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Wow. Thank you for such immensely detail feedback, and I’m super appreciative of your thoughts!

That’s a combo of zither and Irish harp in the lamb and hammer—sorry to have jumpscared you with it, it’s definitely an abrupt shift. If I could’ve written the full soundtrack, it would have sat amongst a few other pieces with a similar vibe (and about 5-6 other ambient tracks to be fair 😭) any tips on making it sound less midi-ified? I really tried to go for a realistic sound here, and strangely it’s the solo strings that sound the most midi to me. I fiddled with them for hours, and yet… any tips welcome.

It is clarinet and flute in the inn, good ear!

Thanks again for all this feedback. Much appreciated!!

Hey, thank you so much for giving it a listen, and for the feedback! If I had the time, I would’ve liked to write out more than 40 melodies, each broken into fragment and each with some variations due to the changing of melodies over time. This was obviously WAY out of scope for this project, and meant I had to improvise most of these fragments instead of pulling from a huge pool of them. That said, I’m glad you feel it comes off as fragmented regardless!

Unbelievable—you made this in six hours?? And is this your singing too? Simply phenomenal work. The mixing is highly impressive, and perfectly matches the vibe of the story (cool idea, by the way!)

This is highly polished, and really captures the ethereal vibe. I sure hope you can find some more time for the next jam—I would love to see what you could do with more than six hours. Still, I hope you are impressed and proud of yourself—this is quite a well-done track. Good job, and keep writing!

Thanks a lot for listening, and well done on your submission as well! think I might be recording my singing every jam from here on out. It’s too fun not to do

A Druid’s Journal: this is simple, stately, and does a great job of establishing the world we are in. Feels like I’m watching an opening cutscene…

Hill Call: loving the amount of Dorian we’re getting with this jam! It’s a good thing it’s my second-favorite mode, or I’d be getting sick of it. But hey, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it right? You smartly move in and out of other modes to complement it and prevent redundancy. One thing I’m noticing is that the cello/viol(?) rearticulates a lot on longer legato notes. I might suggest finding a way to revise this, if possible?

Ode to the Wood: I love the bright, open strings a lot!

Unanswered: you’ve got a knack for writing lovely melodies, and it shows. I also appreciate how sparse the soundtrack is: I think it really adds to the atmosphere you are creating. Less really is more sometimes!

Fey Dance: it’s time, once again, to shake some ass in the tavern. There have been several shaking-ass-in-the-tavern tracks in this jam, and I think this one is up there. I do find the tempo changes to be slightly jarring—what is the purpose of them? Does it have something to do with this moment in the story?

Overall, great work here.  I can picture this game clearly in my mind—wish I could play it! Great work, and keep writing!

Thank you so much for listening!!

Fernweh: wow—this is a truly stunning texture, so delicate and full of magic. The quartal chords and strings evoke Spirited Away. The track has a wonderful sense of direction too, I’m enjoying hearing it grow, propelling forward and mounting with energy. So many unexpected chord changes, what a delight on the ears! I love how it fades into a low, howling wind…

Ninshat: the singing wind slowly emerging from the howling—that’s top-quality stuff right there. Again, it feels like I’ve been transported into some mystical plane. The synths don’t sound synth-ey: they sound like ancient mystical instruments, like they could well exist in some other celestial plane. Ooh—loving the pencil sounds! I used those heavily in my last jam, Mitsukeru, which tied into the mechanics of having to scribble in the gameplay . It’s quite cleverly used here as well to add some texture and intrigue.

Shuougaim: I love how minimal this is in the beginning—gives it lots of room to mount. Is this your singing?? You have an unbelievable low bass register! This is almost film score-esque, which is really achieved by the exceptional percussion and flute patches. Again, what a magnificent sense of flow and progression throughout. You’ve paced each of these tracks very well. Nice touch at the end, too.

Anavrin: oh, hello, Jacob Collier? I love the feeling of being surrounded by a web of voices. These chords are so strange and haunting—again, you have magnificent writing skills. I hope we can see more live vocals in jams to come—they come out so exceptional and are such a good way to add realism and humanity. Is the guitar recorded too? I would love a breakdown on your process.

