Random-storykeeper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Aura of a Ghost]

The intro definitely gives me chill vibes - I love that gentle sweep of the bell-like instruments and how those lower strings cut through at around the 0:30 mark. I think it was up until the bass that I was really enjoying the atmosphere; it does portray the artwork it's inspired by effectively.

Unfortunately, I think the harsher bass really dampens my engagement in the track. While I like the idea of adding intensity, I think the transition into that bassline feels abrupt, volume-wise, and the bass is very in-your-face that it's difficult to listen to without feeling like my head is being pounded. The repetition of this bassline also doesn't help it much - it mostly feels uniform and stuck in the same place.

Overall, I think the structure of this entry is good - I think the intensity between sections would work with more solid production in regards to mixing that harsh bassline and its progression.

[AIM 2021 - Huntress]

The thing I like most about this piece are the sounds. The guitars give a warm feeling and the track is well balanced, which is good, considering the various ideas rolling around in the texture. The general structure feels pretty loose, but at the same time, ideas seem to be focused on one particular spot in time. When I listen to this entry (and I feel similarly about "Bridge" as well), I feel like I just stepped into the middle of a track and that one aspect of time plays itself out. To me, it's kind of like portraying a still picture sonically, which seems to be exactly what the art calls for.

One thing I find confusing to grasp is your description of the entry suggests progression which is not evident in the track. Normally, the expectation is that there would be a change in the feeling of the composition that shifts from the fear of the dragon retaliating (as an example) to the gradual act of becoming the dragon's friend. The track feels too stuck in a particular loop to express any sort of narrative storytelling, at least for me.

Overall, I think the patterns within the textures of your entry are fascinating, and the track does lend itself to some replayability to get a sense of different ideas being played in front of me that I may have missed on previous listens. I'm not sure if I completely make that connection to the art inspiration or to the ideas attempted to being explored, although I think the sound design captures the warmer tones of the painting.

AndieCiambotti responds:

You really give the best reviews, thank you so much for your time, greatly appreciated!
The progression/twist of the story written in the description are the last tunes you can hear at the end of the track, sort of a mellow ending to a hunting adventure (which I deeply hate).

Edit: I think I know what's missing on this track... I completely forgot to record a bass!

[AIM - Break the Cycle]

The beginning section definitely feels like a piece that would play during the cutscene of a visual novel in which you see the art inspiration as a still frame while text scrolls on the bottom of the screen to indicate a conversation. I think the overall vibes play into the warm colours of the background and that bassline ties the piece together. I love how it stands out, but it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

The structure feels quite loose and much like the chill atmosphere, things just kind of happen into one another. Everything just comes into place wherever it seems fit, and I definitely get that sense from the music alone before even reading the description. At the same time, the chord progression and the instrument choice seem very classy, and the loose nature allows me to have a relaxing experience in which my mind simply wanders with the music.

Not only was the piano section stunning, but also its transition from the first section into it. I did notice that some of the notes on the piano came across as being a tad too forceful, but I think it was generally humanized well. It was more that I wasn't expecting, around the introduction of the piano, the notes to all have that sort of heavy accent on them, although I can see that complementing the ominous nature of the character. Also weird side note, but the melody at 3:44 always leads me to believe it's going to turn into a remix of "Reflection" from Disney's Mulan because those notes sound quite similar to a part of the chorus.

Overall, there's a lot of nice, little surprises amidst the laid back atmosphere that do sound like they aren't conventional, thus breaking the cycle. In the starting section, I like how the keys at 0:18 sound like they're being set up to serve as a background instrument to the lead, but then at 0:35, they themselves become the lead. These subtle touches are interesting to look out for on replays, and I did replay this one frequently.

[Rolling Waves - AIM 2021]

Listening to this piece is like the equivalent of being hit by a giant wave in slow motion. The multistage structure feels like it captures everything, from the water picking up to the wave travelling towards its target and ultimately hitting it with a gargantuan slam. What I love most about this piece is that it manages to capture the emotion of what such an event would be like, without overstating it to some large scale degree. It actually feels a bit more intimate, as if the events were unfolding in the eyes of an individual.

