LucidShadowDreamer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Shadow Play]

Hey, this is pretty cool :D!
I like the experimental feel that this has. The bass is awesome :3
The rhythm and progression are very interesting, to say the least XD
I guess that apart from the very beginning, the volume dynamics can feel a bit flat at points. Luckily, you included the breakdown-ish thing at 2:05.
The ending is a bit abrupt, but I totally like that!

It's cool that you managed to do this much with so few intruments. Great job ;)

frootza responds:

Thanks Lucid!

I have been mixing with an old set of ear buds ($1), so I need to use my eyes to check the levels on most of my new tunes. It is a hit or miss, I just hope for the best after I do a general master track.

There is going to be a lot of cliffhangers in this series because the songs are all going to eventually lead into eachother when we perform this in my live band.

Thanks for the comments on the rhythm and progression! Conventional song writing and composing gets very boring for me so I am always experimenting with new harmonic ideas and I've been known to write quite a few rhythmically challenging pieces. Hope that you stick around for the next installments of the Twilight Zone saga!

[Aether - Mindchamber]

This is brilliant!
It's a shame that it's a bit short, but as the track is so fast paced, it still manages to get a lot in there. Coolest sfx ever, pretty much XD

AetherNG responds:

Thank you so much man :)

[Innocence]

Alright, I'm on the third loop right now.
You know, I haven't read the description until now, but that didn't stop me from thinking about Gustavo Santaolalla while listening to this. I would really like to play a game where this is stage music. Another thought that came to my mind is that this reminded me of broove's music. It's a shame that the flash game "pine", where his music was featured, was taken down by Dylan because it was unfinished. "ALZ" is still up though :D

As I'm sure you know, this is right up my alley in terms of music I enjoy to listen to. The piano is a bit rough even, or maybe I should use the word "Cold"? I use a sound similar to this quite often, because I enjoy it. But it is not soft and warm, is what I'm trying to say. There are a few pieces that use this kind of cold sound, but can still express a form of warmth as well. At a few points in this track, I think I felt that effect. Mostly because of the combinations of other intruments though. At most points, however, I got the cold feel from this track. But know what? I like it.
I can imagine an empty house in a desert of Ice and snow while hearing this, and it's a very pretty image.

That said, I can definitely see what you were going for in the description as well. The art piece that inspired you is brilliant, and I left a review for it as well. In a way, I feel that this could be brilliant menu music as well. But it fits in stage music, so I see no reason to complain.

I would like to imagine that I have still not lost contact with the child in me; something that I'm very happy about.

As for the genre, I get why you choose ambient, and this certainly fits. I just think that this is a very cinematic ambient piece, which almost makes it all the better.
You use very interesting tones and chords. Not unlike Erik Satie, especially in the Gymnopedie No. 1.

It's a bit like the individual chords and notes aren't designed to catch my immediate attention nor interest, but to simply float around. This is pretty perfect, at this is background music. The progression is something floating too, which I thoroughly enjoy. I can sit back, relax, and just float with this track. Very apt, considering the fish in the art piece.
The mixing felt a bit interesting during the first minute, before I got used to it. Probably because I heard all the high notes very clearly (clearness comes with the cold sound) in my right ear, and the low tones more in my left. That's what it'd be like with a real piano though, and once I got used to it in combination with the other intruments, it sounds fine.

That's about all I have to say. I really like this.
Sorry if my review is a bit all over the place. One could say that it too is improvised :)
Probably on the 7th loop now.
Brilliant job. I wish you good luck in the contest!

Phonometrologist responds:

"reminded me of broove's music"
I honestly regret more that he doesn't write as much as he ought as for him music is more a hobby as he puts it. One of my favorite artists here because he seems to write such poignant piano music that stir my heart in a manner that strangely seems all too natural for him.
" I got the cold feel from this track"
That's quite an interesting insight. I wonder if that has anything to do with playing primarily in the higher register alone combined with the attack.
" I have still not lost contact with the child in me"
The aspect of being a child that fascinates me and I miss the most is the feeling that would be considered being oblivious to the world around me. Back then, the world was a great mystery and my perspective was confined to all that I knew at home. Before seeing and experiencing the evil and heartbreak that is in it. It eventually reaches to your own home and your eyes and mind grow up to understanding that before you reach that age that one tends to live a sheltered life. I wouldn't go back to it, but it's funny how that works. A strange place to live as a child.
" It's a bit like the individual chords and notes aren't designed to catch my immediate attention nor interest, but to simply float around."
You are correct. The chords are so simple that what makes these chords different from any other is the mindset behind them. It was never meant to be listened to in a microscopic point of view for each individual note. You know, as I listen too, I don't think the notes and chords that play really tell you where the piece is headed. It does sound like it just floats on, but by 4:05 one can tell that the music has arrived home in its own subtle way. I'm talking as if I don't necessarily know what I was doing myself. Sitting at the piano doesn't necessarily become an intentional one for me all the time. It really didn't come about from any preconceived thought process.
"I wish you good luck in the contest!"
Likewise! Thank you for writing this.

[Prelude to Destruction]

Yes! I've been waiting for you to post this :D
I can't access the preview anymore, so I can't compare. But I'm pretty sure you made some pretty awesome additions to this, as I don't remember the track being this... Expressive?
Then again, my memory is one thing that I usually don't trust too much XD
Either way, I like it.

