Nice work dude, I like it. 👏👍

(disclaimer: AIM judge review here! these are just my opinions and thoughts, you can take from them whatever you like! music is subjective and all that. <3)

this one takes some interesting turns and developments, but as a whole track i really enjoy it! it's maybe bordering on not being cohesive, but there's enough underpinning it (like the bass groove later on) that it kind of relates back to the earlier stuff. i would've loved to hear those two sections intertwine with one another a little more though; like that progression at 0:50 is immensely catchy and fun and you could've leaned into that even harder as a chorus type situation. i love all these parts individually a lot - the goofy synths have a ton of character, it's such a fun and carefree song.

with respect to the artwork you chose, i am 100% picking up the "big bustling city" vibe, no doubt. i sense that's what you focused on with your track and that's great as a first line of attack. i'd sort of expect the poppy upbeat mood from a more cheerful, people-centric picture though - blue skies, friends running around, people eating snacks, families smiling, etc etc. what i see in this image beyond 'city' is... an awful lot of industry, machinery, hazy polluted skies, and some interestingly diverse architecture. while i don't think you missed the mark entirely or anything, i do feel like there's a lot of depth there that could've been plundered. maybe the energetic and goofy moods would fit better if i thought about this city as the setting for a story centered around some rambunctious kids or something like that. with all that said though - i enjoyed the song very much : )

AIM 2023 Judge Review

The instrument used for the chords has this carnival-esque feeling to it. As soon as the bassline enters, the composition manages to balance a jovial liveliness with a sense of being grounded and down-to-earth. I think that combination works most effectively at the start, especially with that repeating idea from 0:08 to 0:24. This balance seems like a tricky feat to achieve, but I think that particular chord progression and sound design is what feels the most like it conveys the liveliness of the cityscape with an undertone of the machine-work.

Once the section at 1:41 begins, it feels like the track veers too much into the carnival side of its tone and I think that throws the balance of how the image is being reflected. This is especially evident in at 2:40, where it feels like the ideas become more chaotic with the extra vocal sounds of laughter and the super echoey conclusion. I wasn't really convinced that the second half connects that well with the art or even the sections leading up to this entire part.

Overall, I think the approach to the composition and sound design were very interesting and not what I would expect in drawing inspiration from the art. However, I think the melodic ideas at the start with the chords and bassline do a great job at capturing the city as an upbeat and energetic unit.

That damn snare is a treat

i love all of it, but the outro with the laughing and stuff...is wonderful. not sure how else to put it, it's just so eerie but comfy? idk i'm crazy