DavidOrr's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Piano Piece OP #1]

Very interesting

Had a modern feel with the intonalitied, but still felt harmonically stable in places.

I'm going to have to agree with WinTang on this one and say I liked the high note (sorry Rucklo). I've always like repetitive notes like that, as long as the music is developing around the note, and not just repeating.

Great job!

5/5

orange-peel responds:

Thanks for the review, I never properly finished this track, i had great plans for it but i lost my way.
Thanks for the comments.

[~|Affectionate Moment|~]

Nice job!

Very calming piece! Watch out for clashing notes, they creep in here and there, but aren't too much of an issue.

I would recommend adding a little diversity to your instrument choice. It gets a little boring with just strings. Add in a flute, a harp, some woodwinds other than the flute, even some brass.

Are you going to release your game on newgrounds? What language are you using?

5/5

Klace responds:

It's Not a Flash Game so I won't be releasing it On Newgrounds.
Nor am I using any Language.
I'm using RPG Maker XP.
I'm Glad you liked the Piece!
Well I am gonna take your advice and add some more instruments in next time, But I sorta think this sounds good the way it is.

[Cloud 9.1b]

Great work!

You've got such a diversity in styles, it really shows that you have a talent for music. It is much easier to make good music in one specific genre, but when you are able to write good music in a variety of types, it really shows the making of a well rounded musician.

I really need to get aruond to checking out more of your stuff!

5/5

dj-padman1 responds:

Thanks mate, sometimes I worry I'm spreading myself a bit thin, but I can't help myself!
Review much appreciated ;)

[Mazurka in E minor (1:15)]

I loved the chordal structure

This sounded like it had a Beethoven influence to it also.

Here is where I think it could improve. Well for one, it sounded very midi, which, although does not effect the music in a structural way, detracted from the overall performance. Since you can play the piano well enough to play this without too much difficulty, I would suggest playing this and recording it on a real piano, or using a nicer VST to play it. That may be out of your control, however.

A Mazurka is a (polish) dance. I was pleased to hear that you accented the 2nd beat of each measure (I hear people accent the first beat when performing Mazurkas sometimes, which isn't correct). You have to keep in mind that Mazurkas are traditionally lively, though. I can't picture many people actually dancing to this, although I love the chordal structure of it. I suggest speeding the tempo up slightly, and rethinking your first section. Although I liked the tonal instability at the beginning, I don't think it is a good way to begin a Mazurka.

Listen to the Mazurka in Bb by Chopin for an example of a very lively Mazurka, but with a tonally unstable C section.

Remember, all of these are my own opinion and others may disagree with me. But if this was my piece, I would aim for a more 'traditional' (if that is what you would call it) Mazurka.

Very good work though, I am impressed by many aspects of this piece!

5/5

WinTang responds:

Thanks a lot! As I suspected, a very interesting review.

You're correct on the MIDI-ish sound, I need to spend more time on conceiling that next time... I can technically play this but the left hand provides quite a few difficulties for me, so I decided to try sequencing it in a natural way, which I learned a lot from.
I'm currently using the Edirol Grand Piano (and Hyper Canvas on the Notturno). I'll have the Garritan Jazz Orchestra soon, and according to Simon_F its Steinway is extremely nice, so hopefully that'll help.

Funnily enough, the rest of your remarks describe exactly what I was aiming for. I purposely limited the "dancability" to the middle part and give the natural liveliness of the pattern (dotted eighth, sixteenth, quarter, quarter) a desolate aftertaste.
In fact, only the fortissimo part with the heavy bass is really tonally stable :)

Which is not to say that all those choices were right. Your points were all very valid and will definitely be taken into consideration when I decide to make a new one.

Thanks again!

[Names]

Great feel

I loved the feel of this piece, the drums complimented the piano very well, the really accented the sorrowful mood of the piece.

Unfortunately, the piano wasn't at a very high quality compared to everything else, but it still was well written and didn't detract much from the overall piece. The guitar was a nice addition, although the voices behind it were very difficult to understand.

