Solid and cohesive, and I really like all of your tracks' arrangements, beautifully written with a lot of emotions in them. The second song makes great contrast to the first song, with the same musical motif but delivers a more intensive feels, which I am a fan of. It also does sound like it comes out of a game, if you put that track into a modded Terraria boss fight I bet it fits perfectly. Well done!
Dreamy and great vibe! I really like the combination of synth texture and acoustic instruments you have chosen, the synth is expertly chosen and crafted with movements, and the acoustic drum brings out the human element in your music. Really well done!
Hypnotic, dreamy, and immersive. I'm personally a fan of this kind of music, it borrows a lot of interesting qualities from different subcultures as well as music sub genres that makes it worth it to listen to even outside of the jam's context. Unironically I still pull up your music from last year to listen to from time to time as well. The "indie" and experimental sides of the music are also I think the right qualities for it to become an underground hit if the right game exists as a vessel to contain the music under the right context.
I also sense that a lot of thoughts were put into crafting the narrative for Bloody Red Moon this times around, the pacing of the entire album as a whole definitely differs from Self-Acceptance that it has more breathing room for narrative building. If I remember correctly last year a judge commented that the music might be too repetitive, and I thought back then isn't it exactly the point for this kind of music to be repetitive, so having more breathing room and musical structure definitely is a great response to that "issue" under the jam's scrutiny.
Fantastic job and I will look forward to your future works!
That first track is written in 7/8. I did in fact end up compose it like a concert band since initially I figured adding strings section don't really cut through the noisy subway sound, so it ends up in a wind ensemble arrangement.
I frequently found street performers in NYC subways, and a lot of them are trumpet, trombones, and drums player, definitely take some inspiration from them as well.
I am a big fan of Steve Reich as well! His composition Different Trains is definitely an inspiration I've taken from. I was just talking to a friend the other day that riding long transportation really allow me some times to think to myself in otherwise really frantic daily lives in a city.
What a soundtrack!!! Fantastic techno/trance vibe that reminds me of the Lain series. Superb drum programming/loop selections and rhythm variations! I don't know how tf you managed to produce all of these in just more than a week, but it showed a mastery of sequencing in your DAW and a deep understanding of this genre of music. Mind = blown. I will be following your music with great interest.
Thank you for comment, rikuwru! I used 8dio Insolidus Choir and a little bit of Soundiron Requiem Light for that last piece. The 8dio Insolidus choir really excels in slower tempo and classic 4-parts writing style of composition.
This is one of my top submissions so far. Classic RPG vibe. Very well thought out with each track fitting different context of the game. Also very ambitious to do a 20 tracks album for the jam, and it pays off being a more “complete” OST than most of other jam submissions. It’s a piece of work that feels genuine instead of trying to be flashy. Well done!
Maybe I just have a preference of listening to chill tracks with ambient foleys, I thoroughly enjoy every second listening to the sound palette of the light percussions, mallets, and strings. The tracks are also nicely produced, and a plus for me is actually that the last track is quite long for a total of over 4 minutes, which I would gladly put on loop to listen to while either playing games or doing other works. You have certainly captured the vibe of this genre of music well, and I would rated highly just based on my enjoyment of this pleasant listening experience you provide us.
Outstanding leitmotif and use of aleatoric string textures. Delicately composed instrumental textures. I can imagine the soundtrack be performed by a real ensemble in a concert and still sounding balanced and beautiful. Excellent works!
Hi Floris, thank you for you kind words! Juxtaposition is something I think about constantly in my compositions, as well as the listener's experience.
I used Berlin Strings from Orchestral Tools for my strings writing. It has a smaller size (8.6.5.5.4) and to me it sounds closer to what a real classical string ensemble sounds like as well as more human compare to other popular string library that aims for the more produced Hollywood sound. I haven't checked out Peteris Vasks library yet, but perhaps because it is produced by the same company you have noticed their similarity of sound. You have great ears!
This is my first jam I've joined, but I've already noticed some bangers from others that far exceed common level of video game soundtrack in this jam. Really excited to see more talented composers/producers come into the game space and expect to see new stars rising from this community.
Funny cat jam good. My favorite track is definitely "Icarus the Candle Cat Wants to Fly". Strong melodic presence and groove. I also quite like the catchy bouncy bass in the last track "The Nest of the Unkindness", it gives a lot of personality to the music. I do hope the lead melodic synth sound design can vary a bit more across all tracks. Overall good vibe and a enjoyable listening experience from beginning to end. Great job!
