Listener's Reviews

all c64 only Amiga only

Displaying Reviews 121 - 150 out of 2380

Login

Eskimonika (Encore64) - arranged by Danko

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

I was not familiar with this SID before I heard this remix on Encore64. Reworked by Danko in a way only Danko can. Twisting and distorting sounds to his will, but still keeping the original melodies intact results in a pretty hard electronic piece that remains hugely listenable. It's not really unz-unz music, though, because its rhythm is genre-defying, but it's still unmistakably Danko-esque with memorable melody lines played with crystal-clear synths backed by complex arpeggiated rhythms. Also, thank you, Tomas, for introducing me to this hidden gem of a SID!
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Opus III (Encore64) - arranged by Danko

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

It's always so great to hear a SID musician re-interpret his own work with different instruments. I really like the second half of this remix where pastiches of '90s mellow electronica abound: creamy, lush pads supported by a simple, but strong staccato bass line. Quite a delight! In fact, I wish that part was extended - it ends a bit abruptly just when I was getting into it. More of the same, please! 😋
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Ocean Loader III (Encore64) - arranged by Peter Clarke

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

This remix sits solidly in the symphonic prog-rock style with the original's arrangement reworked very cleverly to fit into this genre. Luckily, it retains the original's uptempo backbone, enhanced with guitars no doubt all played by Peter himself, resulting in a wonderful track that really brings back memories: ah, back when we didn't mind the several minute long load times because we got music like this in return!…
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Stationary Ark (Encore64) - arranged by Peter Clarke

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

Layers and layers of soothing sequences of guitar licks highlight the catchy melody, done in a style that many progressive albums of the 1970s would've been proud to include.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Immortal Flash 02 (Encore64) - arranged by Vincenzo

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

A great synth-heavy remix. This one made me smile, because I am a fan of the synthwave style (or retrowave or whatever you want to call it) represented by his piece. It's not as heavy- handed as to be dripping with '80s nostalgia, but the source of inspiration is certainly unmistakable. If you are not familiar with the original SID by Zardax, don't fret: I wasn't, either. It's a good SID, but Vincenzo really brought it to life with his modern-yet-retro instrumentation.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Shadowfire (Encore64) - arranged by Romeo Knight

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

A legend remixes another legend. Totally rocks, literally and figuratively. Romeo Knight is demonstrating complete mastery of his instruments on this track, which is an absolute tour de force, a headbanger, and now I have trouble imagining this Fred Gray classic in any other way - a sure sign that he managed to create a superb remix of it.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Bubble Bobble (Encore64) - arranged by Peter Clarke

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

Haha, a country/bluegrass style remix of Bubble Bobble! I absolutely love it! It totally fits in with the fun nature of the original SID. Fiddles, banjos, and pedal-steels all make an appearance within this carefully assembled arrangement. Even if you are not a fan of this style, you must admit that it's been put together superbly. And that ending - ha! Y'all, this is one helluva remix, yee-haw!
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Fourth Protocol (Encore64) - arranged by Tomsk

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

A melancholic, almost elegiac rendition of Fourth Protocolwith a symphonic instrumentation that harkens back to the era of romanticism. The real power of this piece is undoubtedly the choir, which lends evocative emotional undertones to this track. The echoes of this remix will stay with you long after the final note fades away…
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Denarius (Encore64) - arranged by Glyn R Brown

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

This is what Glyn is best known for: epic orchestral cinematic style. I am getting very strong vibes of recent Hans Zimmer soundtracks in this piece where Glyn is not afraid to flex his artistic muscles by mixing choir-embellished symphonic soundscapes with electronic sounds. The original SID was composed by Peter Clarke, but in Glyn's hands it's elevated to heights I don't think Peter could even dream of back in 1987. This track is an adventure all by itself and immensely satisfying to listen to - an instant classic.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Yes Comment - arranged by FZN

