ChronoNomad's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Do Not Disturb - NGADM 2020 - R3]

I really enjoy the progression here, Mackievellian. The music box intro is kind of like EarthBound, while the additions around :29 embody a more Zelda-esque mystique. Once the percussion and electric guitar kick in, it's like the Black Mages are holding a Persona jam session. And those final chill strums give off an ambient sort of Diablo vibe.

As a guy who can obviously appreciate a good VG reference, I hope that you'll take all of that as being quite complimentary...because it is! This is a very cool ride, and my only complaint is that it's too short, which is ultimately a compliment in itself. Best of luck in the NGADM, man.

P.S. I hope your neighbors quiet down and let you sleep from time to time. Or you could just throw your own wild party while they're trying to sleep it off! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Mackievellian responds:

I love your comments man, always really sound. I thought about your last comment a lot during AIM2020 and tried to work layering. Wish I had more time! And man, last time I threw a party I could barely move in my house lol definitely got noise complaints.

[Memories]

A truly lovely and bittersweet taste of melancholia, Jordi. Suffice to say, it puts a knot in my throat and a tear in my eye. We must drink deeply from the well of sorrow, lest we forget those who have gone on before us... <3

etherealwinds responds:

Thank you so much <3333

[Eclipse (2020 Version)]

Such a beautiful rainy ambience to accompany your solo harp section! Your combination of harp, glockenspiel, and incredible vocal layering really round out the mix in the latter half. A lovely remake, altogether.

My singular complaint is that it's still far too short! But that's nothing that another play (or two or three) won't solve. :D

etherealwinds responds:

Thank you Chrono! <33

[Death to Ye Three]

Fithos... Lusec... Wecos... Vinosec...... Sephiroth!

Clearly, I can draw a parallel or three from different video game soundtracks (mostly Final Fantasy with a hint of Super Smash Bros.), but despite such influences you've really owned this particular genre.

As much as I love your use of intense chant-like vocals in this piece, I can't help but feel that those frenetic violin strings are still the standout performance. Suffice to say, it all comes together in a very epic way. I mean, I can't actually understand a word, but who cares? It's pure awesome and totally Boss Battle nostalgic.

You pull off a lot of tempo changes and ritardandos that I feel would be incredibly difficult with a troop of actual musicians trying to play and sing in sync. There's something kind of amazing in that knowledge that makes it feel particularly innovative.

The heavy-hitting percussion in the background serves to drive the piece fiercely, but you've also chosen some really poignant moments to drop it and bring it back in. On top of that, you've got some beautiful echoing celesta notes that ring along with what I can only assume is a harp for the early arpeggios. And finally, the track would never be complete without those resounding tubular or carillon bells.

I can honestly say that I've never heard a piece quite like this from you. I'm thrilled that you pulled something like this off so brilliantly, and have thoroughly enjoyed listening several times through as I penned this review. Simply fantastic, Alex! And best of luck in the NGADM.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Music from Final Fantasy is definitely one of my inspirations! The song is also slightly inspired by Mozart.

I'm glad that people so far seem to like the strings. Those parts definitely took the longest to write, and get right. Here's a secret about the choirs... I can't understand a word either! Well, a couple I can, but just because they're a little bit typical :'D

I'm also really happy to see that you notice the different tempo changes. I also change between time signatures a couple of times. The song actually starts in 5/4, which was really fun. It moves on to 6/8, and the final part is your standard 4/4 (though the part between 2:09 and 2:19 is actually just 7 bars, which is also a bit unusual).

I also think that this piece would be very very difficult to play for an orchestra, but I do believe it's at least (theoretically) possible.

You've also caught on to what I think was the most fun part to work on in the piece, which is the breaks/alterations, such as leaving the percussion out here and there, and suddenly dropping instruments. It is not a harp though, but it's actually the una corda; a piano. But what makes it special is that each note only has one string, which might explain why it sounds a bit harp like, especially on the lower notes.

