Neon-Bard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Abyss]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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First off...just holy wow! This is incredible! Fantastic production, excellent composition, a very disturbing but amazing theme, that almost sinks its fangs into you! You are incredibly skilled and very detail-oriented, no doubt about that my friend. I took note of the quote by Nietzsche; it's quite haunting isn't it? Much like this song, in fact. You carefully craft these chilling motifs with the tension of the strings rising and falling, while the woodwinds remind us, in whispers, that something is amiss! Wonderful! The swells of the orchestra (such as at 1:25) are really something. The gongs are placed perfectly, no question about it. They really add to the creepy atmosphere. I think atmosphere is the key word here. You build the atmosphere in this track remarkably. I should also mention that this track forces introspection, in a way. Music that makes you look inside yourself is always good in my books! :)

There were really only two things that bothered me about this track to be honest. The overall progression and development of the song, and the conclusion. There were a lot of moments during the course of the song where I felt that there was a great deal of emptiness. I absolutely love the idea of this representing the darkness of the void, the abyss. However, points such as 0:40 – 0:55 were quite stark and almost barren (though at the same time there was some exquisite detail going on just beyond the background) and the silence begged to awaken with more life. Such was my conflict though. I both love the idea of silence and adding more terror and wonder through the expressive moments of the woodwinds, strings and brass. The conclusion was very, very, very abrupt. The short climax with the orchestra was great at 2:32, but short. The brass trailing off into silence didn't quite sit well with me as I felt there was more that was to come afterwards. It sort of snapped me out of the enchantment the song had over me. Essentially, the conclusion was a bit of a disappointment. That doesn't make it bad though, no way at all! I liked it, but I think it could have been developed more, you know?

This is a very impressive track Damien, you have a new fan! I am really looking forward to your next piece of music. Keep it up man! :D

Score: 7.5/10

DamienFleisch responds:

Well my next piece may very well be revisions to this one ;D

It seems you and Samulis took some similar issues with it and I offered some details about them in my response (above) to him. Not that they will change anything, but they offer some insight into why it came out the way it did. Anywho, I'm glad to know that overall you did enjoy the track, and appreciate you taking the time to review it. No doubt, I'll be back next year :D

[Sjaan the Flying Doctor]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Like johnfn, you have a way with creating amazing melodies. Wizardry, I say! I had the main melody stuck in my for a while. You know, the song starts off with a very melancholic tone that seems to permeate a large portion of the song. It reminds me of older Final Fantasy tracks (such as Shadow's Theme from FF6). It's almost teetering towards being sad in a way, perhaps that's just my interpretation though (especially after reading the description). Anyway, I digress. I have to mention that the very best part about the track, beyond a shadow of a doubt, are your flute trills. They add so much detail to the song, in such a whimsical way that reminds you of flying! The minimalistic percussion in the first half of the song works well in my opinion, and the introduction of heavier drums in the latter half really helps move things along. The track as a whole doesn't get repetitive, thanks to your composition and surprising transitions. The guitar at 1:18 was a pleasant surprise!

The overall mix is a little bit off, nothing too serious though. You can hear that the drums are a little wet, but they never overpower the other instruments in such a way that it is hampering them, which is great. They drums do sound a bit sluggish during the transitions at 1:15 and 1:51. The strings at 1:55 are far too thin sounding, so they give off much less warmth than they potentially could. I would have liked for the conclusion to have a bit more depth, perhaps with the piano, but that's entirely a subjective thing.

Loved the song! I think it's one of your best yet. I can't wait to hear more man, keep me updated. :D

Score: 8/10

SourJovis responds:

Thank you Neon-Bard for your review. I haven't been able to respond to you sooner.

Other people have also mentioned the melody sticks, even after a few weeks. New melodies come pretty quick to me. It's everything after that takes time; song structure, instrumentation, accompaniment, mixing, mastering. I'll just keep spending time and practice to become better.

You're right, it does sound a bit like shadow's theme from ff6. It even has a rhythm guitar panned to the left. I didn't have that song in mind though. As a matter of fact I thought a little about Terra's theme from ff6 at the time.

