Random-storykeeper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sin Tiempo (AIM CONTEST 2023)]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

What works really well for me is this entry's sense of forward motion. Throughout the whole piece, it feels like I'm flying constantly towards the focal point of the image. The composition captures the wonder and adventure - I can definitely see this fitting into a platform-adventure that takes place in an environment like the art inspiration.

It seems like you were going for a lot with this track - dynamic variations, a composition that has to work for both day and night, and I love that you approached this with the idea of creating a surreal atmosphere. I feel a sense of forwardness from some instruments (like the floaty arps) while the lower instrument with the attack almost feels like it's moving backward. Putting these together creates that perception of motion in two opposing directions simultaneously, as if one is venturing into the unknown.

I was also intrigued by the title of this entry, which I know shares the same name as its inspiration. Apparently it literally translates to "without time", so it is interesting that some of the percussive sounds used here sound like the ticking of a clock or the evenness of the piano notes at 1:50. Out of curiosity, did the meaning of the art's title get taken into consideration when creating this track?

Overall, I really loved the atmosphere from this entry. The use of the ambient sound at the beginning into the main sections worked really well and added a captivating wispy tone to the texture that I enjoyed a lot.

ZagyBoi responds:

Thank your for your feedback! Actually yes, the title did play into the inspiration when creating the track, which led to the decision of using ticking clocks throughout the track.

[AIM - Misery Haunt]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

This entry does a great job at capturing both the creepiness and the innocence present in the art inspiration. I love the use of the piano playing in the lower register with a lot of release in the tails. The use of the jazzy instruments was also well done, particularly in the transition leading up to when the music box comes back at 2:12. I love the use of the horns at 1:53 followed by the weird sort of metallic attacked sound at 2:03. It really conveys the mystery and cuteness in the character and the environment.

The one thing that didn't work for me here is the decision of keeping the music box in the background while the oboe plays. The music box has a very strong sort of pluck to it that remains prevalent even when its volume is turned down, especially when it's accompanying a lower melody being played by a woodwind, so it ends up becoming a distraction at 2:22 specifically. The way the composition was set up, it felt like these ideas from the oboe melody and the rest of the accompaniment already connected well enough that the music box didn't really need to keep playing.

Overall, this piece excels at depicting this character and that sense of wandering forward down an endless dark corridor. I like how you even took into account the kind of music Mizore listens to and working it into the track in a way that enhances the atmosphere and gives an edge that is more specific to the art inspiration.

Codefreq responds:

Thank you for the very in-depth review. I’m glad you enjoyed my piece and that you liked the angle I took regarding Mizore’s character. :)

[AIM - Spiral - A song about losing your mind]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

The things I love the most about this track are the composition and the sound design. The groove from those starting chords is endlessly captivating. I also loved the sense of pulse throughout the piece, which is probably a weird thing to say about music but it stood out to me. I noticed that pretty much every note that plays has some sort of sense of the beat, like the opening chords pan in time with the triple metre and it really helped to make the more varied rhythms around it shine. The instrument choices also play well off each other - I didn't really think I'd hear pizzicato strings with electric guitars but the way they are used here feels natural.

If I had to nitpick one thing, I feel like the emotion of this track didn't quite convey the tone of the art that well. Even though I love the way this track is paced, I think the well-crafted composition and structure work against the tone of despair seen in the art. The track comes across as too epic and energetic and I just don't think of "isolation" when I listen to this. If anything, I would think isolation/depression/anxiety would be reflected as disorderly, perhaps chaotic.

You definitely touch on the overwhelming aspect of the art and I think there is a sense of being confined here, just not confinement as the art depicts it. However, when coming at it from an angle about being trapped doing the same job over and over, I think this piece fits in a lot better with that metaphor (imo). The chords definitely give a "work" sort of vibe and the repetition suggests a return to the same routine day in and day out. That increase in the dynamics with the repeating melody towards the end seems like a reflection of how being too ingrained in routine can eventually drive a person into despair.

