TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Road Less Traveled]

Really interesting meter here. I think it's in 6/8, but the beat threw me off a bit for a while. I like the bright tone and the continuity of the underlying rhythm - just like footsteps. At the same time, I would've liked to hear a little more structural contrast over the course of the piece. The bridge at 1:48 is the closest thing you get to adding more space to the mix for an extended period of time. Otherwise, there isn't a lot that stands out from the overall texture. I like the harmonic content and the transitions, but the composition could use a little more shape and fleshing out. Overall nice work, Chrono! ^_^

ChronoNomad responds:

Hey there, TaintedLogic! Thanks for dropping by, my friend.

Merely manifesting an idea that was clinging to my mind's eye (though I guess that goes without saying), and I thought that it had a really interesting sense of tension that was simultaneously rather chill. Also getting back to my piano roots a bit since I've been doing a lot of very different things recently, and those beautiful ivories have been calling out to me for a while now. How can I ignore such a plea? xD

I really appreciate the review, man! This was a more fun and casual romp, but it was originally going to be a much shorter - and ultimately more repetitive - loop. Suffice to say, I'm glad that I took the time to expand upon it somewhat before bringing it back around. There's quite a bit of change, especially in the lower register, but much of it is subtle and requires a few listens to really pick them out.

Despite the simplicity of the musical ideas, I still quite enjoy the motif. I can just sit and listen to this for an extended period of time without getting bored, and it brings me a sense of peace for some reason. If other folks enjoy the ride, hey—that's a bonus! It's just nice to have a place to share the music. ^__^

[-Cove-]

I love the airy sound quality and the smooth pads. The progression is a tad slow, but the laid-back and atmosphere and mood really sell this piece. Later on, the mellow guitar solo and chord progression totally hit me in the feels. The track does get a bit repetitive, but I'm a sucker for these chill-out tracks. You sold the emotional appeal really well by stripping away the beat at the end, and the radio effects/static was a nice thematic touch. Overall great work! I would buy an album full of tracks like this from you. ^_^

Waterflame responds:

Thanks! That's great to hear :) Appreciate the feedback.

[-Viscid-]

I like the atmosphere. Similar percussion to "Dim," but the bass is heavier and the thematic content is a lot different between the police sirens and clavinet and organs. I really like the harmony, but I wish it developed a little faster at times. It has a bit of a linear progression, without too many surprises or structural changes...which is not necessarily bad for a rather short piece, but I could still see you doing a lot more with this. My favorite parts of it are the rhythm and instrumentation, which contribute the most to the funkiness for sure. Keep up the good work, WF!

Waterflame responds:

Thanks! :) Yeah, true about the progression and potential.. i felt like I was building a theme before a possible 2nd act, but this track took me long enough, it would be another 2 weeks. I felt like it was forcing it beyond the end point. The way I see it I would rather finish and try similar later than to over-produce on one piece.

[-Dim-]

I like the quirky instruments and white noise. Really helps set the scene. The beat is a little simplistic, but the bell-like synths have a really interesting rhythmic element that helps give the piece more character. By 1:30, the progression starts to come together, and the more hard-hitting snare rolls by 2:15 help channel the energy going into the re-intro/breakdown/coda at 2:30. The very end even had a more melodic vibe. I really like this track. It sounds very different than a lot of your recent work in character, yet something about the instrumentation and drum work is still quintessentially you. Good to be all caught up with your recent tracks, Waterflame! Looking forward to hearing some more soon. :)

Waterflame responds:

Thank you! Glad it still shines through. I am getting more comfortable with making these kinds of beats at last.

[-Groovy Tower-]

I like the distorted vocal samples at the beginning and the catchy bass riffs. Later, the frantic melodies and quirky secondary harmonies really make this piece a fun adventure. I especially like the apparently Middle Eastern-inspired riff at :58. The choir in the background at around the 2-minute mark was a nice surprise. Seems like you were still itching to use that sample after finishing "Running from Demons." ^_^ The sub-themes of the piece all come together really nicely by the end. This piece has a really strong sense of direction and cohesion overall, which I really appreciate. The ending was a tad sudden, but that's honestly my only major complaint. Another baller track. Keep it up, WF!

Waterflame responds:

Thank you! :D Yeah those choirs are nice, Its 8dio samples so quality is great, but I actually destroyed the quality in this one to make it fit the track more and not poke out so much. It just seemed right at that part. No idea why, but I went with it!

[-Escalade-]

I love the industrial sound effects and the James Bond-style guitar at the beginning. Interesting...at first I thought this was going to be one of your bassy, rhythmic tracks. The progression is a tad slow for the first minute, but you do a great job of slowly morphing it into a more upbeat track. I'm definitely getting some older Waterflame-style vibes here, but the instrumental palette is a bit richer and the texture feels more saturated, both of which are pluses. There's a lot of melodic content to keep me engaged. Your mixing has definitely gotten better in the last couple of years, but I think that snare wasn't always as prominent as I wanted it to be. The piece also feels a tad repetitive by the end. The contour in the main riff is very similar throughout the track. I also thought the ending could've been a bit more creative. Overall, though, I really like the sound design and mood here. The bass is really important to the texture of the piece, but it's still a really strongly melodic track. Keep it up, WF!

Waterflame responds:

Thanks for the review! Thats great to hear. I actually agree with the criticism too, I was entranced by the repetitive melody. I tend to fixate on certain bouncing appreciating things and make them go on for a tad too long. This could def. have been cut down a bit and mastered with less emphasis on the bass.

[Cs - 'Mirage']

I like the victorious vibe at the beginning and the gradual fade-in. The tempo felt a little slow (and the texture a little dreamy) for a dance song, but maybe all it needs is a drum beat to give it some drive. I appreciated the changes in dynamics, but they seemed occasionally haphazard to me, as opposed to reflecting the harmonic direction to the piece. The synths are a bit cheesy, but they fit the cutesy mood well. Solid piece overall. I can tell you're improving. This one is particular has a smooth flow a well-balanced mix to it. Keep it up, Csucskos! ^_^

Csucskos responds:

Thank you. I was in big dilemma when I had to choose the genre. I thought, the dance was the closest to the mood of the song.
The drum is a good idea, maybe only the bass kicking is not enough for keeping the tempo "feel".
I know the second melody just jumps out of nowhere, but I feel like this song needs that really bad. I may have a solution though: I'll repeat the main melody a few more times, giving the listener the opportunity to familiarize with that and only than will change to the second melody.
Thank you for your feedback again, I'll definitely improve on them in the next iteration of this song.

[Spiritual Hunger]

I like the gritty bass synths and ominous mood at the beginning. The vocal samples were integrated well, and the progression is solid, if a bit slow to develop. The production is strong, too, although I'm not sure you needed all of the treble end in some of the synths. The breaks at the 1-minute mark felt like a bit of an anti-climax after the long intro, and after a while I was itching for some more melodic content. The frantic synths at around 1:20 are fun, and you continue to use the vocal samples well. There are a lot of stop-start moments in this piece, though - be careful not to overuse them. The organ-like riff at 1:59 has a fun vibe. It serves well as a sort of breakdown/bridge section. Overall, the piece feels a tad disjointed structurally, but the sound design, mood, and mastering are all really cool. Nice work! Keep at it, HeyJellyBear. ^_^

HeyJellyBear responds:

Thanks for the in depth words! Super appreciate you taking time to listen! :3