Solacitude's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Survive the Night]

Very nice and well developed themes! The spookiness is very well represented in each section, maybe as you said other than this little skeletons part "Screw the horror element, I wanted to make something cute!" I imagined these skeletons with sombrero dancing happily. It's still spooky enough for Halloween I think :) Hats off to you, it must've been a lot of time and efforts put into this project! The result is high quality production that is easy to listen until the end, even with a 17 minutes piece! Which is quite remarkable itself. I really enjoy the more calm sections, it's very welcome element of contrast that helps stay hooked throughout.

Tangerine responds:

Thank you! This was quite a different challenge for me because I had to focus on quantity over quality. A challenge of how many different variations I could create in a month. I might try it again next year to see how my efficiency has improved :)

[It Takes Two]

I was going through your old stuff, this one I love the ambiance you went for! Introspective, mysterious vibes. Only 2 hours, you were probably "in the zone" for the whole time! Quite a nice inspiration! I feel like 2018 is a year you reached a new level in your composition skills.

Everratic responds:

I'm glad you enjoy it!

I agree, my composition skills skyrocketed in 2018, which coincides with when I switched to orchestral music. I entered small competitions every month from 2017 to 2018, so I was constantly motivated to get better.

Thanks for checking out my older stuff!

[Not a Lone Battle]

I'm sure your odds wouldn't be less no matter what you went for. You have more than enough material to show that you are a very good composer, and pianist. My fear was that you go for piano too ^^

Your capabilities as composer are once again very well displayed in this piece! Would surely fit in a video game's boss fight! It's very well designed, from the beginning I imagine the boss presentation, then it settles for an epic fighting scene. The end, it gave me instant flash of inspector gadget theme! Nicely done, the music is very evocative of the theme you went for.
Good luck for the NGADM, no matter what happens the journey was worth it!

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you for saying such nice things! I definitely wanted to spice things up a notch. On top of that, I feel like I haven't uploaded enough orchestral works on Newgrounds recently. That said, the piano is always calling to me, hahha :D

It's really fun to hear you describe your interpretation! I would like to think that playing so many games in my life has given me some insight into this genre of music, whilst I always aim to bring some originality as well :)

Omg, I love the Inspector Gadget theme! I used to watch the cartoon all the time as a kid :p
I'm flattered by the comparison xD

Indeed, good luck to you too! What a fun round ^____^

[As Screaming Shadows Consume Us]

If I'd be making a horror game or movie you would be the first person I'd ask for collaboration!
Atonal music, it's so unsettling, chaotic but it has something extremely interesting!
You are mastering this art in a masterful way, I'm amazed by some of your creations!

[Necroswamp Abomination]

I like your style! I really enjoy especially your orchestral productions! It's very intense, full of suspense, relentlessly epic like we don't hear often. The voice makes it sound like entering the gates of Hell! War comes to mind pretty evocatively!

[A Silent Mist]

This is simply beautiful! Words sometimes couldn't explain the feelings evoked by a song or a piece, I think it's testament of high level of musicality that I find in this one. It brought a tear to my eyes, and filled my heart with warm feeling. It's a sad and nostalgic song, but it also evokes the feeling of being missed, being appreciated no matter the hardship, the distance. There is this "equivocal" feeling in nostalgic thoughts. It's like sadness charged with positive emotions. I feel it strongly in this song. Both music and lyrics evoke nostalgia, it makes it that much more powerful.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Why thank you, Solacitude! You write such beautiful compositions that it means a lot to hear this piece made you feel emotional <3

[Voyage by Starlight]

I really like this approach as well, especially when inspiration is lacking.
Starting very simple and limiting choices helps focusing on musicality.
Then make it evolve while keeping the essence of the original theme.
You're very good at orchestrating your ideas and making coherent evolutions of those themes!

HollandAlbright responds:

Thanks so much! It became a good exercise in arranging a theme in different ways. Simplicity can really help with creativity sometimes, and agree re limiting choices. :)

[Serenity]

Quite chill, and quite sad. Simply beautiful, the vibe and all the perfect imperfections.

[The 3rd Piano's Dream]

I'm sure you get into a nice place when playing these pieces.
Your mind speaks through your music, I really like your style, simple and beautiful, emotionally engaging.

WouterPiano responds:

Yes i do, i hear music in my mind all the time. Hope to make more music! Thanks!

[Narrate]

Lovely piece!
I'm just discovering you, you got some quite nice compositions.
I love the way you use dynamic and play with tempo. Mix is clean. Simple and beautiful.

I would use more rubato between phrases in the first half, like at 30-31s, 50s leading to higher note, around 1:17. But it's really just a matter of personal taste. Piano is such a beautiful instrument! Have you been playing the piano for a long time? This piece has a an improvisational feel to it, quite nice choice of harmonies. You're very talented!

WouterPiano responds:

Thank you very much! I play piano from 4 years old and now im allmost 35. Allso done musical education and perform allmost weekly in my neighborhood. At home i play dayly. Its a real passion for me. Thanks for listening!!