Reviews by LaLa

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Last Ninja 3 Intro - arranged by Kjetiln

Review by LaLa, 21/09/2020

I like it because it's different and because it deliberately steers away from the obvious LN3 Intro type remix - it remains clubby and electronic throughout instead. A very nice production overall.
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Barbarian (Remix64 v2) - arranged by Carl Larsson

Review by LaLa, 14/09/2020

The instrumentation is pretty close to how I always heard this in my head: big, cinematic, heroic. Until about the halfway point when it inexplicable switches to a more medieval ensemble. I wish it had more of the choir from the intro in the rest of the piece, too.

Unfortunately, this is yet another track from Remix64 vol. 2 that features sample-based instruments that didn't age well with time.
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So-Phisticated III (Part 3) (Inside my C64 Remix) - arranged by JLD

Review by LaLa, 13/09/2020

While I was working on the ceiling in one of the kids' bedroom I was listening to 80s music on a Google speaker, so all of that music is still echoing in my brain - and this remix totally has that 80s feeling nailed down. Replace the bell-like lead with a vocalist singing about a hot chick or love or something, and you got a winner here! 😊
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Iron Lord (Remix64 V2) - arranged by Jan Morgenstern

Review by LaLa, 13/09/2020

Back in 2003 when this remix was made there were not that many orchestral sample libraries available, so Jan did the best he could with what he had. The arrangement is full of wonderful little additions that were not present in the original SID (like those beautiful flute runs). But in general, this is probably as close as it gets to the arrangement I heard in my head when I first listened to the SID - baroque orchestral. (Yes, I know the original Pase el agoa is a renaissance tune, but Jeroen brought it forward a couple of centuries. 😊)
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Relicta Caleo (from Destronnauth) - arranged by NecroPolo

Review by LaLa, 02/09/2020

Your style is truly one of a kind! I think the best way I can describe it is heavy metal jazz on the SID. It's grungy, raw, elemental, yet not off-putting or overly dissonant. At the same time the chord progressions and the arrangements seem to be infused with jazzy elements. This is definitely not easily digestible popular music - I think your compositions demand a certain amount of concentration and intelligence from the listener. This ain't the kind of casual music one could listen to in the background!

And that's why I'm upvoting this remix of your own SID tune (which is actually a remix of this tune, making this remix the original - phiew, got that? 😊) - I want to celebrate your uniqueness and your craftsmanship, because I think it deserves praise.
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So-Phisticated III (part 1) I Adore My C64 Edit - arranged by JLD

Review by LaLa, 01/09/2020

A technically well-executed synthwave style remix (I hesitate to call it an '80s remix, because it sounds so much better, more modern). Adding the voice samples was a touch of genius. Plus points for remixing a kickass 20CC tune that everybody else seemed to have ignored so far.
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The Last Ninja - The Wilderness - arranged by SIDNIFY

Review by LaLa, 28/08/2020

There are many-many remixes of this tune available, both on RKO and on released albums. After I listened to some of my favorite ones and then this remix by SIDNIFY, it's still hard to pick a clear winner, but hot damn, this one is definitely there on the top! What a tour de force! All done with the kind of professionalism we've come to expect from SIDNIFY: an amazing, fresh arrangement, spotless instrumentation, mixed to perfection. Fantastic job, guys!
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PCW-Tune 88 (Tribute To Edwin) - arranged by DMC

Review by LaLa, 28/08/2020

An emotional, sorrowful tribute.

You made the slowed down tempo work very well. I also really like the deep bass line, it pierces through the mix, making it even more melancholic. A remix worthy of Edwin's memory.
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Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix) - arranged by Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon

Review by LaLa, 22/08/2020

I have a policy of not commenting on tunes that remix SID tunes I'm not very familiar with. But from time to time a remix comes up that's so good, I just have to make an exception for it. This is one of those times.

The individual pieces sewn together really work to its advantage, bringing us on an epic cinematic experience. I suspect the organ-heavy intro is Peter's making, transitioning to ziona's part at around 1:30, then going back and forth a little between Peter and ziona, with the tune so obviously concluding with Slaygon's darker tones. I hope I got that right. πŸ˜‰

Even though the remix quickly fades out, I suspect that's mostly due to the 2020 Árok remix compo's 4:30 time limit, because it feels like this could've been a lot longer.

