this is really well produced, i'm going to download this and add it to my Mp3 player :D nice track!
Reviews for "starlight dreams"
johnfn responds:
yeah dude! It's all about getting dat kick to be AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE and then sidechaining all the things to it so that people just hear the kick being really loud and their brain recognizes that as equivalent to a good mix. You think I'm being sarcastic but that's actually like 90% of how to do it... the other 10% is having no overlapping frequencies and creative use of samples.
...Ah crap, I just gave away all my secrets! Oh well.
Sorry I can't make my signature slightly rambling long review, but I REALLY like this, I even favourited. Those echoey hits that I can't really explain are great, and the pads and effects are marvellous. I can't think of a way to improve this though.
Also, some lovely melodies in the background here!
johnfn responds:
Thanks dude! No worries :)
Hahha, yeah. This is not chiptune o.O (jk).
I like it; it's hard not to like something you've done. I already mentioned this, but holy **** you've been productive for a while now. I've got to say I liked the previous composition you posted slightly more than I do this, but I still enjoy it quite a bit.
It's relaxing, and works well as background music. This is just my opinion, but I think it lacks a really 'catchy' melody, but I'd say this song doesn't necessarily need that. Of course there are several melodies, I'm just saying I probably won't remember them tomorrow.
Aside from that, I like the way you put a multitude of instruments (and other sounds) together to form the entirety. I also like the way that the more "heavy" percussion enters at 1:00-1:05.
It's impressive the way you still manage to bring in several different themes (like the shift at 2:41), as well as the fact that they complement eachoter so well.
According to my ears the mixing also seems to be sufficient (at least). However, I'm not to be trusted when it comes to that, as I am very new to mixing at a whole. I'm simply a (starting) hobby musician, so I can't give you any more a credible review than that.
Overall, I loved it; keep up the good stuff ;)
ps. That ending though!
johnfn responds:
> Hahha, yeah. This is not chiptune o.O (jk).
HA YES I DID IT. Now back to our regularly scheduled program of 500 chiptune songs.
> I like it; it's hard not to like something you've done. I already mentioned this, but holy **** you've been productive for a while now.
Could possibly be my swan song. I'm going to work at a real job soon and I'm not going to have any free time any more.
D:
> melodies
I fully understand. Actually I was trying to switch up my traditional style of melodic based songs. The strength in this song is imo how if you put on headphones you sit back and close your eyes and let the chords sweep you away. (lol I'm a little too romantic about my music lol)
I was pretty happy about the mix so I think you're spot on ;-)
Thanks for the review!
Even though it isn't chiptune, I can somehow still tell that it's you who wrote it. Your style transcends genres, it seems.
Blarg. I wish I hadn't read the notes now, because biology. Now, I can't get the image of a pulsating blob of tissue out of my head whenever you get to the sidechainy bits. That background gulping noise (?) that becomes slightly more prominent at 3:45 doesn't help either. :P At least I can see an image, so your atmosphere is definitely image-provoking, which isn't how I normally think.
Speaking of the word 'atmosphere', I've always used it as a synonym for 'mood' rather than a type of mood. I guess I've been using it wrong. I'd describe this as having an airy or breathy atmosphere, but the term 'atmospheric' describes it pretty well.
I actually think this song isn't too long. I mean, sure, it's repetitive and lulling, but it's certainly a welcome change from your chiptune. It's in a similar vein to your other music, but it's different enough to keep me interested while still preserving that johnfn quality that you've basically mastered. I couldn't tell you what it is, but I can tell it's there.
I don't really know why I'm leaving this review when you've done all your own critiquing for yourself. Come on, leave some for the rest of us! I'm docking half a star because of, as you said, the mood. Yeah, I appreciate it, but I think you've done enough work with calm and "atmospheric". Try something people can't really imagine you doing, like a rock song! :D That'll be the day...
That ending. It's like you have an obligation to piss at least one person off with each of your songs' endings or something. Fade-outs, incompleteness... It's an interesting quirk, so I don't really mind it, but it's going to garner some opprobrium. Watch out.
It's great to hear you use new instruments! Try new things! Be inventive! Great work.
johnfn responds:
> gulping noise
LOL what. That is actually some guy talking that I applied a ridiculous amount of reverb and delay. Your interpretation is 500x more terrifying than what I intended.
> atmosphere
Yeah, I totally see what you mean. Different words mean different things to different people :P To me, atmospheric = music that almost paints a picture in your head, music that is not gripping but rather relies on strength of sound design choices and ambience.
> I actually think this song isn't too long
I'm really pleased to hear this. I mean, personally, I think it's perfect, but then, I always think my songs are perfect!!! >:D I know a lot of people have different tastes and different expectations when listening to songs.
> enough work with calm and "atmospheric"
Heheh yeah. You just get a sort of urge to write out music in that style though sometimes, you know? But I think I'm going to use this sort of reactionary feeling against calm stuff as a guiding principle for my next few songs, mostly because I figured out how to inject a ton of energy into my music ever since I wrote "you win".
> rock song
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Uh, it could be a while though... I really want to get an electric guitar though.
> It's like you have an obligation to piss at least one person off with each of your songs' endings or something
LOL. Yeah that is pretty much me in a nutshell. I was getting pretty good at them for a little bit but then I went straight back to trolling. I just can't help myself.
I didn't even think this one would be too offensive. Nine Inch Nails has this song called "Hurt" which is amazing but then ends with a minute of repetitive, almost painful noise. Also, have you ever heard the ending of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (the album)? The little wobble at the end here is downright tame in comparison. >:D
Thanks for the awesome review as usual dude. You always have interesting things to say, and you always give me something to think about. I appreciate it.
P.S. Congrats at being the first person to ever use the word "opprobrium" in a review of my songs .
Well, for the most part, you've critiqued your own work better than what I was probably going to critique . But to go along with you, it does make it more "living" as like as if it was a pulse within you when you have that relaxed, mellow feeling.
The only thing I will complain about and its similar to the review below me is the ending. There's nothing really wrong with it except it just kinda sounded weird to me when I first listened to it. Maybe its just my computer. However, the fading does make it nice for it to loop again and sound good.
So all & all, I say this is a really good, relaxing song. Great job. :)
johnfn responds:
> you've critiqued your own work better than what I was probably going to critique
hahaha. I am quite self critical I suppose. It stops me from stagnating though I guess... (except that I did just write 10 chiptune songs in a row so maybe not..?)
> living
Yeah... I really enjoyed this, especially because most electronic music sounds really robotic and mechanical. My music kinda still has that with the 4/4 beat, but I also intended for it to have some human elements in it with the reverbed stuff and sidechained synths and whatever.
> ending
Lol yup. Welcome to my time honored tradition of trolling people with my endings. :D Heck, sometimes I even troll people with the endings of my