Random-storykeeper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[omnipresent (AIM 2023)]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

What this entry excels at is being able to convey ominous emotions with a sense of awe and beauty in a way that feels coherent and very specific to the art it's inspired by. There's a lot of heightened tension heard in the chord choices and I think parts of the sound design (like the higher, almost angelic voices provide a really soft and beautiful undertone to the piece.

I also love how the second section takes on a more melodic approach in contrast to the more rhythmic and intensive first section. The biggest obstacle that prevents me from really loving this entry is that I don't feel like these two sections connect with each other that well. I know you were unable to continue working on this for a few weeks, so I appreciate that you were at least able to finish and submit the piece. To me, unfortunately, this does feel like two different tracks slapped together and I think this has a lot more to do with the way these ideas transition into one another and not so much the ideas in the sections themselves.

Personally, I believe that having the connecting glue start at 1:29 with (basically) the exact same setup as the intro made this piece feel like it was resetting everything it built up and went through. Just curious, but when making this track, did you try to remove the repeat of the intro and jump straight to 1:52? I actually like this part of the transition section a lot; it's similar to the ideas from the intro but isn't exactly the same as it and that would have been more effective of a transition to the next different idea. The lost time could be used to develop the main sections, particularly that second section - which while I love, feels like it just ends before it can get good.

Overall, I think this entry has a lot of neat ideas and I think there is potential to develop it further. I do feel like this entry could have at least been 4-6 minutes if more time were spent on each of the main sections, but for what it is, I think you struck a balance in how you conveyed emotion in the track that shows a clear connection to the art.

WakerLink responds:

Thank you for your review! I want to mention first of all that I fully agree about the two sections not meshing very well together, and that's my biggest regret with the track as a whole. I had zero ideas on how to continue the first section due to still having inexperience with the genre (and high BPM also doesn't make meeting the necessary minimal length paletable), which led to not touching the projects fot weeks. I wanted to at least finish it, so I *had* to sit down and work on it before the uni shitstorm began (aka course paper deadline and exams), which led to a somewhat disappointing outcome, at least for me, because the second section is definitely very rushed.

That brings up to the transition, and honestly, no, I have not tried that, since I thought that putting the intro pads again would make the transition from one scale to another more intuitive, but now that I listen to it again, I could totally cut the reused intro pads and go straight into the chords at 1:52, that's a very good point and I agree with your arguments regarding it.

Also, as I expressed earlier, I highly doubt that I could stretch the ideas over to 4-6 minutes due to having literally nothing click while trying it out, but I do appreciate that you see such potential in what there is so far. Once again, thank you for your review, and good luck with judging the rest of AIM!

[AIM23 - Forgotten Civilization]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

I enjoyed the composition a lot in this track, particularly in how well it is structured and paced. That bassline hitting those last 3 sixteenth notes, that melody line with the guitar sound worked very well off each other. The arrangement feels simple, with mostly the guitar and bass with those arps coming up in the background in later phrases, and I think that and the sound design help to evoke that sense of being up there in outer space, which works given the art inspiration.

On the other hand, I think with simplicity comes a chance to focus on how to shape the sound, production-wise. Throughout the piece, we are mostly hearing these same parts and sounds come in and come out and I think there could have been more done to really play around with how these sounds enter and take form each time they are re-introduced. Perhaps playing a little with delay or an automated filter sweep cutting off the higher frequencies and gradually bringing them back in as the same arp continues playing. These are just examples of course, but the idea is that there are many ways to shape and colour the sounds we hear while maintaining more or less the same composition. I did hear a bit of this in 1:29 where the arps fade in rather than just entering in the next phrase, so think more on that regard for other lines in the texture or how these can be altered while said line is still playing.

Overall, I think this is a pretty good entry, and the bassline makes this feel like a driving piece. I feel like I should be taking a spaceship on a light cruise around the vast expanse of outer space when I hear this.

Dynamic0 responds:

Thanks for the judge review!

I didn't think about the arps much, perhaps I was supposed to. I don't know how to modify effects mid-song on my digital workstation, maybe it's not possible at all.

[AIM - Harmonic Dispersion]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

If I ranked all entries by replayability, I would put this at the very top for the sole reasons that it's catchy and it also just feels so good to listen to. When I put this on, for the time that I listen, it's comforting but in a more energetic sort of way. Compared to your "Skypunks" entry last year, I think this one is more well put together in terms of structure and flow and it was a great idea to use the intensity of the instruments to create varied timbral changes while keeping the same ideas dispersed throughout.

I really like the play between the sections involving the piano playing the melody and the following sections later on in the piece with chippier instruments and a little more buzz. It was a nice way to add some interesting timbral changes while still maintaining cohesion between the melodic ideas. I mean this piece basically just repeats the same sort of melody with slight changes as it progresses, but it's one that I love and want to hear and the simplicity allowed this melody to really showcase itself.

