About the review

Title: Talaus Theme
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Artist: bluezone
Genre: Classical/New Age: Fantasy
Reviewed by: TwiTerror on August 20, 2007 (All reviews by TwiTerror)

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1Overall Description
"Talaus Theme" is a fairly interesting orchestral track by bluezone. While this piece does have a lot of potential, the piece is very cloudy sounding which makes diminishes the music's full ability to capture my heart. The crowded nature of the piece really diminishes this track for me; it has an astonishing amount of potential, and is musically very interesting. If you're looking for an interesting piece that might win your heart if you can get past a certain murky quality, than you've found a keeper. Either way, this piece is definitely worth a listen.
 
2Creativity Description
This piece is fairly creative, although there is a fair amount of repetition in certain string motifs. All in all, however, there are several melodies and other harmonic measures that keep things moving, which is always good. On the other hand, this isn't the most unique piece I've heard; but that isn't the point. Musically, this piece serves very well its purpose in an MMORPG, and that's what I think counts here.
 
3Arrangement Description
Musically, this piece has several flaws that keep it from shining. The overall muddy quality of the track is definitely traced back to the piece's arrangement. It is instantly apparent that strings dominate this piece. And by dominate, I mean they take a certain precedent quality that is appreciably, but here it is simply overpowering. I hear so many violins playing that it simply sucks the reality right out of the music. While I realize that reality isn't always something that an artist is seeking, the multitude of violins also creates a very closed sound. Most of the strings a playing close position chords, and in the mid frequencies, this really detracts from the piece, and leads to muddiness in the mixing. Also, arrangement wise, there are very few dynamics that stand out. The muddiness issue of the strings might be less apparent if the block chords were faded down a bit, and the melodies were allowed to stand out more. My last suggestion would be to create some breath room for the woodwinds, namely the oboe-like instrument that has much of the melodic duty. There aren't any places for this instrument, and other brass and woodwind instruments, to breath. They are constantly playing long passages that would be impossible for an actual player. While this seems nitpicky, adding the breath room when appropriate adds a lot of musicality to the piece, and helps clear things up.

On the upside, there are several interesting ideas in the music, and very captivating progressions. Unfortunately, there just isn't a lot room to hear things. My main suggestion would to be to turn some things down, and give the winds room to breath, and you'll be amazed at how things sound afterwards. All in all, I'd have to say the arrangement is work of an upper novice or lower apprentice orchestrator, but a distinguished composer.
 
4Sound Quality Description
The samples are fairly proficient, and the really only downside, again, comes from the muddiness in the arrangement. The production quality, unfortunately, is a mess, and I have a hard time imagining this in an actual production with this kind of mixing and quality. While most of it could be fixed with a little room in the arrangement (those closed chords going constantly), some damage control can be managed in the mixing (as I said, turn down the violins, and you'll hear things open up). A little more work and the music here could do great things; we just have to work on the quality henceforth.
 
5Does it work as a piece of music Description
Musically this piece is sound; although there is no ending. However, this is simply attributed to the fact that it is targeted for a game audience, where the piece would loop, either way. (However, listening to it on constant loop, it doesn't seem to loop well.)

In the end, this is musically sound, but I would like to hear things fixed up otherwise.
 
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