, this is a top-notch track, LAPSE! Keep up the great work. ^_^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

I think piano was my first instrument love? Piano, drums, bass. Simple as.

This particular track comes from a bit of a heavy place. The mind is a powerful governing force.
I've always thought the outro-y bits are a bit more hopeful feeling compared to the start.

I'm just banging stuff together and hoping it turns out alright.

You know I like my sequels. :P

Thanks so much for the many reviews.

[...and Yet, It Goes Nowhere]

I think I recognize the synth at the beginning from another piece of yours. :D It's a very relaxing atmosphere and somewhat minimal texture, but your creative drum riffs and rich use of mixing effects help keep me engaged. I love how furtive the melody sounds at 1:18, and the filtering work at 2:05 is neat too. I also appreciate the nice, slow wind-down this piece has, along with the ominous, staticky crescendo at the very end. Really evocative stuff, LAPSE! Keep at it. ^_^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

The synth melody or sound? I use that particular sound a wee bit, haha. I really love it.
Sometimes I like to make little tracks that are reminiscent of hip-hop beat tapes or something. Thus the looping. Finding that sorta sound/melody/etc that feels good, you wanna listen to it for an extended time and just live within it. See how much mileage it has.

Thanks as always. <3

[Headful of Static]

I like the moody piano riff at the beginning. Good combination of airy reverb and a sharp attack. The quirky beats at :45 or so really hit the spot too, and the climax at around 1:05 gives the piece a strong sense of direction. The strangely cutesy lead at 1:51 offers some nice contrast from the mellow, introspective vive of the previous two minutes, and I really like how you take the sound design in a different direction towards the end of the piece. If I haven't said it before, I also really like how you often introduce the vocals into a piece 2/3 of the way through. Reminds me of my timeline for speaking to people on Sundays (very few words are spoken until I call my parents in the middle of the afternoon). The bright mood towards the end of the piece is also a nice touch, although the fade-out at 3:58 is a bit sudden. Overall, this is a really enjoyable track, dude! Keep it up. ^_^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

You grace me with yer reviews and ears once again. Lemme catch up. Haha.

Dem beats where done on keyboard. Haa. I love me some keyboard drums! Lots of times these tracks take a while to produce, so various mood shifting and such might play a role in what I decide to do / sound choices -- in response to the more cutesy/uplifting lead @1:51. Then again, I just love chip synth. Simple waves are so lovely. If It works it works.

Interesting Sunday ritual you have, haha. Any reason for it? Just something you like to do? Your little nugget of time to yourself?

Vox are always a slightly strange thing for me. I'm not totally comfortable with them, but I still go for it. I think it's kinda exciting to have a random vocal take come in seemingly out of the blue. It's like a prize at the bottom of a cereal box or something. It's something for the "I can't listen to music without lyrics" crowd? haha. Sometimes you're just feeling it.
I find myself sorta vocalising while producing a lot so sometimes I try and include that idea. I'm pretty picky about vocals in music. I think it's just kinda a necessary thing to try at some point in the musical experimentation. A lot of music is made with my mouth outside of the DAW as a sort of "compulsion". A filler thing while I'm going about my day. Sometimes it's good to weave the beat-boxing and the vox or whistling, or whatever in the process. It also helps ground it a bit as something that is properly "me", I guess. I've heard a handful of tracks over the years that have done this kinda thing and I've always loved it. It's not overindulgent vocals expression...just another tool in the box.

Ah fade outs. I hate them and love them. I also kinda dislike and admire when a song I like has this wonderful build up and it's in the moment and it just kinda ends abruptly. Been a many song I've loved that have done this to me. Ending on a crescendo or an idea that I could see being pulled further. I click that replay button fast. Haha.
So I guess sometimes I try to do that too. Why? I don't know. Just to see if it works, I can get away with it...or if I can feel ok with that sorta lingering..."what-if" and "why?" Haha. I've always been pretty conscious of how a song ends, for whatever reason. Other times, I just can't figure out how to end.

Oddly enough. I see you reviewed "Cotard Has Me Pegged" and I exclusively had this kinda feeling in mind when I ended that track. When I relisten to it, I still have this urge to go back and loop the ending for like an extra 45 seconds or something.