Reviews by LaLa |
all
c64 only
Amiga only
Displaying Reviews 121 - 150 out of 665 |
Login |
Bangkok Knights Loader - arranged by SoundLogicReview 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. |
|
Mission A.D. gameplay theme (orchestral rock mix) - arranged by Skaven252Review by LaLa, 22/01/2023 The first half of this remix leaves me rather cold. I think it's desperately trying to sound more bombastic than how it actually does: the instrumentation sounds fairly thin, the percussion doesn't have the expected gravitas. Things change dramatically at the half-point: that electric guitar changes [i]everything[/i]. The entire arrangement suddenly wakes up and this remix becomes larger than life. If that's how this entire remix sounded, I would've given it an orange smilie easy, maybe even a red one. |
|
Arkanoid - arranged by Eivind SommerstenReview by LaLa, 18/01/2023 Fun-kay! Congrats, you made an excellent piece of 70s psychedelica out of Arkanoid! Pretty vocals, too. And nailed the ending, too. Well, nailed it all! |
|
Delta - At your humble service - arranged by 0supereg0Review by LaLa, 12/01/2023 OK, this starts out the same as your Delta Multi Genre remix. Excellent guitar work and nicely mixed. Of the two I like this one more. |
|
Metal Warrior Ultra - arranged by Glyn R BrownReview by LaLa, 10/01/2023 Whoa! Glyn doing guitars!?!… As usual, pro-level remix. And when the choir comes in, too… Whew!My only complaint about it is the relatively soft volume level throughout the track (average -17.0 LUFS - that's low). |
|
DNA Warrior (Nobody wants to be my friend) - arranged by Eivind SommerstenReview by LaLa, 19/12/2022 Pretty funky, I like the groovy vibes going on here. Personally, I feel the vocals are forced on this tune, they don't seem to fit 'naturally' with the rest of the arrangement. By which I mean if you dropped the sections with the vocals, this remix would be just as good - they don't seem to add anything of value (at least, not to me). Otherwise, excellent job. |
|
Sweet (ft Gibs) - arranged by MordiReview by LaLa, 08/12/2022 Wow, wow, wow!Be impressed by my triple-wow, because this being my all-time favorite SID, I am especially picky about remixes that attempt to re-interpret it. At first I found the intro a bit too slow, but it's growing on me. The silk-soft lead instrument and the overall softness of the entire production is impressive. It would be hard to top the expressive Yamaha CS-80 lead that Marcel Donne put into his remix, but you've done a great job here, Mordi. When the guitar lead kicks in, it really tickles my heart, makes my legs tremble, tears form in my eyes, and gives me goosebumps - just like it does when I listen to the original SID. Which means that this remix manages to evoke the same emotions in me, and that's no small feat. Also kudos for the beautiful coda you've added to the end, it's such attention to the detail in the arrangement that makes this remix truly outstanding. Thank you, Mordi, for this remix! I'll carry it in my heart forever. |
|
Camel Riders Inc - arranged by Glyn R BrownReview by LaLa, 08/12/2022 Leave it to Mr. Brown to pluck out an obscure Bjerregaard tune and turn it into remix gold. If this is what's laying around in your unfinished folder, I wonder what other treasures it might hide?!?…The Arabian feeling is totally there, the vocals, the strings - exceptionally well done.One gripe I have with this: I think it could've used some additional mastering, as the overall volume is pretty low. A simple compressor on the master track could've solved much of this problem (Maximus to the rescue…), but I think it could've used some boost in the low-end, too. |
|
Beyond (The Ballad Mix) - arranged by Dr FutureReview by LaLa, 07/12/2022 I like this version more than the Uptempo Mix which was released at the same time. The acoustic guitar and the sax are so romantic and warm and cozy! I think the 80s drums of the Uptempo Mix would work better here then the current ones, but that's my only gripe here. |
|
Cybernoid II (Like a Dream) - arranged by Mario BarbieratoReview by LaLa, 03/12/2022 Wonderful! Stylistically, it reminds me of a cross between Robert Miles and Enigma. It's a very nice trance/chill-out remix of Cybernoid II! If that's the style you were going for, then you totally nailed it.Love the vocal coming in at around 2:30! Who is the singer?I wish the drums were a bit more pronounced in the mix, they are just a tad too soft.NOTE: There's a short glitch in the recording at 2:29 where all sounds pause for about half a second - I doubt that was intentional. |
|
One Man and his Droid (2022 Jarre space mix) - arranged by choscReview by LaLa, 29/11/2022 It's not exactly a stretch to cover this song in Jarre's style, as Mr. Hubbard himself stated that he was inspired a lot by Jarre for this tune. Marcel did a superb job of covering OMAHD in Magnetic Fields style on his Project Sidologie album, but this one is fairly good, too. I wish it included even more pastiche from Jarre, but it's a great effort, nevertheless. |