I did start out somewhat sadly at the start, to make the rest of the song more uplifting. (kinda like Terra's theme from ff6) The ending is sad again, and a bit lonely.

You were right the mixing was off. I've added instruments that I felt were missing, and adjusted the mixing according. The drums are less heavy, and the other instruments sound stronger.
I think the transitions sound better now with more instruments. The strings more lively, and the bass adds some warmth to it. I hope it sounds about right now.

[i believe]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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This song made me feel warm inside! I just feel energized and good about everything when listening to it. You have a real way with blending synths and other instruments together. Your tracks almost have this kind of ‘rainbow’ effect; everything blends together to create something colourful and imaginative! Within the first 25 seconds into the song, I knew I was going to be in for a melodious experience. The melodies in this track are really something else. You’re some kind of musical wizard...aren't you? Anyway, you have set up a very atmospheric introduction which extends throughout the entire song. You manage to pull a lot of emotion from the synths in particular, especially around 3:30 and 4:00, and then again 5:06. Powerful is perhaps the best word to describe it. The way you build the song is fantastic, if not a bit slow at first (but I’ll get to that later)!

I only have two minor gripes: the progression in the first half of the song, and the mix towards the end. A progression that builds more in the first 2-3 minutes would be much more appealing, and a conclusion (among various other parts of the track) that offers a clean, tidy mix would take this track from awesome, to super saiyan awesome. The first 2 minutes of the song are wonderful, but the true pace takes a while to kick into full gear. Don’t get me wrong, I love the progression, it’s quite smooth – but seems drawn-out in the beginning. Things don’t really pick up until 2:24. From 3:29-4:10 there is some overlapping between the synths. They all sound cluttered together, which kind of drowns out the drums just slightly.

All I can see to wrap this up is this: please never stop making music. Great stuff, looking forward to your next entry! :D

Score: 8.5/10

johnfn responds:

Thanks for such a thoughtful review and saying such nice things! My next track will be more concise, I promise! :P

[Escape]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Oh, how I love the intro! That’s the first thing I want to talk about. The piano is a great start! The way the notes skirt around the kick/beat (which sounds a lot like heartbeat to me) is just wonderful. The way you build everything up in that sort of slow-burning, but ultimately effective way is awesome. I really like at 0:40 how the strings roll in, almost like fog; it’s quite mesmerizing. As the track progresses, we are introduced to more of your approach to dynamics. Not to reiterate what Step mentioned in his review, but I couldn't resist chiming in about those transitions: wow, wow, wow! My absolute favourite part of the entire song was very short, but it was the quick rise of the flute that really put a smile on my face (2:24 – 2:26 and again at 2:59). I think you did an excellent job crafting a song about a group escaping a collapsing city, very fitting theme. Your overall production was very clear; no sound seemed to crowd the other.

There are certain parts of the track that I felt were just a bit empty sounding. 1:08 – 1:22 seemed to focus heavily on the percussion and the short bursts of the orchestra, and while it still sounds great, it just feels as if you could have added a bit more in there to keep things interesting. Of course, at 1:22 when you bring in those strings and reintroduce the piano I just smiled! Great transition. The feeling of emptiness just slightly returns when we hit 1:56 for a short period. I think if you had placed some light piano chords in there it would have been wonderful, that being said, I love how enchanting this portion of the track sounds. The outro is stunning, though a bit understated.

This is beautiful papkee, I really enjoyed listening to it. Keep up the great work! :)

Score: 8.25/10

[#1 - We Take Over - NGADM]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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This track is definitely a huge change of pace when compared to your audition. To be honest, I was surprised that you went in the direction of EDM (not that there’s anything wrong with that)! There are some interesting melodies at work here (1:12 – 1:42 and at 2:09, for example). In fact, I think the portion after 2:09 is the best part of the track; it becomes very upbeat and is quite catchy! The melody in this latter part of the song is a bit generic sounding, but it was stuck in my head for a while after I had finished listening.

