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Gem X - arranged by hegeReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 I hope one of these days I will gain an understanding of why people bother covering tunes that were remade by Hülsbeck himself ages ago. Not only Hege8 covers the same tune, he even covers it in *EXACTLY* the same style Hülsbeck did it on his CD… Sure, it's nice to do things like this to practice and/or imitate composition and arrangement techniques, but to release it to the public this way?… … Maybe Hege8 never heard Chris' own remake? That would be odd, because the similarities are frightening. |
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Bladerunner End Titles (Terminator Mix) - arranged by Honorabili offlineReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Hmm, well, what can I say. Honorabili mastered the art of taking something with value and turning it into utter crap. As a hardcore Vangelis fan, I find this cover appallingly dumb. As a hardcore SID fan, I find this cover insulting. Either way, you are better off staying the hell away from it! |
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Unused1 (UnXenoed) - arranged by XeNoMoRpH offlineReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Cover of a little-known groovy Jeroen Tel tune. I think, this cover doesn't do justice to the original. It sounds inferior with the original arpeggios left intact and with the very similar sounding lead instrument, which alone wouldn't be bad, but it doesn't work well in the big picture, or rather, I don't see the value added - I might as well listen to the original SID if I want to hear it this way. Too bad. |
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Ghost 'n Goblins - arranged by Krister NielsenReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Ever heard Skaven's Catch That Goblin? Well, it's the same orchestral style, except it's covering Cooksey's tune. What makes it stand out even more that you can hear what great attention was paid to make it sound like an authentic orchestra as much as possible. A great cover that is so good, it deserves to be on the repertoir of your local symphonic orchestra. |
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FTC - Infodroid (Fade 2 Ambient Gray Mix) - arranged by FTCReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 This is so awesome that maybe I should capitalize it: it's AWESOME! It would be hard to find problems with it even if I put it under the magnifying glass, but take back a step or two and then you'll really appreciate how well it's put together. Ambience, emotions, balanced mix - it's all there and it all works in harmony. What a great unusual cover! You know a cover is really good when it's actually better than the original - and that's true with this one. What a pleasure to listen to! |
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Dixie Commando - arranged by ScalexReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Now, if you want to be tasty and funny at the same time, *THIS* is how you do it! The familiar Commando theme played by a dixieland band! Although I can think of other SID tunes that would've been helluva better candidates for a dixie remix, but even this one will make you smile for sure. Talk about a stylistic mismatch! But in this case, that's what makes it really fun! |
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IK+ (Nokia mix) - arranged by DJ SubslashReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 This remix starts out with a superb groove, then you hear the beeping IK+ theme coming out of a Nokia phone. If this remix was intended to be funny - it ain't. If it's serious, it's making a mockery of this SID classic. It's tasteless. |
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R-Type Title Remix (Dance Version) - arranged by CZ TunesReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 I am unimpressed. Yet another let's add drums to the SID remix. Well, actually, some effects also try to enhance the feeling here, too. Hooray. I'm still unimpressed. |
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Hollywood Poker Pro - arranged by Dr FutureReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 The basic idea was good (to turn this tune into a dance-mix, which I see as the natural choice), but the execution lacks the oomph and feeling to push it over the edge. No doubt it's due to the lack of decent synths available to Dr. Future, because I find one of the lead sounds rather childish and the whole tune has this cheap Casio-synth feeling to it. A nice effort, nevertheless, but it's in dire need of a better treatment. |
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Thanatos (sleeping dragon mix) - arranged by FTCReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 When it started, I was tempted to denounce this remake, but when the lead kicked in and as it progressed, I was convinced that it's a well thought-out piece that deserves more attention. Some might be annoyed by the high-pitched lead at times, personally, I am annoyed by the seemingly out-of-rhythm snare drums, but as a whole it's better than its parts. Not superb, but better. |
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Arkanoid 2010 - arranged by FTCReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 A very unusual approach to Arkanoid, tilting it more towards the ambient side, although the famous drums and beeps are kept intact. Lots of filtered analogish sounds, a very nice concept overall that I think works rather well. |
