Reviews by LaLa |
all
c64 only
Amiga only
Displaying Reviews 481 - 510 out of 701 |
Login |
Aztec Challenge - arranged by IceXuickReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 The mood created by this remix is dark, gothic 80's electro. Here and there it also contains hints of Kraftwerk and - strangely enough - exotic passages that try to tie it to the C64 game (but for me those sound more Arabic than Mid- American). The Aztec Challenge speech sample is a bit overused. The remix is somewhat lengthy, it lost my attention towards the end, possibly because of the relative lack of variation in the tonal frequencies. |
|
Giana Sisters Hiscore (D-Flingern Mix) - arranged by ifadeo offlineReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 Bringing a sort of 90's feel to it, this remix manages to mix soft pads with electronic ear-candy. I think the only thing missing here is some vocals on top of everything. Not as romantic as the original tune, but at times I could characterize it as cute. |
|
Target Renegade - arranged by PetersReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 A soft electronic piece with relaxational overtones. Not what you'd expect from a Target Renegade cover, but somehow it works. It's moody and groovy with just the right ingredients and a proper mix. Unfortunately, it appears to be a partial upload as it cuts off abruptly in the middle of the tune. |
|
Thrust (Magnificent Worlds) - arranged by FeekZoidReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 Quite an interesting piece. The human brain tries to categorize everything, but mine failed miserably with this one. It contains not only several different styles of music (like the ambient opening, the heavily electronic main part and the tranquil second part towards the end), but it also includes a remix of Arcade Classics in addition to Thrust. I like how the different pieces of Thrust are - excuse my pun - thrust together to form a very recognizable but rather different musical experience. The Arcade Classics remix would be great by itself, but since it's enclosed by Thrust, it feels a bit out of place. In summary, it's a technically impressive, but stylistically somewhat confusing piece. |
|
Thanatos (In Love Mix) - arranged by DJ RETROGradeReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 If somebody can explain to me why this remix starts with what sounds like a Japanese auctioneer speaking fast, please, let me know. Then it has a sort of minimalistic oriental feel to it with exotic drums and that sitar-like lead. Which would be okay with me, except that this goes on for over 5 minutes without much variation - and it makes this remix boring. Cut this remix in half or introduce some variations or add a climax or something. |
|
Delta (Concert version) - arranged by Noviello PippoReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 A -fake- concert version, shall I add. The piano also sounds fake (i. e. sampled), but it is played nicely, it has a Yanni-esque melancholic feeling to it. Unfortunately, the last minute of this remix leaves me completely confused. It suddenly switches from the piano to a rather poor electronic version with a cheering crowd providing the supposed concert feel - and then it ends just as abruptly. Puzzling, to say the least. It would've been a nice piano piece, but that horrible ending destroys it all. |
|
The Last Ninja 3 Intro - arranged by IceXuickReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 In its current form this remix is not much more than an enhanced SID tune. Many parts of the original were left in verbatim (or so it sounds), including the arpeggios, which was an especially big mistake. The addition of effects and monstrous drums doesn't add too much except loudness. I still much prefer Reyn's own version of his tune on Nexus 6581 which has a definite orchestral feel. That's more fitting for the LN3 Intro than this electro-opera with its trumpet-like analog lead. |
|
Zamzara (Spice Mix) - arranged by Gustav TaxénReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 A nice groove is what makes this remix pretty good, although I think the snare-like drum has annoyingly too many high frequencies (read: it's noisy). Funky bass line, pleasant electric pianos and a fitting lead characterize this remix. Unfortunately that synth-flute lead later gives way to an overfiltered annoyance. Luckily it doesn't last too long. The serene ending is quite lovely. |
|
Ocean Loader Four - arranged by YoshiReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 A solid average remix, nothing surprising, nothing exciting, nothing outstanding, but nothing bad, either. The thumping base drum is rather overwhelming, but I like the choice of lead instrument. |
|