I have to be direct with you here, I am not a fan of the synth that you chose to begin your track with. It is a little too loud and harsh, almost as if it is out of place. Then once again at 0:08, the other synth that you introduce suffers from the same fate. When we reach 0:15, we have two very different, and conflicting sounds. This particular pattern (at 0:15) continues until it becomes much too repetitive. The song does break this repetition once it hits the 2:09 mark, but the transition is out of touch with the rest of the track. I can definitely see where you were going with this portion of track, but the execution just wasn't there. The voice that pops up once in a while sounds quite muddy. Is it saying “Let me take over”? Finally, the outro was another repetition but I think that you did a good job fading out each instrument!

Keep in mind that these are only my opinions on your track, and everyone has a different taste. I think you were able to capture some great melodic content here, and with a little more work on production and some tweaks here and there in composition, this could be something great! Keep it up FoA, I am looking forward to what you cook up next! :D

Score: 4.5/10

[My Cortana]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Interesting! As others have stated, I was also surprised at the choice you made for round 1. It’s always great when a composer wanders into new territory, makes use of different instruments and tries new things in general. I believe this holds true for your track. It seems that you've climbed onto a new, yet familiar branch on the tree of music – and you have done a marvelous job! As always, your composition and production skills are wonderful and together they create a treat for the ears to behold. The introduction with the piano and light guitar vibes is very smooth, and the entry of the drums at 0:32 are well-placed. When the bass kicks in fully, I can’t help but move my head along with the music! Moving right along, you know how to work with strings, that’s for sure! Your conclusion was great by the way, really sounded like the right way to finish the track by returning to those evocative piano notes.

As stated above, your production skills are good, but there are parts of the mix where things sound a little jumbled. The drums and the bass are the two chief concerns, with the guitar coming in as a close third. After 0:53 or so, when the strings burst onto the scene, it seems like the bass sort of slowly fades into the background while the drums and guitar struggle ever so slightly to keep up with it all. Nothing too major, but it is noticeable with each consecutive listen. I think these are quite easy fixes though.

I really enjoyed listening to this piece Jacob; you have created a wonderful song! I look forward to your upcoming work. :)

Score: 8.5/10

[War Piece (instrumental)]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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What really struck me most about this track is that it is incredibly easy to picture what’s happening here. I can imagine planes zooming overhead, the grim look on the faces of soldiers, the red-stained ground on an otherwise grey canvas. I can hear the gunfire and artillery in the background (nice touch). Very powerful imagery, all thanks to your performance; I had a lump in my throat by 1:00. The trumpet sounds so justified in this piece, and yet it makes the listener so upset and hurt because of the imagery that is brought to the mind. The strings sit firmly in place to support the trumpet, with heart wrenching passages playing throughout. What a powerful atmosphere that you have created!

The best word that I can use to describe the buildup and conclusion of this piece is fleeting. It seems that everything is going to culminate into a swell of trumpets and emotion, but it tapers off instead. In some ways, I really like how you presented it because, let’s face it, conclusion in war doesn't exist. It’s actually quite poetic if you think about it. Continuing on, there seems to be a bit too much reverb and ‘space’ on that trumpet. While I think this works well with the theme of your piece and the images that it helps conjure up, less reverb would give your already amazing trumpet playing a nice boost. Also, maximize the expression of those great strings! Turn them up a notch (but not too much) and balance them out so they don’t sit in the background with the sounds of war.

You put a lump in my throat that will likely be there for a long time! That definitely means that you've accomplished your goal. Excellent work! :)

Score: 7.25/10

[Here, have some groove]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Do you know what I thought of immediately within the first 30 seconds of your track? Old school Sonic the Hedgehog. Either that, or the casino theme in Pokemon games. Man, I love that. While it reminds me of these things, this song is, in itself something else entirely. The way you keep layering different instruments such as the bass and jazzy percussion together is fantastic! Speaking of which, the percussion as a whole flows incredibly well, and it is further supplemented with the catchy and smooth synths that you have thrown in here. All of these things really add up, and in the end you are left with a great melody and sense of pace – just well-rounded composition overall. Oh, and I like how you have the song looped as well (makes it hard to turn it off because you want to keep listening)!

This track is a tad repetitive, but honestly that didn’t bother me all that much due to the smooth groove! It should be noted that the portion from 1:28 – 2:00 lasted a bit long though. The big thing to talk about here is your mix. There are times when certain instruments tend to slightly overpower others. Going back to 1:28 – 2:00, more precisely at 1:45, there seems to be too much going on. The bass sounds flooded almost and the percussion is a tiny bit sharp. Nothing serious! However, adjusting the bass so that it gives off less of a ‘wet’ sound might help.