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Cybernoid II - Jarresque 2001 Mix - arranged by Jarno BeumerReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Personally, I don't find anything Jarresque in this cover despite the fact that I consider myself a big fan of Jarre. Maybe, only maybe I can sort of imagine its style being a mix of Chronologie and Oxy 7-13, but that's a stretch. Nevertheless, this is one superb cover, albeit a bit too bright for my ears. (Perhaps I am just getting old?) More or less it follows the predictable path of a typical Cybi II remix, but it's very well produced and it sounds pretty clean, if I may say so. A bit thin here and there, but other than that there's hardly anything wrong with this cover! |
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Wizardry - arranged by AmpReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 A bit too rich with drums for my taste (which feeling might actually be caused by that brassy bass), but otherwise a decent remix with carefully selected instruments for the different parts of the lead. But the sound quality of the instruments is subpar, causing the overall mix sound more mushy than it really should. Kinda groovy, too, which helps a lot. |
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Commando (2001 mix) - arranged by Jarno BeumerReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 The beginning is very promising with some cool sounding drums, then it slowly builds up with very synthy instruments - and that is where it became less impressive. This build-up just stops when the main melody-line comes in. I have to say, I am very impressed with the final mixing of this remix, though. Musically, it's not as good as the opening bars suggested to me, but it has a cool bouncy feeling to it and it's worth listening to. |
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Enlightenment Druid II (Trace cover) - arranged by Kent WalldénReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Obviously, there was a Druid remix compo recently that I missed… This is also an above average cover with relatively rich instruments. Nice arrangement, I think it's rather pleasant just listening to it. Soundwise it has that sampler feeling, productionwise it's well balanced. Recommended for download. |
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Druid (Respect The Original Mix) - arranged by PloughReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Interestingly, it sounds rather simplistic. Not bad, but nothing to get too excited over. |
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Druid - arranged by Zane WhitakerReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Not an elaborate cover, but at least it adds some personal touch to Druid. Again, it has more potential than what it actually delivers. Quite nice and worth a download, though. |
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Last Ninja Wilderness ( Cadrega Mix) - arranged by Eric Pochesci offlineReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Another attempt at remixing Ben's famous Wilderness tune from LN. If the game was written in the style of this remix, it'd be a high-paced fast-action car- chases-galore game resembling a Hollywood blockbuster. Personally, I think this remix goes over the top, which may be due to a problem with the mixing or with the arrangement. I would be tempted *not* to recommend this remix to those with weak heart conditions, and nobody should listen to this tune in a car, otherwise you are guaranteed to be clocked by a traffipax at two times the posted speed limit. 😊 |
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Krakout (Kocmoc Mix) - arranged by SlumgudReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 I suppose Kocmoc here is the Russian spelling of Cosmos… This remix is quite weird, certainly surprising and different. Unfortunately, it never really builds up and the constant repetition of the introductory sequence becomes boring pretty fast. The vocoded Krakout speech sample is kinda cool, though. |
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Sanxion (Spandau Ballet mix) - arranged by MahoneyReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Yet another awesome remix by Mahoney that is completely screwed up by the original SID sounds. Yes, I know this was an artistic choice, but for crying out loud, it sounds like crap this way! I'm sorry, I just don't get it. Believe me, I was actually scratching my head as I listened to this remix. It's like seeing a Michelangelo painting (= the superb Spandau Ballet-like accompaniment) that has two large blue stripes painted over it by a child (= the SID sounds) - kinda ruins the whole thing, doesn't it? |
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Rasputin (Rob Rulez Remix) - arranged by Sascha TheelReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Sounds like something that was made on a cheap Casio synth which has all those auto-accompaniment features. Seriously! Not bad, but nothing to get excited about. Keeps it high-speed throughout the remix which makes it enjoyable. |