Cybernoid 2 (Dancing baby mix) - arranged by Noviello PippoReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 It is said that in general it's not advisable to pan drums hard left or hard right, but that's how this remix starts - and even continues. I find that rather disorienting. Worse, this panned-left practice later spreads to other instruments, too. In fact, Pippo admittedly had some serious trouble with his equipment during recording - but he still decided to upload the remix. Why, oh, why??? It's too bad because his work wouldn't be so bad, in fact, it would be a fairly good electro-dance remix. Unfortunately, the extremely poor recording quality completely destroys the experience. |
|
Human Race - arranged by Markus SchneiderReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 Here is a remix where all the sounds seem to be really good, but together they don't make much sense to me. I really like the electronic choir in the background, but the lead sound sort of destroys them. The clapping is great - but what's the point of having it here? The drums provide a nice rhythm but stylistically sound out of place. I wish the occasionally appearing female singer was featured more prominently and more frequently. All in all, technically it's great but artistically only so-so. |
|
Comic Bakery (Retro Magic) - arranged by HazelReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 I feel like this remix just drags on and doesn't really go anywhere. Which is not too good, because it stretches quite long. I feel no passion, no inspiration. The drum loops are okay for a hip-hop or rap style but don't really have much to do with the rest of this remix. |
|
Last Ninja (The Wilderness) - arranged by CytexReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 Sometimes after I'm done listening to a remix I get the feeling that the remix was done just for the sake of doing a remix. That's precisely the case here. I don't see the rhyme or reason this remix was made for, I don't find a coherent message in there, nor any purpose. It's just -is-. The instruments don't show much cohesion, though the bassline is quite good. All in all, this feels like l'art pour l'art and I'm not a big fan of that. |
|
Technocop - arranged by golReview by LaLa, 05/04/2003 Fun, cheerful and very 80's! The selected instruments are rather tacky and they give the entire remix a very kitschy feel. Which, I think, is part of the charm of this piece. Nicely done! |
|
Last Ninja 2 (The Sewers) - arranged by GZILLAReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 Sinister sounds abound, some of them have a distinctively electronic feel, there also some orchestral strings in there. I think those bell-like sounds break the mood a bit. Other than that this remix is hard to categorize: it's quite weird and scary, which, I guess, is the whole point! |
|
Last Ninja - The Back Gardens - arranged by SoAReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 Okay, I give up: which subtune does this one remix? RKO says it's #6, but I find that hard to believe as I hear very, very little resemblence. The opening and closing minutes of this tune demonstrate the archetypal oriental feel very well, I especially like the subtle use of flutes. But I am more mystified by the different style that is in the middle, it's a bit like an old MOD with better instruments. Overall, it's not too bad, but doesn't really capture my attention. |
|
International Karate (Tasty Dance Mix) - arranged by YziReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 As Homer Simpson would say it: mmmmm, tasty!… … Absolutely awesome bass sound that endangers your speakers and tasteful drums that provide many hints of the original. Very subtle rhythmic chords add another dimension to this remix. The lead is also pretty close to the SID original, which in this case is not a compliment, because at times it feels too thin as compared to the rest. However, the melody is reproduced very faithfully which pleases me a lot. I only wish the entire IK tune was represented here, because Yzi decided to remix only the first half of it… |
|
Lightforce (Power Remix) - arranged by Markus HollerReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 I think the subtitle is misleading, because power it ain't. It definitely feels more powerful as the guitar lead comes in about halfway through, but it needs more powerful drums to make it, well, more powerful. Nice use of those filtered electronic sounds that essentially provide the backbone of the tune, just like in Hubbard's original. All in all, a forceful remix that falls a tad short of expectations. Oh, and I think it's also too short. |
|
Wizball Highscore (sid-cover) - arranged by Kent WalldénReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 Dreamy, electronic, fantasy-land-like. These are the words the came to my mind when listening to this remix. But it's not ambient, it's more like something from a fairy-tale that makes children smile. I think the arpeggios and the bass feel a little out of place and the drums could use more reverb, but it's quite good already as it is. |
