I like the peaceful mood at the beginning, even if the string samples sound a bit inauthentic given the uniform vibrato and such. I like the addition of the bass at :27; it really helps fill out the texture. There’s a good sense of build starting at :51, too. The drum samples, especially the snare, are a little generic, and the piece is pretty over-compressed. The climax at 1:18 sounds really full and rich, but not quite as energetic as I was anticipating given the build-up. The mid-range bass at 1:42 is a nice touch, and I like the emotional appeal of the strings here overall. The breakdown at 2:08 is nice, and the piano arpeggios in the background add a somber tone to the string drone. The build-up at 2:33 sounds very similar to the other one, and I think the punchy pads at 2:59 clash a bit with the overall relaxed vibe of the strings. I think the string melodies are also due for a little more variety towards the end of this piece. The emotional appeal of the outro was a nice touch, although I think the transition into it was pretty abrupt. Overall, I think the composition and atmosphere are really strong, but there’s room for a little more balance and blending in the mix and originality in the arrangement and progression. Keep at it, Serfab! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

i really like this, in some parts the sidechain just sounds a bit weird to me