Simple, short intro. I think you could’ve done a better job at leading into the part at :03 a little more. That said, the sound design and bassy texture are huge pluses. Sound design is so smooth and calming, and the rhythmic elements of the piece are quite strong as well. I thought the bell-like high-pitched synth (:19 and other places) might’ve needed a bit more polish to reign in some of the high-pitched tones. The transition at :52 could’ve been stronger, especially since the piece changes quite a bit harmonically at that point. The minimalism drags on for a bit too long before developing much, and then you return right back to the soothing, atmospheric texture of before. I’m a little confused about the directionality of this piece, and I also would’ve liked to hear some more prominent melodic content at some point. There also seems to be one peculiar note at 2:03 (high-pitched, staccato) that seems a bit out-of-place. It happens again at 2:22. I guess I’d say that I want to see a little more shape in your piece. The sound design, texture, and atmosphere are all great here, but the composition feels very stale and directionless. I’d encourage you to use more automations across phrases, create some dynamic contrast, and craft your transitions a little more carefully. Spots like 2:24 can feel quite jarring when you suddenly change from one mood to the other. I also noticed that the open hats at 2:40 (and other places) seemed to have an oscillating cycle of velocities, which I thought was a creative and rather unconventional choice that comes across quite well overall. In general, the mix is pretty well-balanced and clear. Most of my complaints here are grounded in the underwhelming composition, but most other parameters of the piece are quite strong. I love the smooth bass in particular. Keep at it, Alyctro!
Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10