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Lazy Jones (Medley) - arranged by Instant RemedyReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 A pretty good dance-remix of our beloved Zombie Nation tu-… erm, Lazy Jones tunes. The individual jingles are seamlessly stitched together into one 4 minute remix. Add some great drums and synth strings, do a great job of mixing the whole thing - definitely worth a listen. |
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Auf Wiedersehen Monty - arranged by SolknightReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Not bad, not bad. The panned drums tell me that this tune may have been an XM or S3M originally. A solid average remix, pretty much everything you'd expect from an Auf… cover is here. To be perfectly honest, many times for me it sounded like my very own Auf… remix, but hey, how many ways are there to remix this tune, really?😉 A few years ago this could've been top-notch, but the stakes have been raised a lot since then. |
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Spellbound (Swing mix) - arranged by Mahoney offlineReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 I have to say, I don't think I've ever heard a remix whose style was so far away from the style of the original! This remix gets a lot of plus points for its innovative idea and were it not for that awful SID sound in the lead (yes, here it sounds awful!), it'd actually rock big time. But the lead sound is just so *NOT* good in front of that band playing in the background, it's appalling. Were the lead played on a trumpet or a saxophone, I wouldn't have thought for a second to select this to be one of my most favorite remixes, but this way I am just left wondering - how come Mahoney didn't hear this???… … (I just keep listening to this remix again and again, and I want to make it my pick of the bunch *SOOOO* bad, but that SID lead is simply bothering me a lot. Hmm, maybe if I imagined a swinging robot in a ballroom as its singing, erm, emitting sounds on top of what the band is playing… Naaah!) |
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The Last Ninja - The Wilderness - arranged by SolknightReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Publishing a Last Ninja remix these days is not an easy thing to do since there were so many past attempts. But Solknight managed to bring out a nice remix (I especially like the opening) that stands on its own. While you won't yell out whoa! when listening to his remix, but you'll certainly enjoy it, just like I did. It's definitely one of the better The Wilderness remixes out there, but don't expect a lot more than that. |
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Vertigo (green agent mix) - arranged by AxemanReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Was there a Vertigo remix compo I missed? 😊 This one is done with electric guitars, which is something I like, but after hearing Flatline's remix, I don't think it's the right way to remix this tune. Axeman is playing his heart out to get this one done, which I do value and I like this display of his skills, he just didn't pick the right tune for it. |
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Hawkeye - arranged by OllasReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 While I found the Myth Title Remix a bit underdone, this one is a bit overdone. I am quite impressed with this remix, and I think it's above average, but I don't quite think it's in that upper 10%. Probably the presence of too many high frequencies is what's bothering my ears here - it's like when I am driving at night and suddenly I am blinded by the bright light of an oncoming car. All in all, kudos to Ollas - but it's just a hair shy of being my pick. |
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Myth (Title) - arranged by CZ TunesReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Promising start with the original SID left in the mix. Then it transforms into a fairly decent remix. Parts of the final mix of this tune sound rather strange to me - some instruments are panned hard left, an almost total lack of any effects (the remix sounds pretty dry to me)… I think, the choice of instruments is not bad, but the overall result sounds a tiny bit icky to me. This remix shows more potential than what it actually delivers. Still, a good contender in the mid-pack. |
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Last Ninja 2: The Sewers - arranged by N-TraceReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Musically, it starts out pretty awesome. Production-wise it could've used better mixing throughout. The choice of deep strings and the pounding timpani in the beginning and then just a hint of the lead here and there - perfect! In the middle it switches (or tries switching) gears (like the original SID) - and this is where it gets a bit disappointing: where is the punch, the power, the in-your-face scariness? Instead of becoming an I'll hunt you down, Last Ninja! -type threat it remains relatively mellow and dark. Great first half, fairly decent second half, but this second half is what prevents it from being my pick. Highly recommended for download, though. |
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Last Ninja 2: The Final Battle - arranged by N-TraceReview by LaLa, 04/02/2003 Your typical SID conversion done with the traditional synth instruments, this might even be an XM or S3M recorded into MP3. It's lacking depth, but otherwise it's a pretty solid average remix. |
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