AIM 2023 Judge Review
If I had to make a most improved list from participants in this compo, I would put you somewhere near the top of that list. This entry surprised me in how good the composition is, particularly in that transition into the groove at 0:34. Once the track enters the groove, the bass and the chord progressions complement the atmosphere from the art so well. There's definitely a dusk/not completely nighttime sort of vibe paired with an undertone of uncertainty and it comes through well with the setup of the composition.
While I do love what I'm hearing, I think the mixing could use some tweaks. There's a bit of a choked-up sensation in the groovy part but some parts, like the drums, feel like they sit too confidently on top of the mix. The leads like at 1:02 seem quite loud compared to the accompaniment, though it oddly sounds like it starts fading in volume at 1:22 with the lower counterpoint.
I was also surprised at the intro and conclusion, as they seem so different and unexpected given how the main groove is so smooth. The chiptune intro almost seemed like it was going to lean fully into 8bit and it certainly caught me off-guard when the track went in a different direction. I do, however, think the gradual buildup into the main grooving section worked well enough that I didn't feel like these were two completely different parts of two different songs. The ending was also not what was expected, but I do think this part came across more like you running out of ideas and concluded the track abruptly. I'm not sure if that was the intention - maybe the blood moon came down and truly brought the bad omen with it.
Overall, I like that your interpretation of the art inspiration was not entirely negative and I think that comes across effectively in the music. You've created something that really captures that specific time of day as portrayed in the art with the main part of your track. Great job!