In all, the only comment I could really make is that I would have loved a greater breakdown of the plot, with some more specifics, as this can do wonders to make a soundtrack even more immersive. Just looking at the music, it’s bold, original, refined, yet very intuitive and sensible. You should be super proud of your work. Amazing job, and keep writing!

(PS didn’t clock any quality issues, at all. And I’ve got an ear for these things, so don’t get yourself in a twist over it!)

Thank you so much for the glowing review :) scarabellum indeed! It’s been on loop in my head since I recorded it 😭

I will be listening to your soundtrack shortly, can’t wait to see what you’ve cooked up! Thanks again!!

Disclaimer: even just making this is crazy but I love it. Let me use this time to say, I love the strong artwork and visual identity you've given us. Reminds me of Songkeepers, I think, which had a similarly strong visual identity/artwork for the characters.

Life With Eyes Closed: Yummy! Great sample use here, it adds a lot of depth.

Watch the Time: this is super groovy! Almost thought I heard some mixed meter at some point, but I'm not sure. That's a super impressive saxophone sound!

Better You: I switched to the player on the website so I can see the lyrics and descriptions and stuff. I'm glad, because now I have the context for this being the city theme! And what a city theme it is... vibrant and groovy. (ohmyghad why? four hours ago... what are these two gossiping about lol)

Shuteye: Another banger!

Memory World: I like how this stays true to the sound of the rest of the soundtrack while also entering a whole new world. Very cool! That moment around the 2-minute mark reminded me of the intro to Sunny by Boney M.!

Awkward Battle: I'm starting to become rather impressed with your abilities to churn out so much distinct music!

Dirty Mind: great work on this one--love the laid-back funk vibe.

I Love Blackmail!: Another good one, if a touch repetitive, but I don't mind so much. The ending is sick!

Forget It: Also quite the banger :)

MindPolizei: Loving the trumpets in this one! It's got a slightly dastardly vibe which I like. Almost serving evil pokemon team realness?

Shutdown: love the intensity here, but you still loop it into the existing sound world, which is fun. A bit short, kind of an abrupt end to such a fabulous album.

I'm sorry I had less track-for-track feedback, but I was honestly vibing with it the whole time, and really didn't have any notes. Everything was in its proper place, nothing needed revision. Impressive work, and keep writing!

Hey! I had so much fun playing through this, and honestly, it was a SUPER smart idea, absolutely genius. The one shame about this jam is that you never get to play through any of the games, because they aren't real. You solved that problem in the most clever way. I normally listen through the full album and leave comments for each track, but in your case, let me just say you've got a knack for writing fun, catchy melodies, and really nailed that taverny bard sound, with each track having a distinct vibe. Super incredible, and I am READY for the sequel!

Well shucks, thank you so much for listening and for the glowing feedback :) yours was phenomenal!

Catastrophe: This wall of synths is insane--made me CRANK up my volume and immerse myself in a sound bath. I love the way it just keeps blossoming outward.

Circumstellar: OH?? So we're at the club now??? Is this a video game soundtrack or a set for a rave? This genuinely made me start dancing in my chair. I love how you blend the choir/chimes into a techno space, connecting it to the ethereal soundworld a lot of us (me especially) have tapped into for this theme.

Convalescence: So delicate while still preserving intensity. I love the bubbling synths coupled with the long, sustained piano. That violin part was clever.

Contamination: if this comes on at the gay bar, I'm shaking ass. Unbelievable work with the manipulation of that choral sample--that thing sounds alive!!! And that unexpected switch to an orchestral vibe was really smart. This track feels the most adventurous, with lots of dramatic shifts and intensity.

Consolation: Loving the distant bells and swarming chimes here, but what's nice is that no matter what the mood is from track to track, there's always a bit of grit surrounding the mix--or it isn't gone for long. When that does finally change in this track, and we have a plain piano, moments before the final track plunges us back in, it's extremely effective, like we've finally arrived at a moment of peace--just to lose it.

