Phonometrologist's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Remix: Burning Facility (Routine Maintenance Mix)]

left it on repeat for quite a while, and this really helps in getting things done.
Would be interested in hearing how the piece was conceived. A lot of subtle, detailed parts going on. The more I listen to it on repeat, the timbre starts to change on me. The short motiff hear at :37& 1:07 and other places-- very nice!

Anchorwind responds:

As I person, my nature is to help in getting things done so the remark fits in nicely. As far as how this was conceived, I have evolved into quite a tinkerer. I often find more pleasure in working within the constraints of existing sounds than I do creating new ones. It can be challenging, but each audio track always has more than one story to tell and I like finding those other stories. I also spend a fair bit of time, regularly, driving back and forth to my local VA hospital and have plenty of time to listen to music and think about new mixes/blends/inspirations.

[Intent]

Great atmosphere, and that bass! Reminds me of another ;-) could have inspired you perhaps?
Either way, it's a good approach and I'd say that more pieces could definitely utilize more of this playing style. I find this piece to be enjoyable in a lighthearted sense while at the same time being heavy.
Can just chill out to this track

ZLEAP responds:

I have to admit you inspired the way I presented bass a bit. But all of this was recorded around the time I wrote Zero Signal. I just never did anything with it. After sifting through old unreleased/unfinished projects I decided it was time to fix this up and get it out there.

Thanks.

[Teleology of Space and Time]

ahh nice...didn't know what to expect as I saw your post, but I'm really digging the atmosphere of this. The chord progression is great and reminds me of some Daft, Pink Floyd and Cure mixed together.
Enjoyed this one all the way through.
One criticism I can make is that it became a little stagnant in the direction of the piece after 3:30 as I was expecting something a little more, but no matter.
I'll be listening...

CaneMob responds:

Hello, thank you for your kind words.

To be quite honest, I was really nervous putting this song up on the site. You're right about 3:30 onwards, it is not the crescendo I initially intended for it to be.

Once again thank you for the review. I will be checking out some of your music as well.

[Fathers Day Ragtime]

Man this is short, but there's a lot of images that come across my mind upon hearing this.
I'm transported back through history. At moments, I imagine the turn of the 20th century, but also hearing this in a pixar movie is quite fitting as well. The piano and strings both have a unique character that contribute to this. Nearly flawless production work, and I was able to follow the chord progression clearly. Very enjoyable.

SoundChris responds:

Thanks so much - glad you liked the piece. Thanks to sam i know now that the track is based on an old jazz tune called paper moon. I didnt invent anything here - just reproduced what i still had in my head - a piece my dad played for us children about 20 years ago :D

Glad you have enjoyed it!

[Alone]

And usually one would think to be alone is to reflect in some degree of silence.
But really, the noise is always there. Our auditory system allows the ears to be selective naturally in what it hears. It's when the noises become familiar so as to dissipate, and one would then have to concentrate again what it is that is actually producing sound in careful detail. There are those, I've read, that upon losing their hearing they become unable to distinguish between sounds, or even those that never heard which then are able to find themselves to be amidst chaos as their ears cannot know what importance a sound has over another.
Perhaps to be alone never equates to be silent. Yes I know, many have already pursued a way to live so they can discipline themselves to have a quiet mind. But in my experience, to have a quiet mind, one must counteract noise with a more organised sound, i.e. music. For music balances, and perhaps cancels out the noise within, and therefore one is able to meditate. Even the voice of a companion to help the "silence." Does it last though?

ZLEAP responds:

The idea of losing or never having known what it means to hear sound is a truly terrifying one. I couldn't imagine.

I've always found myself to be alone. Even in the company of others. Very few have had the ability to alleviate, or at least dull that feeling for me. My mind operates on a different level than most others. That doesn't come from a place of superiority or vanity. I have difficulty finding common ground with others because of it. A blessing and a curse.

This, like most of my "songs" are the sound of inside my head made audible for others to hear and possibly appreciate. I've never known silence within that space. I've know moments of peace (the piano) but its always buried deep in chaotic thought and memory (the abrasive synth)

I'm glad you enjoyed the sound inside my head. Lets hope I continue to do so.

Thanks for the review, insight and understanding of what I do.

[My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion]

Ah Yeah! Love the Flaming Lips primarily because of the lyrics, but man this rendition is awesome. I'm enjoying this more than I have had with the original.
Along with your past uploads, this is just getting me more anxious how your album will sound. Your virtuosity is in high degree as far as your musicality and production goes.

Kor-Rune responds:

Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it! I swareee I'm almost done with the album, newgrounds will be first to know. This community is superb :)

[Ever Be]

I think it's time to start doing some live shows. Bring a laptop for your filtering magic of course.
Is that a piano I hear in the very beginning? You fooled me as I would have never guessed this to be done with live audio. What was your mic setup? What is being used for the melody at 3:15? Didn't see you mention lead guitar as that would have been first guess and probably wrong for it. So yeah, this is good. The only thing I would like to hear different is a more bizarre groove with the drums/kick. I just feel this piece is asking for something less conventional sounding as well than that kick that is used.

ZLEAP responds:

I wanted to make something a bit more handmade but without straying too far from my sound. With the help of Studio One, FLStudio and a crappy RadioShack mic, I made it so.

That lead is the same bass guitar just played on the highest strings and ran through a filter that makes it an octave higher than it is naturally. Of course other filters were involved such as reverb, distortion and a flange.

That piano is used throughout the piece. Ive been told it sounds a bit "oriental" when it comes through most.

Fear not, friend. This is just the beginning for Ever Be. I was just entirely too proud of how it turned out in such a short time. And yes, that kick is just a placeholder. It would have no place there if I were to get my hands on a decent mic.

Thanks.

[To the Stars]

I listened to this several times now, and the melody doesn’t get boring for me—very mystifying. I’m really diggin it.
The lead synth you chose, in my opinion, is not the problem as I actually like how it sounds similar to a voice. It just becomes piercing to my ears around 1:35. I think the problem lies in how you mixed it. It’s way up front, and it has a lot of high-end which then causes the piece to lose some of its warmth. If you EQ'd it a bit, perhaps that could solve what others have been saying about it. My ears are enduring it because the melody is so good.

SourJovis responds:

Okay, thanks. Glad atleast someone liked the lead synth. I thought I was the only one. It's very loud compared to the rest. I'll try turning the volume down, and reduce the trebble. Perhaps add more reverb.

[O Holy Night - Twelve Days]

Who arranged the piano part?

[escapism]

The first half is what I enjoyed the most here and I would have liked to hear you develop that a bit more. Just a minute and a half? Awww. I wouldn't have used mundane or depressing to describe it either, but the idea of making something a means for an escape away from what you would describe is interesting to me. Though, I would have liked more of a journey between the two, I still enjoyed it. Since you’re an optimist, how about a month of you experimenting with more darker sounds or being more sorrowful in your compositions?

johnfn responds:

MWA HA now I have done so! Just for you! Actually, I did so like a week or two ago, but whatever. It is actually quite difficult for me to write really dark material. I'm not sure why... it just doesn't vibe very well with my personality or something. Though now that I think about it, I've written some dark stuff in the past. Maybe I'm just making up excuses! haha

Thanks for the review!