I can’t help but bop my head and tap my feet while listening to this song! The groove is strong with this one! Great job Jernemies. :D

Score: 7.75/10

Jernemies responds:

Thanks for the opinion :) Never thought this'd be encased in the same sentence as Sonic or Pokemon games, since I frankly never listened to their soundtracks.
Points noted

[~SW and CS~ Cranial]

SkyeWint + camoshark

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Well, this is quite an experience. I think that wraps up the track rather nicely, it is an experience for sure! I have to say that I was expecting something entirely different from you two. I am really impressed by the sound manipulation and the overall atmosphere that you guys have created here. First, we have that peaceful introduction that draws you in to a gentle, relaxed state. I think the humanized ‘breaths’ are the prime cause of this state of relaxation. The ‘space whistle’ synth (as I like to call it) is a fantastic addition, it blends really well with the other instruments; I love it! Speaking of which, it creates a remarkable contrast to the rough (yet somehow crystal clear) wubs that you bring in at 1:25. By the way, the overall mixing is just superb. Anyway, at around 1:55...this is where I opted to turn up the volume a tad to feel like I’m transitioning into another state of consciousness – trippy stuff! The rest of the song continues in a dream-like fashion that I really dig.

As others have stated, the melodic qualities of this track are a little lacking. I feel as if they are understated, and while I think this allows the atmosphere to shine, it leaves you with a sense of emptiness when the song is over. That’s not to say that the main melody was presented poorly, no way! It could just be enhanced and brought up to the surface of the track, so to speak. For instance, post-1:25 and onward would be a great spot to deal out more chords, and perhaps create a few openings for extra notes. Entirely a subjective thing though. Other than that, the only thing I could really nitpick over was the conclusion. On one hand, I absolutely loved the simplicity of the fadeout and the diminishing bell vibe. On the other hand, I feel that it could have been really interesting if you had sprinkled a few more tricks here and there to supplement the slow burn of the conclusion.

However you look at it, this is a great song. Solid production, interesting composition, and ultimately an almost magic-like experience! Well done you guys, I can’t wait to hear what you mix up next. :)

Score: 8.5/10

SkyeWint responds:

Hey there!

Glad to have provided such an experience to you. :)

Sound manipulation and sound design was the main thing that we did in this - partially because camo be busy, partially because we basically had to drum it up really really fast.

There actually were several other chords post-1:25, but I can certainly see why they're not that audible - much quieter than the section before and after.

Conclusion - definitely. Could have used a bit more pizzazz. Maybe if we had been able to work on it for another day... but oh well.

Thank you! See you in the next round. :)

[Moving plates]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review:

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Ah! This piece has a gripping introduction. The brass seems to tower over everything in an epic fashion, while the staccatos are always a splendid way to bring about urgency. As Step has pointed out, the large chords that you bring in at 0:35 are great for getting a hold of the listener. Your percussion adds a nice touch to the suspense of the song, though it does sit idle in a lot of places (we'll touch on that after). I wasn't sure what to expect when you said you were going to use synths in your track, but I really like what you have done here. The electronic beat really blends well and it makes me tap my feet! I would have loved to hear more of that by the way! The melody at 2:19 fits incredibly well into where you have it placed in the track, it ties that whole portion of the song together pleasantly. I love the gong and that sustained chord at the end, well done!

The brass at the beginning was a little jarring. It sounded akin to a fog horn in a way, perhaps due to the pitch used. The mixing does need some work. For example, the percussion sits in the background without much emphasis, while the strings tend to dominate the song. Increasing the volume of the percussion without going overboard on some of the lower to mid range frequencies could work well. Also, the brass is a little hazy, as if it was placed too far back in a concert hall. Other than that, the song is kind of repetitive but your main theme retains its charm throughout and I can definitely hear it in a film!

I think this track, with a few tweaks here and there would be amazing! However, that's not to say that it's not already impressive. You have done a really solid job! Keep it up! :)

Score: 7/10