Xylofon (xylofon.xm)

Overall Impression (8/10)

This module is a well done mixed genre musical assortment, and it is remarkable for its length and variety. A module that is over 10 minutes long and that manages to keep listener's attention to it without getting boring at first (and especially 2nd, 3rd, etc) play is a rare find. And this module is the very case – over 12 minutes of interesting musical themes.

Technique, Arrangement, Composition (8/10)

At first glance, the structure of this module does not seem too complicated. And in general, the way it is – patterns are not overfilled with notes and effect commands, everything is placed measuredly.
Each pattern is used only once (exception is made for pattern 99, which ends the module), so this module successfully avoids unwanted repetitiveness.
Drum sequence realization worth mentioning. This module combines usage of both separate percussion instruments (41-48) and pre-sampled drum sequence (instrument 64). While instruments 41-48 use good quality samples, instrument 64 sounds cheap and does not really fit into composition. Patterns 73-76, 78-87 and 99 feature an interesting trick: pre-sampled drum sequence (instrument 64) is synchronized with a rhythm of separate percussion instruments (41-48, except 45). In all mentioned patterns except 73 and 74, instrument 64 plays in the key of B-5, so it is properly synchronized with a rhythm of separate percussion instruments. But in patterns 73 and 74, instrument 64 plays in the key of A#5. It is unknown if this was an intentional choice or it was a mistake, because the drum sequence in these two patterns sounds discordant, yet unusual and original. The ED1 command (1 tick note delay) applied to instrument 44 in patterns 65-76, 78-87 and 99 to make echoed drums is a nice touch. In total, this module got a diversified drum sequence with several interesting ideas.

Development (6/10)

Sample quality is a weak point of this module – it is pretty low. Samples 79, 80, 82 and 83, representing a distorted guitar, are the worst. Luckily, they appear only in three patterns (70-72) as instruments 60-63, so that does not really matter. But instrument 64, mentioned before, also sounds bad, and unlike instruments 60-63, it appears in 26 patterns, and it is hard not to pay attention to its quality. A better sample would be beneficial for this module.
Some patterns suffer noticeably from unbalanced stereo separation. For example, patterns 36-42 suffer from instrument 36 that is panned to the right channel only; patterns 10, 11, 24 and 25 suffer from instrument 38 that is panned to the left channel only; patterns 57 and 58 suffer from the 800 command (set panning to 0) that is applied to instrument 32, which makes it panned to the left channel only. Slight adjustments to the panning (moving away from extreme values of 0 and 255) would be a good idea.
Transitions are generally well done, although one of the G40 commands (set global volume to 64) has been placed at the 63rd row of pattern 42, while it should have been placed at row 0 of pattern 43 to sound right.

Creativity (9/10)

It is pretty impressive that the module author was able to come up with and interconnect (more or less successfully) as many as thirteen melodic parts, different in style and mood.
Part 1 (00:00-02:18) is a melancholic part, which starts off with piano and strings solo, both of which then work together with mensural beat and, by the end, with angelic voices. An acoustic guitar in the background completes the mood.
Part 2 (02:18-03:35) continues the beat from part 1, but now it sounds dramatically because of changed chords, high-pitched and low-pitched deep strings towards the end.
Part 3 (03:35-04:13) still shares the same beat from previous two parts, but now the chords are changed again, and it sounds brighter than the previous part. A trumpet appears in this part.
Part 4 (04:13-05:24) is a sad part with dark strings, guitar, slow beat, and a bit of trumpet.
Part 5 (05:24-06:40) is a tense part with deep dissonant strings and heavy beat.
Part 6 (06:40-07:34) is a smooth part with violin and guitar in the first half of it, and violin and strings only in the second.
Part 7 (07:34-08:12) is a heroically sounding part with majestic strings and violin only.
Part 8 (08:12-09:04) presents a new beat with echoed drums and distorted guitar by the end.
Part 9 (09:04-09:36) is another tense part with high-pitched strings and messed up beat from previous part.
Part 10 (09:36-10:40) shares almost the same beat as in part 8 and has slightly dissonant strings.
Part 11 (10:40-11:18) has the same high-pitched strings as in the beginning of part 9, but with ghostly voices at the beginning, and with a new beat towards the end.
Part 12 (11:18-11:50) uses sped up melody from part 3 with the beat from previous part.
Part 13 (11:50-12:16) utilizes the same patterns as at the end of part 10, but they repeat four times instead of three. During these repeats, the sound slowly fades out.
Despite the number of parts, there is no excessive variegation of the composition. It is very difficult to classify it as a mishmash, because its constituent parts sound quite harmonious together. Nonetheless, the fading of ideas from the beginning to the end of the module is noticeable.

Enjoyment (9/10)

I enjoy this module mainly for its melancholic mood. The mood is unique for every module, and this module is not an exception. It got somewhat mystic, enigmatic atmosphere. Part 7 (07:34-08:12) is definitely an apogee of this module. I enjoy it a lot, as well as part 10 onwards.
I like the selection of main keys during the module (minors: C#, A, B, D, B – minor B takes up most of the module). It fits perfectly into the mood of this module.
Drum sequence is half of success of this module. It is addictive because of its variations.
Replayability potential of this module is high enough, thanks to its diversification.
All in all, I find this module very enjoyable.

Additional Comment

In conclusion, I would like to say that I was impressed by this module when I discovered it several years ago. It is diverse, long, interesting, and different from most other modules, and all of this together. This is why I like this module.