|
Last Ninja (Shanghai Blues) - arranged by 0supereg0Review by LaLa, 10/11/2022 Before I get into my nitpicking, let me just say that I absolutely love the free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness semi-improvisational jam session style of this very creative arrangement!But. 😄The guitar that comes in at 0:38 - it sticks out like a sore thumb. Sounds like it has different reverb applied to it than the rest of the tracks, and thus it sounds out of place mixing-wise. (This applies for the rest of the remix where the same guitar can be heard.)I am not a fan of that sudden change at 3:11. Three minutes into it this tune kinda puts me in a nice trance as I go with the flow of the music and my mind starts to float away, then BAM! comes this. Kinda jarring.As I said: this is nitpicking. 😁 Because otherwise this piece demonstrates a high level of creativeness, which I really respect. |
|
Stormlord (Senecas Marble Pack Edit) - arranged by N-JOYReview by LaLa, 05/11/2022 18 years later this is still a fantastic remix. And thanks for the English translation - now I know what the Italian lyrics mean!It is rather poignant to listen to it again on the same day I learned of Johannes' passing… A wonderful, wonderful piece of music that goes a long way to easy my pain tonight. |
|
Terra Cresta Remix - arranged by dEViLOCkReview by LaLa, 30/10/2022 First, you need a better orchestral sound library, me thinks. Second, even though I think it was a good idea to mix strings and synths, somehow they just don't mesh together well in this arrangement. I like where you're going with this, but I don't think you're there with this remix, yet. |
|
Comic Bakery Live Performance - arranged by Tony Fluke73 WirenReview by LaLa, 25/10/2022 I really like the reggae groove here, but I think the lead instruments don't make it justice, they sound too flat and artificial to me, void of any articulation that would make them come alive (other than the vibrato on the trumpet). |
|
Katapillar Eliminator (Ice Age mix) - arranged by Tim ForsythReview by LaLa, 24/10/2022 It has a certain oldsk00l feeling to it, and I don't mean just the melodies - the instrumentation, the arrangement all reminds me of 90s tracker music for some reason.I really enjoy this extended mix (versus the < 4 minute one at the compo, although that was pretty good, too). The mix is buttery smooth, it's nicely balanced from a technical perspective. The arrangement of the various songs is also very good, the transitions are so seamless and it all feels natural, not forced. |
|
Chordian - arranged by Eivind SommerstenReview by LaLa, 24/10/2022 First of all, excellent job on the bass, it just cuts through the mix and it sounds fantastic in my headphones! Also, excellent choice on the instrumentation, it all works together very well.What I am not a fan of in this remix is the overall arrangement - somehow it just doesn't mesh with me, and the impact of the tune is lost on me. Which is hard for me to say, because I really like the original SID. I am also not a big fan of that synthy lead sound, but maybe it'll grow on me.So, from a technical perspective, it's a really good piece, but I think more could've been done here to increase its emotional impact. |
|
ACE 2 (Danger Zone Edit) - arranged by Dr FutureReview by LaLa, 21/10/2022 Oh, wow, a near-perfect pastiche of Danger Zone from Top Gun laid over the melody and chord structure of Ace 2! Complete with syrupy lyrics! And that guitar solo!… If I may, the only gripe I have here is that the flow of the lyrics doesn't always match the rhythm of the tune (highway into to danger, highway into hell, it's your job and you're the man, this is why we're here baby and let's gooo, let's fly for glory, etc.) - it feels clunky and unnatural in those spots. (For example, I don't think a native English speaker would ever sing glory with a short o and a long y.) |
|
Grand Prix Circuit Title - arranged by OxxReview by LaLa, 21/10/2022 I really dig this. This would be a really good dancey version of this tune, but it's marred by a mix that sounds a bit too thin. As others have mentioned, probably due to the lack of low end. Otherwise, the arrangement gets a lot of things right and manages to breathe new life into this classic tune. |
|
Mikie'ish, ELP'ish, and Live'ish - arranged by Karl R PettersenReview by LaLa, 18/10/2022 (19 years later)This remix gets so many things right, and some not quite. The guitar in the intro is too obviously a pre-programmed synth (nothing wrong with any of that, it's just too obvious). For a remix that pretends to be live, it needs to sound more authentic. Then the bass sounds off, too. And the electric piano. Then the whiney lead towards the end sounds out of place, to…However, I really, really like that the arrangement nails so many nuances of the original! All the little things that make it sound so jazzy are in here, too.Considering the age of this remix it held up very well, but it would definitely benefit from an instrumentation upgrade (or by having this arrangement played by actual human performers). |
