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BIT Live 2022 Less Than a Month Away!
The biggest event of the remix scene, BIT Live 2022 is less than a month away! If you haven't, yet, get your tickets now. Also don't forget to submit a remix to the event's compo. (Deadline for entries: October 16, 2022.) See you there soon!
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Commodore Retro eXpo 2022 With Concert
The Commodore Retro eXpo, the annual gathering of US Commodore enthusiasts will be held on Sept 23-25, 2022. The event will be virtual this year, but - more interestingly for remix fans - it will also host a musical event called Bit-Scape which will feature acts like FastLoaders, and the 8-Bit Symphony, among others. More details about this free (!) event at their website.
Remix News - June 2022
What? It's August already? That must mean that it's time for the Remix News from... erm... June... A little late again, but it was still a busy month with lots of great new remix releases. Your Remix News is courtesy of Lea, Mordi and SLAY Radio.
"8-Bit Symphony Pro: Second Half" Digital Released
The 8-Bit Symphony Pro: Second Half
album was just released in digital format for those who backed the Kickstarter project. Check your inboxes for the download links.
In case you've been living under a rock, the 8-Bit Symphony project arranged many of our favorite C64 SID tunes for an orchestra, which were then performed by an actual orchestra (Czech Studio Orchestra) recorded at Smecky Studios in Prague. And now the second set of those recordings have been released as a two-disc digital album, available in MP3, FLAC, surround sound and Blu-Ray formats.
To quote Chris Abbott: Together, we made this impossible project happen - actually, over 50 tracks of symphonic C64, all playable by real orchestra, a load of which were actually orchestrated by Rob fucking Hubbard. Go back even 20 years and tell yourself this would happen and you'd laugh at yourself.
In case you missed the Kickstarter, you can also pre-order the physical CD (with instant digital download) or Blu-Ray disc of the album at the link below.
Hands On Shadow of the Beast II & III
by German Remix Group
The German Remix Group has taken hands on Tim & Lee Wright’s master pieces "Shadow of the Beast II & III". The album contains eleven tracks. Nine remixes in the style of new age and orchestral and two SID remixes.
SweetArranged by Marcel Donné
Second, I have to admit that for personal reasons I hold "Sweet" very close to my heart (one could say it hit my sweetspot, heh-heh). From the first time I've heard it I thought that it is one of the (if not THE) most emotional original tunes ever created on the C64. Many times when I was depressed or just sad, I listened to this tune with my eyes closed and by the time the tune was over I had tears on my face...
So, any cover of this tune has to pass my very high expectations. And I'm pleased to say that Marcel has done it.
The previous two remixes of "Sweet" that I heard were both lacking the emotion and the sadness of the original. Marcel delivers both thanks to the soul of the famed Yamaha CS-80, the same synth that provided that signature Vangelis sound up until the 90's (and Vangelis happens to be one of my favorite composers, too).
What do I like here:
- The opening arpeggios and the entire opening itself.
- The wonderfully emotional lead provided by the CS-80 (and Marcel's playing).
- The introduction of the drums at 0:37.
- The "shadow lead" starting at 1:17. What a nice touch!
- Those a la Zoolook Jarre-esque noise-effects at 1:48 instead of the original's sweeping double-noise. What a great enhancement over the original!
- The bridge being played on a guitar. (Or guitar-like sound.)
- The introduction of the very Vangelis-like bell-like pad at 2:26 - it really enhances the melody!
- The very cool ending.
- The fact that not only Marcel sticks to the original closely, but he also managed to enhance it!
What do I think could've been done better:
- The trills in the lead do not quite come through with the CS-80 brass, they seem to disappear into the rest of the tune. This is basically due to the limitation of the sound itself, but I wonder if it could've been enhanced somehow.
- The guitar could've used a lote more vibrato at 3:02, 3:10, 3:18 and 3:25 (i. e. on the low notes). In fact, short slides would've been better here than just a vibrato, because that's pretty much what the original SID does, too.
But these are the relatively minor gripes of an obsessive perfectionist. Plus look at it: 9 pluses versus 2 not-so-pluses. That ain't bad at all!
The bottom line is, I have a new tune to cry to...
Review by LaLa
Arranged by Dr Future
Dr Future did a very fine job here. In my opinion the sounds are great, the guitars are played with emotions and the whole thing seems to say: I love(ed) this song, Rob
The song starts with decent guitar play and grows on and on, so listener shouldn't miss the very cool Solopart beginning at 4:30m. Simply great. And I know what I'm speaking of ^^.
The drums are used well and the hihat is what I like most, cause it grooves the tune.
And finally, I love the game samples, which were placed at the right points creating a smile on my face while listening.
Thank you, Dr Future!
Review by puffy64
Arranged by Marcel Donné
Review by Waz
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