Charlotte: Aaaaand we're back to shakin' ass in the club. This is just epic. A part of me wishes I knew more about what was happening story-wise during each section of the song.

Commemoration: Maybe you've told us all we need to know with the bleeping monitor sound... she made it home, but at what cost? Maybe leaving things up to interpretation is just as special.

Well it goes without saying--you've done a magnificent job here, and I hope you're proud. This is stellar for just one week of work! Great work, and keep writing!

Thank you for listening!

Main Menu: feels very Fire Emblem circa-2002 on Gamebody Advance. Even a bit of Final Fantasy energy! I will say, this does fall into the trap of looping chords. I suggest adding a little more material, like a B section, to break up the repetition--or make the repetition a bit longer, add a key change, etc. etc. Still, it's a super-solid track with a distinct vibe. It sets up the rest of the soundtrack well.

Overworld Exploration: again, the track is a bit repetitive, which can be a bit difficult to battle when using a drone. There is some more contrasting material in the strings, which I like (especially when layered with the existing melody!) However, because the same melody repeats so much, it doesn't feel like there's much of a sense of progression. Adding more instruments does increase the intensity of the track, but I might suggest adding more texture instead of doubling the melody. Consider adding more notes to the drone, some strings, percussion accompanying, etc.

Overworld Combat: Love the stabbing strings and intense dissonance--this is a really exciting, edge-of-your-seat track at the start. However, there's then a repeat of the same material four times, with very little variety. It's a much more relaxed vibe than I expected for combat music. The beginning and ending are both my favorites--very inventive, unafraid and dramatic, with flair. I would have loved more of that throughout the piece!

Aethelgard: Another real banger--loving the use of mixed meter, the striking strings, aggressive percussion, string runs, etc. used in this one. It's another one where there are longer repeating sections. Without much changing, it may have even been better to condense these sections to one or two repeats? It's okay to have shorter tracks with less repeats. If this track was half as long, it would have been just as effective, if not more.

Closing credits: I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record player here, but again, there's just a bit too much repetition for my taste. When the shaker and flute comes in with a tempo change, I loved the switch-up and this new vibe. Don't linger too long on one idea, because it does take away from the enjoyment!

I'm sorry if I came off as harsh here: the truth is, you have a lot of promise and a strong foundation to build on. Next time, try to let your mind wander more: how do I extend this short melody into a longer one? Can I change the chords, instrumentation, melody, etc. to lengthen a musical idea instead of just adding to it while repeating it? Good work, and keep writing!

Thanks so much for listening! This is high praise coming from such a great composer :)

Echoes of Aeos: Holy smokes. I think you've got this in the bag, my friend. This is a step above in terms of songwriting, with truly phenomenal mixing that sounds professional. What an epic song! I love how you balance the intensity of the band with the driving strings and soaring choir--it sounds like it's been recorded live in a concert hall. I need to check out this vocaloid!

Whispers Beneath the Canopy: I'm delighted by the layering of delicate plucked guitars, shakers, and delicate, high-pitched drums. I will say, the quality of the mix is ever-so-slightly more artificial-sounding than the first track, which could probably be attributed to the instrumentation. I'd be curious to see how many of the drums/percussion instruments are samples vs. VST instruments.

Abyssal Signal: This is driving, dramatic, and out of an action movie. Gives me some Bowser Level (with a Mario Galaxy twinge) vibes. Also, sort of Duel of the Fates! The choir is brilliant.

Echoes of Aeos: I like the flexibility of the tempo here, which adds some realism--though a few of the pauses are just a bit too long to sound fully natural. (Nitpicking here, only because it's all so high standard.) This is a lovely patch with lots of string/pedal/hammer sounds, and all the little details shine. How dare you end it on a IV chord... my poor heart!

Despite being only four tracks, you've given this soundtrack, and the accompanying game, a strong identity. Your ability to mix and produce at top level, coupled with a balance of inventive and intuitive composing, has made this soundtrack shine. You should be immensely proud--well done, and keep writing!

