Drawing inspiration from Autumn Blaze’s lyric, “just the view for company,” Algo at All skillfully captures Autumn’s conflicting emotions during her exile from the Kirin Village. This unique ambient track begins with neutral vibes but soon transitions into something darker, symbolic of how Autumn may have felt as she sat in solitude near her castaway-style hut and stared down at the beautiful valley below. The melancholy nature of the piece effectively conveys the pain of Autumn’s self-imposed isolation, the difficult choice she made in order to preserve her freedom of expression. The whispery background vocals hint at the quiet conversations that may have played softly in Autumn’s imagination, as she clung to the hope of one day sharing her thoughts with someone who would understand what she has lost and the price she has paid for her freedom. The piece soon gains a lighter mood, however, as Autumn sings of the importance of keeping her voice. The greatest strength of this track is the expression it gives to the progression of Autumn’s emotions throughout her exile. We can see her initial resolve, her subsequent doubt about that choice she has made, and finally, the joy she feels as she meets someone she can talk to. At this climactic moment, the fire is reignited within her as she celebrates her principled choice with more confidence than ever.
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Frozen Night – Nymerion | Epic Orchestral
Frozen Night’s new release, Nymerion, brims with the promise of heroic adventures that are sure to ignite the inner hero in us all! Nymerion is the first track to be released from Frozen Night’s upcoming album, Time’s Arrow, which will have its own novel like story and will serve as a prequel to his previous album, Thorn of the Frozen Star. In this story, Nymerion is the capital city of a land of dragons, and the oriental sound design in this piece perfectly fits this concept. A gentle melody flows like epic wind throughout the piece. Peaceful woodwinds backed by majestic strings and choirs create a truly awe-inspiring mood. Seamless transitions between minor and major chords create a sense of a peaceful time gone by, while still hinting at conflict to come. If this is only the first taste of the new album, then we can expect great things to come, and be sure to follow along with the story, as well!
PrinceWhateverer – Remember Me (feat. Blackened Blue) | Metal
Is it me? or is PrinceWhateverer improving on telling a story through his music? This deep track from Starlight Glimmer’s point of view integrates the events of seasons five and six. Prince sings about Starlight’s desires to improve herself and the events of yearning to once again see Sunburst. Starlight hopes that her old friend remembers and feels the same, and maybe something more. Prince is on top of his vocal game along with the help of Blackened Blue in the harmonies, to screaming with sorrow for her anger and sadness. The heavy metal and sweet piano chords are oh so fitting for this track; gets you right into the head of Starlight, front and center. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.
Whirlwind – Thank You | Piano Solo
This right here is just precious, done by my friend Whirlwind in honor of the day he found this show and this fandom. My word, what a lovely piece of music. Just close your eyes and think about how this show and fandom have shaped you. Whirlwind and myself talk about music all the time, and I gotta tell you, when he says this show changed him for the better, it shows in these sweet, friendship filled piano notes with a hint of the sunshine and birds chirping. You can’t help but picture you and your friends at a pony con, at a meetup or in a Discord server just talking about the characters that have meant so much to us all. Have a listen and take in Whirlwind’s joy, and as always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.
Koron Korak – Cold and Lonely Winter | Dark Ambient
This ambient piece from Koron is a musical painting brushed with the most melancholy colors of emotion. Its haunting choir vocals and strong piano chords make for a very tense mood, conveying sadness bordering on despair. Sounds of icy winds rushing through barren trees mingle with a melancholy melody, conveying the hapless plight of a wanderer who is lost in a cold, dark forest. Listeners familiar with such emotions will find themselves hoping and praying that the wanderer soon escapes his forest prison and finds his way back home.
Avery – Here and Now and so much more | Baroque Pop / Alternative Electronic
The winner of DustCar’s 14th race, this utterly lovely tribute to Pinkie from Avery will make you melt, with those Equestrian lyrics, tender vocals, and creative instrumental switching to Jungle and Psychedelic Ambient! More wonderful songs from the compo like these here or in the Discord server of DustCar!
Kallo Skull – Soul Reflection | Orchestral / Soundtrack
Paying tribute to both the divine composer Nobuo Uematsu and the story behind that artwork by Yakovlev-vad, the passionate Kallo Skull crafted a new 8-minutes masterpiece, and his own To Zanarkand. Emotional melodies and a delicate progression made with love are here to take you into a dimensional vortex while telling you “This is your story.”
RedSpark – Winter Dream | Epic Orchestral
He is back everypony, and sweet Celestia, his return is sweeter than ever! After a period of silence RedSpark returns and brings us yet another of his amazing epic orchestral pieces. The piece starts out with the slow and calming sounds of a harp, accompanied by a beautiful piano; soon strings take over and we get a part where the song is silent only interrupted by the occasional up and down of the strings until the strings are joined by other instruments giving the whole piece this regal vibe. After that we are treated to a slight change of theme as the strings take over once more and give this deeper, epic vibe which is soon supported by several horns and trumpets, once more giving off this regal sound which is ultimately filled out even more by additional strings to an effect that I cannot even describe. Later on most instruments leave us again only to return in a darker, more intense variant with drums and everything. Here the intensity of the strings is accompanied by the lighter sounds of trumpets, making for a fascinating dynamic. A bit later some strings also join the brass instruments until this battle of the darker sounds and the happy upbeat ones eclipses in a beautiful harmony, again fulfilled as can be and indescribably stunning. The piece ends on a beautiful piano solo.
Thanks to thecanderson for proofreading this!
Bridull – Cold Brew Coffee | Album | Lo-fi / Chillout
This might seem like an odd suggestion for such a subdued album, but you might want to turn the volume up a little on this one, because it would be a shame to miss any parts of the delicate arrangements on these tracks! This lo-fi/chillout offering follows Applejack as she works her way through a substantial lineup of caffeinated beverages. Bridull (a.k.a. Noizzer) uses a wide array of samples that were created by a group that’s listed in the Bandcamp credits, which I love. It’s apparent from the album’s art and the concern of the barista in the Bandcamp description that Applejack is a little worse for wear, and the introspective nature of these songs certainly reflects that. Let’s take a look at what she’s drinking and hope that she works through whatever is wrong soon!
(Continued after the break)
[VibePoniez] The Empty Tomb – Between Dreams | Future Bass
A new compilation album has just been released, and with it comes this beautifully chill, yet simultaneously epic track from The Empty Tomb. Starting out with a very cool, wintry melody that carries throughout the song, there’s also some crackly sounds that give the feel of peacefully resting in front of an open fire. This contrast very much depicts the idea of Luna watching over our dreams; the refreshing cool of the night is complimented by the warm feelings of the gentle princess watching over us in our slumbers. This track also carries a wonderful progression throughout, beginning with cool chords that lead into a drop with some sweet bass work. Finally, all elements of the track coalesce into an awesome Future Bass crescendo. As the track is titled “Between Dreams,” I imagine Luna is taking a short respite from her “dream-hopping” as she battles nightmares in the dark. She’s not merely idling, however; she is gathering courage to get back up and leap back into the fight! Join her on her epic quest in this refreshing piece, which is also one of many equally fun tracks on VibePoniez’ new compilation album, Overcast!
Horse Music Herald 