ZipZipper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Glitching]

Whoa...really cool! You seem to have quite a mastery at glitching here, albeit with a single purely electronic sound, which I guess is why you say it was experimental. This is definitely something I would like to hear more experimental exploration of. Next time a melody that changes more over time and drums not so cheesy hahahaha. Yeah, I wasn't a fan of the drum sounds, but the rhythms fit so strangely with what was going on for the moments they interluded that I loved it. Really nice quality mixing of the 8-bit as well. Overall, this sounds like a really cool experiment! I think you definitely succeeded in the glitch. Great work!

lantaren responds:

Awesome! That's the kinda feeling I was going for, and it was almost impossible to make more melody that would work lol, I hand-glitched most of it with the actual notes themselves, but I did make use of dBlue glitch as well, although only to really chop it all up and spit it back out. And I'm glad I succeeded. I thought it was kinda too glitchy, but seeing as you didn't think it was, I think I need to glitch the drums :P Idk. Anyways, thanks for listening.

Just to note, that first phrase was all done by hand on a squareish wave, completely unchanged. It was insane, and I think I have at least 2-4 fairly different melodies, they just happen to have the same central theme, of "I'm not glitched enough" lol

[Justification]

I feel it...yeah I can feel the emotion here. Very nice chord progression, cinematique. It has a nice concentrated flow that I can't say fluctuates that much, but the level it generally stays on I think is pleasant. Yes, I do agree the piano sounds good here, but everything sounds really bass-heavy...mixed with the lower registers in mind and not much light and airy. And of course, the moment I type that I hear an inclusion of a flute. But strange, the flute only occurs for that one little sting near the end. And the final chord you trail off on is really nice too. So musically, I think this is pretty cool, I'm not too much into the mood being dragged on but that's just a stupid personal preference. The mixing is what I think could use more work, here it sounds muddy and could benefit from some more attention to the high ends. Yeah...overall though, it's a great emotional track. Nice work!

[A Storm Over Lavender Lane]

What in heaven's name, the beginning just lifted off so suddenly I love itttt!!!!!!!! Wow, how does one float and write through notes so quickly and so passively? Beautiful. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the quicker allegro movement than the slow andante one, but obviously both parts counteract each other perfectly. This piece is so inspiring. I imagine the journey of a single woman during rush hour through a heavy rainstorm for the first part, hurrying along with the crowds and smashing into the public transit, soaked to the brim not only with rain but with sudden thoughts of what the future holds. Then of course for the second part, she finally arrives home and shakes off the rain and stress of the day. She slowly walks up to a table in the hallway showcasing a photo of her son when he was 5 years-old, now almost 23 years-old studying abroad. She grins softly as she backs into memories past. I personally would have liked the song to end on a dark chord to signify that this woman still has ill feelings about what's to come, but that's just my opinion. Overall, what a perfect classically inspired piece. Fantastic job!

headphoamz responds:

...well damn. That's a good story right there. Happy to have inspired you, and thanks for listening Zip! <3

[-La Pura Vida-Salsa NGADM]

Impressive, through my ears! I can't tell when the tempo soothes a tick slower and when it picks up faster, it's always a wonderful surprise. I love all the choices here, the instrumentation, the melodies, and the constant changes in style. I appreciate your injection of the crowd noise, it really does take me to an image in my head of a crowded gathering of party and dance. I also agree on love for the ending but making it a few seconds longer, that jazzy chord sounds so James Bond spy movie to me and is quite powerful. I can't really say much else...what an excellent worldly piece to add to the small pile of worldly pieces on here! A very pleasant addition!

SoundChris responds:

Hey there - thanks a lot for your review! You are absolutely right concerning the ending: I really wanted to have some 60ties-james-bond-like sounding guitar- chord ... awesome you have noticed it :D Glad that you liked the style changes. I was not sure if i inserted to many of them - but i really like pieces with much mood-changes in it!

All the best for the contest! I wanted to review your piece, too - hope i will be able to do it tomorrow!

