Kingbastard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lantern (MTehc)]

Unsettling.

Definately not the start I was expecting from an ambient piece, but it settles nicely. Generally this doesn't feel lika an ambient track to me, more one for the Misc section:)
As you wrote in your description it definately has a disconcerted feel to it, never really settling. I would have to say that the sudden drum break and then cymbal crashes sound a little out of place. Perhaps try replacing the cymbal with a more electronic sound instead of an acoustic one. There's some good depth to the sound and the ending noise is fitting.
After the tracks finished i'm kinda left thinking 'what just happened!?'.
Not really a track so much as a collection of sounds, but an interesting collection nonetheless.

JamesMillen responds:

Thank you for your comments, I was looking forward to someone reviewing this!

The cymbal I agree with, was never happy with that. The drum break was one hundred percent deliberate and stays, because for me it's the focus of the track. But most people agree with you!

[-=LJC=- Toy Piano »LOOP«]

toytown becomes moody and serious

like the chopped/glitchy beats, nice:) Not much in the way of melody, but just enough to keep it fresh. I can't vote 10 on this though as it's just a little loop, so 8/10 & 4/5 from me:) why you no review my music anymore, did i hurt you in some way:D hahaha

LJCoffee responds:

Hey hey hi hi!

I agree - in fact 8/10 and 4/5 might be a bit generous.

Sorry I haven't been around to vote on your stuff in a bit - there's nothing but respect and admiration for you from my end. I'll have to go see what's new.

Thanks KB!

[WC > Blanket]

Relaxing

This is a nice trk. Really chilled but slightly sinister feel. Good glitchy beats, but personally i don't like the brush-kit style drum loop that comes in about halfway through the trk, i just don't think it's necessary.
Cool trk, good panning and simple but effective ambience. Nice use of bleeps and blips to break up the mood. Liked it alot.

StrangeEncounters responds:

Thanks alot for the review! I was gonna lay some glitchwork on the drums. But never got to it. Thanks though,

[synthomatic]

DialP

Nice trk, I can definately hear a Plaid influence with the long intro followed with the breaks. The trk has a good build to it, i'm not too sure about the mid range synth that comes in at the bridge, i like what it plays, but the sound doesn't seem right to me. I think this trk is crying out for a deep flowing/holding bassline to help drive it along, as at the moment it is a little overpowered by the high-end beats and a sub-bass drone line would really balance the mix out nicely.
Nice production and good choice of sounds for the ambience, nice and spacious.
Good stuff.

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

yo the king,
this is another blassic case of 'hmm, nice build-up, shame about the rest' due to lack of patience. you've given me a bit to think about, will make the effort to re-do it as i like that 'plaid' like intro.
nice1 ;ped

p.s. omg, plaid have got a new album out, listened to a few snippets on bleep.com last, sounds like it's just a bunch of extras from spokes, but hey, if it ain't broke...

[-=LJC=- Rain]

Rain

Ah Rain, one thing I know lots about living in the UK:) This trk is quite descriptive, with the synths reflecting the sound of droplets splashing off the window pane. Your choice of sounds in this trk are very fitting, especially the thunder esq sound that comes in as the trk builds. Definately my favourite of your recent submissions. Good simple interlacing riffs and effective drum programming make for a very good descriptive piece.
Nice.

LJCoffee responds:

Thanks you again, this one and Slumber are my favorites of the four that I submitted. I'm glad you liked it.

I haven't been over to listen to your newer stuff - I'll need to do that over the weekend!

talk to you later

[-=LJC=- Slumber]

Soundtracky

Definate soundtrack material. Gentle and simple vibe to this trk. I would like to hear it without the beats as an ambient soundscape, might sound interesting as I think the beats are perhaps a little too stripped back, nice fx on them though:)

LJCoffee responds:

Thank you! perhaps I'll prep a second version with only minimal percussion bits.

[-=LJC=- Something Drummy]

Top Gun

Again I Like the beats, but i'm not a fan of the sound of the guitar. Sounds-like a breakbeat version of a piece of music from top-gun:D

LJCoffee responds:

Yeah, nice - I was thinking along the lines of cheesy arena rock. top-gun huh? - I was going for more of an iron-eagle 23 feel but it's all good!

[-=LJC=- Hell if I know ...]

Great glitch

Lovely stuff. Great glitches and fx. Nice production too, big sound. Personally I think it could do without the kick but I like nonetheless. Some sort of drifting ambient pads would sound nice. Did'nt really like it when it turned ethnic, just never been a fan of the mixture of those two styles.

LJCoffee responds:

Hey Kb

nice to hear from you - thanks for taking the time to review all of these.

I tossed those samples in one day to see what I could do with them - after a bit, they sort of grew on me and the track sounded empty without them - so I figured I'd just let them live there as they all seemed happy at the time :)

[etagengroove]

Superb

perhaps the xylophone thing has got a bit overused, but this trk has it's own take on the style and mixes squarepusher esq beats n breaks with individuality. I love the breakdown, with the reversed sounds and genius bassline, as I said in my last review, utterly cool. That semi-squelch bassline is so infectious and then the build into the more breaky vibe is just great. I can't emphasise how good this tune is, deserves to be listened to by everyone:) Honestly the best trk I have ever heard submitted to newgrounds, simply put, it's the bollox:)

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

lololol, holy crap cheers dude.
i don't totally agree its the best ever but thanks.
i've had total writers block for ages until i managed to squeeze these two out so it's nice to know sum1 appreciates them. the xylophone is quite ridiculous but it made me chuckle. As for the bass synth, it is, shock horror, a maelstrom, haven't used reason for about 6 months but got the urge here for the bass.
anyhoo, thanks for the review, gonna get a myspace page up quite soon so i'll give u a shout.
love ;ped

[cinhte hctilg]

Ding!

This is utterly cool. I love the percussive feel mixed with the electronic glitch. The reversed and reverbed sounds work really well. Definately gets my 5, nice to hear some experimental stuff on this site.

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

reeeeeeespec,
thanks boss, glad u liked it, been meaning to go through it with a fine tooth comb and mash things up with some more variations but i quite frankly can't be badgered:P
;Ped