Eino Keskitalo

I love this one. It's sad and gentle. It has a restained feel similar to Infinite Natalie by Shnabubula. It is not underdeveloped at all. I really like the way how the piano is upfront and strings in the first part, and oboe throughout, are distant. It works really, really well. Oboe is stiffer than it should in a perfect world be, especially in the end, which is a bit unfortunate, as it leaves an "aftertaste". Regardless, I'm extremely glad this passed, I enjoy it very much. --Eino

Heh, I apologize! Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't do side-by-side comparison with the actual original tetris theme (gameboy version I think?) and just *assumed* that it must have been a direct rip. Thanks for the link actually, I'll check that VST out! I've got to say I can imagine it works great in a DJ set! I'd try to work up an "OCR Edit", especially on the intro - having the theme alone is probably superb in the live context, but doesn't work so well in OCR context. --Eino

Let me restress that I didn't find anything wrong musically with using the direct sample. I doubt the judges or djp or anyone would. It's just that OCR has guidelines/standards for the kind of songs it wants and sufficient reintrepetation is required and direct sampling of the original track is discouraged. But happily, making good music and getting a track on OCR are two different things, not contradictory, but different. Hopefully at least, the stuff that gets on OCR is good music. But all the good music doesn't make it in, for some reasons or others. Yeah, I guess, in principle. Usually there's also IP issues with using the composition, even if you resequenced it. The "tetris theme" happens to be a folk song (i.e. the composition is in public domain), though, so that's not an issue. Anyway, that's not an issue in the "why it wouldn't get on OCR" thing, in case you are wondering about that. --Eino disclaimer: I may be wrong about anything I said. I hope I made sense, though.

Well a lot depends on the (missing) guitar solo before that section. I imagine it will be on a more usual tonality, and the next section will take it to the next level. I don't see any problems myself. That "dissonant" section is kind of like modulation.. only 1000x more badass. edit: The note the clean lead plays at 02:19 sticks out badly to my ear. --Eino

I agree about this. Well, maybe the main theme sample should be played at the lower volume in the beginning as well. I think it's mixed to the right volume with the beat, it's just the change that is jarring. I think it's a great, enjoyable track. I also think the use of so much original stuff verbatim would prevent it from getting to OCR. I'd say you'd have to replace the sample with original sequencing, and add in some tasty variation on the theme. --Eino

It's there, I hear it too. I get this "hollywood trailer music meets trance"-vibe, which unfortunately doesn't hold that much appeal to me personally, but nevermind that! I like the first clip.. I want to eventually hear the full version of that. I also like the metroid intro thing. So chop-chop, finish up! --Eino

Very enjoyable! I do like the 16-bit vibe, absolutely. Great leads - true about that "fake guitar" - that's a fantastic sound. It does need work on other aspects of production. While the synths are pretty good, and some are great, drums really, really lack nearly all the required energy and punch. The bass is too loud, and rather boring also, especially during the green hill zone sections such as :36-1:16. It sounds better/more fitting in the next part, though. When the first part starts again after the drum solo, it's pretty much the original part over again - that point would definitely need something new happening. There's also a conflicting chord at 00:13 and in the subsequent repeat. I often like some dissonance in my music but that's not the good sounding kind. I liked it and hope you make it great. --Eino

Ahhh, that was probably what made it sound so different. You see, I almost made a point that I liked those solos, even though I don't usually care for such solos. I couldn't figure out why that sounded good to me, so I left it out. Not that I really understand much about modes and tonics, myself. Maybe I just have massive rust in my ears, but it doesn't sound bad at all to me, very much the contrary. I don't know how it would sound changed the way you suggest, but I suspect it would sound more oridinary to me then. Now it has this tension, which is good. --Eino

That koto sounds great now! Don't know if you even did anything to that.. You could introduce the cello a bit later than the koto, say at 01:22-ish. Arrangement/structure-wise you get thumbs up from me. Plenty of ass-kicking, pleasantly brief slow/quiet sections to catch breath with. List of what to improve: * The clean guitar doesn't sound quite in the pocket at 01:40-01:46. * Unfumble the bass fubmle break around 02:00; it sounds like the bass player messes up his/her spot in the limelight * The clean rhythm guitar at the part from 02:03 onwards: not tight enough. Also the sound is weak to me. Try to get more "ring" and "space" into it, kind of how an acoustic guitar would sound.. I hope you catch what I mean. * The dual lead bit from 03:24 onwards sounds out of sync. --Eino

I feel like putting a disclaimer here: the following is my humble opinion, feel free to fiercely disagree! This just doesn't gel for me at all until 01:50, and then I only like that particular section. I really, really like "Yet Even More Fighting" and I also appreciate "Death Stroke", which didn't pass the judge's panel if I recall correctly. This just sounds curiously dud to me.. which might mean that the penny will drop big time on another day. I'm not familiar with the original, which might help. Here's my list of complaints (I realize this might be quite harsh): a non-meshing, dry soundscape, nothing exciting happening there apart from that one section. Pacing and structure of the piece feels even/flat despite all the different parts and the various details. The snare sticks out. The synth lead is horribly lonely and simple sounding, especially 01:22-01:40. KC has used similar synths succesfully earlier, but here it (both in sound and sequencing/playing) sounds like a placeholder to me - the whole thing actually sounds like only a demo! On the good side, the guitar playing is good throughout and I have no quarrel with the guitar sounds either. I feel a bit bad giving such a negative review, but there it is. :/ --Eino

