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Strange Tides: A Confluence (OST Comp Jam #7)'s itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Creativity | #4 | 4.435 | 4.435 |
| Impression | #17 | 4.200 | 4.200 |
| Overall | #17 | 4.207 | 4.207 |
| Composition | #25 | 4.247 | 4.247 |
| Quality | #34 | 4.259 | 4.259 |
| Correlation to theme | #118 | 3.894 | 3.894 |
Ranked from 85 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Judge feedback
Judge feedback is anonymous.
- It is so nice to listen to something that so instantly grabs my attention and holds it throughout. I very much appreciated the eclectic instrumental choices as well as consistent variety of material and tone-- all while keeping a consistent identity-- no small feat that! It was a real treat to listen to the "rock-forward" music you so seamlessly work into the material. Bringing this kind of unique palette really makes your entry stand out-- you have a unique approach that I haven't heard anywhere else, I'm sure it will serve you well in the future! It is honestly hard for me to find anything to critique here-- perhaps the one note would be that I feel the distorted rock guitar parts occasionally feel like they need just a bit of a tuck into the mix, as at times I had to focus to really listen in to the other parts when they were really shredding-- but I suppose that could just be the way that style/genre works. "The Buzz Merchant" brought a smile to my face-- I will admit that at first it was a little "unique" compared to the other tracks, but then you bring in the drum kit and it just clicked into place for me, and the segue to the misbegotten gods is at once smooth and still appropriately dramatic. "Cavern of Dreams" was wonderfully evocative. "Confluence" opens with some seriously great textures-- wonderful work with the march-like snare against the lithe vocal line. It is a unique, interesting, and beautiful texture in a submission that is just a complete feast of them. "'Inside my world" rounded things out perfectly-- again bringing a unique approach to the whole without departing so much that I felt it came from some other work. The live vocals here are much appreciated and a brave choice. This whole thing had me smiling from beginning to end. Fantastic work.
Description
You awaken knowing two things:
1. This world is not the one you know.
2. Your beloved lies waiting in a prison in the sea.
Strange Tides: A Confluence is a narrative-first action-adventure game about fighting your way through the sea inside a strange new world. Combat fierce endemic life, meet a colorful cast of friends and foes, overcome obstacles of the natural and spiritual world, and find your way to the one closest to your heart.
The album for Strange Tides: A Confluence was developed for the OST Composition Jam #7. It is a genre-defying mix of various orchestral instruments and native instruments of various diasporas, amplified with modern synths featuring rock-forward boss fights.
The album is a brief 11 minute sampler of four tracks:
- Awaken by the Verdant Sea, infamous for the occasional Ironshank Rampage.
- Find the amicable and mysterious Buzz Merchant, but thieves beware: the shopkeeper does not tolerate Misbeegotten Goods.
- Travel deep through the Cavern of Dreams to face against the tyrannical Herald of the Maelstrom.
- Two souls meet in Confluence and lose each other Inside My World.
Strange Tides: A Confluence is made possible through Reason by Reason Studios. The electric guitar tracks were created with the Ample Metal Hellrazer VST by Ample Sound, and the jaw harp tracks were created with the Cowboy Harp VST by New Nation Audio. Vocals provided by Reed Coale and Amelia Giarusso. All other instruments, effects, mixing, and mastering was made and performed within Reason and its freely included Rack Extensions, including the Orkester Sound Bank, Humana Vocal Ensemble, and Klang Tuned Percussion.
Strange Tides: A Confluence is inspired by:
- The genre-bending melodic storytelling of Darren Korb (Supergiant Games), Yoann Laulan (Dead Cells), and Borislav Slavov (Larian Studios)
- The imaginative and dense worldbuilding of games such as the Monster Hunter franchise and Felix Isaac’s tabletop roleplaying game, The Wildsea.
Cover art by Reed Coale.
Message from the artist
To Reed, my confidant and muse, whose soul can fill an orchestra beyond measure.
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
“Inside My World” is both literal and figurative; your soul mate lies trapped inside their world as you travel deeper and deeper to the inside of the world to face them. The illustrated theme shows two people, two souls so close yet separated by the thinnest veil between worlds, drifting in an unfamiliar and colorful sea.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/amelia-ridz/sets/strange-tides-a-confluence-ost-jam-7
Number of tracks4
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
Any non-commercial project
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Comments
This is fire!! I'm in love with "Strange Tides" and absolutely adore your style. If I could say something, I feel like your percussion is a bit shy. Maybe it needs a bit more punch. Otherwise, your mix is completely fine, as long as you can hear all the instruments and all your tracks make sense, i think you did the job well ! Love how you introduced Metal in your tracks, this is one of the best entries I've listened to! Amazing work!
