TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[hyperParadox]

I like the ominous tone at the beginning and the fluttery synth that comes in at :12. The drums are a tad over-compressed, but the lead riff at :39 is catchy, and the airy harmonies fill out the atmosphere nicely. The bridge at 1:25 sounds a bit minimal, but in a way it fits the eerie vibe of the piece nicely. I like the louder, punchier second refrain at 1:40. The lead synth keeps ducking under the mix, which is something to watch out for - again, the sidechaining is a little too heavy for my tastes. That said, the composition here is really good. I'd say you have a knack for EDM! Keep it up, Crysstal. ^_^

Crysstal712 responds:

i found out for level automations which is what i do my sidechaining with, if i try to move it to the left so its shorter, it just doesn't let me do it for some reason. still trying to find out how to fix that though!

[aurora/aether]

I appreciate the dedication to the craft, man! The beginning sounds a bit minimalistic and murky. The floaty synth that starts fading in at around :30 is nice, but I wish it took up a bit more of the mix compared to the harmonies and bass. The blissful vibe at around 1:00 on is great. I also think you could've been a lot more creative with the drums here. The melodic content is a highlight, though, and the stop-start bridge at 1:45 was a good idea as well. Overall, I don't think this is your best work, but it certainly has potential, and I hope you keep working on it. Giving the lead a boost in the mix and filling in some of the mid-range tones in the texture would give this piece a bit more intensity and richness. I think that's what it needs. Still, props for the sound design, progression, and compositional details here. :)

Crysstal712 responds:

yeah ive been definitely working on those. im getting it

[Sunshine Lima Bean (Best Before Dec 15 2023)]

I like the blissful synths at the beginning. The sound design overall is pretty cute, and the melodies are catchy and upbeat. The snare, and probably the drums in general, could use a bit of a boost in the mix, and I also wasn’t a huge fan of the choir at :47 (and other places). It sounds pretty inauthentic, and also doesn’t blend very well with the rest of the sound design IMO. Otherwise, the piece was a bit repetitive. It had a near-constant energy level, which I think is a missed opportunity to create some more variety. Still, considering the communication issues and imbalance of contributions that apparently characterized the process, it’s still a catchy piece with some strong harmonic content and evocative sound design. Keep at it, guys!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[At The Seams ("Deathslab!" 's BOTB ENTRY)]

I like the ominous atmosphere at the beginning. The lead at :18 is nice and quirky, and the sweeps in the background give the texture a distinct extraterrestrial feel. I like how the piece “resets” itself at around :54, and the furtive vocals at 1:10 are haunting. The mix is a bit over-saturated with reverb by the 2-minute mark, and sometimes the vocal harmonies at 2:03 don’t blend very well together, and might benefit from being re-recorded. I also would’ve liked to hear the vocals be more up-front in the mix, especially between 2:03 and 2:43, when they make up most of the moving notes in the texture. The transitions in this piece are simultaneously bold and very smooth - I especially like the one between 3:03 and 3:18. Somehow the guitar solo at 3:20 is both a big surprise and something that really fits with the flow of the piece. With the repeat of the quirky transitory material at 3:30 or so, I feel like the piece lost a bit of momentum. Perhaps it would’ve helped keep the energy level up if the drums were a bit punchier in the mix.

The transition into 4:18 was another really good one. The vocal phrase at 4:28 is probably my favorite of the piece - very expressive and dynamic. Reminds me of @Garlagan’s vocal style, actually. Also, the thin percussion at 4:47 adds a great, whimsical vibe to an otherwise pretty dark-sounding part of the piece. The dissonant “oom-pah” chords at 5:07 continue the comical, almost circus-like theme of the previous section. The stop-start transition at 5:57 is another one of my favorites. Up to that point, almost all of the transitions in the piece have been smooth and gradual, but in a longer piece with a lot of moving parts, a moment like 5:57 really forces the listener to keep paying attention, right before the outro. The chaotic guitar riff there feels like a dream sequence - I might even suggest scaling back some of the reverb on the harmony parts there for clarity in the mix. The drone-like bass at 6:20 helps the piece come full-circle in a way - it’s just as ominous as the quirky atmosphere at the very beginning. The crash rolls and phasing effects on the final chord are just icing on the cake.