[The Path Not Taken- Ngadm13]

A Cappella!!!!!! Exciting!!!!! I love vocalists on here!!!!! I think there's so many interpretations of this poem through song. I remember singing one in choir that sounded very dark, it's interesting to hear you take it the complete opposite direction in a lighthearted fancy. You have some nice subtle changes that keep it flowing forward. And what a voice! So versatile and viscous. The way you sung split up the lyrics through each verse seemed difficult and I think a slight messy perhaps since the poem itself is kind of written in a difficult parameter for you to interpret in a more verse chorus verse chorus structure , or maybe I'm just so used to the dark one I've heard before. So it is commendable to take these words in this style. I think this is some impressive work! Great job!

[Empty]

Okay definitely experimental smooth rock I think. Yes the guitar is pretty cool, I like the solos which remind me a little of a jazz style actually. You seem to hop through keys frequently while still sounding consistent, which is very nice. The vocals I think could use some help hahahaha. Their mixing sounds a bit too blended in with the instrumentals making it a little difficult to hear. And I think your singing needs more power behind it I think, just more emotion and oomph to keep my attention since it just sounded on one plateau to me. But I have to say, I enjoy when you harmonized with yourself in the chorus and in other injections. I think supporting your vocals with harmonies or even doubling over would really help bring more power. As your vocals sounded on one plateau to me, I also thought the instrumentals could use some more dramatic changing up, perhaps for the second verse or the bridge appendage towards the end. So yeah, I think this song is pretty smooth and connected, it just needs some tweaking to make some pop to it. Nice work!

DivoFST responds:

Thanks for the review Zipper!
Yeah the vocals were not spot on, i should have given a little more power to them, i agree :)

[Mechanical Anima]

Whoaaaa!!!! They really did pair us up correct because I am simply loving this!!! What a wonderful blend of all sorts of obscure noises and themes! And a waltz like this will always grab my attention instantly. Definitely the soul of mechanics I can feel in this...wow...I just think this is splendid. There seemed to always be something new coming up that kept me captivated. Will have to listen to it in headphones later and experience the full effect of all the constructions, but just hearing it through my laptop it still sounds so mystifying. I can't really say I have anything negative to say about this...it's definitely in the style that I adore the most, love the idea of the lifeline of this being between the clarinet and oboe. Got some real nice dissonance but connectivity through out every detail of the piece. Very very nice work!

steampianist responds:

they did they really did. thank you for listening it means a lot! you have a great track too that goes with an interesting lyrics

[Blind Maiden]

Oh a singer! I love you already. Your voice is pleasant to listen to, and I completely understand the autotune-sounding riffs people are talking about. I think it might mean you could potentially have perfect control of your pitch, but Idk. It's still really nice anyways. I appreciate the singing users here who showcase their voices frequently, as I see with the rest of your catalog of music. I personally think this could be more fusiony...in fact I think it's almost quintessentially Celtic in style. I mean, I guess I just wish this had more contrast. It's like right on the line quiet, peaceful, and melodic. It's good. I just think your voice can do more. But I like the harmonies and the writing in general...except that kind of trail off silence that happens right before the end lol.

etherealwinds responds:

Thank you for your response! I wouldn't say I have perfect control by far, but I've certainly worked hard on my voice these past few years. It's hard to progress, especially never having any vocal lessons, but I would rather have put the effort in to control my voice rather than just chucking autotune on to do it for me, especially on a celtic-styled song. I see that as the easy way out but from that, how could one learn to improve? My intention for the trail of silence after the upbeat section was to round off the fast-paced atmosphere. The upbeat in my mind represented the miraculously positive day, the joy of the townspeople and the maiden herself and all that she'd experienced. The short silence was an attempt to signify the day and night passing onto the next day to add some structure not only into the writing but into the song also! ^_^ All the best!

[Drowning in Disco]

nnnyyehhhhjdkwoericndkshsmffp <3

Synthapse responds:

lol!

[Noire Revival]

The strings alone have a weird tinge to them hahahaha, but when combined with the trumpet, and from what I think I hear a soft accordion, it all blended very nicely. Wow that's a very short student film...but definitely quintessential of the noire type music, actually really captivating string melody that flowed very nicely. And of course, the trumpet is divine. Can't really think of much else to say since it's so short lol, but really nice musical sting, if you will.

R4R

camoshark responds:

Thanks for the nice words, Zip, I'm glad you enjoyed!

The reason it's so short is simply due to the fact that it's the intro theme, as I was asked to simply produce the occasional musical cues and intro.

Nonetheless, thanks again!