In my opinion, the piano is really what shines here. I think its subdued nature, especially when the percussion and other instruments enter, is what makes it work so effectively. It presents a very somber chord progression that lingers even when it goes into the background, which evokes the sense of being overtaken by a giant wave (I'm really running with this wave metaphor even though I don't think that's exactly what you were going for lol) and the way the piano tries to cut through the mix comes across as suppressed cries of fear.

As much as I am taken back for the ride, I'm not quite sure I follow the connection between the art and the music. If the interpretation is a darker take on Alice in Wonderland, I'm not really sure if I felt that through this composition. Maybe the dread of inevitability that takes over most of this piece alludes to that inevitable feeling of having to accept growing up. That and the rising strings glissando to bassline at around the 3:50 mark felt a bit too horror trailer-y in a way that didn't completely work for me, but it it didn't really bother me a whole lot - mostly because it was just at the very end.

Overall, these are pretty much minor gripes to a pretty solid entry. I love the structural flow and the way the piece sets up an emotional kind of tension. The build to that vocal part at 2:59 is just haunting in a way that also feels climactic. Well done!

[AIM - Sunset Silhouette]

Your instrument choices are spot-on for evoking emotions that can reasonably be connected the artwork. I especially like the use of the pizzicato strings, which add this extra level of poignancy and that, combined with the piano, conveys the idea of silhouetted figures pretty well.

Generally, the composition feels quite sad due to it remaining in the minor key for the entire duration of the piece. It does paint the picture in quite a different light, giving the story captured a more bittersweet feeling, as if the two lovers can only meet each other in secret during sunset unless they get caught. I'm not really sure if that's what you're going for, since you only mention the piece being romantic, but hey, romantic sadness also works.

One way to bring out more emotion in the piano is to phrase those solid chords at the beginning (starting at 0:05) and not allow them to hit exactly the same. I think they would probably work best if the second chord were slightly softer to play into that conclusion of sadness even more.

Overall, this entry interprets the art in a melancholy sort of way, which I'm not sure if the image itself was actually trying to convey, but I liked the approach.

NativeNiles responds:

I was going for that Romero and Juliet vibe. You nailed it on meeting in secret at sundown, after everyone retired in their homes. I could have used more time to edit, but at last, no time waits for no man. Thx for the review.

[AIM 2021 - System Error]

Initially, this track was quite underwhelming for me, but I did grow to appreciate it the more I listened to it. One aspect I found particularly fascinating is how the track develops from an atmosphere-building first section to a more melodic but still minimal second section. While the first section does have a melody to it, it feels more like it's wandering with its much slower chord changes and more sparse rhythms. The second section, in contrast, goes through more of a progression per phrase and ends on a perfect cadence. I enjoyed the contrast between these two sections a lot.

Even though I do appreciate the track trying to stay simple and avoid building up in an expected way, I find myself questioning whether or not the actual progression of this track is, in the long term, impactful. Because the changes are mostly melodic and the instrumentation is kept quite minimal, there is more of a challenge in finding that alternate approach to connecting with the listener in an impactful manner.

In the second section, I found the ducking of the volume in the lead when the snare enters to be distracting. But this section is wonderful, especially the way it filters in.

Overall, I think the simplicity does give a sense of distance similar to the perspective presented in the "Industrial Zone" artwork. It is a very good entry.

Teckmo-X responds:

Thank you for your feedback! I really do agree with you. The song was not a finished product but I intended to make it longer and/or even perhaps add more into it. I feel like it could have been an amazing song but it was simple and it just hit me when I was making this I wanted something rather simple rather than complicated. I do hope to put more work into it in the near future. I believe the best one out of all my submissions would have been "Ex Machina" if you get a chance to listen to it let me know what you think. I tried to bring in some Rezz and Notaker similar to his song "Fatal System Error". I appreciate your review and your time!

[Let Me NARF!]

