Wow, this is quite a complex and polished song. There are small details to be found everywhere. This is a nice feat considering the length!
The atmosphere here is excellent. It becomes better as the song progresses, and there’s always something interesting going on in the background. Thanks to all the various effects, fx, and changing instrumentation, the song retains my interest for the entire duration.
So I like the orchestral elements of the track from a compositional perspective, but the sounddesign is lackluster. In particular, the percussion and violin sound muted and lifeless. I don’t necessarily expect vibrant instrumentation during a quieter part of the track, but I desire higher quality and more expression. The pads and other ambient sounds during these parts sound flat themselves, but they layer nicely.
I like the electronic sound design very much, except for some minor things here and there. For instance, the piano sounds slightly too bright.
Awesome transition around the 4:30 mark; that was brilliant execution!
I found the drops to be extremely underwhelming, especially considering the long wait times. I think one problem that arises with this kind of hybrid is that one may expect vastly different emotional expression and development from both genres, and that can make it difficult to sate one’s expectations after a genre shift. With that said, the drops as standalone music sound pretty good.
The arrangement is not bad per se, but for me, the lack of a satisfying drop detracts from the overall experience. I think the intro is solid; however, the ending, although well-executed, seems premature. I expected the song to return to its roots.
Despite all my negative thoughts, because of how complex this song is, it’s hard to have a negative impression of it. There are many minor yet likable elements that add up :)
