etherealwinds's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Marriage Of Convenience]

The title of the song got me intrigued before I even opened the track to listen to it. Then from the first second, the cleanness of the mix drew me in immediately. The mix in general is really balanced and sounds very professional. The vocals feel very close to me and makes my ears stand to attention, which complements the genre and the lyrics perfectly. Speaking of which, you're clearly a very impressive lyric-writer. The vocals were also really impressive too! Such a badass guitar solo. A very solid track and I think you'll do well in the NGUAC. Regardless, I shall still wish you the best of luck :)

Mischa-head responds:

Thank you so much for the really kind feedback!

[Last Chance]

The way this song grows until those drum hits at 00:26 is wonderful. Phil Collins would be proud! I really enjoy the choir pads that come in at 1:22; your choice of harmonies is very heavenly and really adds to the piece. It was a pleasure to listen to, and I wish you all the best for this year's finals :]

[Estrella]

Star! I love that artwork. I feel like the music and art fit really well together. I'm really happy to get to listen to more new larrynachos music. Once again, I'm glad this track is getting the flowers it deserves. This would make a great DDR track. 2:06 is probably my favourite part, along with the outro actually! Your bass-work is really amazing in this track. Keep up the beautiful work and best of luck to you this round :)

[Kuebiko, Pt.1 [NGUAC '24 FINALS]]

Woah, that intro. Very pleasantly bold! As a listener, I'm not really so well versed in DnB, but it sounds as good as any other good DnB songs I've heard. Maybe it's a slight bit repetitive for me, but I feel like that could also be a feature of the genre, so that could just be down to personal taste. The change-up at 2:11 is really nice though, and that rhythm is really satisfying. Good luck in the NGUAC!

Kz-N responds:

thanks!!

[the city we dreamt]

Nice to hear your music kiiri! You really succeeded in building up a gorgeous atmosphere with this one. 0:27 gave me goosebumps. Love the reverses mixed into your vocals too, which really helps make an otherworldly atmosphere. Barely relevant to anything, but I can't say I've heard the word "cairn" used in a song, which was actually quite refreshing! You're a poet, and that also comes across in the subtler elements of your composing/arranging (that breath at 02:28, as an example). "Tis the path upon the stars we etched" is such a strong line. If I might say so, I'd really have loved to hear the track ring out at the end; I feel it's a slight shame the tail gets cut off at 3:18. With such a beautifully crafted atmosphere, I wanna bathe in some of that afterglow, y'know? This is one of my favourite submissions, and I'll look forward to hearing more of your music, for sure. Best of luck in the NGUAC finals!

kiiri responds:

you're too kind man, best of luck to you too

[VS. The Procrastination Demon]

ha, the title and concept of this track tickles me. It's a shame I didn't hear it sooner; perhaps it could have helped ward off my procrastination demon. This is really nice! If I can leave a bit of advice, and this is just my personal opinion... While I do enjoy a wide mix, I think it would be a bit even more balanced if you didn't neglect the centre of the track. Perhaps the bass and percussion would hit harder if they didn't feel so wide in the mix, but if you left the other more melodic elements widened instead. Aside from that, all of the musical elements in this track are super impressive and I REALLY liked the subtle speed-up around the climax. You succeeded in driving up the intensity. This is a really great track! Good luck in the finals :)

JorelSimpson responds:

Thanks for the criticism. Good luck to you as well.

[UK Dubstep Track (NGUAC Finals 2024 Entry)]

As a brit, this honestly reminds me of some of the underage parties I used to go to. I feel like I haven't heard dubstep in way too long, but it brings a sense of nostalgia to me when I used to hear it all the time between 2009-2012. Totally different from the type of music I make, but it definitely has its place :) Very satisfyingly mixed; you do this genre particularly well. I'd be really interested to hear how it sounds when there's the rap verses added! Good luck in this year's NGUAC finals!

JoeStasi responds:

Hi there thank you so much for your kind words. I'm very glad it gave you a feeling of nostalgia - that was exactly my aim!

[Petrichor - NGUAC]

This deserves all the love its gotten so far, plus much more. Your music is always such a pleasure to listen to, and your style is always very much up my alley, so to speak. My cup of tea! This is nothing short of excellent, as is your usual offering. Good luck in the finals this year :)

Irish-Soul responds:

Thanks so much for the glowing review!

[The Descent Of A Champion (NGUAC Finals Rank 23)]

You had me hooked from 0:00. This is giving me Final Fantasy V boss battle vibes and I'm here for it. I just read Nobuo Uematsu in your description as soon as I wrote that... so yeah, it definitely came across. I think this would definitely be to his tastes. My favourite part is 1:37, which actually makes me feel more Chrono Trigger feels, with a slight aura of airship theme. One of my favourite submissions this round! Best of luck in the NGUAC :D

Interloping responds:

On the contrary, I think this is my favorite comment that I have ever gotten. I try really hard with what I have, which is the basic version of FL studio. Just a piano roll, my brain power, and a lot of clicking/dragging.

Video game music has been one of the few things in my life that has made me truly feel amazing, inside and out. I want to convey the same bold, empowering emotions that I have felt from the greatest writers before me, who also happened to be using what they had available, with everything they've got.

I hope that you can find it within yourself to share this gift of music in your own form, and pass on the feeling of euphoria that I have felt from the moment I first heard my first song on Sonic 2 as a toddler.

Cheers, friend. I wish you all the best.

- Interloping

[Tortuga]

Short, perhaps, but very sweet. Your orchestration is actually very nice. This gives me some Pirate of the Caribbeans meets upscaled classic Runescape soundtrack. I only wish this were longer! You've earned a new follower in me :) Good luck Iglica in the NGUAC finals!