Score: 10

"Nice!"

submission: .HLS. Move On RMX [wip]

date: March 2, 2009

I like those percussions and the groove in general, it's classic Trance but very well done! The sound is good but lacks some low-end, the BL has the same problem as the one in the last track of yours I've reviewed. Sounds like a supersaw/square - at least there's multiple oscillators detuned against each other which doesn't make a good bassline because it's much too unsteady and doesn't supply the constant "ooomph" a club track needs. you can keep the synth (remove the low frequencies though) but add another one (single osc) for the low bass.

I love the buildup (the first 2 minutes), the piano-melody also works surprisingly well for a lead synth, great idea! Looking forward to the full version!

Score: 10

"Supreme sound"

submission: Ocean's Breath (OM Collab)

date: February 23, 2009

This is as professional as progressive trance gets, keep producing like this and you''ll have a bright future ahead of you. I have to criticize the "lead"-arp starting at 2:33 though, some notes are non-harmonic (no idea if that's how you say it, musical terms are hard to translate)
10 & 5'd

Score: 8

"review"

submission: Alone (Extended Dark Mix) [WiP

date: February 23, 2009

Hey HLS,
It's good so far but it feels somewhat empty in the current state, I'm counting groove, bassline, synthlead and her voice. You should definitely add some more tonal instruments like an arp, an additional bass-layer (can have the same notes but make it more "crunchy") and/or the ones you've suggested. And remember that low bass shouldn't be in stereo (opinions vary but I try to keep everything below 100hz mono), "otiumFX basslane", a free plugin does that for you if you don't want to tweak your synth.
Okay that's about it then, keep on producing!

Score: 10

"Fantastic production"

submission: The Lightning's Funeral

date: February 5, 2009

This sounds gorgeous, even on my cheap headphones. The "athmospheric" instruments are used very thoughtfully and only where they are needed, which gives thing even more dimension. Totally faved!

Score: 8

"Cool stuff"

submission: Ambient Trance WIP

date: January 15, 2009

Hey Greg
The synth/sound selection comes very close to the late 90s Prog-Trance, one of the styles I absolutely, wholeheartedly love. The intro is already very good but the later progression lacks, well... progression. The piano should do a bit more than repeating the same pattern, give it some variation. Fade in another thick pad (like Chicane's) using a low pass filter over a few bars.
Some percussion samples in the main groove feel a bit delayed, take a look at all your samples and check if there's silence at the beginning. Use a clap with more punch and presence, I can barely hear it right now. I think there's too much going on in the cymbal-section, tone it down a bit. The bass sound is more on the subtle side but that's just right for prog trance, although maybe you could try turning the low-cut resonance up a notch to give it some spice?

Ok, so much for the things that could be improved imo, but I'm really looking forward to the finished version of this, keep it up :)

Score: 10

"hmmm"

submission: Nuclear Flash (Mega Man 2)

date: January 5, 2009

To me over the top means that it's too loud or unpleasant to listen to - not the case here. It's (3:15) just the most massive sounding climax I've ever heard in a D'n'B track. I can't imagine how many synths/samples you've layered here, may I ask what base-waveform you've used for the bassline?

Can't wait for listening to it on my proper sound system :)

Score: 10

"5/5"

submission: AoMK - Desert Montage

date: December 5, 2008

This is absolutely brilliant. I love the crescendo and the fact that you've stuck to the essence which makes it 51 seconds of pure gold. This reminds me of the OST of "Kingdom of Heaven" by Harry Gregson Williams (Light of life - Ibelin Reprise), both rhythmically and melodically, could it have been an influence? ;)
However the production quality is almost perfect, I only would've wished for the instruments to be a little closer to the listener, it seems like you're sitting 30 metres in front of it - but that's only my taste.
1/2 point for each time I've listened to it ;)

Score: 8

"Sweet"

submission: Xyirx - Tomorrow is Waiting

date: November 17, 2008

I liked it a lot, just a few thing to justify the 8/10.
0:13 I don't know about the chello, its tone is way too hard, maybe it's just too loud. I'd have expected a softer introduction of strings, maybe only violins instead of the chelli?
The melody has a few moments that sound weird to my ears. 1:16 for instance.
Otherwise this was well done and the mood really fits to the scene you've described. Keep up the good work

Score: 10

"masterpiece"

submission: Infinity Ambience

date: November 14, 2008

I've listened to this about 5 times in a row today and I'm happy for you that, in the meantime, it has reached a chart position it really deserves. I've read your journal and I honestly don't know what else a person has to do to be allowed to call himself a composer.
Your synths and the real instruments intertwine to a point where you can't tell which is which. It's expertly arranged and you did everything to keep the progression exciting. The melodies are needless to say magnifient, i love this thing.
Thank you for sharing.

Score: 8

"deep crush"

submission: Crush Depth

date: November 12, 2008

0:00 - 0:45 A nice, eery intro complete with piano and strings, almost perfect. The introduction of the cymbals is a bit abrupt though. I think adding some kind of psychedelic delay (in the intro only) to the hi-hats while doing a volume fade would really fit to the intro style.

0:45 That bass/pad wall of sound is fairly awesome but what I like most about it is the phasing-effect, It might lack a tad of high mids though.

1:30 Cool main groove, the drums+hats work very well in the mix but when the bassline goes away, the cymbals become too shrill to my ears.

Being mostly a commercial-producer I miss some kind of main melody but of course that's not a necessary element.
Apart from that it's a kickass track, great job man!

cheers
-Luke