Overall, I’m really impressed with the arrangement and composition here. The sound design is another highlight - a TON of variety and, other than the vocals early on, great blending and a rich texture throughout. The mixing and mastering could be a lot tighter, but other than that my complaints are very minor here. Massive props to you guys for going with such a bold and variational composition for this contest. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
8.75/10

bottledf0x responds:

Thanks for being a judge!

The sweeping, ominous pad in the first minute was one of my contributions to this track. I was aiming to give that section more of a krautrock vibe, since I've been listening to more of it lately. The track as a whole is like a journey through time and space, and I'm glad to have taken part in its creation. Full credit to Carb for the brilliant arrangement!

[Freefall]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning. The chord progression is a bit generic, although I’m enjoying the build-up into :18. The mix is a bit muddy during the busier parts of the piece - the drums could’ve been a tad punchier, and the bass line could’ve sounded sharper. You might have a bit too much layering going on towards the bottom of the frequency spectrum - it sounds like there are both guitar chords and a rounder, smoother bass playing at the same time. It might help balance things out more to either move the guitar chords up an octave or use some stereo widening on the pads to clear out the center of the stereo space. That said, I really like the blissful melodies throughout, and there are moments where the lead guitar really shines (2:26 comes to mind, even if the piano harmonies get a little buried there). You also do a good job creating variety later on in the piece, switching up the main melodies and adding some refreshing compositional details, like the transition with the reverse crash at 3:58. Overall, I really like the composition and sound design of this piece. The mix could be a bit tighter, and I might’ve also reconsidered some of the abject cliches, like the arpeggios at 3:39, but otherwise this piece is rockin’! Keep it up, ladies. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

[My Infinity]

Somehow, I forgot to post my review here earlier. I apologize.
---
Love the Celtic-sounding instrument and loose phrasing at the beginning. The part at :36 has a very pensive quality, and the strings at :46 were a nice touch too. Something about the first minute of the piece sounds very transient and unstable, with the tremolos on the strings absolutely contributing to that. There’s a nice moment of resolution at 1:40, and I especially love the prominent low strings there. Sounds like the strings and piano are running away from home together. I’m glad you brought back the flute at 2:21, though - it provides for a nice, lighter texture that counterbalances the melancholic tone of the strings, even though the strings and flute never play at the same time (fan theory: the flute is the piano’s mother, and the piano is running away from home to be with the strings, a romantic interest who the flute disapproves of).

Anyway, the melancholic tone absolutely returns in full force at 2:44, and the way the strings slowly bleed back into the texture shortly thereafter is very elegant. The string melodies at 2:57 probably constitute my favorite part of the piece - very chaotic and dramatic, but certainly displaying the heights of passion between the lovers in a compelling light. The transition into the more tranquil tone at 4:06 is a tad abrupt at first listen, but you once again find a way of ratcheting up the emotion in short order for the final flourish at the end. The piece sounds rather triumphant and even peaceful during the last few chords - a marked contrast to the direction I thought you were going in as late as 4:35 or so.

Obviously, I’ve spent a lot of energy just unpacking the “plot” of this piece. The pacing is very fast at times, and it’s safe to say I find it hard to follow all of the twists and turns in the mood. There are a lot of individual motifs that tie the piece together over time, but in a way it still feels a bit disjointed between the prominent string sections and the flute/piano duets (over-protective mother/naive teen lovers analogy aside). One thing I really love about the piece is the production - the texture is airy, well-balanced, and full throughout, and the instruments all sound crystal clear in the mix. The sound design is beautiful, and I feel like I need to recalibrate my standards for the level of emotion and storytelling in a piece after listening to this. I still feel like you tried to cram 9 minutes worth of composition into 5, but at the end of the day that’s probably better than the reverse. You certainly accomplished your goal of transporting me to a different world, and I commend you for that. Keep it up, LSD! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
9.25/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

No need to apologise, as I myself have been very slow to respond to review lately!
It's refreshing to re-read your review again now, as I quite like this piece. I love your fan theory ;)

Now that more than half a year has passed, I suppose I can reveal that this piece was quite inspired by a track from "Fumetsu no anata e" (To Your Eternity), called "Memory of the Flow". I just really enjoyed the energy the piece has and the emotion it evokes.