Either way, a superb auditory experience, I really enjoy this, guys & gals!
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Ball Blasta Highscore (Chasm of Eternity) - arranged by Sonic Wanderer

Review by LaLa, 22/08/2020

Whoa! Welcome back, Sonic Wanderer!!! What a remix! Reminds me of some downtempo Tangerine Dream tracks ca. 1990s. Excellent choice of SID, flawless execution, I am really, really enjoying this!
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Boulder Dash (Arok edition) - arranged by Infamous

Review by LaLa, 22/08/2020

During the Árok remix compo broadcast of SLAY Radio on IRC somebody (perhaps Slaygon himself) remarked how the style of this remix is very similar to that of the the Futurama title music. And I totally agree with that! Same wackiness, rapid switching of instruments, dubstep-like beat - very, very creative!
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Zoids (epic vocal soundtrack) - arranged by Anthony Walters

Review by LaLa, 20/08/2020

It's epic! It's vocal! Wait… it actually has lyrics! OMG! And now it's a duet! OMG x 2! Massive respects for this vocal-heavy cinematic composition. Great job on the heavy drums, too. Truly: epic!

I think if you weren't constrained by the 2020 remix compo's 4:30 limit, this would've been longer, too.
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Thats the Way It is - arranged by Magnar

Review by LaLa, 20/08/2020

A really, really well-crafted remix! Upon hearing the slow intro I got very excited, I thought it's going to be like that all the way. Unfortunately, it's not, but then it switches up the tempo, an excellent bass guitar lick appears, and it just blossoms into an amazing piece. Unlike Poke16384, I will actually give you a +1 for the wolf-whistle, because it appears in the original SID, too, and I thought that was a nice touch. πŸ˜‰
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Space Harrier - arranged by Peter Clarke

Review by LaLa, 19/08/2020

That bass line - superb! That arrangement - phenomenal! That energy - uplifting! That vocoder - nice touch! That groove - it's, erm, groovy! Those orchestral riffs - spot on! The best British prog-rock style remix of this tune I ever heard! 😊
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Deliverance Stormlord 2 Title Music - arranged by Amin Haji

Review by LaLa, 30/07/2020

Starts out like a MOD, then it gets bright and sparkly, which gives it a distinct 80s feeling, then I get echoes of Depeche Mode. All we are missing is a vocal over it. 😊 Quite a good remix for a newcomer, hope to hear more from you!
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Ocean Loader 3 The Revenge - arranged by Lello Caliendo

Review by LaLa, 30/07/2020

This remix is attempting to be bouncy and cheery with lots of staccato instruments, but I don't think it quite succeeds in that. I think you pushed the staccato-ness a bit too far. The basic instrumentation sounds solid, the arrangement is fairly faithful of the original SID, but the staccato-everything is too much.
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Last Ninja 2 InGameLvl 1 - arranged by SirRobin

Review by LaLa, 14/07/2020

Welcome to RKO, SirRobin! I think your first remix here shows a lot of promise, because the arrangement is pretty good and all the notes are in the right places. 😊 But I think the muddy recordings of the live instruments really put a dent in the overall quality of this tune. This is even more evident in the synth-only sections which sounds pretty good by themselves - until the guitar comes in. Your guitar skills are commendable, but in this mix it sounds like you're playing in an entirely different room and we're listening to you through a closed door. I hope you consider joining the Remix64 forum where you can ask for and get some advice on mic recordings and mixing, because your music production skills show a lot of promise, they just need refining.
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Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2 - arranged by Tim Forsyth

Review by LaLa, 07/07/2020

Welcome back to RKO, Tim! 😊

Reminds me of late 80s, early 90s synth-heavy movie scores, like Carpenter, except more melancholic. I'm especially fond of the wobbling chords in the first half of the tune, and the melody improvs in the second half.
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Barbarian Ultimate Warrior (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 30/06/2020