Thank you for such a wonderful review and analysis! <3

[Elven Lullaby]

I'm always hearing people say that they want to hear complex tracks with lots of different layers, but I will never fall out of love with tracks like this. Such delicate harp and flute, interwoven with beautiful, airy lyrics...the kind of lullaby that makes me sigh contentedly as worldly concerns melt away. The bass that comes in at 1:55 rounds out the mix so smoothly, too.

Jordi, your singing has always been nothing short of an inspiration, and together with the additional vocal talents of Merryberry, the elven magic of Quenya comes brilliantly to life. I was waiting patiently for the overlapping vocal section that I knew was coming, and was indeed richly rewarded. It makes me wish that Tolkien were still alive to hear it.

There is a slight breath hit into the microphone at :56, but that's pretty inevitable when you're recording such soft, breathy vocals. In a way, it adds a bit of character...at least that's my opinion. Wonderfully done.

etherealwinds responds:

Hey Chrono! It's been a while :)

Thank you for your kind review. This is definitely one of my favourite compositions that I've made in a while. I think the noise you hear at :56 might actually be a door banging in the distance, though I can't remember at the moment! I was quite happy with the vocal take and the emotion felt just right, and once I had mixed the vocals into the instrumental, it didn't seem to bothersome, so I kept it. Well noticed!

Hope you're well <3

[Facing the Foe - Remake]

A fantastic remake, Lucid! The original is very good, but this version is even better. Isn't it fun to go back and redo something from the past once in a while? I know that you've been kind enough to compare and contrast several of my remakes over the years, and I'm really thankful for that input.

My only real critique is that sometimes the attacks on the strings (:25~:40) and brass (1:15~1:24) just don't allow for the instrument sound to be fully realized. It seems like the notes themselves are just too brief, and perhaps this could be remedied with a more staccato variant for its short bursts of sound, rather than the latency created by legato attacks.

That's all I've got, honestly. Can't really help but chalk it up to being one of those issues that arises when using digital instrument samples. The battle theme idea comes across very well, and I can honestly say that you've outdone yourself--quite literally! There is just such a wealth of instrumental goodness to be had here, and you know me...I'm a total sucker for that well-placed piano.

In conclusion, I personally believe that this easily rivals any RPG battle music available today, yet still manages to feel totally classic and give me those awesome feelings of nostalgia. I pray that you never stop making music, Alex.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you very much! That was actually a pretty close round, as I recall it. I'm glad you think that this version is even better ^___^

It is fun to return to stuff, but it's difficult to find the time! Thank you for your avid reviewing; I haven't been as good on that front lately myself. Your input is most welcome :D

I agree with the attack on the strings. I tried so many different kinds, but I found none in my library that sounded just like I wanted them to. I had to settle for some ones that kind of worked. I hear the point about maybe changing them to staccato, but I feel like that would've brought other changes I would not have liked :)

I'll see if perhaps I can remedy that in a (far) future update!

Speaking of a well placed piano, I found the piano to be the most difficult part to make shine in the mix, without muddying everything up. It has such a broad range that it was difficult not to make it clash with other instruments, which is also why it's so subtle in the mix (1:15 for instance). That's another thing I would like to remedy in the future, especially since the whole orchestral arrangement was based around my original solo piano version.

Thank you for the great feedback, as well as for the encouraging words <3

[Skippitybop]

I'm gonna be real here, Spadez. This entire song? It's scat!

Okay, so...hopefully people will get the joke, or at least Google it and learn something. Clearly, I mean no disrespect, and you must have had an absolute TON of fun making this crazy track. Not gonna lie, it's also pretty damn fun to listen to!

Now, I know that this must have been very difficult to do. And by that, I mean it would have been insanely hard not to laugh your ass off while you were recording the, uh...lyrics? Please tell me that you have an outtakes version on tap! Because I gotta hear THAT.

I was not expecting to drop five whole stars on this, honestly. That said, I straight up think it deserves them. Thanks for the smile, man. Stay you.

Spadezer responds:

Lol, so actually, the whole song was inspired by a stem of me just goofing off into the mic. It wasn't the intention but it was kinda like scatman's intro. I then chopped it up using slicex to make most of the, ahem, "lyrics" for the first half of the song. Then I recorded actually sung sessions for where they were needed. Then the hard part was actually transcribing what I said

[You Were Told Not to Go There - AIM2020]

Woo! I've been on some kind of crazy review-leaving binge, but I think this will be my last one for now. When the ears start getting tired, the mind seems to follow.