(And may I add, if this is your first jam, I can't wait to see what you do next time!)

Thanks so much for listening! Your soundtrack was one of my favorites to listen to :)

One thing about Canticum is that the world has mostly healed its wounds. The apocalypse was so hundreds of years ago--it's the history, and the technology, that has been lost the most. Conveying that in a musical capacity presented quite the challenge! It had to be melancholic, like a secret buried in the ground, veiling everything in mystery.

Thank you! To be honest, I wasn't sure if it would come off as immersive, so I'm glad you think it was :) Canticum came to me more and more as I wrote the music. There wasn't a sense of progression in the musical content, which is normally how I plan the story of a game. If I had the means to write more music, I would have sooner added more locations instead of lore tracks, like cutscenes, story moments, or a final series of songs that plays at the end of the game. Perhaps multiple endings with different tracks? The scope was a bit too broad. Maybe I'll finish it some day with bonus tracks ;)

Thanks so much for listening, and well done on your soundtrack too!

So, I listened to/wrote a big long comment for this entry last night, and must have forgotten to submit it, because it’s not showing as posted. I’m sorry that this has been lost, but wanted to say, I love the theming around this one, it’s a very unique concept with a lot of mystery behind it. Well done, and keep working!

First of all, I LOVE ALL THE ARTWORK!!! This is such a beautiful display of pure creativity, and your dedication has really impressed me. This game should be made! Find a programmer!

Songkeepers: First of all, with soundfonts being such a limited toolset to work with, you've made this sound really incredible. Applause for that! I'm curious about the moment where all the melodies are played in sequence. Perhaps there could be some space to play with counterpoint between the melodies, or have them blend into one another more? The main theme is just exemplary, and really accomplishes the adventurous feel you're going for.

Abel's Theme: Aww, this is so earnest and heartwarming. The B-section with the harp and pan flute is so sweet! I am rooting for this little fox boy so harddddd

Valor's Theme: So far, I appreciate the minimalism of these tracks. It fits the distinct soundfont style very nicely. It lets the music itself sing.

Sir Billsworth the IV's Theme: bassoon + silly, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is just delightful. The pizzicato section is just so cutesy! You've used music to bring the characters to life, well done :)

That'll Cost Ya (Shop Theme): jazz was the answer. Head bobbing alert B-)

The Mad Ratters: This has to be my favorite!! Like yeah, these rats are up to no good. With every passing track I'm more sad I can't play this game...

Another big hidden gem for me. This one deserves fame and glory! It's certainly one of the most unique soundtracks so far, and the world you've come up with is very intriguing. Great work, and keep writing!

Enter a New World: I'd love to know about the 'dynamic' part of this track. How would it change dynamically in-game? Otherwise, it's a solid opening track. I do find the repeating chords to be a little grating after a while--something like a buildup section, with different chords to the main section, can help. You could write a longer loop with more chords, add a B section, etc. and it can add some depth.

Portal to a Hidden World: this is another piece that would have benefitted from a shift away from repetitive chords, though the piano loop is super effective and driving.

Lyra in the Hidden City: I like this folksy guitar instrument--lute?--that you used here. The choir is a bit soft, don't be afraid to bump it up! Gorgeous flute chords though, I like the dissonance. And 10/8 is a fun meter to use!

Boss First Battle: solid boss battle music.

Boss Second Battle: I like this hoe-down in hell vibe a lot. It's a bit goofier, almost to remind you of the whole 'you're a cat' thing... lol

Enter a New World (Post-Destruction): ooh, perhaps this is the 'dynamic' aspect I was curious about before. Next time, don't be afraid to talk more about your process! I'd love to know more about the story behind these tracks. You've got a nice variety of songs here, and some exposition would help link them together into a full, connected piece. 

A Tale for the Eons: this is giving final battle energy. Love the drums, though I agree with Jofes that they feel a bit muted dynamically. I have to be honest, there's a section in this one that makes me wanna shake ass in a tavern. I hope you're proud of yourself!

