Score: 8

"Quite impressive, big improvement!"

submission: Deep Forest of Rest

date: August 20, 2007

My first reaction to this song was

"Thats really something else..."

I mean, really something else. Deflektor, I firmly believe this is your best work in terms of mastering, in terms of flow, structure, and overall presentation. The percussion beat was simple yes, but it was effective, and did not need to be changed. After all it is not the percussion they should be worrying about.

I did however note that the background strings are the same throughout the entire song. It is a subtle thing to pick up, but when you do, it does become tiring. So another thing to note is beware of over repetition. Repetition can be an incredibly powerful tool, and in fact is often found in all masters works, so don't take that statement to mean "Never let things repeat", but do not let them repeat over and over.

The flute melodic work is much more forward then your other songs, that wind chime trickle proved very useful. It is at an acceptable level.

I did however think that if you wanted to emulate a bit more restful, you could do a few things, like slow the song down a bit, perhaps use the celesta/glocken and hit some high notes corresponding to your chords.

Some more reverb maybe?

All in all, an excellent piece Deflektor, I am glad to have heard you progress this quickly so soon. Best of luck to your future productions!

Score: 8

"Amber's voice really lends itself to this piece."

submission: (Electronic) 22 Shooting Stars

date: August 20, 2007

I seriously don't know why you get so many 0 bombs... I mean either you've insulted too many mothers, or you've been born with the worst luck in the world :/

Well I hope they don't discourage you, I truly appreciate your work.

When I first saw Amber Rhodes, I thought of the Rhodes piano, and then I heard the woman singing alongside you and realized that perhaps I was thinking of the wrong instrument...

In any case, I like the reversed sound effects you threw in there, it adds a good deal to the piece, makes it more out of there you know.

Amber's voice is very good, especially once 2:00 passes over and the song picks up alongside her voice. I wish I could understand her... again I am lost to the lyrics, so in terms of tradition, I would like to see the lyrics :D!

Sometimes I debate whether the song is too clustered, sometimes it sounds like it's making too many noises, feels confusing. The sounds that you do use are rich in feel, do lend themselves to the piece, but do watch out for that fine line between neatly dissorderly, to messy chaotic.

All in all, it was another enjoyable piece, I wish you the best, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 9

"good vibe, flow, good melodic work"

submission: The Castle is Breached!

date: August 16, 2007

I've been listening to this piece for a while now, and I have to say it's quite awesome. Doesn't get tiring at all, though that loop end is an area of debate. It is good, but not flawless in my opinion. Maybe Newgrounds looping style makes me think so, but there you have it!

I felt the thumping at the end was a bit much, a little too much of teh beatings there. And I also feel there is some energetic joy in this piece, but only because the image in my head is not the castle being breached, but being taken back! And in a sense, being breached by being taken back. Can't take things without breaching something, like trust, or a life... or both.

A grand majestic song for sure, with some slick flow. I really do like what you did with the woodwinds and strings when you got the timpani going into full gear though.

All in all a slick composition, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 8

"good vibe, misleading desc >:(, good flow, mix"

submission: The Castle Comes A-Tumblin'

date: August 16, 2007

Well for a castle falling loudly, this sure is a rather quiet song :O! It also has a very noble, epic feel to it, like a grand adventure, I am not getting any kind of sorrow, or bitterness towards seeing the castle fall.

The melodic flow and direction of the song are all top notch though, truly entertaining! Perfect loop too so good for you thar!

I'll be honest, I was expecting something else entirely when I read the description and title, a little disappointed at not having my ears blown off by super crazy beams of high energetic death, but after getting over that loss, I have grown to love the song.

Nothing to criticize, it is a well written song, and I didn't even know you have more then 1 submission. Yay :D! Time to go hear the other two, keep up the good fight and keep em coming Recky!

Score: 9

"great vibe and mix, lovely oboe"

submission: The Village Valse

date: August 16, 2007

I can't believe I hadn't reviewed this!

Time to fix that!

I have no need to tell you that oboe was brilliantly written. I'm sure you're being told that on a daily basis... but what the hey!

That oboe was brilliantly written.

The percussion beat to this song was a fascinating aspect. I would never have fathomed making something like that, single tom hit, tamborine and wooden click combo. I would love to hear this song performed live. I'm sure it would give even more power like that...

