Score: 5

"Nice sounds but too repetitive."

submission: dolphin rescue squad

date: March 31, 2008

The little drumrolls (on what sounds like wood) do kinda sound dolphin-y and I liked the syncopated tempo.

The sound around the 59s mark is cool too.

My main complaint is what I view as WAY too much repetition.

There's a 6s-ish melody that you play for most of the first minute -and-a-half. At 1:30, there are some cool 'underwatery' sounds, but that again turns into what seems like a loop with no variations.

I like the tempo and instruments but just feel like you need to develop the melody more and try to keep it fresh.

And don't be scared of making the tune half the length if that's all the 'material' you come up with. CUT the FAFF!

- Review REquest Club -

Score: 5

"Too much repetition of melody imo."

submission: ==(Melting Snow)==

date: March 31, 2008

I like the water dripping. Thought the 'bubble-type' sfx were a tad odd, it worked well.

I don't know what the instrument that comes in at 1:10 is, but it sounded great, lending the song a floaty, uplifting feeling. I'll call it the synthy flute, but tell me what it actually is please.

I did feel it was a bit more repetitive and less enjoyable than other stuff I've heard from you. The synthy flute and the piano kept up the same melodies for too long in my opinion, and I'm just a guy who loves a bit of variation in a song, I like a meandering melody and felt it would have suited the vibe well.

The fast drumming heard at 2:42 (sounds like skewers tapping...) was cool.

I like the vibe of the song, and ejoyed the bg of watery sfx. However, I just felt it never quite flew off and really embodied the birth of spring like I'd hoped.
-Review Request Club-

Score: 7

"Should be 7-8s long. Otherwise awesome."

submission: Grand Chase

date: March 31, 2008

4.37 / 5.00 (+ 0.0083)

This is a beautiful loop. So hypnotic. It all kinda reminds me of a turning spiral - something that might play whilst a guy's trying to hypnotise me or whatever.

I've been listening to this tune for quite a while. Admittedly, I've gotten a bit tired of it after half an hour (!) but that's to be expected for what seems to be a 7.75s loop.

I'm seriously impressed here. You've really captured that 'dreamy' feel you wanted. The tinkly sound, the long, legato notes, the slowly shifting 'beats'... though I only really made out 4 distinct instruments, there is a lot going on in those 7.7s.

But - why didn't you upload this as a 7.75s loop? True, NG doesn't loop stuff perfectly. Listening to something like that here might not have the full effect. But a shorter loop would have the same effect for those of us who download it and would make it a far stronger tune for including in a game, whether for a menu or a short level.

To be honest, I have no other real criticisms. I'd have given it 8/9 if it were just the length of a single loop.

However, one suggestion for improvement might be to add some more tinkly noises and maybe soften the beat a tad (maybe so it's got more sustain or sounds underwater?).

Score: 5

"You've done far better"

submission: Move On*

date: March 16, 2008

I heard some noise/distortion at the end of each piano chord. Not sure if it's intentional experimentation or some recording problem.

The chords to me made the whole thing seem kinda repetitive and the distorty noise got in the way of my enjoyment. I think you should lower the volume of the repeated parts (chords on piano) and let the other parts shine more, so the variations are what we really hear and it stays fresh.

I gotta say, though I've said I love your style, I didn't enjoy this as much. Might be that I'm starting to understand your way of thinking so it doesn't surprise me as often. Or it might be the instruments.

I wasn't too keen on the whistley electronic-sounding thing that came in at 3:30. Without that and the overly deep resonance from the piano I'd have undoubtedly enjoyed it more.

I still enjoy the tempo of your beats and the laid back tempo of the melody. The intro could have used some more variations - repeated piano chords, beats, then bringing in a fresh piano melody when it kicks off seems to be a habit for you. Make sure it doesn't become a crutch!

Not bad, but not a keeper. You've done better and I'm sure you'll continue to improve.

- Review Request Club -

Score: 4

"I don't like this much, but that may just be genr"

submission: midnight party

date: March 16, 2008

I can understand wanting to keep a consistent tempo and beat in a dance tune, but throughout the whole song, there were only 2 rhythms and you didn't change up very often.

The melody seemed a bit too predictable for my liking.

