I like the gentle tone of the beginning and bird samples. The piece has a bit of a square rhythm, and for much of the first minute or so the chords are what’s giving the piece its drive. I did enjoy the melodies that became prominent at around :30, though. The piece was very flowing, yet also had a dull sense of continuity that needed some more structural variety. I think the percussion at 1:25 sounded a bit indistinct. It could be that you need to tone down the wet reverb, or otherwise give in a little breathing room in the equalizer at some middle frequencies. I enjoyed the sense of climax into 1:58, although 2:28 was the real emotional height here. I think 2:28 reveals further mixing problems. The low percussion sound really muddy and distorted. I think part of the problem is that you need to equalize the other instruments of this piece more carefully, particularly removing the low frequencies on strings and melody instruments. This piece comes together pretty nicely composition-wise, although I’m still not a fan of the lack of change in energy and dynamics during the first half of the piece. You did a good job with the melodic content here, and I admire your sense of harmony and progression. Keep at it, Abendland! ;)

7.75/10