I have to admit there aren't a lot of things I can say positively regarding this track. At least the vocals sort of seem to be inspired by the image with just the part where it says, "Let me out!" which comes across as a plea for help and dissociation against one's own will. But other than that, this track doesn't really seem to be much of anything.

As a dance track, the drums are mixed too quietly and it doesn't feel remotely close to being danceable. The synths playing the chord progression make the emotions in this track corny and goofy in a way that don't connect with the artwork at all (I think the fact that there are pop culture references doesn't help much either). The spliced vocals just sit there for the duration of the few minutes this track plays out and they aren't really something that offer any substance that make it worth listening to those sounds for that amount of time.

Overall, I think this was an entry with very little substance to it. It kind of hints at connecting with the art, but only slightly.

ChipSugarShock responds:

Thanks for listening, and for the feedback!

[AIM - War Rats]

Hats off to you for leaving the interpretation of your musical story up to the listener. Often times, it feels like people sometimes overexplain a lot of their musical interpretations of their own pieces, and that actually can ruin the listening experience.

I like the introduction with the thin radio sound, but it felt a bit weird when the marches were not in sync with the tempo of the music in the part that follows. The march sounds could have been integrated with the percussion, but they instead have to fade out while the actual timed percussion takes over. The main melody that is heard for the majority of the piece is good; it has this sadness mixed with this drive to keep moving forward, and I think the choice to use a more nasally instrument suits the rat character in question. Most of the track, to me, felt like it took inspiration from events that led up to the artwork.

What was missing for me in this piece, was the depths of dynamics. I felt like there were sections where the instruments could have felt less hard-hitting or softer, especially given the repetition of the melody. A lot of the parts feel like they have the same impact and I think that messes with the narrative suggested in the piece.

I do enjoy the section at 4:36 where the explosion feels soft, but the ringing of the ears sound is much louder in comparison. The sparseness of the notes and the more bell-like tones that come in feel like they complement that ear ringing sound.

Overall, I think the sound design is nice, as well as the melody. I like the interpretation of the image in a more narrative sort of way.

[Valley of Bones [AIM 2021]]

If there was ever a song in AIM 2021 that could be described as badass and intimidating simultaneously, this would definitely fit the bill.

Your guitars always sound amazing and I like how the song has quite a bit of contrast between sections, like it doesn't all hit the same, but the sections all still work together to create a cohesive song. I think I've probably said this before with your Chips entries, but I don't know if it's possible to give the vocals a bit more diction so that it's more clear as to what you're singing without having to refer to the lyrics.

The craziest part of the song was actually when the tempo slowed down at 2:24. That was when things started to get even more frightening, like my soul was going to be taken over or something, haha. Also, the guitar solo leading up this section was amazing. It handled the transition to the tempo change fantastically.

Overall, you've created another, very solid entry. You continue to impress me with how much you can pull off with a guitar and your voice.

TSRBand responds:

Thanks so much for all the kind comments!

[AIM - Galactic Glitter]

This is the kind of entry I like to wind down to and relax after a long day in the summer. Great chord progression and synths that feel warm and cozy while maintaining that sense of being outdoors.

One detail I really enjoyed was how those first two chords build on a bit of tension - I kept anticipating them to resolve, but it kept going back to that initial chord, so it made it very satisfying once the resolution hits at the 30 second mark. The percussion is light and chill and while I would have expected something a bit crunchier and lower in frequency, I think this piece's percussion worked for me quite well.

The only main issue I have with this piece is that the lead that comes in at around 1:53 feels too similar sounding to the synths playing the chords. Personally, I would have liked to hear something more distinct in timbre, but still fit the sound design. Allowing it to stand out more (without being obtrusive) could have added more of that satisfying release. The accompaniment is already pretty chill as it is, so this is nowhere near a major complaint.

Overall, I think this entry captured the scale, beauty and style of the artwork. It is very chill and I enjoy listening it the more I replay it.

Kalviter responds:

Thanks so much for your feedback! I can totally understand the point about the lead: it was a balance between maintaining that chill atmosphere and piercing through with a melody, and it seems like I've been overly cautious striking that. I'm really glad you enjoy it so much.