There are some nice ideas here that could be further developed and worked in more contrasted ways. You reproduced very well the idioms of typical NES soundtracks! :)
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback! After listening to the track again, I cannot but agree with you. Once you notice that the bell is located on one side, it gets annoying. There could definitely be some improvement in the stereo distribution of sounds.
I took inspiration from Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and, to some extent, Max Richter. All of them share a minimalist approach to music, although they apply different procedures to organise their materials.
The manipulations of the tempo feel very organic. The build-up is satisfying. I also really enjoyed the instrumentation: the timbres blend very well together. The fact you selected instruments with unaccented onsets was a very good idea, as it allows your track to be reversed and to still sound the same. Solid entry!
The texture of the main motif is really interesting and works well combined with the percussions. As others have mentioned, the mastering could be a bit more balanced. Nice entry, quite different from the others I've heard!
Really love the harmonic colours and the celesta timbre! I'm a bit less fan of the violin sound, which isn't very realistic but also not clearly synthetic. But it's just a matter of taste. I enjoyed the piece and can easily picture it in a game! :)
I listened to your tracks on the train... just woaw! They blended with the landscape in a way that produced this very particular experience we look for when playing narrative/contemplative games or watching films... Great job, congratulations! Look forward to hear more from you both.
The moment the track is reversed works very very well! So satisfying to hear. Perhaps there could be some variations of the material, like introducing different rhythmic patterns or more varied melodic motifs. Anyway, you did a great job!
I added the violas at a late stage because I felt there was a need for a harmonic filler. Without them, the soundtrack felt very empty, particularly in the first minute. I agree that they could be mixed differently, as their presence is definitely too noticeable at the beginning.
The whole feels very coherent. I particularly like the synths you chose. They blend really well and contribute to the coherence by creating reminders in the different tracks. Good job!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the track, and thank you for your feedback!
In fact, I outlined a very precise idea of the game when I was brainstorming, and this included not only the plot, but also the visual atmosphere. I am not a graphic artist, so I decided to try to generate a cover using AI. I was lucky: the results I obtained matched perfectly what I had in mind. I'm happy that the whole feels coherent. :)
Glad to hear that the piece isn't boring. I was afraid that the build up would come much too late. There is still room for improvement, but it's nice to read that the track is enjoyable. Thank you! :)
Well done! You definitely have great instrumental skills. I think it's a real plus and makes your composition stand out. Also love your harmonic progressions btw. :)
There is definitely some composition technique here. I particularly enjoy the choice of the piano, which reminds me of these introspective, dark nineteenth century pieces (I have the name Liszt in mind). As others have mentioned, using a virtual instrument with a greater dynamic range and expressivity would clearly make the piece even better. Well done!
Hey, thanks for your feedback! You're absolutely right, the mastering isn't great. I was a bit busy and didn't pay enough attention to it. Next time, I will! :)
Very nice reversed canon! I really enjoy the modal colour of the piece combined with the chiptune timbres. Reminds me of retro games I love. Well done! :)