Stealth Mode: loving the guitar in this one--might be my favorite track! The mysterious flute melody is fun. Marimba countermelody is also enjoyable. This one also feels like it could be the track for some kind of cool country song.

This is a significant body of work for one week, well done and keep writing!

The Dreamer: This is a really pleasant track! It would work well with some vocals on top. Is this live guitar playing? The guitar and bass sound great.

Forest Stroll: this is super cutesy, loved it.

Soar Ever Higher: really exciting! Love the flute solo and the accompanying violin!

Song #4: I like this melody a lot, and the guitar accompaniment is nice and expressive. Fun chord choices too, especially the ending!

This is a job well done, and you should be super proud of yourself. Good work, and keep writing!

Songs from Under the Lake: Very daunting, and despite sounding nothing like a lake, it feels like I'm in a haunted bog, with glimmers of moonlight, and the distant moans of wicked creatures... honestly, it creeped me out! The second half feels a bit more melodic at times, but still, there's little to cling to musically. It's pure atmosphere.

Songs from Above the Lake: this one is a lot more subdued and palatable, which I think brings some balance to the previous track. I like the gentle, wandering bassline, and soaring synth melody above. It creates an almost calm atmosphere. The layering of the various synths also creates a lovely effect. This is really immersive! I'd love to know more about what happens in each area of the game--who are we playing as, and what are we doing in this haunted, mysterious lake?

Songs from Around the Lake: ooh, this is funky and strange--love it! There's some seriously impressive sound processing going on here, I have no idea what I'm hearing, but I think it's really cool. This is, like, music for a frog/lake creature cult where they do a bunch of drugs. Which wasn't on my bingo card, but here we are!

Overall, you should be proud of yourself. This is some impressive work, and I can only imagine how involved it must have been to put this together with such detail, especially given how long the tracks are. Well done, and keep writing!

Introduction: such a stunning switch into the orchestral part. The trills and strings sound truly magical here! Even the piano playing is stunningly realistic. An extremely strong start!

Garden of Light: a very delicate, minimal, and effective piano melody. The warm, intimate swells of the orchestra are a lovely complement. This is a masterful use of color.

Little Moth: the fluttering, delicate piano feels like an imitation of the moth's fluttering wings. It's super animated and characterful. Loving the Lydian!

Village: classic village music. Love that flute patch!

The Forest: I literally said 'oh my God' when the shaker came in. This is refreshingly light, almost bossanova-ey, but in a forest level way. I'm taking notes on your ability to add a touch of sparkle... this is just brimming with ideas.

Cliff Dwellings: I love the subtle percussion, it really makes this one shine for me.

Glowfish Caves: Those dense, swelling string chords in the beginning are just fabulous. There's lots of whimsy in this one, and I like when the harmony dips into dubious places, balancing a sense of wonder with danger and mystery.

The Top: this piece is a strong contrast to the rest of the soundtrack. It immediately creates a strong sense of dread. Itching to see what happens next.

Finale: Extraordinary transition into the boss battle music! Really exemplary battle music. I'm glad to see you aren't afraid to change the meter! It keeps things so fresh--never a dull moment throughout the soundtrack.

I can hear a lot of the Cinematic Studio Solo Strings here, and I must say your usage of them texturally is really inspiring. You two have accomplished a lot together! I'd love to hear more about the collaborative process here! You two have stood out as some of the finest musicians I've ever seen in this competition, and should be very proud. Keep writing!

Hello icon :3 honored that you listened! I hadn't noticed that contrast between the winds/vocals and strings, but that's totally true! It's meant to be a neutral-ish track: the player is already dead, but their story hasn't been told yet. So there's meant to be a contrast between bleakness and hopefulness. (I layered a zither, piano, and harp harmonics for the plucked chords!)

Thank you for listening, and for the feedback!

Funky City: Immediate head-bobbing. This is super, super funky. I wanna play this game lol. Those chords are spicyyyyyyy

Frog Party: Another banger. Like, girl, the key change in the piano part? The piano part alone?? This is a level of funk I haven't seen so far in a single soundtrack. I'm eating this up.