Review by LaLa, 17/04/2023

The first minute of it sounds absolutely fabulous, then it seems to fall apart a bit. Too bad, because the instrumentation sounds pretty good. It's mostly the arrangement that somehow doesn't gel with me. Can't quite put my finger on why that's so.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Ocean Loader 2 (Year of the Analogue Horn) - arranged by Dan Tootill

Review by LaLa, 04/04/2023

Interesting choice of instruments, but the arrangement is not exactly captivating. That analogue horn mentioned in the subtitle should've been more prominent, more powerful, too. The sound level of the lead @ 2:49 is way too low (I think it was supposed to be a lead instrument), which brings down that entire section. Starting @ 4:11 it gets a bit more interesting again. Then the tune ends a bit abruptly. Overall, good ideas, but it sounds half-cooked.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Last Ninja Remix - Loading Theme - arranged by Solknight

Review by Charlie Bravo, 04/04/2023

I love the ambivalent mood of this remix. It combines happiness, nostalgia and melancholy beautifully. Better or real instruments could probably even improve this remix but it stood the test of time quite well for a tune from 2003 and I'm still fond of it.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Fist2 - The Legend Continues (feat. Vaggelis) - arranged by XxDUSTYxX

Review by rnuls, 01/04/2023

Don't know the original song but this remix make me want to listen to. Anover inspired song. To me, the accompanying guitar is a little too loud, but nothing serious
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Boneless (Remix 3) - arranged by Dr Future

Review by LaLa, 31/03/2023

I like the alternating sax and guitar on the leads. The sax sounds pretty convincing to me. And yeah, Makke, I agree: that fadeout came out of nowhere and went too fast. Also, it would be nice if the drumtrack had more excitement to it throughout the tune.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Scuba Kidz - arranged by Eivind Sommersten

Review by Gohanks, 28/03/2023

When you listen to the original SID it's very apparent that it's challenging to remix in a way to persist the original feel and put a touch of your personal style. Eivind managed to pull it of perfectly! I'm really amazed by how well this turned out 😃. The recurring background theme melody is very nostalgic, the delicate jazzy piano notes make it fresh, and the strong guitar and drums mix puts a great defining mark! Well done! 😃
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Last Ninja The Wastelands Loader - arranged by CZ Tunes

Review by LaLa, 13/03/2023

Oh, so close to a red smilie! I really admire the effort of using mostly Asian (Chinese, Japanese) instruments, and they sound beautiful - but I'm bothered by the fact that you didn't go all-in and you left the arpeggios intact in several sections. The arrangement also sounds 'off' at places (for example, @2:10). All in all, very enjoyable, but I think there's more that could've been done here with a bit more attention to detail.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Led Storm Ambient Cover - arranged by moonove

Review by Markus Gecko, 11/03/2023

smooooooth, smooooooth, smooooooth, smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth smooooooth 15 words yet?
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Cracked Mission - arranged by Dr Future

Review by Nordischsound, 27/02/2023

I love every addition, your cover stick true to my intended vision but you added so much lovely stuff on the top like the great drumwork and that live guitar + solo 🤩🤗
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Cracked Mission - arranged by Dr Future

Review by Frida Katarina, 27/02/2023

Fabulous, as is the original!! Turn it up!! Lovely guitar, made me really happy
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Turrican (Juno mix) - arranged by J Lof

Review by Charlie Bravo, 14/02/2023

I believe it's difficult to create a bad Turrican remix because the source material is already some of the greatest game music ever composed. I don't know how many times I listened to JLof's remix during the years but every now and then it comes up in my playlist and I put it on repeat for hours. It's enganging and relaxing at the same time. It's meditative, the perfect tune to get into a flow.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Lightforce Live Performance - arranged by Tony Fluke73 Wiren

Review by LaLa, 14/02/2023

You need to loosen up. The instrumentation is fine, but this remix feels stiff and robotic. You need to change your playing style, and/or you need to create lead instruments that allow for more dynamic range when played.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Delta Multi Genre - arranged by 0supereg0

