Phonometrologist's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Medley of a Shattered Mind]

Well I don't think I can elaborate even more on a review than what I already told you about this. But I wanted to say that you're too generous in your comment section. It was a pleasure mixing this for ya because it really is beautiful and alluring to listen to.
I will also say that as I was falling asleep the other night, I put this piece on and was about moved to tears. What the heck? I don't understand how I can inspire such a beautiful piece-- don't feel deserved for it. Was taken back by the gesture and I didn't expect it. This piece stands alone in my eyes...
A moment of Clarity is still my fav part to listen to. Haunting...

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Aww, man, you're making me blush :3
I'm glad you liked mixing this piece, and as LunacyEcho said, this is much better produced than my usual stuff, so I don't think I was overly generous in the description!
Well, I'd say that it's very easy to understand how you could inspire this piece. In my ears, "Return" is better than this piece by a league! I still listen to it constantly , and I showed it to a friend of mine, and he was amazed by it too. It may not have as many chords or sections as my piece, but the raw emotion in the strings and the melody go straight to the heart, which really makes me think. I was already inspired at this point, but when you released your next track, I decided I definitely had to try something different from my usual style. The first chords in my composition are even based off of the first chords in "Prelude in E minor" :p

You know, many people have told me that A Moment of Clarity is their favorite part. I understand why. You don't need a lot of complicated melodies and base lines to make an impression, and that part is as simple as piano playing gets; a beginner could play it with ease. I believe that though complicated compositions can affect people, it's the simplest chords and melodies that really make an impact. Further on, I think my own favorite section OF that section is between 4:45 and 4:53. I used an entirely new chord progression to me, which is a bit unusual (I've used so many in the past). And it's so simple! It's just A minor, E minor and then the soft switch to G minor and D minor.

Anyhow, it's a tug at my heartstrings that you appreciated the piece I made which was inpired by you. Thank you, dear friend :)

[The Bodhrán Duel]

This brings a smile to my face-- very fun to listen to... And I share the same sentiments about the "slips." Really makes me feel as if I was there in the room with yall

[Time to go home]

This one put a smile upon my face!!!

Azhthar responds:

That´s how it´s meant to be ;) Glad you like it!

[suddenly, i feel alone]

Man you got a good ear for these sounds--Very alluring with a sense of mystery. Unpredictable.
Love the string parts in this one by the way

OmegaP responds:

Lots and lots of automation and then I layered the string with a pad and a couple of trumpet parts. Anyways, thanks for the kind words.

[Winterscape]

As always, you create nice music to be listened to while working. The moment at 1:56 perked my ears—very nice change.
Man, you can create nice themes, and I never know how you will end up developing them. They seem to catch my surprise as you mold the pieces together in your playing, which by the way sounds very natural.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Piano music is very often nice to listen to while working, isn't it?
Even if 1:56 is actually my favorite part - meant to be the main climax of the song - I was at first worried that people wouldn't like the transition :/
Must've been weird paranoia XD

I actually don't know how I develop my own themes either. That's probably because I know so little about music theory, which leaves me with just doing whatever sounds right to me. I'm glad that my playing sounds natural; that's really what's most important to me. I try to put my emotions into my performance of a piece (I am afraid that the broken chords are slightly exaggerated in this composition though).

[Fall Of An Angel]

Yes it’s true what everyone has been saying about this—very enjoyable piece.
Makes me want to get Omnisphere but I have to remind myself that I already spent too much money…
Everything has been crafted very well, i.e. composition through to the production. So yeah there really isn’t much I could say about it, but I would be doing a great disservice if I were to pass up on congratulating you for this! Wonderful stuff.
I’d be curious to hear more of a somber approach with the tools that you have since I like depressing music.
Not taking anything away from the inspiring feel that you projected into this—just putting my vote in for your next project ;)

Mattashi responds:

Thanks you for listening and reviewing Phonometrologist :)
I know the feeling! I keep spending too much money as well there are so many great Virtual instruments out there it drives me crazy.if you ever have some money you can spend you should really consider Omnisphere there's so much you can do with it, it's a bang for your buck. I will definitely work on some depressing music soon since I love depressing music aswell :)

[An Ugly Mood]

Been meaning to say something about this for a while now—man this is so interesting to me! It certainly isn’t something you can get bored with. It’s just matter of one liking the distortion. And it makes me want to attempt the same in experimenting with just the sounds. The horn parts are just fun to listen to. Then the beat at 1:13 reminds me a little bit of radiohead when all of that drops out. The arppegiated synth really goes well with all of this as well. Maybe this is meant to be an esoteric kind of sound, but I for one like it-- kind of like some atonal jazz. I hear the antithesis of the c-sharp minor section of Chopin’s Prelude Op.28, No. 15—therefore the acid raindrop might be appropriate to describe it.

Eagleon responds:

This was made in the spirit of pure exhaustion - new job is taking a toll. I tuned everything by whim, where normally I'll go to the lengths of setting filters inside synths, distortion, reverb, etc to be consonant with the rest of the mix. I know I have to hold on to my normal pace and hours in the DAW even though things are south. I never expected anyone to like this, so that's a nice surprise :)

I'll have to listen to that one closely a few times to hear what you're saying - it's actually one of my favorites by him. The more I compose the harder it is not to drop into other people's work verbatim, and I never know where it's coming from.

[If Only Tomorrow]

Nice piece you got here! I thought it could have used more variation in either the melody or harmony, but I enjoyed this regardless. Either way, I like the simplicity of it because this really has some great emotion. Worth multiple listens…
And now I feel inspired. That slide at 2:19 is a nice touch.
No resolve compositionally… perhaps that’s what makes this alluringly repeatable.

drumdude responds:

Thanks for the review! Glad you enjoyed it.

[Struck]

Enjoyed this one. Although your approach in style is realistic, the playing/performance isn’t so much. I mean that just because you’re just layering the harpsichord with the organ as if one person played both at once. I would have liked for you to separate the parts. Maybe just having the harpsichord keep a rhythm every other beat or so to make it sound like two players. But that’s the only thing that I could nitpick at it and it did not hinder my enjoyment of it at all.
I like the chord progression there. It is reminiscent of Chopin’s prelude No. 20 in C minor, Op. 28.

[Beyond This Point]

Yeah more bluesy/rockNroll type feel in my opinion which really strikes a chord with me. This piece just relaxes me as when I think back of the times of friends jamming in our basements chilling on some dusty couches. Too bad you aint in Chicago as this sound is still quite popular around here. Not sure how it is in Jersey.

frootza responds:

Thanks for the review Phonom!

It's funny that you mention dusty couches, since that's pretty much exactly the atmosphere we jammed in (except it's more like a shed instead of a basement... filled with metal parts haha :P)

Blues as a genre seems to be dying out unfortunately, even near me where there is a world renowned blues club that doesn't play much blues, but I try to slip in blues aspects with my playing from time to time because I do have a soft spot for the blues :). Chicago would definitely be an awesome place to visit! We want to go on a mini, DIY band funded tour at some point, and if there are any venues in Chicago that would want us, we'd be there!

I feel like we should talk more, or signal each other more. I don't know if it's good to even practice like this, but for these recordings we literally never look at each other and go into our own zone but still read each other well (mainly due to my difficulty maintaining too much eye contact with people). As of recent we've been talking more (heads up playing), not really sure though how it's been affecting our sound but I'll be posting some more soon (hopefully).

I suppose I labeled this one jazz because I think jazz fans would appreciate a track like this. And also, of course, our favorite part... 5:00 <3

Again, thanks for the review bro!