Racer Boy: Also fun and funky. I love all the little details so much. This is a very specific vibe you've got going. Almost Splatoon-esque, but not quite. It reminds me of something else, I wish I could remember.

This one's a hidden gem for me! Great job, and keep working!

Aw, thanks so much for the feedback :) I haven't composed much ambient stuff in a while, so this was a fun treat and I would have liked to do more of it. Perhaps next time?

Visions of Above: This is a really charming, sentimental melody! I like the gentle synth, and the more intense, washy synths you bring in later in the track. It definitely creates a sense of majesty and wanderlust.

Among Meteorites: definitely instills a sense of danger and action. Super cool, 80s synthwave vibes! You do a solid job of keeping things interesting, with a few countermelodies peppered in here and there.

In all, I'm impressed with your work, and would have loved to hear this story continue! Great work, and keep writing! 

Thanks so much for the feedback, and well done on your soundtrack as well! The Lamb and Hammer is my favorite, too. Glad you enjoy my singing :)

A Village Far Away: the percussion is my favorite part of this track--I just love the little, intimate details of the drums. The way you've gone about creating that medieval, folksy sound is actually quite smart! I like the heterophony!

A Song of Adventure: love the little fluttering trills and small details in the flute part! I'd love to know what VST you used for it. The strings are nice and expressive too. So far, my impression is that this sounds like an elevated Windwaker-esque soundtrack. 

A Moment to Gaze the Stars: what a lovely, intimate harp solo. The repetition of the melody in the flute, with little piano flutters as a mini-countermelody, is a perfect example of how to expand a melody. I like how the melody keeps trading from instrument to instrument. What a sentimental and sweet song :)

In Ancient Ruins: love the addition of synths here, to convey something more mystical afoot. Very Zelda dungeon coded. The part in the middle where things pick up has some super clever harmonic shifts that convey a sense of doom and challenge. The interplay between the oboe and oboe(clarinet) is quite adventurous. Cool choir chord at the end, too! There's lots of interesting things going on here.

A Legendary Song: a fun callback to the first two songs, I love the expressive melody in the cellos with the mounting intensity of the stabbing chords! The cello melody doesn't speak as much as I'd like it to. It gets a bit lost in the chords, so maybe bring it up in the mix, or double it with violas or another instrument? Or try to find a VST with a Marcato patch, which can help with fast, intense legato melodies.

A Rowdy Evening: I was looking forward to this one just based off the silly title XD this is a relaxing but upbeat little tune. I like the way the percussion ties the soundtrack together. Beautiful string writing, and such fun, memorable melodies! 

In all, this is a super impressive soundtrack, and it's a real shame you haven't got any reviews yet. People are sleeping on a really stellar piece of work! Good job, and keep writing!

Thank you so much for listening! A Whispering Past is special-- I really wanted to include more live violin playing throughout, but was limited by time :/ still, it was fun to do at least one track with it!

I agree with kazmord--it's so sad to hear that you had limited time! I would have loved to see what else you could come up with. The opening is effortlessly cinematic, so simple and yet extremely effective. A slow, intimate dirge, with scratchy, resonant strings, suddenly switching to a grand, sweeping horn line with a decisive timpani... and then a delightful, explorative pizzicato? It sounds really incredible. The leaping, hope-filled pizzicati chords are really great. Lots of creative ideas here, and I would have loved to see where you could take them with more time.

In terms of feedback, I would suggest adding stronger melodic components: while I love the dirge-like repetition, and honestly think repetition can be used very effectively (like you've done here), adding a melody might add a greater sense of flow to the piece. All of the shifts are a bit abrupt, and having a dramatic crescendo up to the final loud section would have given it that final push into greatness. Still, this is excellent work, well done, and keep writing! 

Forest Cantical: I (like samdgoff) love the synths you used here! The music itself would lend itself well to an early instrument, folksy vibe (strings, lyre, harp, stuff like that), which is why putting it into synthesizers is so effective.