The production feels very thick, which does play well into the theme of confinement, I think. I do like that the instruments can still be heard despite the in-your-face sense that some of the lower layers especially carry. Overall, I did go back and forth on whether it really did feel like there was a strong connection to the art inspiration, but I can confidently say that I still love this piece for what it is. The little changing of the emphasis on those chords at 0:41 and so-forth got to me.

[AIM - Shark Dude Shanty]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

A metal pirate shanty is exactly what I was expecting when I saw this art and this entry did not disappoint. I find this entry very easy to enjoy - it's just got the right energy to hook me in and convince me that this is the right sound and approach to bring this goofy, menacing shark to life. Not only does the guitar sound great, but I love how the other instruments work in this track compositionally to paint the scene fully. At one point, I noted that at around the 0:58 mark, it sounds like the shark is dancing and stomping around on the deck. He definitely doesn't own this ship but you'll gladly and fearfully give it up to him in the hope that he spares your life.

While I like the use of the non-guitar instruments in terms of their composition, I think their sound and mixing didn't quite make them as effective as the guitar parts. Perhaps this is in part to the guitar being played live while the other instruments are not and that couldn't be more evident than in the choir. To me, the choir was barely audible (but from what I could hear, I loved the way in which it was used as a layer) and it was where I really felt like the synthetic nature of its sound was most evident. When it changes notes, it just seemed like a program in a DAW moving step by step. I would have definitely loved to hear less MIDI sounding instruments as I think it would have enhanced the piece a lot more, especially against the awesome guitar.

Overall, this entry does a great job at blending fun with a razor sharp intimidating edge. It sounds to me like the structure paints this clear image of a shark rising out of the water then jumping onto and scaring everyone off a ship. Then he destroys everything and it seems like at the very end, with the organ outro, he slowly sinks back into the deep. That's quality musical storytelling right there.

CrossCarrasco responds:

Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate you checking out my song and glad you liked it!

[AIM - INEVITABLE]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

You do a fairly good job at building this track around a single idea. I like the combination of the light, high bells with that low acid bass. The faster high chords pair well with the repeating melodic bassline and I like how you build upon the intensity towards the end. The piece feels off-putting but it also manages to be quite flowy with those high bell sounds and given that the character in the art is also bleeding profusely, I think it is an appropriate enough fit.

The part of the track that didn't work for me was the drums. They just seem to enter in at the start and then suddenly leave, then come back again. It didn't feel like there was any rhyme or reason for them to be in the track and their sound just doesn't mix that well with the rest of the synths.

I also think this track could have explored its art inspiration a lot further. When I look at the art and its description, I read about a very harrowing scenario and I think this track was a missed opportunity to delve into that narrative and find ways to express that musically. I guess the idea behind this entry is that the repetition reflects how the "bleeding doesn't stop", though I think this art and the story behind the character provided a lot more in-depth grounds to form a very bleak and emotionally driven track. I'm not sure if that was taken into account here, but from what I hear, it didn't seem like that was the case.

Overall, I don't think the repetition is bad nor is that the issue. It's about how the repetition is used and the role it plays in the composition and the reflection of the art inspiration. This entry does at least have a sense of flow and its intensity shows that it was at least pointing in the right direction.

V1ZION responds:

I appreciate what you wrote. I will take all of this into account to make sure I do better in the future AIMs. Thank you so much! :3

[AIM - N0T A G4M3]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

It's amazing to see that this entry not only managed to get scouted, but also front-paged so close to the deadline. I know I said it before in the chat, but I thought it was worth another mention here. As for the entry itself, I think there's a lot of things I enjoy here. The choice of chiptune is fitting for this anthropomorphic computer character and I like that the recurring melody with the large leap and the smaller steps downward. The synths are a bit on the loud side, especially once we get to the quieter sections, but the louder sections feel like they're mixed decently enough.

