I like the haunting atmosphere at the beginning - it’s very tranquil and full of a sense of wonder. The reverb on the drums at :50 is very heavy - it’s almost like the drums are contributing more to the atmosphere than the synths. Also, the mix is rather quiet. Perhaps a bit more compression would be advisable.
The piece is a little slow to progress for the first couple of minutes, but I like the tempo automations going into 1:50. The hard-hitting mid-range bass offers a nice contrast to the earlier atmospheric content, although the mixing could be a bit better balanced here. I wanted to hear more of the ghostly pads and maybe a tad less of the drums. The filtering at 2:56 is pretty cool, and the minimal breakdown at 3:04 is good for some variety.
Overall, the arrangement here feels a little formulaic, though, with regular changes in the texture every 8 or 16 bars, but not a lot of ebb and flow with the phrases themselves. Still, I like the grouchy bridge at 3:50 and the return to the regal-sounding atmosphere at 4:35. Really makes the piece come full-circle. That said, the very end could’ve been a tad more creative than a fade-out.
Overall, there are a lot of great ideas here, from bookending the gritty beats with atmospheric beauty to the rhythmic content of the beats themselves. That said, the entire piece feels a bit slow-paced and repetitive, with a pretty generic harmonic framework, arrangement, and sound design. A richer texture and a bit of a clean-up of the mix in some places would really take this piece to the next level. Still, as it is I’m enjoying the melodies, atmospheric elements, and progression a lot. Keep at it, MrSpud! ^_^
Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10