That said, this is very much its own composition, with its own "story" as well. Whilst I agree that it can aid a piece to follow a set structure or form, especially to work as a standalone piece, I also get bored of hearing the exact same patters again and again, which is why I like to throw in a twist or turn, here or there ^____^

I'm glad you feel like my production has improved, at least with regards to this piece, however!

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a thorough review; it's a really important part of what makes the NGADM so special :D

[Unlocked Access]

Somehow, I forgot to post my review here earlier. I apologize.
---
I like the warm strings at the beginning. The pace of the chord progression is a bit fast at first, but it gets easier to follow the progression later on in the piece. Love the flair for the dramatic starting at :22 and how the cinematic elements are interspersed with a sultry intrigue (e.x., the riff at :29). The rich harmonies and solos are great, but I think you start overusing the transition at 1:14 after a while, and I also wanted to hear more of the drums in the mix throughout. I think my favorite element of the piece is the whimsical mood - “unlocked access,” combined with the sound design, suggests a James Bond-like adventure to me, which is something I can easily picture as I’m listening to the piece. I’m very impressed you made this in only “a couple of hours.” I also applaud you for the bold - yet seamlessly fitting - decision to conclude the piece with instruments that otherwise don’t really appear in the rest of the track (i.e., the vibes and guitar). Strong work yet again, FJOB! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
9/10

[Separation (NGADM 23 Semifinals)]

Somehow, I forgot to post my review here earlier. I apologize.
---
I like the radio voice and distorted atmosphere at the beginning - paired with the jazzy chords, the piece sounds downright moody. The subtle swell into :45 and the introduction of the cello line there are both gorgeous, and the rich bass there is a nice touch as well. The mix is strong, if a tad bottom-heavy towards the beginning. The riser into 1:18 is a bit cheesy, but I really like the prominent beats and soaring string melodies there. Love the dense rhythmic syncopations and rich texture throughout - even the relatively mellow bridge is really engaging and dynamic. I might’ve liked to hear the piano solo to be a bit more up-front in the mix, but otherwise you nailed the production quality here too. The final chorus feels really triumphant, and the ascending line leading into the post-chorus at 3:32 is a nice touch as well. I might’ve liked to hear more of a proper outro, but that’s a pretty small detail in the grand scheme of things. I’ll also say that the arrangement of the piece is a bit generic, but at the same time the progression flows so smoothly with all of the dramatic crashes and rich harmonies. I love seeing you put a jazzy, energetic twist on your style here. Keep it up, Papkee! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Lordant - Allegro Fratturato]

Somehow, I forgot to post my review here earlier. I apologize.
---

I love the atmosphere at the beginning. It’s a bit hard to follow the rhythm at first, but once the texture fills out at :26 it certainly gets easier. Love the sound design here, between the crisp strings and dreamy harmonies. The piece has a nice escalation of energy over the first minute, too. A tiny detail that bothered me: the harmonies suddenly drop out at 1:07, but only for a beat. It was a bit jarring, is all. That said, I enjoyed the transition into the adventuresome bridge at 1:11 and the staccato-y percussion at 1:43. Part of me wanted to hear more of the percussion in the mix during the busier sections, but otherwise the mixing and mastering is top-notch here as usual. The final energetic section at 2:01 hits the piece home nicely, and I especially like the choir at 2:23 and the “afterglow” at 2:35. Stellar work, Lordant! I have a huge admiration for the consistency with which you churn out cinematic beauties. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
9.25/10