Phonometrologist's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Unstoppable]

The tone, rhythm, melodies, and mix are spot-on. I think you got a good sense of writing in these categories. However, as a stand alone piece (if not meant to be for a background piece in a game) it lacks in structure. As of now, this works great for a song if it had lyrics, but I expect a more interesting harmonic change/chord progression without it. By the end of any piece, a listener would need to get a sense of some kind of message that you're wishing to project in your music. Without lyrics, it makes it a bit more challenging to communicate what it is that you want to convey as this requires a bit more variety in "color," tone, tension/resolve, and interplay between melody and harmony. Sure, it's meant to go with the art piece that you have selected, but one still needs to hear the story you have in mind when you see this piece of art. Because after all, if we had ten people writing a piece of music for this artwork, it would all sound different. We need to know what you feel and what you want us to feel or think by hearing what you perceive this artwork to be. Otherwise, it becomes merely an exercise which will be less impactful/memorable for a listener. Unless a mindless, dance piece is the goal, which also isn't a bad thing as it certainly inspires in me to move along to it.
All that being said, it is a good piece. I'm merely offering certain advice in what I think would improve, not only the piece, but what would make this more impactful and an interesting experience for the listener. You could also simply throw my words away too--I'd respect that.

TIMETRAVL responds:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.
Atually i was trying to make a mindless dance piece, usually my tracks have more variety to them, but with this one i just wanted to make something heavy that just makes you want to bump your head to the song. When i saw the artwork, I immediately had hotline miami in my head, what i tried to make was something that could play in some hm level with the only purpose to build up adrenaline. I'm sure i could have varied it more, I even experimented with some more breaks but in the end I just didn't feel it. But thank for letting me know what you think of this, it's always good to know how others react to my music.

[AIM - Dusk of Eternal Night]

I hear what you're going for. Your main role as a composer seemed to be primarily focused on story-telling. Unfortunately to do everything yourself means to write something compositionally interesting while also keeping a nice "sound design" and arrangement that could sound more appealing while not clashing with other instruments. The mixing suffers here along with the arrangement, but the energy and the note choices are fine. I admire your energy, and I can follow the melodic train-of-thought in this piece. Keep on writing. I do enjoy bits and pieces of it for what it is.

Verdusk responds:

I appreciate the encouragement!

It's true that I've so far mostly focused on the notes of each part more than the mixing. I've still got some things to learn on how to better use the software I'm using (LMMS)

[AIM - It's Not You, She's Dead]

For whatever it's worth, I really enjoy the tone of this track and the rhythmic variety of the synths. I personally don't mind that the drums aren't mixed over the top of everything.

Reptiore responds:

You'll likely prefer the finalized version. I rushed this due to time restrictions/other projects/work. I just wanted to take part in another Newgrounds event, it had been awhile. Thanks though, I will surely upload a final version some day when I have the time. Heck, it may even make it onto the EP thingy I am doing.

[Limbo]

Well well, all is well... I really don't know what to say. There are a lot of neat things going on here for me... a lot of subtleties that I appreciate for example just the fact that you decided to loop this even after 6 minutes gives me a chuckle. The piano chords in the beginning and end really flow nicely. This piece is very dynamic. I admire your ability to just sit at the piano, improvise, and create works with such rich chords in a very short amount of time. I tend to have to sit with a particular piece for a while to figure out what the music is trying to tell me and what direction it's telling me to take. I'm not a very good listener but I'm learning.
I think I know which piece of mine you took as inspiration. I hear that Major Seventh chord and its cool that you resolve it in a way that is unique to you, e.g. at 4:16. I hear hints of Return, but this is a joy to listen to because it's only sips here and there while you have created something completely original. Love your string work to reinforce the piano. Maybe muddy at times but I don't care. The sound works great to wash over you to create an emotional response. I absolutely love that string effect at 3:25... I'm not even sure what it's called. That was a great decision. Overall, without going into detail, this would be considered a great cinematic piece in a retro style. At 4:23 I think of Tron, and in other moments such as in 6:02 I hear Clair de Lune.
Thank you for such honor.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

"I really don't know what to say."

=> You said all the right things ;)

As the name of the track is "Limbo", I think it's very important that it loops. It gives the piece some extra symbolic value :D
Now, whether the listener wants to listen again (if they even make it through the track once), is up to them :p

I'm glad to hear that the piece is dynamic, as that is what I went for.

As for coming up with chords quickly, it's a learned ability. I've always been lucky enough to know what sound I want, in most cases. I guess that I am good at listening to what the music wants to tell me, when I channel it through me. But these past years, actually finding that sound on the piano has become a faster process. I don't actually have a good sense of pitch, but it's getting better! I think that chords, melodies and atmospheres are my three most prominent strenghts in music.

Yeah, "Return" has definitely been a big inspiration, not only for this track, but for what music is to me, in general. I find myself returning to that track quite a lot. More than once a month, I'd say for sure (Lol, like 50 of the listens on that track are probably mine).

4:16 is indeed a good catch! It's a bit too close, actually, but I'm glad that's okay :)

I don't know what the string effect is called either. The funny thing is that the entire climax of the piece would look very bad as sheet music. Because the piano is completely separate from the world of rhythm and tempo, and the strings have to follow. But I was too lazy not to quantize them, as that would've taken forever. So instead I tried to trick the listener through dynamics, and by the sheer speed. But if you try to count the rhythm, you'll find that you lose it almost immediately every time!

I can see your references to Tron and Clair de Lune. Good catch!

You're welcome, and thank you ;)

[Please Wake Up]

ahh yeah I can dig it! A kind of somber mood is always something i look/listen for in music...Thanks for providing it

[FD - Miserere Mei]

This is a neat experience... love it! Right up the alley of some of Penderecki's choir work but with a dash of cinema and 80s retro

ForgottenDawn responds:

Hey, thanks! I'll have to check that out ;)

[scalar waves theory and experiments]

This was very intriguing for me to listen to. Enjoyed every step of the way

SlaughterClub responds:

good stuff glad you Liked my friend