What a great transcription to piano! Definitely gets the spirit of the original SID through. Minor gripes: the tempo is not consistent throughout the piece. Also, the left and right channels are swapped (lower octaves are usually mixed to the left, not to the right).
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1942 High-Score Theme (You-were-there mix) - arranged by Perhaps-a-Doobie

Review by LaLa, 27/06/2020

Never fails to bring a smile to my face! Brilliant! 😊 The singing, the lounge atmosphere, the instrumentation… The only bad thing about this remix is that I cannot listen to this SID tune any more without hearing Boz's lovely voice. 😊
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Ghosts 'n Goblins (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 19/06/2020

I think this is a brilliant arrangement of GnG for piano! It has everything in it that one could want, including the simulated glide in the intro, and even an improv'd section! Bravo!
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Space Harrier medley (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 19/06/2020

A few mistakes here and there just to make it clear that this was performed live. 😊 Obviously, a lot of thought went into the arrangement, and you even included the Bach piece in there for completeness. Very nicely done!
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Pool of Radiance (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 19/06/2020

I think so far this sounds the most classical style piece among your piano renditions. Like you mentioned in your YT description it sounds rather wagnerian, apparently because that was David Warhol's original intention for the SID, too. It definitely shows, sounds grandiose!
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M.U.L.E. (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 19/06/2020

Whoa, slow down, buddy! 😊 This sounds like a good 10 BPM faster than the original SID (I wonder if that's an NTSC vs PAL piano thing 😊), which makes it even more amazing that you performed this in one take.
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Spy vs Spy I + II + III (grand piano) - arranged by Paul Nelsen

Review by LaLa, 18/06/2020

Welcome to RKO and Remix64.com, Paul! 😊 I quite like the fact that all 3 game tunes are covered here, and the arrangements are pretty good, too.
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Terra Cresta Remix - arranged by Razmo

Review by LaLa, 12/06/2020

A fantastic rendition of Galway's classic tune. As others have mentioned it, the switch in the basic beat is at odds with the melody, but for me it actually works - he made it into a dancey tune, what do you expect? The sound effects and the vocoded voice are a perfect addition to this remix and create a vivid atmosphere. This is done very, very nicely, and it's definitely my favorite (if not THE favorite) Terra Cresta remixes.

-- RIP Razmo πŸ˜’
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Turrican 3 Remix - arranged by nd3e

Review by LaLa, 11/06/2020

Hmm, I wonder if this started life as a multichannel MOD, because many of its motifs remind me a lot of those tunes from late 1990s, even the way the patterns are repeated, and the abrupt ending (which to me indicates a cutoff of an infinitely repeating sequence). In that context, this is actually a rather decent remix.
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Cybernoid II - The Alt-Rock Mix - arranged by Peter Clarke

Review by LaLa, 09/05/2020

Ladies and Gentlemen - this is as close to perfection as one can get with a remix. The superb skills of Peter's talent are on full display here: the arrangement is impeccable, the instrumentation is spot-on for a prog-rock styled remix, and it sure sounds like most of it is recorded live playing. And it even adds extras: like the wonderful riffs on the guitars and on the electric organ, not to mention the superb counter-melody on the sax in the later parts. Wow, just WOW! Bravo, Peter!
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W.A.R. - arranged by V. Kaufmann

Review by LaLa, 02/05/2020

Epic! The entire ~10 min of W. A. R. is covered here, which is respectable by itself - but this remix is also really, really good! Starts with a synth intro that did not impress me that much, but once the guitar kicked in at 2:30 it really got my attention. From that point on it just keeps rolling, occasionally with dissonant, but mostly with prog-rock sections, with electric guitars dominating the rest of the remix. I think this is as close to the prog-rock style I'm guessing Mr. Hubbard originally imagined for this track as we'll get. Bravo!
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Ghosts 'n Goblins - arranged by Colmarr

Review by LaLa, 20/04/2020

The usual unusual from Colmarr. Like with his other remixes, yet again I'm not sure where to place this remix. It has a definite lo-fi feel to it, sort of reminding me of the music of 70s era American TV shows. But it's not that obvious, so who knows?… … I am not even sure the lo-fi mix was intentional?… … But definitely gets plus points from me for trying something different.
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