I didn't initially notice responses, so sorry for my slow reply! But rest assured, I am really grateful for the listens and you guys sharing your thoughts!
BIL wrote:
Last Slow Dance With Destiny is stunning.
The ebb and flow was giving me vibes of Blast Wind's
The Longest Voyage, in a less overtly hair-metal style. Ending/Staff Roll BGM? Loving
Teardrops Over The City too, has that melancholic jazzy Rayxanber III tone (one I've found in few other STGs, come to think of it).
This totally sounds like something you'd find in a PCE-CD Redbook gamerips folder, and you know I mean that in the fondest terms imaginable.
It pleases me that my music pleases the mighty BIL!
It's funny you mention RayXanber, as during the period i was writing the music for Devil Engine, my two largest inspirations were RayXanber and Taito's RAY series. So the soundtrack as it stands is something of a mish-mash lovechild of Yasuhito Saito and Tamayo Kawamoto! It's funny to see these two competing influences throughout my proposed soundtrack, especially when contrasted with the furious Technosoft homage Qwesta's work became.
Last Slow-Dance was originally envisioned as a last-stage BGM - and after I knew I was off the project for good I decided to ditch any semblance of game-looping BGM and just go wild. The track I had in mind was something of a bald-faced homage to
RayXanber II's final-stage BGM. Much like the RAY series, I loved the contrast between shoot-em-up hell and downbeat/relaxed music. It creates a perfect juxtaposition in my mind. In fact, more than once while thinking of the track, your phrase "
LIGHTERS IN THE AIR FOR ZOUL'S LAST STAND" crossed my mind.
Since ZUNTATA ushered a younger Ing into the love of STG, their melancholy brand of shmup jamz tattooed itself onto my head. This can also be heard in Wave Rider's latter shift from upbeat rock to introspective jazz.
I am quite proud that you think this music can stand toe-to-toe with some of the PC Engine's greatest hits.
Though it might not ever reach the heights of Sexy Dynamite. I mean, I accept that.
FinalBaton wrote:
And all the songs have a clear feel and VGM stage-context. with all moods being so fun, honestly.
Splendid job, man. Be proud!
Coming from an accomplished musician as yourself, this means quite a bit to me, so thank you! I very much appreciate it given your perspective from a live artist and VGM-connoisseur.
As to some of your specific comments:
-I don't know why I decided to add a celtic-flavored solo to Strike for Justice, but it infinitely elevated the track in my opinion. I am sure you have found yourself not really knowing where an improvisational section will lead, as was the case with me, but I try to get out of the way of my own brain when something interesting is happening.
-I was really happy with the Roar of the Jungle track, though it was eventually cut because it lacked the energy for a boss track the dev wanted (again, see my thoughts above as to my reasons). The wistful flute section ties the whole track together, I agree.
-the sax lead for Teardrops over the City was a special request, and the original frame of reference I had was Neo Kobe from SNATCHER. The track is actually an expansion of a short famitracker chiptune I wrote like ten years ago that I tried to bury (because it sucked)... "Expansion" in the sense that the only thing that survived was the first few bars of the melody. This act of self-thievery would result in my most popular track from old builds. A big moment of pride was hearing through the grapevine one of the ZeroRanger devs saying that they really liked the track.
It's the little things in life!
-Rhythm is my biggest self-conscious weaknesses in music writing. Drums especially. So I get nervous with them and either over-write them, or get worried about having the same loop play the whole time. So I try to write new patterns for each major section, all by hand. I don't think most listeners can tell that these aren't drum loops, or that they were all written note-by-note, especially since my approach to writing drums is so basic (start with bass+snare, then layer hihats/rides on top + cymbals/toms for emphasis). I am more comfortable with bass because my time in a jazz band rhythm section as a young lad let me groove and listen to some talented friends improvise.