I don't know how I missed this. Thought I got every damn AIM entry. Guess not. :P
Let's see, again really not liking the highpass play intro. Hi-pass play on the drums was interesting -- UNTIL naked drums came over top of the track, and then it felt superfluous. As a rule, hi-pass when you've got something under it. Low pass when it's naked. Remember the sound pyramid shouldn't look like lady Newt Gingrich.
Progression is holding my interest. Good for lounging, relaxing, reflecting. Overall, pretty sexy ambiance. Not sure if that's intended or not. Also, you're going to have to kill a hostage, because this isn't synthwave! It's closer to jazz. Listen to those solos! Now, does that fit in a genre of music that sounds straight out of the 80's?
Mixing is where this one suffers most. Nothing is particularly clashing, but that bass is very dry and is sticking out because of it. It's also a little too loud. Everything else sounds very syrupy, then along comes this bass and... I think I might hear a piano under it, but can't tell if it's that or just a really low-passed piano to begin with. I think I hear synthy pick noises. Maybe not. Everything else is all pretty sounding, but this bass sounds like it's just there chilling, waiting for the song to be over.
Also, your injection of percussion is probably not as dynamic as you want. Watch your volume leveling. Pay attention to cymbals. This one could have used cymbal rolls for its transitions specifically. There are points where some sections sound like they were just pasted on the tail of another, like at 2:00 where we get what sounds like a lightly brushed hat, but the section is so naked, it sounds abrupt! Maybe tap on a ride to get a little ring out of it first. Warm up the ears!
Good song overall. Enjoyed the listen. Did not enjoy the uncomfortable thoughts and anxiety that came with the premise, haha.