This is great! As other comments have said, you’re a lot better at mixing than you think! Everything is super clear and feels full. Groovy stuff going on as well; love the odd meters and changes of pace throughout. Well done!
Oh my god, this is like an actual real video game that could exist. this is one of the most professional things I've heard so far in this jam. Every track is so distinct and evocative, and just plain enjoyable to listen to with never a dull moment. I would love to hear your music appear in an actual game someday, golly
Really love how you arranged all of your tracks, with contrasting A and B sections that flow into eachother through multiple means! I also love how the initial melodies always expanded and grew as darker/gritter instruments were added into the arrangement. Your mix felt full yet allowed instruments move freely within the arrangement, Your ideas were fairly unique and every track was a fun and transformative experience! Nice stuff!
You downplayed your mixing in the discord but I'd have to hard disagree. You create space in your music that makes me want to travel to wherever that tune is playing. The natural use of odd meters made me a fan. Another front runner for me!
Hi amelia.
just rated after you forcefully suggested I should do so on the discord. I forcefully suggest similar action regarding my project ;)
Very cool work. The willingness to use more unusual textures and commit to them is brave in a jam like this, but the way they all work together shows you really put thought into it. my highlights are the John Carpenter style guuitars in the first track and the highly processed background vocals in the last. As a committed headbanger myself, I also can´t deny that I give bonus points to everything that has rumbling guitars. Maybe one day we´ll get the death growls from you that you teased at the beginning of the jam.
(If you need a harsh vocalist, hmu).
The mix is amazing : two different genre that just sound like they belong together, instruments with really similar range perfectly mixed, I just don't have a lot to say because of how good it is.
At least I did lower your karma a bit !
What the heck? These tracks go crazy! I was expecting something soft bc of the thumbnail, but its so dang diverse. Keep it up! ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ
Okay, this is super cool. I love the concept of the song separated into 2 worlds, aka. 2 genres, and you pulled it off naturally. First song's beginning reminds me of Mirror's Edge ambient tracks and the bendy instrument really made it pop out. 0:50 of the second song went hard af, was certainly unexpected haha! Only critique would be that the drums in the last two songs lack air/high-end IMO even though they sounded good in the first two. The third track's time signature felt natural as well, legit something outta Hades.
Overall, a genuinely interesting and unique collection of songs.
Hot DAMN this is one of my favorites! I was NOT expecting that guitar drop in Ironshank Rampage to go that hard, but it was all smiles from me until the end of the submission.
Fantastic work!
Genre-defying? My goodness what an understatement. Bendy groovy cowboy keys from Ancient Egypt? Yes, please. Synthetic bird sounds? Wait is that Yanni, Mannheim Steamroller, or Lego Racers theme music I'm hearing? Oh so now you're going to flex chiptune?
This. Is. Rad. Literally typing this as I'm listening through the second time.
9/8??? Ok this has gone too far. Too powerful... Must pause before I'm sucked in...
The vocals in Inside My World are just the icing on top.
I suspect you had way too much fun making this OST. The joy and emotion seep at every corner. It's raw and powerful. Love it.
The Verdant Sea/Ironshank Rampage is a good case of less is more. Very clever use of space and minimal instrumentation to help to actually make things feel bigger! Great job and good luck! :D
I love the variety in this soundtrack, how playful the first two are contrasted by how vibey and mysterious Cavern of Dreams is, the sound design and how well you blended all the aspects of this together makes it really easy to listen to. The vocals in Confluence are super cool, and i love the contrast between the two different parts of the song, going from a march into more of a rock very naturally!!!! I do with the vocals had a bit more to help them stand out because they don't feel as bright as they could be, I think this is a mixing thing and a matter of not enough high end but if anyone is more experienced on mixing and could provide feedback there that would be cool since this is not my forte at all. Overall super well done, enjoyed this a lot!
I love the unique approach you took with the music. Like, a new surprise around every compositional corner: Spy Thriller meets Indian meets Spaghetti Western meets Hard Rock. And then the vocalists at the end? Top notch. Wtf am I even listening to in the best way possible.
I loved the vibe of the Buzz Merchant, and the switch to Misbeegotten goods. Your compositions overall were very creative and I enjoyed the variety throughout!
Great entry! I love The Verdant Sea / Ironshank Rampage the most, but they're all great. All tracks combined have a lot of variety in them, but still very cohesive. Really fitting for specific areas and moments in a game. Excellent work, well done :D
this absolutely SLAPS wow
Wow, so far my favourite one! Great composition, arrangement and creative wise! Love the variety of instruments and expression! Truly great work!
Baaaaaaabe don't embarrass me in front of the jammersssss! (Hi I'm Amelia's fiance and the vocalist)
Is it too late to take back the dedication to you
Loved the unique instrumentation. Also a very interesting choice to go for strong theme switch-ups in the middle of each track.