etherealwinds's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Kalafina - Alleluia (Cover with Kanade Lacus)]

Ooh, rare to see Kalafina music on here. Good taste, and very welcome. I've been listening to Kalafina and Kajiura's music for a good many years and covered some myself back in the day :)

Onto the review! The performance is the piano is beautiful. It's gently and emotionally played. Kanade's voice is also very nice. A lovely tone and ear for harmonies which obviously lends itself well to a Kalafina song. This song would benefit from better mixing I think. While your piano is an accompaniment to a singer, it could be mixed in a way that allows the piano and the vocals to shine equally. I think the piano could afford to be a bit louder so that it really packs a punch. Your beautiful performance is often covered by the thick layer of voice.

Which, moving on to the vocals, they're really in need of some reverb! Kalafina songs always have this lush, almost cathedral-like reverb that makes the harmonies sound so powerfully rich and gorgeous. The reverb softens the vocals a lot and will give this an otherwordly sound. I also think the piano could benefit from a thicker reverb too. I think there's a lot of space in the mix.

I really hope you don't mind, but I've downloaded the song and just mastered it a little, put a bit of reverb on, just to hear how it would sound if the mix wasn't so dry. Ideally I wouldn't just throw a reverb onto a whole track, as it can get a bit muddy, but I think it does a lot for the track, personally. She has a very Kalafina-like voice that just suits itself really nicely to a thick reverb.

You can listen to that here: https://www.mediafire.com/file/fqu9vcyp15u73zu/Allelujia%20with%20Reverb%20-%20Jabicho%20+%20Kanade%20Lacus.mp3

I hope my review doesn't come across negatively. This is one of those few times that I feel that my own musical background and experience in working on a lot of this type of music can actually be of some benefit. I had a listen to some of your other collaborations too! THOSE STRINGS. You guys seem to be having a lot of fun and you guys collaborate beautifully. You've both earned a new fan :)

Jabicho responds:

Hi etherealwinds! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this awesome review, it means a lot. And thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate it :D
That remastered version is amazing!!!! Is it okay if I uploaded that one too? Thanks for making it, I lvoe how the rever sounds there.

Yayy, thanks! We have a lot of fun making those songs, I'm happy you like them too :D

[Once Upon a Time]

Really interesting instrumentation here. I like the fusion. This is really great but you've certainly improved in the last year even! I love me a key change, so I'm glad you make good use of them in your tracks, often :)

Miyolophone responds:

Oh man, is this a blast from the past :P
And key changes make everything better, don't they?

[Market Day (KindLing A0S1)]

Damn that part at 2:05 was so good. There's a lot that I can learn from your approach to your own music that would help me in mine. That subtle keydrop at 2:31 that is almost unnoticeable was a really nice touch too. The guitar could do with sounding a little more humanised. The velocity of the notes all seems a bit too even. The music box sample is really nice. The violin... viola??? could do with being a lot more humanised too. :) I love your composition style though. Something really special about your work.

Miyolophone responds:

Yeah, totally agree about the humanization on this one... I need to do some revisions but I keep forgetting. Glad you enjoyed though!

[astrEnfant]

Your attention to detail really adds a lot to your work. Those subtle reverses are an eargasm. Really enjoyed the seciont at 1:28. Is that a dizi flute vst? Sounds super nice. Really nice melodies throughout the track! Your mixing is bright and everything sits in the mix very clearly. That part at 3:07 was great too. And at 3:17. And all of it. Just keep doing what you're doing.

Miyolophone responds:

Thanks Jordi! The flute (shakuhachi, technically) is just from the Kontakt factory library and when I stumbled on it I knew I'd have to work it in somehow...

[Mandragora]

I'm not aware of M2U or Nicode or anything ...oops. But this was thoroughly enjoyable!

Miyolophone responds:

Thank you! You should totally check them out haha they're amazing

[It Will Blow Over]

Thanks, I thought I was alone for a while!
That part at 2:42 is so damn satisfying to listen to. As usual, really catchy track. I think the mix sounds a bit underwhelming for the most part. The string/pads doesn't really shine through too much in my opinion, and the track could do with some more bass to really flesh it all out. I feel that the percussion could pack a bit more of a punch too. I like that you mentioned 'Christmas' in your genre because the bells were transporting me to December. Hope you go back to this track because it's really good! :)

McGorilla42 responds:

Thanks for the comment, Jordi

Yeah, I feel like the success of this rested largely on the mix because it isn't a hugely impressive track when it comes to the composition, and it falls short in that regard on a few fronts. Again, I'd rather not point out what I feel is wrong where everyone can read it but I think you can probably tell from what you wrote ;) Also, no lyrics RIP.

[A Simple Composition]

So damn beautiful.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you, as are you <3

[An Fáinne Nua (The New Ring)]

Very relaxing. :)

frootza responds:

That was the idea :P I wonder where that sweet harp came from? :thinking:

[The Horror of Self]

Thank you for this. I've not heard of Hildegard von Bingen, but she sounds fascinating. Research time!

[Colour in Greyness]

I'm glad you are the sixteenth submission this round. Well deserved I think! I can tell you worked hard on this track and it was a pleasure to listen to.

Adjeye responds:

I am still kind of curious to what Phonometrologist would have made if he didn't pass the opportunity over to me. I am glad you liked it tho!