Pulsing Sci-Fi Instrumental Cue

[pwaara]

Ok, I thought I nailed this one, but it got returned. Usually, when I get a return, I can see what the reviewer is saying, but I can't say I agree with this review. Let me know what you all think.

Here's the track

https://www.taxi.com/members/1z0WFHKjSR ... -sad-robot

Listing

PULSING, SCI-FI-Style INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a very successful NON-Exclusive Music Licensing Company that’s feeding music directly to a specific TV Series.

They need a bunch of Cues in a variety of tempos. Please listen to the references they gave us below to get an idea of the style they’re looking for:

"The Birds Are Doing That" by Cliff Martinez

"100 Doses" by Cliff Martinez

"There's Nothing In There" by Cliff Martinez

Please submit well-composed Instrumental Cues that could work well in the context of Sci-Fi-related content. Your submissions should be arpeggiator-driven and can cover a range of moods from Tense and Anticipatory to Haunting and Sinister. Build your Cues around a simple, central melody that will sit easily behind a scene’s dialogue, while adding new elements as they progress to create a sense of propelling movement and development.

TAXI Tip: Gentle pulses, clock-like ticks, chimes, arpeggiated leads, and droning synth pads are all potentially great elements to build these kinds of Cues around. Please make sure the instrumentation you use doesn't sound like it's stock music or sound cheesy. Send them the good stuff!

Review

What I like most about this song
I like the build and some of the electronic pulsing elements.

I think you could improve this song by
While I like the build and some of the production sounds, overall some of parts are too loud and a more even mix is needed.

I returned or forwarded this song because
Recording/Mix needs improvement.

[pwaara]

Thanks. This is a more useful critique.

[AlanHall]

My submissions to this listing were returned for not being 'subdued' enough. Literally,
"...reference tracks. All 3 have a very subdued feel that sits well behind dialogue..."
After listening again to the ref tracks, I can hear that I was clouding the midrange a lot more than the ref tracks did. You may have had some of the same issue? (although I don't think we had the same screener, mine used different words to say the same thing)

Moving forward, I may have to use some tool to see the spectrum of the ref tracks vs mine when I send, at least until I can tune my critical listening skills. With a little change in the mix and EQ, I think either of our tracks may have been a go.