Review by LaLa, 14/02/2023

Those guitars in the intro - superb. I wish you didn't switch them out with synthy sounds. Really like your guitar noodling in the second half, too.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Led Storm Ambient Cover - arranged by moonove

Review by LaLa, 07/02/2023

That intro is so chillax and buttery smooth, it made me meld into my chair. I wish it continued in that fashion, but the appearance of the trance beat yanked me out of my meditative state. I still like it, though, because it's crafted in such a satisfying way.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Sanxion Loader (Acoustic) - arranged by trv

Review by hackerb9, 02/02/2023

While very different than the C64 SID tune, this cover was beautiful in its own way. And, to be fair, it is closer to the spirit of the original Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, of which Sanxion was itself a reinterpretation. ¶ At the end of the original Sanxion SID, one can hear a repeated pattern: DAH dit-DAH-dit dit-dit-dit-DAH ¶In Morse that spells *TRV". I found this acoustic version (by TRV: Trev Bailey) while googling to find out why those letters are hidden in the song. ¶I think this is a lovely rendition and hope Trev remasters this recording to add in the secret Morse code at the end which just happens to spell his username! ¶If Trev does remaster the track, I would suggest also considering a few other things: ❶ Trev is a better guitar player than audio engineer, at least that was the case back in 2007 when this was recorded. Perhaps enlist some help for a remix? ❷ The atmospheric sounds effects, while a nice idea, were too obviously canned and didn't work for me. Maybe they could be subtler or removed? ❸ As some other reviews mentioned, the 64 second intro didn't lead the listener in as one would have hoped. Perhaps it can be reworked or shortened? ❹ Most of the guitar playing was sweet and evocative, but there were a couple tricky parts that were distracting and could use another take: 1:55-1:58 and 2:15-2:22. ¶ Overall, I enjoyed this immensely, but I cannot give it top marks due to the audio mixing stumbles. ❀
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Ghosts'n Goblins Live Performance - arranged by Tony Fluke73 Wiren

Review by LaLa, 01/02/2023

I'm starting to think your artistic expression is limited by your gear. What you produce is not bad at all, but it could sound so much better. In this particular remix the arrangement is hampered by too much repetition in the rhythm sections - need some more variation there. Your lead and the changes in the lead instruments are good, it's the rest of it that needs a bit more love.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Wizball - arranged by SoundLogic

Review by LaLa, 01/02/2023

The arrangement is clever, weaving together many of the subtunes of the game's soundtrack. I think the instrumentation is probably the weakest point of this massive remix, it's a bit all over the place. Still, quite an impressive feat overall.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Thrust - arranged by SoundLogic

Review by LaLa, 01/02/2023

This remix seems to follow an everything but the kitchen sink approach in its arrangement. Synth-heavy intro? Check. Electric guitar? Check. Big choir? Check. Original SID sounds? Check. Ultimately, I find this more confusing than purposeful. There's nothing deeply wrong with the arrangement here, I just have trouble connecting with it due to its wandering nature.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Krakout - arranged by SoundLogic

Review by Waz, 31/01/2023

Nice effort to try and do something playful here with Krakout. If anything, it needed to be a little more off the wall, in the true style of Ben Daglish himself. It does work nicely and there's some good thought gone into this. Definitely worth a listen.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Lightforce - arranged by SoundLogic

Review by LaLa, 31/01/2023

This remix is trying to sound bigger than it really is. Some good ideas in there with the choir and the strings, and the Jarre-like growling synth at the end - but overall, it's just not a very exciting arrangement. Plus points for covering Lightforce in its entirety, though.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

Bangkok Knights Loader - arranged by SoundLogic

Review by LaLa, 31/01/2023

What's there sounds pretty good, but I think the instrumentation is a bit on the thin side, and it would've benefited from some fattening up - whether by layering instruments or with some additional effects. The electric guitars are my favorites in this remix, but those could've used some additional sonic treatment, too.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ⋅⋅⋅ 78 79 80