The high violins and oboe duet you had during nearly through the entire song really peaked my interest in this song. It is what I felt was the strongest elements to the piece.

I have nothing to really say and criticize, waltzes were never my cup of tea *though I do study them, and your score you sent me several weeks *months?* ago, you have done a great piece! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 9

"great melody, good vibe and mix, too attent demand"

submission: Marche au Château in G minor 1

date: August 16, 2007

Hey Winter! I listened to these songs of yours like madness, yet never left a review, so while i'm reviewing everybody now, lets get to yours at long last :D!!

I absolutely admire your theory and ability to weave an orchestra the way you do. It is my desire to one day be able to form and shape an orchestra the way you and David can. One day, I will reach that goal, but until then i'm going to keep watching those better then myself.

In any case, onto the review now.

The song loops perfectly. There is no room for debate in this point, well done my good sir!

The song does NOT get tiring in my opinion. I love listening to this song, been listening to it for weeks now. It does however become tiresome to hear after half an hour or so. The song though incredibly complex, also grabs a lot of attention, which backfires in the sense that I keep wanting to hear it go other places, yet will always hear the same thing.

Great mix of instrument sounds of course, nothing says "OUT OF MAI WEH >:(!" and all co-operate well.

The only other downside of this song is that it wouldn't make a good level theme in my opinion. It demands too much attention. Like in the other Marche au Chateau I reviewed, i'd constantly be dropping my controller to go "I LUV DIS PERT!" and then die a horrible death while my eyes are closed.

Damn you i'd say. I'd curse your soul with every life lost.

All in all a great and powerful piece, I'll see you on the battlefield my good sir! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 7

"good vibe, well mixed, a bit cliche."

submission: The Halls of Ramses

date: August 16, 2007

This song really does scream arabian to me. However the Arabian motifs you have going on in there are pretty generic. I mean I hear them in nearly every Arabian oriented song, which I suppose is a difficult step to overcome, unless you study Arabian music it is difficult to create something without using what many consider "the source" of Arabian music.

The song loops perfectly! So tops off to that.

The mix of instruments were all good, nothing seemed to clash with anything else, nothing wanted attention at the expense of another. The trumpets were also well written.

If there is going to be a desert level in CC, I'm fairly sure I know which song is going to make it :D!

All in all a valiant effort, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 7

"bit repetetive, good vibe, peaceful"

submission: Farms in Distance

date: August 16, 2007

I really liked this one Bosa. It gives off that peaceful air as you said in your description, the song also loops rather well, though not perfectly.

MJTTOMB already brought up some good points, so there is no point in regurgitating what he wrote, though I felt that the violin/pico thing wasn't THAT tiring. Though I definitely agree a nice perc beat would be nice here.

I also think more reverb on that flute would have made it much more powerful, more epic as this song seems to say to me.

Not much else to write, it was an enjoyable song, and that is really all that matters. Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 6

"a bit generic, mastering issues, good vibe"

submission: A New Moon

date: August 16, 2007

Hey Bosa.

There is a great deal of tensive energy in this piece, it flows and screams "trouble", yet I felt there were some mastering issues here. Some of the instruments were too loud, some were too quiet. Like that child choir, I loved its addition to the song, but it was too much in the background to truly notice.

Are these papalmedia choirs?

I also would have liked to see some variation, some kind of overlaying melody. I mean as it stands it seems to be a long string of chords, which leaves a great foundation, but leaves an empty taste in your mouth.

All in all though, a good track! I wish you the best in the contest, i'll see you on the battle field >:}. Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

Score: 10

"Incredible high end composition!"

submission: _-=[Don't Tell Me Again]=-_

date: August 14, 2007

XD, how can I NOT write a review for this?! I mean seriously? I was told i'd find this link interesting, and here I am :D!

My gawd there's some hardcore talent here! What software are you using VST wise to accomplish this?! The mock up is incredibly realistic and dynamic!

Such melodic expertise, you are where I wish to be... it seems I have my newest idol, I hope you will share more of your works with Newgrounds, and let me hear them! I'd also be damn delighted if you'd be so willing to share a midi of this so that I can study it :D!

Keep up the good fight and keep em coming! Brilliantly made!