The three sages: first of all, I love the visuals you created here. It’s very haunting, and feels like a cutscene right out of an N64 game or something. I feel totally immersed, like I’m about to play the coolest retro horror game of my life. the music itself is subdued but haunting. I like how it progresses from creepy to more hopeful and driven later in the song. The beat drop is absolutely delicious! You’ve done a beautiful, polished job progressing the story from one moment to the next. And again, I love the inclusion of the visuals. It adds so much to the track!

Bacchus the Augur: another haunting, track. Loving the drums here, and the Phyrgian inflections in the synth melody.

Overall, this soundtrack is phenomenal, and I wish there was more!! The cutscene you conveyed through The Three Sages was awesome, but I still would have loved more explanation for where each song appears in the game, and a little more context for where we are and what we’re doing. Still, exceptional work, and keep writing!

Peace: LOVE this plucked tremolo sound! Extraordinarily cool sound, and something I would have LOVED to have access to for my soundtrack. What a gorgeous, ethereal sound, very folksy in that timeless, intriguing way. 

Radiance: musically, this is quite flawless, and exemplary. You’ve layered several things to create this cool dirge, and it sounds truly medieval. My only issues are with the mix: the background noise from the recording of the lyre is quite present, especially when the recording starts. Next time, trim the silence and fade it in, so  the background noise at least creeps in. You can also use an EQ to try and lower the noisy frequencies, or lower your mic sensitivity. Also, there are times where some instruments get quite out of sync with the track—careful with tempo!

In all, this is my one of my favorites Ive heard thus far just because I admire your use of the lyre and live recordings. If you can iron out the mixing issues, the sky’s the limit for you. I’d love to see this expanded out into a more comprehensive soundtrack! Great work, and keep writing!

I like this piece, well done! The string writing is lovely, and I think it could have been made a bit fuller with more counterpoint and a bit of viola + cello to accompany the two violin parts. Next time, perhaps add more dynamic variation too, so it feels a bit less one-note. I loved the key change moment, and the harp usage is very tasteful throughout. Good work, and keep writing!  

Black Sheeps Wool: this is a cool opening track, and actually has a lot of harmonic depth to it! There’s lots of charm and character in the muddy, reedy synths. I think the drums are the only thing that take me out of it. They’re a bit too overactive, and don’t fit the bizarre soundscape we’re in. I like the slowdown at the end a lot too. 

Blender’s Scale: goodbye, tonal harmony. Again, I find the percussion to be quite grating against the otherwise-gentle synths, but I really love this oozing, freakish harmonic language! Super unique stuff. Sounds like there was some pretty awesome electric guitar going on—wish we got some more of that.

Yard With Lunatics: you’ve got a knack for working with synths! Pretty impressive stuff going on here, and it’s clear that you have a real intuition when it comes to harmony. This one does get a little repetitive at times, but I admire that each repetition uses different instruments and other slight variations to keep things more interesting. Plenty of soundtracks will loop the same 8 bars forever with very little change. The slow distortion at the end is epic. Really, really cool!!!

Overall, I think you should be proud of yourself. There’s plenty of fresh and exciting music here, both harmonically and through the very cool synths you’ve used—plus lots of fun, blink-and-you-miss-it details. It isn’t perfect—nothing is! Who are you comparing yourself to? Just hit the ground running next time and remember that it’s all for fun and experience, not for glory. Well done, and keep writing!

Title: this is really cozy sounding, and I like the cross between synth and analog instruments here! The guitar sounds great—did you record it? It’s a very upbeat track. 

Prologue: I like the nervous piano coupled with the uncertain harp part. The clashing harp chords on the final repeat also add to the sense of mystery and confusion. I might recommend squeezing in a countermelody to accompany the repeat of the melody, but perhaps the simplicity is what makes the track work.

Stage 1: ah—here is the countermelody I was looking for! I enjoy how you’ve expanded the nervous 3/4 piano/harp idea into something with more depth and excitement.

