Mich's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Can't Be Swayed (Ft. Pink Nois)]

Having just clicked the latest track in the audio advertisements thread, I feel like I got extremely lucky.

I won't pretend I fully get how to work with non-4/4 time signatures, but I really dig this groove. The mix is super tight, there's lots of variation going, nice playing with the stereo field.

I can't think of anything more to add; great work, all involved.

TeraVex responds:

Thank you for the review! I gotta make some more odd metered stuff, it's a lot of fun once you find a good groove in it! I'm glad you enjoyed the tune! Greatly appreciate it!

[Shocker]

Echoing pbj, it definitely is groovy. I'm digging the breakbeat, and the resonance-laden lead.

Sweet automations too, varying the envelope of the secondary (non-sub) bassline. Feels really vintage in a good way.

It feels a little bit like more of a loop than a song, in that I don't feel a lot of movement between sections, but maybe that's just what you were going for.

Syntrus responds:

Yea I see what you and PBJ are saying it’s all about getting out of the comfort zone. Definitely going for something someone can use in a game or video, but I probably have it in me to be more.

[Tranquility]

I can definitely tell there are some parts missing, particularly around the breakdown in the middle. Even so, it sets a somber mood (in a good way).

I think one thing I would've enjoyed is a bit of play with the stereo field, particularly with one of the cymbals that sounds kinda dead center, I think bouncing it back and forth even just 10-15% would give it a cool extra dimension.

Hard to judge without the missing parts, but I think it would make sense to do a variation of the drum pattern after the breakdown, instead of the very same, maybe even adding some closed hats on every 16th or something, adding a bit of energy.

Anyway my comments are probably a bit pointless given it's an unfinished scrapped piece. Definitely enjoyed it, mix on point and all.

retestment responds:

thanks, i might still work on it some more if i can get the flp so, your feedback actually is useful lol, as for the hats and stereo field, I'll play around with both if i can get the flp off my hard drive!

[Supercell]

[Super belated EDIT 2019-01-11: whoa, we can edit and delete our own reviews now? Sweet. Also nice thunder. <3]

Literally interpreting the title, I half expected some rain and thunder samples in the intro/outro for dramatic effect, but then dramatic isn't generally your style. I do think it could add a cool dimension, particularly in the breakdown before the "drop", some distant low pass rumbling or something.

Honestly impressed by Avizura picking out the Pendulum samples, I definitely couldn't identify 'em.

I like the mood set by the piano in the intro, and how it builds up by further padding out its melody; it contributes to the build as much as the addition of drums and other samples in the intro. When the latter drop away and the LFO-laden synth becomes the only thing to back the piano, it feels like the calm before the storm, that sudden lack of wind or rain before the thunderstorm is about to really start off. I like the restraint in mix level on that LFO-y synth too, because personally when I put a bunch of effort into carefully modulating stuff, I automatically want to make sure it's properly heard; the subtlety really helps the atmosphere.

In the drop I'm met with signature Quarl reeses. I don't know exactly what it is about them, but whenever I hear them I know beyond a doubt it's a Quarl track. Might be the way you take the resonance all the way up into that squelchiness, without turning it into a deafening ringing mess. Definitely an interesting patch.

[Damnit I was going to drop a quick 2 paragraph at most review on this and get on with my day.]

The chorus/drop (what do you even call these things in songs that aren't just verse/chorus/verse/chorus etc?) works well, repeating the same pattern a few times and then re-introducing that piano for continuity at the right time. The outro works well too.

One small touch I liked was the general midi "ah" sample found on basically every cheap rompler keyboard (the kind you hit "sound", and then punch in a 3 digit number)'s drum kit.

Anyhow, ace track Quarl. Short and sweet, and still chock-full with work to keep stuff varied all over the place. You work definitely never sounds lazy to my ears.

Quarl responds:

I added some thunder for you lover.

[Hard Techno 2017]

As SuperBastard mentioned, also digging the synthwave undertones; can see why you've got AliceMako down under "inspiration" :)

I like the more elaborate drumwork as compared to Retribution of the Insane. You didn't put this one under industrial like you did Retribution, but if you did (and otherwise I guess)... it'd be neat to experiment with some different ways to distort the drums for some gritty effects.

I like routing the non-kick drum sample channels to a single bus, and then apply effects there. You can also route them to a send channel to have some distortion going on there while still having the "clean" drums going into the master mix as well. Assuming FL studio, I think fruity blood overdrive (with x100 on), waveshaper, and fruity squeeze are all fun to experiment with, distortion-wise.

Rambling on about distortion aside, I'm not sure what to think about the melodic content of the track. I can hear you've had a lot of inspiration coming up with different melodies and backing riffs and whatnot, but I feel the track lacks somewhat in structure. There are buildups a few times, but they don't seem to lead to anything of higher energy. Not sure if I'm making sense at all.

For structure inspiration I like to listen to several tracks from different artists in the style I'm aiming at and make note of what elements they employ to get the tension going between key parts of the track, then sort of try to combine them into my own blend of things that work. Hope that helps at all.

Anyhow, good work. Make more. :-)

[Levée En Masse]

Ooh, gnarly stuff, definitely differing a bunch from what I usually hear from you.

While that very varying bassy synth keeps my interest, I'd have loved some serious overcompression and destruction on that snare drum, just to add a good layer of noise to it.

Speaking of the drums, they main pattern stays pretty rigid throughout the piece, a momentary variation every few bars wouldn't be out of place. Perhaps a bit of stereo effect work wouldn't be out of place for them either.

That said, on a second listen it becomes clear the majority of the labour here has gone to that bassy synth; there's a lot detail to it, which I doubt I'd find the patience for.

