Reviews by Waz

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Displaying Reviews 31 - 44 out of 44

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Hawkeye - arranged by Tony Fluke73 Wiren

Review by Waz, 15/02/2022

Nice that it's a mix of live performances and put together well. The immediacy of that definitely shows. There's definitely room for this to develop more and I'm sure we'd like to hear more from this remixer. Good effort.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Ghosts 'n Goblins - arranged by Emanuele Siward Pallozzi

Review by Waz, 15/02/2022

Like the guitar on this on the main part, it adds to the overall metal sounding dark feel. The organ lead with that somehow just sounds a little weaker and doesn't quite work for me (but I get the intention of it nonetheless)

It's a promising start for a newcomer, and the arrangement and feel is definitely there, so kudos for that.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Sanxion (Don't Fall Asleep) - arranged by Wobbler

Review by Waz, 15/02/2022

Very downbeat in its style, but that also offers the substance too. It's a very different take on the classic, and for that it does deserve praise for being out there and daring to be different. In fact, the only reason for me not giving it red overall is that there's no ambient nod to the middle section of the original - just the opening and ending hooks.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

'Clever Music' Medley - arranged by Tomsk

Review by Waz, 15/02/2022

Although the Clever Music originals are relatively short, it made perfect sense to put them into a medley with a feel of late 1970s rock about it. From the Kenny G inspired saxophone to the opening that drops a gentle nod to Hotel California, there's a real essence of reflection instead of more melancholy, and works well for it.

Sonically, there's plenty of lovely instruments that work well together and you can tell that love and care has been taken to ensure it's all well crafted with suitable nods to the SID originals to maintain that all important feel. An excellent remix all round.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Dragon's Lair II - subtune 4 (Renaissance prelude) - arranged by Fabio Marinelli

Review by Waz, 23/02/2021

Although a very nice idea to carry out a very Renaissance era theme to this Dragon's Lair II, there's just the feeling itself that seems to be lacking. It needs some more emotion, possibly a crescendo in parts to heighten the suspense. The idea is absolutely the right one to do and with more care this would be rather delightful, but it falls short unfortunately.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Tusker - 03 - Metal Tribute (2020 Rework) - arranged by XxDUSTYxX

Review by Waz, 10/09/2020

If the likes of Slayer or Obituary were to take on Tusker, this is pretty much how it would sound. Double bass drum for the absolute win.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Flimbos Quest (Chillout mix) - arranged by Doctorrus Petrixuss

Review by Waz, 18/07/2016

It does what it says on the tin. However it may seem a little too on the simple and chilled side for some. Not sure if the handclaps in the second part add anything, but some may like them.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Erebus (piano) - arranged by Andrea Baroni

Review by Waz, 30/06/2007

This is rather wonderful, and just goes to show sometimes that the simplest ideas are the toughest to execute, but when they're done as well as this, they're simply beautiful. My current remix of 2006 right now.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Grand Prix Circuit (Medley Mix) - arranged by Makke

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

I love the orignal by Kris Hatlelid, so here was me hoping. The sampled drums of the original SID start it off, to give away to a rousing rock number, that really gives you enough passion to kick some ass. Maybe the guitars needed to be a little dirtier, but it's the right way to do it. The organ bit that shares the lead doesn't quite cut it, but it's hard to get that right anyway and he did a bloody good effort. It blends nicely into the second part of the medley (subtune 2) and gives you that feeling you're in some heavy metal concert medley, with the guitars kicking in nicely. Now, it also blends nicely into the last part of the medley, which technically although a cover, is done pretty well. Nice to see a tune treated in this way and rocking.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Cybernoid (Unknown Ambient Level Mix) - arranged by FTC

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

Nice ambient piece starts to kick in, reminding me a lot of those under the sea type TV documentaries that you see on television. All very nice, and all very nice sounding too, but you can't really recognise the cover parts of Cybernoid. The instruments that actualy make it sound like the C64 are so low down in the mix that you can't really hear them too well in parts. It's a very very loose cover indeed, probably too loose in places for it to be justified as a C64 mix in the first part. FTC must have realised it himself as about half way through there's a part that sounds much more C64-like that breaks up the ambience. However, overall I'm just not sure about this one. On the one hand, it's a different idea and I applaud him for that. On the other, I'm not sure whether it actually works best as a C64 mix or as a standalone piece of music in its own right.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Last Ninja - The Wilderness (dance mix) - arranged by Marcus Geelnard

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

Now, the only good remix of any Last Ninja tune in the last year was Sonic Wanderer's, and that's now the standard. So, what about this? Well, there sounds suspiciously big chunks of the SID in there, and if it isn't, it's close. Although I appreciate the faster speed change, in reality it doesn't do anything for me other than make it easier for the remixer to create a dance mix out of. Bit of a cop-out, that. It's not bad, and it flows pretty well, and the instruments are okay, even if it _doesn't_ flow exactly in the same way the original does. I'm not sure though if I could really stomach another mix of this for much longer than one listen, unlike with Sonic Wanderer's one.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Shape - arranged by LMan

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

Well, it's not quite on a par with Reyn, but if Reyn hadn't have done his version this would have been the best remix of it. It's really nice and catchy with a lead that sounds very very like the C64 version (nice synth work if it's not a C64). There's again a nice feeling of space, and even if the bass isn't my cup of tea, I'm sure it will be a lot of others'. There's even a bit of an electric guitar sounding instrument coming in later on which actually does work in relation to the rest of the tune. In short, damn good.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

Drive! - arranged by Juha Kaunisto

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

Great remix of great PRI tune, with good use of guitars and sensible use of own ideas to make the tune sound longer than it should be without ruining it. It develops nicely, there's enough freedom for the guitars to really go for it, and definitely you could drive you car with this in the background. Great stuff from Juha, again.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

720 Degrees (Still Loading) - arranged by Juha Kaunisto

Review by Waz, 10/03/2004

When I used to play 720 degrees down the arcades, I used to really enjoy the loud guitar music pumping from the cabinet. Here Juha has taken all the best elements of one of the main themes, added some crunching real guitars, which always sound much better when played live, and a distorted vocal about how long it takes the tape to load.

For those who complain it's too short, that's the whole point! Punk style tunes are meant to be this way, and it's been arranged with a lot of care and with those who enjoyed the original game in mind. Quite simply, thoroughly fun and enjoyable.
Technique Outstanding
Artistic skill Outstanding
Nostalgia factor Outstanding
Overall rating Outstanding

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