DonDonPan's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Basement Backdoor]

The panning is great, I love how not every note is on-note, it adds a lot of character. I think the bass could have some of the effects that the other instruments have, because it sticks out a bit, but it's not really anything terrible, just a slight issue I have. Other than that, I think the melody is great, and I could definitely see it be played in a dungeon of sorts, or maybe a cutscene in a video game.

[see you in heaven]

I hope you bare well, even though your friend might not be with you. I must say, I absolutely love the chords in here, they kind of remind me of the Wistful Ranch theme from Slime Rancher at times. That game is overall full of amazing songs, and even though most likely not intentional, I find it kind of charming in a way. The way it is put together also works really well, It really does sound like something you'd hear while saying goodbyes. I do not want to go too deep, since like you said it isn't anything that's supposed to be amazing, but I still would definitely listen to it in the future quality wise.

[J-E-N-O-V-A [Cover]]

Sorry for the late review, I already listened to the piece beforehands I just didn't really have the time to write it. I personally don't know much about FFVII or even any of the FF games, but I must say I really like what I hear. I think it's mixed about right and it sounds like a battle theme. I might not be getting the full experience because of me not playing the original game, but I still do like what I hear.

[LIFE IS A GLITCH]

It's really cool to see your stuff being frontpaged, kind of a shame your last thing wasn't, but I guess you win some you loose some. The double hit on the first beat of a bar was a great idea. I really like the electronic glitchy vibe you went for. The main part of the thing is very fun and out there. If I had to compare it to anything i'd probably choose "Rinse The Raindrops", but much more advanced. You nailed the atmosphere here. I really like the melody of the sine, and they key change right after it. Your structuring of songs is great and quite original. I'm happy to see you return, I just do not fully understand what you meant when you meant that you would be seen on other social medias if you're still here, not like I'm complaining, I'm just curious.

Scareev responds:

Heyaaa hello again!! I'm glad you enjoyed this one too, since it had some insane work behind it, like dance of fantasy xd, and the part you said about the structure, this made my day, i always try to make different patterns for a music buildup, and when someone points out this detail, it's like getting my work recognized with sucess :D!!!

Btw, this thing about other social medias, it's kinda complicated nowadays since i'm focusing 100% of my time for studying, but when i use the medias, it's always bandcamp or soundcloud, but since i'm not getting online often, it's kinda rare being active online :(((

[Where there is darkness there is light]

This definitely feels like an entrance to something much bigger in scope, but it could be also a tune for when you're trying to understand what happened. I find it kind of funny how a piece can both work as an entrance and an ending to something. The samples are very nice and it's a pleasant experience to listen to. I like the effects you put on the piano. It kind of sounds like a C418 composition near the middle. Not much to say about the end, it's definitely well done.

[Computer's Lullaby]

Computer's Lullaby as a name makes me immediately think of "Bicycle Built For Two" / "Daisy Bell". Space Oddysey 2001 sure got stuck in my mind. I know this is gonna be kind of off topic, but actually that movie along with Omori made me experiment so much, just because of how much I loved what they stood for, and how they achieved those things, making me experiment as much as I could with my next song, putting what the composition is meant to represent rather than if it's good, because of which I made both some of my best (and my worst) compositions (like my second half of jamuary compositions making up a bigger medley just because I screw up on one of the former ones). Excluding my unreasonably long vent (which I hope you don't mind, if you do I'll remember for the next time), I like the slower start to the composition. It kind of reminds me of the title screen to ocarina of time. I really love what you did with the electric guitar. The overall mood of the thing really fits as the ending just like how you said. The structure is very nice, it isn't anything too jawdropping, but that's not a bad thing at all here. I'm a big fan of what you did here, the mixing and production are on the spot, and it's just a very nice experience to go through the whole thing.

GlaceonDash responds:

Knew I had mostly gotten it in JAMuary (there was literally no changes in mixing from jamuary)! Also upon reading your vent I can't quite grasp it but I do feel the trash part of experimentation...

[Y]

Coming right after Z, I can definitely say it feels like a continuation. If you ever end up doing X or even W, I think it'd be a great idea to put them all in an EP, or if you have no plans of that, just doing a single release with the too you have. The beginning of the piece sounds like of a fairy tale, totally out there, in a good way. Then it gets right into action, I love the sudden change in mood, it's done perfectly to catch off the listener. I am also all for the continuation of the motif that started out the whole thing. I really like the effects near 1:53, but I do not think they fit there, it sounds more like something you'd do at the end rather than it the middle. I could see some people enjoying the way it is, but I believe that after the first two minutes a lot of work would be required to put the thing together in a nice way. Don't get me wrong, there are things I reall like about the second part, like the drums, but most of it just falls off short because of the 40 second long section in the middle, and a lack of change in other instruments that aren't drums. Once again the piano ending is great, even better than in the prequel. Once again, most of the thing I really like, but the 20% of stuff that doesn't make it work, kind of ruins the overall experience from what could be very enjoyable. I don't want to come off as too negative, so if you have any problems with the way this was written then let me know.

GlaceonDash responds:

Unfortunately most of what you said is true. I tend to have a pretty bad issue with sound in parts, and wanted to change but didn't know how. Glad to see some improvements over Z though!

1:53 was a risk that flopped this time around, in hindsight I should have cut that filter until the second drop.

[Z]

I'm coming here because you said it's a prequel to the Y. I won't go into too much of a detail since this is pretty old, but I'm all in for the vibe, structure and samples this one uses. The structure especially along with the melody is just top notch. I'm excited to see how Y continues to build on top of this. I feel like 1:58 (the middle part) is done well so no worries there. I also know a thing about "buildup hell", there's a song I have already got ready for the second album of mine that is just 8 minutes of build up, because I wanted the whole peace to be in the chord of F major. I really like the solo in the last two minutes, it fits the rest of the song very well. The piano at the end also is just great.

GlaceonDash responds:

Literally the only solution I could find to the buildup hell was just reusing the first section but making the instrument stronger, surprisingly effective!

[Action]

The synths sound very interesting, and the panning on them allows for a very nice entry. The acid synth and it's melody are very playful, and I believe you used it rather nicely. The other instrument in the background, especially in the chorus gives the whole track much more vibrancy. I like how the second time the main melody comes in it isn't the same thing copy and pasted and that there's some actual change. The bridge between section A and C (around 2 minutes in) also is done seamlessly, and section C itself works as a sort of solo vibe, where the second plan instrument shines. I'm not usually a big fan of house, but along with the great drums, it's just a real joy to listen to.

GlaceonDash responds:

I have a small issue with when I make an instrument from scratch, I go overboard on stereo!

Also me neither, I'm not a fan of house either.

[Intermission]

First off, I'm a big fan of the whistle and the piano, it gives the whole track such a unique vibe. Like you're about to leave the city and go into the place you actually came here for. I definitely would change the sample on the brass that's playing the melody, because it seems to be a bit off from the rest of the instruments. Maybe you could try some marimbas or vibraphones, I think these would work perfectly. Overall there's a lot of potential in this one, and I do not mind the shorter length. It's mixed well.

GlaceonDash responds:

Unfortunate that the brass doesn't fit, just can't quite seem to get it right it seems!