The pounding beats you had were cool and I liked how you changed them up a little. Maybe another instrument, or something would help?

The fade-outs sounded a bit bizarre to me - if you're trying to make a steady rhythm for folk to dance to, it seems odd to have a drop in tempo like that. It kinda sounds like a bad DJ.

I don't like this much, but that may just be genre preference.

- Review Request Club -

Score: 9

"Super-happy crazy fun."

submission: RofLmaOmfGtfOrly Mix#79;Blue42

date: March 16, 2008

This song almost makes me smile and as I'm in a bad mood at the minute that's good going.

When I first heard it last week, I loved the insanity and grinned at Pacman and the cats.

I guess all the voices and some sounds are sampled from other things? Are some of the things MIDI files? It's all combined really well in any case and kinda reminds me of some mad DJ like DJYoda. But with more video-game stuff and Japanese voices.

I'd like to know what's going on, but like Akira the Don says, maybe its better not knowing ingredients? Hrmm

This song needs to be made into a crazy music vid. Seriously.

I'll never ever delete it from my PC and see myself listening to it years from now when I need a reminder to stop taking life too seriously.

No complaints, sorry.

- Review Request Club -

Score: 5

"Sounds kinda unfinished. Electonic melody too simp"

submission: Stages of Death

date: March 16, 2008

It's a foreboding tone.

I kinda sense an other-worldly vibe about this. I can't imagine it as showing heaven/purgatory/hell - no part of the song sounds warm and joyful to me... however it certainly fits with the vibe of an afterlife or some mythical dimension.

I felt the electronic lead melody was a bit simplistic and maybe too overpowering.

The slow notes were cool though and I liked that vibe - reminds me vaguely of Tim Follin's work in Equinox.

I think it desperately needs to either have a slower ending (not just end abruptly at the end of a phrase like it currently does) or loop.

Overall, it sounded a lot more like an experiment or WIP than a finished piece. No keeper.

- review Request Club -

Score: 9

"Wonderful floaty vibe. Just short."

submission: .:When I Come Back:.

date: March 16, 2008

This song has a great, uplifting vibe.

The opening melody works well. The drums may be repetitive but they end up sufficiently in the bg that I don't mind. The keyboard work is great - I love the floaty vibe - never getting predictable and moving all over the scale. The stringy choir-esque sound that kicks in at 45s is great.

My only beef with it is its length. If it stopped at 1:22, I'd enjoy listening to it over and over more than I do now. If it were longer, I'd stick it on and drift away.

Ironically, the length is also something that makes me think I might draw a story...

A guy stares up at the sky. Sky above, camera rotates around him. He jumps and flies into the air. Gathering clouds particles in his hands, he cuts out sections. He rises higher, waving at aeroplane passengers, looping around, twisting, gathering more clouds... to form a message - a declaration of love?

At the end of the song, traffic would fade in and it'd reveal the guy to be in the middle of a pavement. A wistful look, a sigh and he walks away.

My to-do list just became longer.

- Review Request CLub -

Score: 8

"stretching to find fault."

submission: Beyond the Coast

date: March 16, 2008

The starting melody reminds me of sailing - and, indeed, sad moments thanks to the minor key.

The oboe(?) that pops in a few notes is something of a surprise, but the rest of the tune is definitely peaceful, with a more menacing subtext lying underneath.

Fairly emotive stuff here. The string melodies are nicely meandering - they never fell into a dull pattern. All the instruments seem well balanced and technically it works well.

I find it hard to criticise this song. I guess if you used a lot more instruments and had a few more counter-melodies going on... then it might even be able to stand up to some symphonic film music. It's kinda caught between being a 'humble' simple piece and being something fuller, suitable for a proper movie. Also it could be even more emotive...

It's great as is! I'm just stretching to find fault.

- Review Request Club -

Score: 4

"Could have been good as a loop."

submission: Jazzed Out

date: March 16, 2008

The whole thing sounds like a 7s loop repeated. If it were just literally a 7s loop, it might have been good for a menu of a game or something.

As it is, it's not reallya song - there's no progression or proper ending - and the length and fade-out mean it can't really be used for a menu.

I like the vibe, even if the melody's kinda simplistic. But I just can't understand why you didn't leave it as a short loop!

- Review Request Club -