Although I find your interpretation of "harmonic" to be interesting, I wonder if there was an opportunity to truly utilize the meaning of the title, such as adding harmonies to the bells or parts of the melody line. Or, as a challenge, find a way to make use of overtones in certain instruments and have those come through. The absence of these elements didn't ruin my enjoyment of the piece, but if I had one suggestion for it, taking advantage of the title would be it.

There's something quite warm, cozy and wholesome about the sound design and composition that I think captures my impression of the character in the art (I'm not familiar with Splatoon or this character at all). It's bubbly, but in a way that makes you want to hug the character.

Overall, this was another wonderful entry that I'll definitely be playing long after this compo is over. Amazing work!

LordAndiso responds:

:) I am very happy to hear such a long analysis of my entry. I was not familiar with the character as well when I saw the drawing :D Thank you :))

[AIM - Sun Diver]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

Out of the two entries you submitted for this year's AIM, I found this one to be the slow burn (no pun intended), where it was okay on first listen but after subsequent listens, I was all in. I think this track is incredibly well put together, especially in the composition and the sound design. The melody just manages to capture the feeling of being up in the air while the buzzier, lower instruments provide a sense of the ground below and these two elements working together help create the right amount of movement in the right direction with just the right atmosphere given the inspiration.

I also like how the piece is structured. The progression flows so naturally and even when that recurring melody is not present in the track, I feel like I'm enjoying the sections in between and not just waiting for the melody to return. What I especially love is that 3-note bell transition at 2:25 into the softer section with the main melody. The way this entire section enters, plays out and goes back into being more louder is amazingly executed. I love those vocal-like sounds (not sure if they're actual vocals or not) that sweep in during the quiet section like at 2:41.

If I had to nitpick one thing, I feel like the melody going back into the third section sounds like it's fumbling a little, especially at 3:02 where it sounds like an E and F are playing at the same time and it's dissonant in a way that doesn't seem intentional. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be a grace note, but it definitely sticks out.

Overall, I'm very impressed by this entry and it is one of my most favourites from you in any AIM where I got to hear your work. This and "-Dream Island-" are both S-tier in my book.

Preds responds:

Thank you so much for this detailed and awesome review!

Glad you liked the progression of the song, I felt that it was the weakest or one of the weakest points of this one, and definitely the one thing I struggled with the most (apart from the ever changing instrumentation, which lead to nightmarish mastering sessions), so it's really a relief coming from you, thanks.

And yeah, that melody at 3:02 is a cluster of weird detuned synths, sync leads and pads, maybe something slipped in there but I'm almost sure it was intentional, I'll work on those imperfections next time tho!

Thank you so much again! Glad you also remember that crappy old track as well hehe, I appreciate it :D

[AIM - Environments 2D]

AIM 2023 Judge Review

I feel like this entry manages to capture the nighttime city aesthetic of the art in a liminal space that exists between the familiar and strange. The textures and layering are the piece's strong points, which is further emphasized through the sound design. I can also hear a lot of attention to detail in the production - the way the instruments are panned and set in the mix feel just right.

There is a sense of randomness to the track, but the throughline with the continuum played by the rhodes in the beginning helps to bring cohesiveness while the other layers feel slightly improv. Again, it feels like it's towing the line between the tangible and the abstract. and I feel like that reflects the art's loosely sketched lines paired with the colours and the shapes of familiar real-world things.

One thing I also enjoyed was the way in which sections flow into each other. At the start, the rhodes keep pace, but towards the end, there's a quick cut at 2:12 to this soft, padded section that really worked for me, especially paired against that slap bass and the percussiveness in its sound. The way that section builds up towards the end was easily my favourite part.

Even though I think the length for this track feels just right, I could have easily listened to it go on for 2 more minutes. Overall, I think this is an awesome entry that gets a lot from many replays to really focus on the different layers and the way they interact and flow through one another.

Cresince responds:

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review!

The different perspectives on my music I get from these contests are really great. I'm glad that my approach of ambiguity and structure was felt through the music. If I were to describe my idea towards creating this track, it would be like dropping water on a painting, and seeing the colors bleed together. That's one of the many things I wanted to convey with this city and art.

[coffee with u]

This RULES! I love how energetic and full-bodied the track is. It makes me feel great and packs a punch because of the intensity...just like coffee!

LordAndiso responds:

coffee coffee coffee... actually coffee makes me sleepy half of the time for no reason.
thank u for listening :))

[AIM - Escape!]

One thing I like about this piece is that it has a very clear sense of direction due to the supporting repeated strings and that recurring melody line that doesn't resolve. The sound design is good; I like how the repeated low string notes serve as an overarching percussive element to the piece.

I also enjoyed the incorporation of the choir sound, but it felt underused. The choir could have added some heightened tension and culminate to a climax, but the choir in this entry seemed to be a single line that often was in unison with the melody or accompaniment line of another instrument. Some use of harmonic lines within the choir could have also helped to add more depth to the composition.

Other than that, there was this lightness to the instruments that felt swift despite the fast paced composition, and I think that really helped to convey this character dashing out of a dangerous situation while remaining quick and light on her feet.