|
Star Lifter - arranged by MaindrianReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 Great distorted guitars presented in their raw form. It's a very edgy remix, but I do not quite think it's like hard rock. I think the stereo space could've been better utilized, either by panning the instruments wider or by adding panned echo/reverb. Also, I don't think a lot of post-production was done on this piece - and it shows. |
|
Times of Lore (Retro Remix) - arranged by MaindrianReview by LaLa, 04/04/2003 It starts in a style that I like to call enhanced SID. Then it transforms into an acoustic affair with plenty of nice guitars, which makes the remix very organic, very human. It's a nice piece of work for sure, somewhat reminiscent of early Mike Oldfield, but it has a missing ingredient. I don't know what, but the lack of it dampens my enthusiasm towards this remix. Maybe because nothing else is really supporting those guitars. Or because the final mixing feels unpolished. Nevertheless, it's quite pleasant. |
|
Miami Vice Loada - arranged by MistaDistahReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 Teetering on the faster edge of the chill-out crowd this cover does a poor job of emphasizing what I think is the essence of Galway's original: the evolution of sound and musical patterns. The morphing here is gone, replaced by more discretely defined musical sections. Those sections, however, are very good by themselves and turn this piece into a Pink Floydish hypnotic dream (as demonstrated by those electric guitar sounds with lots of tremolo). All in all, a pretty good piece that falls a little short of being excellent. |
|
Arkanoid (version x mix) - arranged by FTCReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 The echo chamber quality of the lead makes me believe this remix was recorded in a huge ice cavern, while the supporting instruments sound tube-like to me. Until the middle of the remix when it does a strange switch to a quite different set. This switcharoo left me confused and dazed. I think what this remix misses is direction. |
|
Sanx(ion) from the moment we kissed - arranged by J LofReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 High-paced, energetic remix with a fairly unimaginative drum line. For some reason at times it reminds me of the soundtrack of The Matrix movie. I think with a better constructed rhythm section this remix would be a real winner, but in its current form it leaves me a bit cold. |
|
Crazy Comets - arranged by YoshiReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 I like the spacey effects heard here and there in this remix, I also like the bassline, but I don't think this remix fills out the audio space and frequency spectrum it was given and thus sounds a little pale. It has a good groove to it but it's not supported by enough instruments. A nice effort that doesn't go far enough. |
|
Platoon (Sub tune 3) - arranged by Clayton MarslandReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 I think there's more to Jonathan Dunn's original piece than what this cover shows of it. First I'd throw out that thin and shrieky lead and replace it with something of more authority. Then I'd add more punch to the supporting instruments. I dig the bassline a lot, so I'd keep that. I'd also keep the beginning, it works really well, but I'd shorten it a bit to get to the point (the melody) faster. All in all, I think Marsland needs to spend more time on perfecting this cover. |
|
Laxity Again (mellow mix) - arranged by Joe [Stainless Steel] BarwickReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 This Laxity tune is, IMHO, much underrated. I think it'd lend itself more to a jazzy treatment, but this approach is not too bad, either. It's more of an electronic ballad with definite sad undertones. I wish there were more variations in this cover, though. Kinda nice but I wasn't blown away by it. |
|
Last Ninja Remix (A Ninja By Night Remix) - arranged by Eric DelosReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 Slow-paced cover, but I think more is missing from it than what it adds to Ouwehand's tune. I can't put my finger on what is missing from it, this tune just doesn't make much sense to me: strings and piano, no proper beginning, no proper ending, it just _IS_. |
|
Parallax (JunoPowerMix!) - arranged by SumegiReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 Sounds like something that was put together on a soft-synth like Reason with a little laziness. It's a bit too repetetive and the instruments sound somewhat flat. The arrangement is not very imaginative, either. I can't say I'm impressed by this remix a lot. |
|
Last Ninja Remix - Sewers (soft mix) - arranged by CytexReview by LaLa, 01/03/2003 Moving along at a nice and relaxed pace this cover of a remix is quite pleasant. I especially like the long delays (echoes) on that sax-like lead. It's a nice piece even if nothing special. |
|