First of all, I get a lot of seriously nostalgic VG vibes off of this track, man. Definitely some of those classic Final Fantasy feels, but also a really fun dose of Chrono Trigger--especially with that sitar section! Really loving all of that, to be sure.

The ambience of the music pairs well with Moonshen's sweet FF7 art, as far as I'm concerned. My only real gripe is that it's basically the same thing...twice. Yeah, I know that there are differences between the two, but I'd really love to hear more variance in there. Maybe even a section that ramps up the tension a little, since the overall vibe remains pretty chill. It's like all the tension remains just below the surface, begging to come out and play.

You've got some really interesting note-slides applied to the main lead, and I half expected some of them to end up sounding a bit off. But despite how long some of those notes are held, and how many ups and downs they make, they still seem to resolve quite nicely. Props for pulling that off.

You've got a cool track here, and I wish you the best of luck in the AIM! Also, is your pseudonym meant to conjure up the idea of Niccolò Machiavelli, or am I reading too much into it? Just curious. Cheers!

Mackievellian responds:

The instruments are all played in manually, no editor, so that helps with getting those big ol' b9 bends.

Glad you liked it, man. CHEERS. And also thanks for the huge compliments as I'm a fan of both Mitsuda and Uematsu.

[AIM - Lost in a Frozen Dreamland]

This starts out so warm, instrument-wise, despite the frigid landscape in the art. It gives me all kinds of shivers, and I simply adore that flute just before the midsection. Very vivid images are being conjured up within my mind's eye by this, and the only word that really fits is "breathtaking."

So short, though! Oh my goodness, I could have easily lost myself to the music for far longer, but you do wrap it all up so very beautifully. Even though it seems like they would clash, the overall vibe is both serene and triumphant, and it's a wonderful thing. A few more times around the frozen tundra block for me, I think! Brilliantly done.

Everratic responds:

Thank you for the lovely review!

I was heavily inspired by many of Skyrim's exploration songs, which I would also describe as breathtaking :D

To get this warm, smooth sound, I made significant EQ cuts around the 4k area on both the master and individual tracks, particularly on the strings. This loss of high-mids comes with the additional bonus of being able to use very-high end instruments for special emphasis; this helps the cymbals, chimes, and solo flute shine, and it makes the climactic moments sound more majestic. The one downside I found is that the track sounds much quieter, which I don't mind, but I know many casual listeners prefer a much higher perceived volume.

The song sounds both serene and triumphant by design - I'm glad you noticed! I carefully crafted the chord progressions, and the arrangement accordingly, to smoothly switch between those vibes. The song is meant to sound more serene during the suspended/ambiguous chords, and more triumphant during the major chords.

Thanks again, and good luck in the contest!

[AIM - Nowhere to Hide]

Man, I almost missed your track because it's just text without any preview images in my feed and in the AIM submission forum! Suffice to say, I'm really glad that I didn't miss out on this gem.

First off, between the music and the artwork that inspired it, all I can envision is an even more militant version of Watership Down. And oh my goodness, some of the individual sections - despite how brief they are - have crazy long titles! Of course, since it's such an excellent listen, it feels like the whole thing is over in the space of a few heartbeats. Very professionally orchestrated, in general. Well done!

Now, as I listen again for a second time, it actually makes me feel like I'm listening to the score for a rabbit-themed version of Star Wars. John Williams himself would enjoy this, methinks. There are a ton of changes throughout, and all of your transitions are as smooth as silk. I can't really write fast enough to keep up with it at all, but there is no part that I don't love.

Encore! No, seriously...I have to listen just ONE more time. This is a truly fantastic piece, CloakedSoup! Best of luck with your AIM submission, man.

CloakedSoup responds:

Thanks a ton! Like I said in the description, I'm going to be updating it with a better mix + some slightly adjusted orchestration. Glad you liked it though! :D