All in all, excellent work!

5/5

Love-Hate-War responds:

Heh, thanks. That's such a compliment from such a great artist as yourself :D

[_-/| A moments Peace]

Wow

This sounds more polished than your previous work. I see you enjoy using the tambourine, you included it in your last piece. I would suggest softening it a bit, but that is only a suggestion, as others may like it as loud as it is.

The animal sounds gave it a really calming sound. I could see this being at the beginning of an epic movie (such as Lord of the Rings). Watch out for clashing harmonies, a few creeped into your pieces.

Again, I would suggest having more underlying long tones in the basses (and in this piece, the upper register too). It would give the piece much more body and a firmer foundation. Be sure to keep them quiet though. I could picture a really high violin motif accent the piece in times.

Great work, once again. Can't wait to hear more from you!

5/5

MaestroSegments responds:

Thank you David, you will be hearing plenty of me I hope.

Clashing harmonies eh... its a very high possibility, i'm lousy at catching these things, getting better, but some still pass me by.

Thanks for your advice David, i'll be sure to consider them, see what it does for upcoming pieces ^^.

Thanks again for the review.

[_-/| Solemn Voices]

very well done

Your stuff reminds me of MaestroSorrow and Milkman an a bit, it's probably the drumming. I would suggest you write in more parts in the basses, sometimes the piece felt like it was lacking a solid bass. Some pizzcato in the double bass could really sound neat in places, like people are tiptoeing around.

Your music fit your description nicely, I could certainly see ghosts creeping along in a graveyard, or something along those lines. Great work!

5/5

MaestroSegments responds:

Thank you DavidOrr, I'm glad you enjoyed the piece ^^, I sure as hell enjoyed writing it.

I'll see what I can do about that bass aspect. Thanks for the review

[Blink of an Eye--_--(1:00)]

Great Job once again

Another great piece (or great start, anyway). I would suggest different notes when the pedaling bassline comes in. I generally like to use the 1 of every chord, it helps give the piece stability and solidifies the chordal structure.

So, instead of mainly pedaling E, start off with A, and then go to F and G (replace E with A). I think that would really improve the piece, although a simple chage. It's all in one's tastes though, so what I may like you may not, and vice versa. Do whatever you hear. It is your piece, after all :).

This could be a nice little trancey work if finished. You could really develop the melody if you wanted to, you gave yourself a lot to work with.

Keep it up, and hang in there!

5/5

PERVOK responds:

Thanks man for the encouraging review. You know, I just think that I'll tinker with this song... lets see how long I can make it! >:D

I'll try to break my previous record of 12 minutes. Man, that song was amazing.
Well, my brother told me that. I just thought it was like one of my normal songs, just 12 minutes long.

LETS BREAK SOME FUCKING RECORDS HERE >:D

[The Attic--_--(2:11)]

Great job!

Hey there Zenon, it's been a while since I checked out your stuff. Glad I did though, you've gotten a lot better since I last checked you out.

The piece built up very well, and kept my interest. You kept layering on new parts, which kept it fresh. And that's saying something, too many electronic songs are the same thing over and over again.

Great job, see you on the forums (eventually)!

5/5

I'm gonna go ahaid and 5 some of your stuff, some of your scores are a little low.

PERVOK responds:

Thank you for the review... really man, you have no idea how much I fucking appreciate every review I get right now. I appreciate this one even more so...

I'm trying to stay intact with enwgrounds anyway I can, since I can't go on the forums for another.

19.

days.

>:U!!1!!!1!!!!!1!!!!!

I have lost the will to write good reviews, so chances are you won't get one in return other than if I grow another soul.

Thank for the review. I love you.

[>==Moonlight Sonata==<]

wow

This sounded great, very erie. I never knew that this piece would shine on guitar as much as it does on piano! Also, I loved the little background choirs and sound, they really supliment the whole piece.

Great job, this is an awsome display of your other side. I look forward to hearing more stuff form you!

5/5

rocker206 responds:

Hey thanks! I'm glad you liked it.