Holyshit. This is fucking awesome. SO AMAZING. You never stop to impress your audience. You just go full symphonic!!!!! I can't describe the emotion when listening to this track. Totally unpredictable of the structure and arrangement. When that guitar came i was having goosebumps all over. Top track? TOP TRACK!
:O i clearly see who's the winner here. congrats my friend!
Oh it's fun when I can get you to curse. I've always appreciated your sincere, lighthearted comments. I forget where I read this but winning is overrated. It's one's character that counts and the journey that makes it worthwhile. All that is worth remembering are the people involved in such a contest. Thank you, my friend.
This is a masterpiece. You really have a talent for music and I'm so happy that it's appreciated so much. Listening to this piece takes me on an incredible journey but keeps me in suspense the whole time. It develops gorgeously. For some reason, it reminds me of 'Kingdom of Burmecia' from Final Fantasy 9 a whole lot in terms of the chord progression. Especially the middle to late section. If you don't know the track, have a listen!
Keep up the amaaaaazing work!
Your comments really are touching, and for that it doesn't matter the outcome. It has been worthwhile merely because of the feedback. I wasn't familiar with "Kingdom of Burmecia" but I listened to it out of respect. I really enjoy the chord progression, and it's something that is close to what I hear in music. It has a poignant tone that makes me yearn and dream for what is lost, and gives me a hope of what is to come. Sort of thing make me too philosophical. Anyway, I'll share, in return, what inspired me to write the middle section and that is Max Richter's "The Trees." You should make some time to listen to it if you enjoy that sort of wavelength.
WHAT
this is just incredible Phono
so many flavours flawlessly put together
it's conveying intense emotions in an exquisite way
love the electronic elements/instruments, mostly the arp that accompanies the guitar solo. i think the guitar there gets a bit overshadowed by the synth that remains on the foreground which is the only thing i'm unsure whether it was intentional
my favourite part has to be the transition between Part II and Part III. Also, the latter adds a sort of sweet spice that stays present in the entire composition when you relisten
Amazing.
I appreciate the kind words, and if you sincerely enjoy it that's all that matters to me. You've pushed me to write such a piece so it wouldn't have existed without you to some degree. In regards to the synth being in the forefront during some parts of the guitar solo, you would be right in general, but it was merely a thing I felt was needed as I was mixing. I didn't think having the guitar solo in front of the mix and treated like a vocal part really worked in this occasion. I was hearing it and really wanted more cowbell... err synths. I'll give an example: at 5:01, the stacked guitar part really is simple. The melodic contour is just going down in steps by fourths: C-G, Bflat-F. Really nothing too interesting, but it is the progression that highlights the guitar because as the guitar plays those 4 notes, the synth makes those notes into the thirds as opposed to what one would hear to be roots without the context. Subtle, but the point I’m trying to make is that it's what I was wanting to hear in the mix. I appreciate the review and the time you took to writing it!
I like the dreamy strings and atmosphere at the beginning. The pause at :15 actually worked pretty well (usually I don’t like transitions that disrupt the flow of a piece). The melodies at :28 were beautiful. Excellent pacing and atmosphere throughout. The production quality is also really impressive. Glad I inspired the “lack of continuity” here so-to-speak - not exactly what I meant, but this piece is still rather impressive. I would’ve liked to see you wear down the first movement a little more - it just didn’t have quite as much shape at the end as I would’ve liked. The second movement is beautiful in its own way. The mood is just engrossing, and I love the synthetic elements that bleed in at around 3:30. Another surprise in the instrumentation at 4:28, but wow those melodies are beautiful. I appreciated how the 2nd movement flowed a bit better into the 3rd, even if the climax at 5:58 didn’t quite reach the level of energy at 5:59 on its own (is that hypocritical, given my request for breaks in continuity? Maybe…) I also thought the very ending was a little underwhelming and came on too suddenly. Overall, amazing work, of course. You’ve taken some huge risks here with the composition and sound design, and they paid off very well. Instant favorite and DL. I was thoroughly entertained throughout these 7 minutes. You being paired up with Garlagan was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. XD Keep up the great work, Phono! ;)
9.5/10
Hey TL, I appreciate the thorough review. I don't disagree with any of it as the points you make are well-taken. This has given me ideas for what to do in the future, so thank you.
A very thoughtful, inspired piece. You're quite talented at portraying emotions and textures. This is coming very near the ten mark for me, and I really have no useful critique to offer.
Oh, it took me a while to figure out who you were due to the name change. I'm just glad people enjoy it, and thank you for letting me know.