|
Zynaps (Vaggelis saved me) - arranged by SlaygonReview by LaLa, 16/10/2022 Yeah, totally agree with the subtitle - were it not for Vaggelis' guitar shredding, I would've rated this tune a grey at max.NAAAH! Just kidding! 😁 Great collab all around! |
|
IK+ - arranged by Steve FosterReview by LaLa, 08/10/2022 Those occasional bubbly arpeggios in the background (e.g. @ 1:22) - love it. The entire mix is rather low on volume, though, could've used some boost. The drums could've used some help in the mixing department, too. Overall, a cool idea in need of some refinement. |
|
International Karate - arranged by OJ OscillationReview by LaLa, 26/09/2022 One thing you definitely nailed in this remix is the bass sound. Damn, it's good! One thing you definitely missed in this remix is the guitar - it doesn't sound like a real guitar to me, and I think it just screams out for a real one. I am also not a fan of some of the arrangement, where e.g. the percussion in the left channel is mixed with a filtered synth and some sparkly pads and just a bunch of other things. Sometimes less is more… Lots of neat ideas in this remix scattered all over the place, and kudos for covering the IK tune in its entirety, but as a whole this just doesn't work for me. |
|
Green Beret Blues - arranged by Marcel DonnéReview by LaLa, 17/09/2022 Another masterpiece of fusion from Marcel's studio. I am a huge fan of Vangelis, and months later I am still depressed by his passing. And, of course, I am a huge fan of SID music, too. And Marcel is the amazing musician who is at the intersection of those two, here masterfully combining the style of Blade Runner Blues with the melodies of Green Beret. Marcel, words cannot express how much I appreciate your remixes, they mean so much to me on so many levels. Thank you! |
|
Cybernoid II (The Revenge) - arranged by Mutherpluckin' BReview by LaLa, 06/09/2022 This would be your typical garage band setup, were it not for that occasional marimba (or whatever that percussion instrument is) that just cracks me up. I think I even hear a lap steel here and there.I actually quite like this, has a certain oldschool prog-rock feel to it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll have to fire up my bong and my lava lamp while I listen to it once more. 😉 |
|
Ace 2 - Remastered - arranged by OxxReview by LaLa, 05/09/2022 WOW! A huge improvement from your first version of this remix! Luckily, you kept the same overall arrangement, which I already liked in your first version. But you enhanced the sounds and the mixing in this one by leaps and bounds. I love the added vocals, too - they're sometimes subtle, but definitely improve the song. You injected a tremendous amount of energy into your arrangement with your tinkering. Very impressive, very well done! |
|
Rambo High Score (RKO100 extended rework) - arranged by Johan AnderssonReview by LaLa, 18/08/2022 [i]One year later…[/i] An outstanding rendition of the Rambo High Score tune! I especially like when at 1:02 that bass comes in, then at 2:15 that piano track - very nice addition. And that trumpet during the last minute or so is just icing on the cake. I really like how it all builds up to that final minute. Thank you for gifting us this extended version! |
|
Auf Wiedersehen Monty - arranged by Dr FutureReview by LaLa, 16/08/2022 Here's what I like: * The original SID as intro transforming into the modern production. Well done. * The 80s feeling that I get from the instrumentation (especially the drums). * The lead guitar. * Good, balanced mix. Here's what I don't like: Boring drum sequence. Sure, every 4 bars it adds a break with toms, but that's about it (and even that break is the same every time). * Boring bass sequence. It's not that the one in the original SID is that exciting, but at least that adds variations to it from time to time to keep it interesting. Here we find none of that, there are just no subtleties to it at all. * That improv sequence from 2:44. Usually, I greet these with great enthusiasm, but here it just doesn't seem to add much to the song. |
|
Terra Cresta - arranged by Johan AnderssonReview by LaLa, 19/07/2022 Just when I was getting into it with the vocoded voice setting up the saga - it ends. This entire remix feels like an intro to a much longer piece. |
|
Outrun M.S.S (Fieramente Flamanco Fiesta) - arranged by 0supereg0Review by LaLa, 16/07/2022 Writing flamenco and fiesta into the subtitle elevates expectations pretty high, but I'm afraid this remix doesn't really live up to them. The arrangement sounds a bit of a mess, although I can't quite put my finger on why. The synthy instruments sound out of place in this genre for me, the improvs are too meandering, the delay is dialed up a bit too high on the backing tracks, and so on - my ears were pretty tired by the end of this 6+ min track. |
|