With character art, I think a lot of the inspiration comes from how the characters are portrayed musically. This piece does a fairly good job at picking sounds and a composition that illustrate this character, but I think it could have gone a little further. The computer character being anthropomorphic feels like it would have been a great opportunity to humanize some aspects of the music, perhaps playing around with aspects of velocity, phrasing and/or imperfections in how the rhythms hit or how the notes are played. The caption within the image, "CHECK OUT THE MESS YOU MADE", also comes across a bit passive-aggressive, and I think this track could have conveyed that more in the melody. I think there might have been an attempt at it, but I didn't really find this track to be that strong enough to really characterize this individual other than them just being a computer. There's also a lot of glitchiness in the background and that was another chance to incorporate some glitch effects into the track.

Overall, I like what I'm hearing here - I just think there was more potential to have taken the characterization further in the music, especially given the elements present in the art. The melody was nice enough, but once it got to the later half of the piece, I just didn't feel like the repetition of these ideas was catchy enough for its recurrence to be warranted. However, I do think this piece nails the computer-like aspect of the art. The constant looping and sound design do make me think of a lightly pissed off machine and I think that works well enough to give the piece a decent amount of relevance to its art inspiration.

[Seafoam Sanctuary [AIM 2023]]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

A solo nylon guitar piece seems like a great match for this pleasant and warm scenic art inspiration. There's a warm comfort to the timbre and the recurring melody is used to good effect here, progressing to other ideas before returning to the "home" idea. It's nice to hear a bit of ornamentation in that main melody towards the end, which adds some satisfying variation while remaining cohesive.

The accompaniment generally seems to be repeating quarter notes and I think this makes the piece less interesting to engage with. The melody's phrases end on solid chords, so hearing that parallel in the rhythm just feels like the piece halts in its flow and I don't really think it works that well here. Even when the rhythms change with the lower solid chords, they pretty much just stay the same notes and rhythms and this melody is not really strong enough to stand on its own with an accompaniment that simple. Especially for a solo instrument about a sanctuary in what appears to be a tropical area, I would have loved to hear more flow to the rhythms and complexity in the textures, like moving arps as an accompaniment, perhaps rather than solid chords.

Overall, I think this entry has a pretty decent setup and a comforting enough sound. I like how the main melody jumps to the sevenths for the arps in the first part of its phrase, then in the second half, goes to the consonant notes and resolves, completing the phrase. It's simple, but it's suitable given the art inspiration.

[Melancholy Hill - Change (AIM 2023)]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

I love hearing the variety of metal tracks this year and I'm totally here for this introspective take on a thunderstorm. It seems like there was a lot of thought put into how these sections play out and I think everything really comes together to portray this passing of the storm. You get a lot of mileage out of this guitar-heavy piece - I feel like a lot of interesting ideas were being explored in the melody and using the guitar's growling, distorted sound is a great choice for a wailing thunderstorm. I especially like the section at 2:55 where the repeating notes go through phasing changes, which is a nice preceding section to the introduction of the piano.

The only issues that come to mind here have to do with the impact of the notes and the mixing of the drums. I feel like this track does not hit as hard as the composition makes it seem like and I believe a big part of it is that the drums. I think they definitely could have been louder, particularly the bass drum and snare, which feel present but not prominent. The other aspect is that in the beginning metal section from 1:11 to 2:55, I feel like those repeating notes could be a little more snappier (like the ones around the 1:44 mark for instance). It might be the background accompaniment or the notes being held a little too long, but I feel like the track loses a lot of energy from not having those notes cutting clean as they repeat and thus there's not a lot of impact when the repeating notes play.

Overall, I think you have the narrative structure down well in terms of portraying the storm. I really enjoyed the melodic starting section, particularly the little rising of that guitar note at 0:48-0:49 leading up to the start of the first harder-hitting section. I found it pretty intriguing how you describe this passing of the storm like a hill to climb, which to me was strange given how the art is showing what appears to be relatively flat land. I get the title of the collection and the climbing of the metaphorical hill as the overcoming of obstacles or challenges in life. It just seemed weird given that braving a storm also is a similar metaphor to what you're describing and would have been more appropriate to this concept and the art. Even the track seems to conclude a little similarly to how it started, with the ambience and the solemn melodic guitar. In the end, I still think this track does a good job at reflecting the art in motion and it still works in conjunction with its inspiration.