Very good track even while not my style at all. I appreciate the title. The cello does sound really really wierd, the first note sounds like a very bad horn, but I can see it's already being taken care of. Koto sounds funny as well, fairly cheap. I'd maybe try playing with the sound a little, see if any effects (echo stuff, chorus) would spice it up. That's just me. Maybe even try to achieve a similar sound/feel with an effected clean guitar. I'd also try to foreshadow the koto and the cello before they come in, it feels like it jumps from the bushes a bit (is that a proper saying, heh?). That might be what you're after, of course. Guitar playing is good. It's not the tightest, but I'd say it's tight enough, it's spirited and the sound is good. Good work! --Eino

This sounds very intresting. I like the percussion approach and the pads.. good atmosphere, I enjoy it. I like what you're going for here. Overall it sounds like you're progressing in skill at a fair pace, keep it up! I especially like the transition at the end.. I have to disagree about drums having no energy or that the beat would need to be more steady. Sure, it sounds sequenced and the samples aren't the most pristine, but they work pretty well as they are. I don't think a super-realistic approach would be the best for this song. --Eino

Well, this one definitely makes me smile and relax, so it's all good. It's not like it's my favourite kind of sounds or style or anything, but that's probably because I'm much too serious for my own good. Cheesy as hell, but just what I needed today, right now! --Eino

Really, really cool vibe in this one. I for one really like the polyrhythm with the piano, it's one of the main attractions for me. --Eino

Kudos! That is an admirable achievement. I can't imagine anything more soul-drenching, horrifying, mind-numbing or plain boredom-inducing than (a) reading or ( aiming to produce posts that try to entertain every possible average user here, or anywhere else. Cheers! --Eino

Good stuff! I find there are styles of solo piano I like and some that I don't like (well.. d'oh), and this is something I like. Yay! Also, JJT's judge decision made my stomach hurt. Worth checking out. --Eino

Ahh, I'm eagerly anticipating this one! One of the games that have totally blown me away, one with really really good music.. and a good-looking line-up as well! --Eino

Gotta agree with SnappleMan about the bass drum, it really seems like it's eating up more than it's share of the soundscape. Makes it hard to concentrate on the other instruments. This on (decent) headphones, with proper speakers it's probably worse. Should be easy to fix, I hope! This really isn't my genre, so I can't comment much on other stuff. The brief layered guitar lead at the end did catch my ear in a good way, though. I liked how that sounded. --Eino

Hey, glad to see this updated! It sounds improved. The harsh lead isn't harsh anymore, great! I see you managed to achieve that without really changing the basic sound, nice. --Eino

Are my headphones broken, or does a fart cushion feature prominently on this track? --Eino

Along with Tackle's Ball of Balos, this is my favourite track from the CS remix project. It perfectly channels Cave Story (the intro makes the hair on my arms stand!), but the whole flute-rocking vibe is completely original, fantastic playing! Like someone said before, for all the length the piece has, it never gets boring. I love it when the bass drops out for extended periods of time - like djp said, it adds a floating quality to the track. And when it kicks back in, whoa! --Eino

Uuuh, uuh, uuh, one of my favourite source soundtracks. Even though you asked for arrangement comments only, the bass is so overpowering as it is it's a bit hard (for me) to hear past it. But you'll fix the muddiness, and I like the bass in general. Ok, arrangement comments. I really like the drums, love those little rolls (or what are they?) on the snare. It's quite slow, which gives a very tense/anticipatory feel to the track. The organ is a bit.. light for that. It's also so quiet it's hard to notice. Which isn't necessarily a bad effect, it works great in the support role in the b-part (1:05 starting). I also *love* how the bass goes there. I think in general you could add some tense soundscapes, sfx-style things to the mix, there's quite a bit of room there and it sounds a bit sparse, like there could be more stuff happening in there. I'm just absolutely, absolutely ENVIOUS about the variations on the theme you start throwing in at 2:50. That's awesome, amazing stuff, hair-rising, back-of-arm-tingling! Wow. This makes me happy. --Eino

Weird harmonies at the start (once again a piece I don't know as the original), but the only thing that actually sounds bad is the piano chord at 00:14. Or possibly how the string instrument goes up till 0:14. Something there doesn't mesh for me, although what (I think) you're going for is good. I like how this sounds, although it has trouble catching my complete attention. I get the feeling it's lacking a centre, something which to follow throughout. I don't feel it "resolves" to anything. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it, but it has potential for more. --Eino

One Must Fall rules! That vocal could be tighter, but it was fun to hear. Sexy Loch meshes rhythmically better and sounds really, really, really, spooky. --Eino

Whoa, the bass does chord changes! Yes, that livens it up a lot. Maybe it also loses some of the "intensity" that comes with keeping the bass at one chord. (I personally like the effect a lot.) So you might want to consider doing that somewhere in the more melodic parts. Doing it in one spot might be very cool. I think you've also reduced the amount of sounds going on. I kinda liked it that busy. With the bass moving around more and less audioshrapnel flying through the air it does sound less energified than the previous one. On the other hand, I think the audio quality in general has improved a step - don't know if you actually did any mixing/mastering changes apart from the bass and removing stuff. Overall I think this was very much an improvement. Great going! --Eino