I also do like the subtle one-shot background noises you've thrown in there (like that little evil laugh), and the reverby scream or whatever it is. Hard to pick good samples for that sort of stuff and then still use a good bit of moderation in how they should lay in the mix, so kudos for that.

As usual, you've maintain a good mix of classic instruments (piano and strings), which I always appreciate.

Keep at it. =)

MutualCore responds:

love ya babe.

[[Knox]Under the Stars]

I like that very Waltz-y feel it immediately has to it. (oom-ta-ta).

What stands out immediately is the copious amounts of reverb. It sets an interesting atmosphere right at the start.

As other elements come into the song, I feel like this reverb might just be a little bit overkill. I'd keep it for a sort of interlude. You could create some interesting dynamics by making the backing track (which is what I consider the reverb-bathed stuff as) not a constant presence.

Enough about that; I like that layering of multiple instruments you've got going on, it works together well. Nice use of panning too, although I get the impression that the right end is more populated than the left (listening on headphones).

The ending was well executed too. No simple fading, but well done gradual elimination of instruments.

Good job, I liked it. :-)

Knoxius responds:

I was thinking about that reverb as I listened a little bit ago, and I now I intend to go back and drastically reduce it. Not sure why I thought that much reverb would be a good idea at the time :P

[Heppeh]

I agree with what Kirbyfemur said, goofy and fun tracks are neat to make! It definitely sounds like you went out of your usual comfort zone in music (if you even have one) and experimented with some different sounds, with good results.

Very creative with introducing new sounds and making transitions, something I could be jealous of. I usually just do some automations on whatever I can come up with and then drop out or bring in new patterns.

Liking the bells, they really add to that happy atmosphere. I think the portamento and the slight detune here and there give it that 'goofy' feel, I like.

I think I'll have to check out some of VegetarianMeat's stuff now!

I really can't think of any negative remarks so I guess I'm forced to give you the full 5 stars. ;)

[Things You Shouldn't Do]

This is pretty sweet

As I said in my response to your comment, this gave me a good laugh. I suppose inspiration can come from strange places.

For what it is, the tune is rather catchy, and kind of gives a sing-along feeling.
Other than the kind of 'thin' sound, which is probably due to your recording equipment, I really don't have much to say. Very nice little tune. :)

IzakFlashMan responds:

Ha, thanks man, if you didn't like it I would have had to put a bullet through the songs head. Lol
And yeah, I need to get myself some decent recording gear -_-

[Significate Epitome]

Greatly enjoyable strange track,and yet accessible

Review on InvisibleObserver's "Significate Epitom"

As promised, here's a review for this ridiculously long and complex track of yours.

Even right at the start, I can that a lot of time and effort was put in getting things just the way wanted , the reversed guitar is a good example of that.

Hm. I have absolutely no idea where the song is going. In fact, you could say that the track has a life of its own, that's how unpredictable it is. The beast that Significate Epitome is is not afraid of any element to move its way forward in life. There are constantly different things happening, sometimes the energy is dropped and we go through a moment where everything is fragile, just a few little bells playing. Very neat.

I keep being amazed at how long completely new things are introduced. The track definitely varies a lot, but I think I've made that clear by now. I think the main "feel" of the song doesn't actually quite match its introduction (it's playing for the second time at this point). I suppose this is because writing the track was spread over a whole month, one goes through different emotional states, and thus causes different kinds of atmospheres in their music.

I am not too much of a fan of the synth introduced around 2:32. I think it's mostly its "shape", if you will, it's kind of rough on the ears in the current environment. I am, however, a fan of the little vocal-like sounds around 3:15, they give the impression of a human trying to imitate calls of some bird or something. The reverbing here sets a really neat atmosphere as well. I actually wish you wouldn't have introduced the drums again there, I feel like a ~2 minute piece of that reverb-y atmosphere would've been beautiful. It would've given the track another segment, rather than a little breakdown, to then go in in the same vein as it was.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not really saying it's repetitive, but I feel it would've benefited from having less drums. I can understand it's tempting to used accessible elements in the song, so more people would like it, hell, it might even be a subconscious thing. I suppose I just enjoy really strange IDM pieces a lot, mostly those pieces that pull away from the comfortable a lot. This song tends to go back to comfortable themes a lot (mostly in drum work and rhythmic elements), and I think it's just that what makes it slightly less interesting for me.

I think some of the breakdowns may be slightly too sudden, but that's probably just matter of taste. I'm eleven minutes in now, and I still notice how much work has been put in the little things one barely notices. I know from experience that said little things tend to take a lot of work for what they are, so that's definitely appreciated. All those little things together are what distinguish a great track from a mediocre track, after all.

I hear some synth work with LFOs on the filter cutoff, which hints at something common in dubstep. I feel this might be another subconscious attempt at bringing something accessible in the mix, but I may be mistaken.

When I get near then end (15 minutes in), I hear another lovely breakdown, one with less of the bells I've heard a lot throughout the song, and then they're back again. On the second listen, I get the idea that the amount of time these bells are used could be reduces just slightly. It may just be that listening to the track twice a row is overkill given its length, so that may be disregarded.

Now when I'm seventeen minutes in, all the various layers have very smoothly built back up, and created a lovely mix of just about everything I've heard in the song, all blended perfectly together. This may just be the most enjoyable part of the song for me.

Then it builds off again, and I am satisfied. There are often songs where you say "MORE" at the end, but this isn't one. I don't mean this in a bad way though, the song leaves me completely satisfied with what I heard, and I am glad I listened all the way through.

Keep up your great stuff man, you're very talented. I'm out because.. I no longer have any characters remaining.

InvisibleObserver responds:

Your words make me hot, like a fry pan to sausage.

Be my fry pan, and I'll be your sausage.