NativeNiles responds:

Thank you for the review!

[AIM - Lowlands Scrapyard]

For an entry that is almost 3.5 minutes long, there are a lot of ideas and moods at play here and I think that made this piece quite engaging as you never really know when or where the mood or atmosphere will shift. I like how it starts all cutesy and whimsical but there's this long held, off-key tone that slowly wedges its way into the composition that makes things feel a bit unsettling but in a way that feels like foreshadowing for sections to come.

That reed instrument playing the melody...an oboe(?) at 0:30 was a great way to transition, timbre-wise into the less chipper atmosphere set by the first section. I can tell each section had a lot of detail and thought put behind it. One thing I was curious about was that each mood/atmosphere in every little section felt like it existed on its own, the main example being that sudden shift from the mysterious tones to a more uplifting tone at 1:42. What was the intention of having each mood be a standalone section, or do you see it as such? Personally I felt like in an exploration in an RPG-esque manner would take more time in between sections, whereas the amount of time spent in most sections here feels quite short.

I see this piece as a score for a short film based on the art inspiration if it were animated. The playing around with the spontaneously changing sections seems to suit the change of different scenes in quick succession, so in that sense, it brings the art inspiration to life.

Everratic responds:

Thanks for the review and hosting the contest again :) I did intend for this song to be like a film score in my approach to creating different sections. I wanted to cover a lot of ground in this mysterious world rather than solely create music that matches this one scene. Each of the sections is short because I didn't have the time to compose a longer piece. I composed until the last hour I had available before the deadline and did the best I could.

[AIM - A Spirit's Thoughts]

What I love most about this piece is how introspective it feels as much as it does spacey. The otherworldly atmosphere is conveyed nicely in the choice of instruments and those little "blips" like at 0:40 as the repeating arps continue developing. I like how the blips start subtle and gently blend into the piece, but take their own prominence in the quieter sections at 1:12 - it feels satisfying to hear more of the intricacies of that sound. I like to think of it as like blinking lights in the distance that could resemble the twinkling of stars.

I found that several times when listening, I would start zoning out and concentrating on other thoughts in my mind that didn't have to do with listening to the piece. I don't think the composition was boring necessarily, but the slow building atmosphere and relaxing composition lulled me into a sense of mini reflection myself, which seems to tie into this idea of the short break that Ori takes being a mini journey of itself in both the metaphorical and literal sense.

Overall, I think this entry is a good interpretation of the art in its emotion and atmosphere. I like the narrative that goes along with it - although I personally found this piece to portray loneliness in an uplifting, "you're not alone" kind of way. Not sure if that was the intention but it is something nice to think about if using this piece to fall asleep to.

masterakuma99 responds:

Thanks as always for the reviews!
It`s great that you said these things, since this feeling of self reflection is the exact feeling I want to evoke in the listener. I listen to a lot of dream pop/slowcore stuff in bed while I`m thinking about everything, so you getting the same thing through my music is really encouraging.
What I tried to do with the loneliness is weird to explain. It`s less "you're not alone" and more "you`re alone but that`s ok" if that makes sense lol. Basically accepting rather than uplifting. Really glad you enjoyed it.

[AIM - Earliest Memories]

The introduction of this piece feels like a cutscene in a game that has the art inspiration as the backdrop as the two characters converse. As far as sound design goes, the choice of the bell-like instrument playing the upper arps with the lower, longer held strings evokes the idea of being in space really well.

I like how the arps take on a slower rhythm in the more intensive sections where the synths start entering at 1:20. The transition from the orchestral to the synths felt very fluid. The detuned synth occupying the left side in this section adds a sense of imbalance and made the repeating melodic ideas progress in an interesting way. As a result, hearing this slow-building section suddenly return back to the ideas repeated at the beginning of the piece at 2:08 was rather underwhelming. It's especially evident in the drastic change of the dynamics, which sharply contrasts with the slower building transition at the 1:20 section with the gradual entry of the bass note shortly before. I would have liked to hear this section with the synths built upon more - there was definitely a missed opportunity for additional development.

It is, however, neat the way the arp develops through the piece in a subtle way, starting fast, then with slower rhythms and an electronic instrument, then slower rhythms with the bell-like instrument at the end. I just feel like the overall composition felt like it was building up to something more than it did in the end.

DarkHorseOrchestra responds:

That's one of the areas I struggle with the most, extending my tracks with new ideas and chord changes etc, trying to take the track somewhere else. I've been trying to get into more "orchestral" production/compositions and the habits I picked up from making rap beats prove really hard to put down.

I agree with you 100% on the missed opportunity with the synth section, though the VST I was using is too much for my PC to handle and crashes FL every other min. I lowkey feel like I wouldn't have been able to expand on it anyhow :\

Thank you for hosting AIM, the review, and confirming for me the weak spots in my music(I really did need to hear it from someone else to really make me get on it).
I'll definitely try harder next year!