Stage 2: I am beginning to feel fatigued by the key being the same across each track. This would work well if one track fades neatly into another, but if not, you could easily change the key/tempo to add a bit more interest. What I do love about this track is the beautiful harp arpeggios and warm strings. 

Stage 3: this is a cool tone shift!! In the future, when you have an instrument playing a prolonged melody—like the flute melody followed by the piano melody in this track—don’t be afraid to double it in other instruments, even just in sections. Or, trade the melody off between two or three instruments! This helps add more depth to your tracks. 

Stage Fin: this, I think, is my favorite track! I’m picking up on a slow shift from acoustic to electronic instruments dominating the sound as we descend deeper into Fantasy. This seems to mark the deepest point in synth-world. It’s got a strong sense of drive throughout, with some cool harmonies. Almost reminds me of Pokémon battle music!

Ending: nice and chill ending. Not much to say, except I like the layering of the shakers and percussion here.

Overall, for your first entry, this is a really cohesive and well-done soundtrack! I like that it’s a complete story with a sense of progression. There’s always room for improvement, but you’ve got a stronger foundation than some, and I really look forward to seeing what you do in the future. Well done, and keep writing!

Blessed Beginning: I only grew more and more unsettled as this went on. This track being so minimal but slowly changing really builds the tension! the detail of the faint, growing static in the background really adds to the ambiance.

A Chill Track to find Keys, etc. To: I was really expecting another horror track here! Glad to hear something more chill-- I'm easily scared, and probably doomed for the rest of this soundtrack. You've created a sound from right out of a PS1 game. Nice work on not doing too much here. This is meant to be a chiller track, and it's not catching to the ears, nor boring and incessantly repetitive.

Theme of Laren: very compelling theme-- the second half has a nice accidental that adds harmonic interest and is very effective. It would've been great to hear the countermelody after the second statement of the theme layered over Laren's theme! I feel like the two would've made great counterpoint. Regardless, nice work here.

Save Room: lovely and simple-- love the pan-flutey melody that comes in over the rolling chords. The choice of synths really makes a cozy vibe.

Reprieve: this track is good, and well-written! I had expected it to be equally or more unsettling as Blessed Beginning, though-- perhaps you could have leaned into the horror more here? It still feels relatively chill.

Obligatory Shooting Game: goofiness is good! This track is lots of fun.

Nobody hears you pray: here's the horror I was waiting for! The repetitive thumping noise that slowly gets louder and more intense is just brilliant. I can imagine an endless chase from the eldritch creature inching closer and closer... Loved the glitchy moment before jumping back into the beat. These synths work really nicely together.

Goodbye Laren: this melancholy theme is a nice way to close out this story. It's plaintive, starting with a pause, before Laren seemingly begins to trudge towards her fate, resigned.

In all, the cohesiveness of the chosen synths and instruments was really the shining star of this soundtrack. I'll have to try and compose in this early-3D-games style, it has such an inherent creepiness to it! Great work, and keep writing!

Morning Light: I'm very delighted by this light-hearted melody, and the light variations of it as the piece goes on! Each new phrase is pleasantly different from the last, with enough transitional material and a contrasting b-section to drum up interest. You've done very well here. My only advice is that some instruments sound a little out of place-- the bell, and the whipping percussion sound, for instance-- and that the mixing is very guitar-heavy, with some instruments drowning out others. Mixing is tough, though... and not everybody has extensive instrumental libraries. So from a purely compositional perspective, I'm very impressed!

Under the Umbrella: another beautiful and well-written melody. The tone switch from gentle piano to whimsical orchestra was also very nice! All the textures you explore are very beautiful, and pleasantly contrasting-- I might even invite you to be more restrictive, as lots of textures and instrumentations don't get revisited after their initial presentation. 

On the Pier Under the Stars: for two seconds there, I was like... 'Spirited Away?' this is a similar melody for sure, but I have no grievances. This track is probably my favorite: another delightful melody, with a good balance of variety and familiarity.

In all, I'm proud of your work here! Between the story, cover art, and music, you've created something cohesive and very enjoyable to listen to. Great work, and keep writing!