BBaNK responds:

You are a legend RSK! Thank you so much.

[ninetek]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

This is an entry in which I really would have loved to hear more about the process behind making it. When working with an art inspiration that seems so abstract, it would be interesting to know more about how you interpreted the work and how you think that reflects in the music.

As far as what I think about this piece's connection to its art inspiration, there are a lot of interesting things going on in the sound design and the texture amidst its repetitive loop pattern that feel like they're playing around with details without sounding too concrete. I like that the recurring idea is set up in a matter where the only way to resolve it is to repeat itself over and over. There also appears to be some timbral shifts in the instrument carrying this melody at around the 2:07 mark onwards - sounds like there's some filtering or distortion going on and I love how this gradual change affects the colouration of the track without being a melodic change.

This entry overall has a general sense of urgency and forward motion as it culminates to its third section. The struggle for me is that I don't really feel like this art has that sense of urgency or any sort of unsettling undertones. The reds are not as harsh and are more muted - it doesn't really seem as futuristic as the music (imo) implies. But that's not to say I don't understand the connection between the music and the art. I think the way the instruments shift in tone, the use of the chopped up vocal samples and the way the layers are placed or added/removed gives just enough discernibility like the shapes in the art. Everything is set up in a way that is tangible while also being strange and a little off-putting and I think that's a good approach to an abstract work of art that has "Untitled" in its name.

Hyenaedon responds:

Thanks for the review! You're spot on with the idea just repeating & playing around with the details, for trax like this i find it really difficult to do a 'normal' progression with a chorus or whatnot cause its more meditative if thats the right word.

As for the art link yea this time I very much took a more abstract approach in every aspect as during this time i was pretty drained out of ideas with a more cohesive narrative or idea so something that i could just feel my way through felt right. I was trawling the old art portal for hours and found a lot of cool things but this one just stood out as fitting as an album cover so I went with it and imagined what one of the trax would sound like. The one thing i couldve pushed more probably was the ssort of technology vs nature angle, which i kinda gleam from the art with all the sharp angles and buildings versus the mountain and sort of soft wool material. it's almost merged together so much that it is almost intangible and off-putting, like you said.

Anyways.. just wanna say thanks again for the thoughtful review, and for continuing to run AIM as it's always fun to do whenever i get the chance!

[AIM - Pick it up - Corrupt Module]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

The sounds you picked for this track are fitting and I like the use of distortion here to create a dark, murky atmosphere. For a piece with a lot of distortion, it's pretty easy on the ears and I think it helps that the distortion helps to enhance the melodic elements at play. There's definitely a futuristic vibe here, but it also feels so claustrophobic given how many of these thick instruments are in-your-face. I think this helps to convey the setting (as I see it) in the art inspiration - waking up trapped in a small dark room with a mysterious computer all alone and not knowing exactly where you are or why you're there. You just know that you have to escape.

I like the use of the pads at the beginning, particularly with how they seem to have this oscillation pattern to their volume. It makes me think of a computer fan whirring as a computer screen lights up. The whole intro is very good at setting the scene and the moment the drop hits, it feels like I'm crunching down trying to find my way out of this dystopian escape room.

I also thought it was neat how the synth line playing the melody is just a little off the strong beat sometimes. There are moments later in the track where it's clearly hitting on the strong 1, but at the start especially, the first note hits the strong beat while the rest are a little bit off or on a later beat within the bars. It gives the sense of uneasiness while the bassline continues its pattern after the drop like clockwork.

In the end, I like how the chords rising in at 2:50 come across as a callback to the intro amidst the newer ideas being introduced here. The melody being reintroduced in this airy higher voice evokes that sense of hopelessness I think you were referencing in your description. You try to escape, but it doesn't happen, and now you're stuck for life. Overall, this concept is well-executed and I like how the scene was set and played out based on the art.