I've been thinking about the third track that comes out of this same idea, hehhe. I think I'll do a complete basic version of it (similar to last time), and then perhaps send it to you, as well as the MIDI file? In that case, you could apply your mixing and intruments, as they are superior to mine, as well as some of your own additions if you feel like it, and perhaps some percussion?

You can take several months to do this if you want, with all the competitions and all going on and all, or suggest other ways to collab, as I'm open to all ideas :3
That's just my idea of one way to go about it without millions of PM's sent back and forth :)

Either way, I like this version of the track a lot, and I think the mixing is splendid too. I'll now go and review the track that I haven't heard before :D

Phonometrologist responds:

Well I did email the early sample of this piece to you. What I sent you did sound less expressive I suppose because it was primarily just Midi inputted via Sibelius. If it is more expressive than what you remember, it would perhaps be contributed to more dynamic, automation, and me actually playing the sample libraries on my keyboard to give it a more human touch. The percussion part derived from me actually playing along rather than just trying to match the actual tempo such as the loud toms. The collab that you and I will partake in from the series of this will be considered a Postlude I think. Like exit music is what I imagine it to be. It will be a pleasure to do so. Maybe I'll email you the original piano piece that I have yet to arrange/orchestrate so you can get an idea of the story/feeling of the track that our collab will derive from.

[EML - Graveyard Shift]

This is awesome! A very tasty jam, this one ;)
It's cool that it's featured in a game :D

eatmeatleet responds:

Yes, thanks, Lucid :)

[T-Logic - Architeuthis]

A short review here, as johnfn and LunacyEcho have already said a lot of what I would've said.
Personally, I can really enjoy atonal music. This is probably even more atonal than most of your stuff, but nothing clashes in an irritating way, imo.
I like all of the sound design along with many of the melodies that many of the individual intruments play.

For some reason, this track really reminded me of this piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lFwchGSkes

(Crash Bandicoot - Heavy Machinery, in case the link ever becomes invalid)

Probably because of the way the tracks were built. I think you'll enjoy it ;)

Yep. Actually, the only thing that bothers me about this track, is the suuuuuuuuuper repetitive drums. While I get why you would choose to use them as you do in this track, I would still have made some more changes to them now and then (your changes, in the end, were pretty small), even if you'd keep the same basic rhythm. But in my head, I can already hear several things you could've done to make them more interesting!

Other than that, I think the mixing is really good too. So this track comes very close to a 5 from me. But dem drums say no!

Either way, great job!
I would love to hear you try out something with a more... Melodic and tonal melody sometime too! Something that evokes a particular positive feeling, or a very sad feeling would be nice ;)

Good luck!

TaintedLogic responds:

Thanks so much for the review, LSD! :D I'm glad you didn't think the various clashing parts were particularly repulsive. :) I appreciate your compliments about the sound design, melodies, and mixing. I'm not really that familiar with Crash Bandicoot, but I enjoyed the track nonetheless. I can see how some of the effects and structuring elements of that piece connect with this one. :) I agree about the drums - I didn't put a whole lot of effort into them (although if you listen carefully, you can tell I added a layered snare sample at :52 and increased the reverb). :) Woahwoahwoah...did you just suggest that I try to make TONAL melodies? >:O I'm kidding...I'll see what I can come up with! Thanks again, LSD! ^^

[Arctic Wraiths]

Just in time, as the dealine is today :)
This is yet another one of those tracks where the percussion is beyond amazing, which reminds me of your older track, The Nightingale Order. I think your mixing has improved a bit since then, even though your mixing was good back then as well XD

This is a very interesting interpretation of the art piece! I would've gone for something much slower, and icy, with a silent death kind of feel. That said, I think this interpretation is pretty cool too! (See what I did there, hehhe?).

Yup. This track is great. Good luck in the contest!

LunyAlex responds:

Truthfully, a more intuitive interpretation would indeed be a "whistling wind" ambient type thing.

Personally what my mind leaned towards was like, a carriage-convoy passing through and being ambushed by snowy demon wraiths. Like something from the Witcher 3 I guess.

Very glad you think the mixing is getting better. It's been my main gripe and focus in this admittedly upload-depraved year.

Thanks a lot for the review and good luck to you as well!

[Solitude of the Valkyrie ~P~]

Ooh, this really speaks to me! The emotion in the intro had me favorite the track within 10 seconds :D
The piano is good, but the strings are amazing!!!
Apart from the intro, I love the whole track. The melodies, intruments, and the rhythm/percussiong, along with the mixing is simply splendid o.O!
I can definitely understand why you'd call this one of your best songs thus far :3
Finally, the loop is very smooth.

Brilliant job Phyrnna, and keep it up!

P.S. Love that choir/vox :)

Phyrnna responds:

Thank you very much for the review, especially from you~ <3

P.S. I haven't had time to render/upload it yet but I did do an hour+ improv recently. ;)

[FD - Cyberchase]

Awesome track dude! Very atmospheric intro. The percussion (in the first part only) almost feels a bit too dry, but that's probably just me and my wierd preferences :p
Other than that, all is great.

Good luck, and Happy Robot Day 2015!

ForgottenDawn responds:

Thank you, happy Robot Day to you too!

Yeah might be just personal tastes in the end, I wanted it to feel almost distorted to complement the dark vibes. :)