trauma - Cauldron II - I am a Pumpkin Man

A mixture between a capella, lyrics, Kraftwerk-style electro drums, club-music and heavy metal near the end. In other words, a real strange mixture, and although I agree it may be a very creative piece of music, I can't get accustomed to weird stuff like this and I'm not impressed at all with what it does to the Cauldron (Hexenküche) theme and its atmosphere

I think this mp3 has a very limited and special target group. It's not anything I would recommend as a download.

Sorry for all you enthousiastic Cauldron II mixers out there. The final Cauldron II has been done.
This version offers everything. A typical acapella Trauma start with a 21st century beat kicking in at the right moment. Then building up to a Nine Inch Nails kind of final haunting you way after the tune has finished. If that isn't in spirit with the (mostly hard and frustrating) game I have no idea what is!
I can imagine that a lot of people from the BIT generation are not into this kind of mixing but condemning them for that would be unfair. Because in my opinion it is all still about creativity and fun…

Bit muddy on the mixing, though, for the techno-boffins but nonetheless great!

Well, this mix is very nice. Inspiring, well done and in the usual Trauma's funky drums mix I've heard before. Nice one, really!

I'll be pumpking you. Isn't that supposed to be _humpin'_?

Every once in a while, something comes along in the C64 remix scene that makes everyone sit up and take notice. This is one such track. We've had orchestral remixes, dance treatments, C64 tracks with lyrics, and more, but now we descend into total madness. In something akin from the warped brains of the Dead Guys versus Makke on speed, combined with a good dose of Jarre and NIN, Trauma creates one of the most original, funny and downright catchy C64 remixes of all time. The perhaps Zoolook-inspired intro is a red herring to what follows: a gradual build up of the original theme, laced with vocal treatment and funky drums, followed by a pseudo-industrial ending from C64 hell. Worthy of the bizarre nature of the original game, and should be required listening for fans of C64 remixes.

I'm sorry, but I think this is absolutely awful. I also think I can say this openly without hurting the artist, because this is no surprise. This kind of music just doesn't ring for everyone!

I'll rate this average for technical and artistic impression because the outcome isn't technically bad. The nostalgic impression doesn't exist for me, because I don't see a relationship here to the C64 nor have I ever played the original game.

I can't stand listening to this tune, but some people will think the opposite, so the arrangeur need not worry. 😉

This tune is pretty awesome for several reasons: first it's an excellent blend
of a capella vocals and a heavier rhythmic overlay. Second, I find it very
funny - if you don't smile when this cover starts, you are not getting the
joke or you never played the game. This is because the vocals actually make
sense! Third, it has a very good progression to it: it starts in a humorous
way with only vocals. Then a hard rock singer's voice comes over all this as
frustration builds. Then the rhythmic overlay provides even more drama. After
a short and very appropriate bridge section - which features Kraftwerkish
drums - the tune culminates in a crazy organized chaos that sounds similar to
a heavy metal concert mostly because of the presence of heavily distorted
electric guitars. I find the result absolutely ingenious! It's an excellent,
excellent piece!

"I am pumpkin man! "

ADDENDUM: Recently I've been listening a lot to this awesome tune, thanks to re-discovering it on the BIT Live DVD. My only gripe about it now is that when the purely a cappella part ends and the drums kick in, the signature base of the original tune ("I am a Pumpkin Man and I'll be jumping… jump, jump, jump, jump, jump") is no more. That's a bit of a shame, but I still think the remix is awesome as is. Can't get enough of Pumpkin Man!

PS: This will be played a lot on Halloween night to scare the trick-or-treating kids…

This remix has only one big flaw: it's too short
I want more of it! Much more!

Trauma put togheter high quality and well chosen samples, mix and arrange everything perfectly and makes one one of the most original (if not *the* most original) remixes out there.

The final bits are simply outstanding.

Absolutely super-cool!!!!!
definitly a hit for the dancefloor, i like the details in the voice arrangment and this deep-mad-grooving bassline at the end, before the track stops suddenly… for this ending i can give only )instead of the )) in Artistic Impression 😉

I was loughing at the first second A really great and awesome attempt to create a individual piece of music full of energy and feelings.

first of all : i really hate the game and the original score isn't one of my favorites. so my start with this tune was under a really bad star. the tune went a completely other way though.

a really strange acapella start smashes my bad expectations. the tune enfolds, so the original score comes through. what i thought to be an annoying remix of an annoying sid turned into an amusing, wierd and funny tune with a replay-value. it turns to a stomping, sinister parody. did somebody mentioned nine inch nails? the latter half would classify as a soundtrack for a warped quake episode. definately not the music i would play at normal parties, this tune comes with a big wink-wink in the eye.

i LOVE it! NYAHAHAHAAA… oops.

WOW!
(sorry, I can't say much more, becase my eglish is a little creepy, but this song is impressive…)

A highly original production, perhaps *the* most original on RKO.

It's quite a surprise once the beat starts but it all works better than could be expected, although after the first high point it never reaches another climax.

Top marks for originality, something which lifts this remix above most other songs on RKO.

Finally the remix seems to perfectly capture the untangible madness of a lunatic getting more and more insanely frustrated (a situation we all can relate to when trying to beat a monstrously difficult game at 3 am in the morning).

I find this remix to be nothing short of awesome, right from the (smile-provoking) intro to the (awe-provoking) finale. Of course, having played a lot of Cauldron II in my time (and having shared the feelings of frustration the artist had) I can't be too objective about it, but this tune captures perfecty not only the rythm and melody of the original (which I like), but also the frowing sense of anger as that godforsaken pumpkin kept on jumping and JUMPING RIGHT INTO THOSE DAMN SKELETONS AND… *ahem* well, you get the idea.

Just a small thing… since I'm spanish my written english is more or less decent but my spoken one is rather jerky… Could someone post the lyrics just to see if I got them right? I don't know if I'll be pumpkin' you just like pumpkins do and I'm a pumpkin man I love to jump, jump, jumpjumpjump are 100% accurate, or if I'm missing some lyrics along the way…

When I first listened to this, I must admit it was a little too 'strange' for me. Original and with an incredibly unique approach the tune soon began to grow on me, and as I listened more I slowly became hooked. The whole thing gells together so well, and this is a testiment to the artistic quality of trauma - he really has created a genuinely original and hugely listenable remix of a fairly weak C64 tune. The lyrics help enormously, but the musical merit of this remix should not be overlooked. If you've downloaded this and found it (as I did) a little to 'odd' - please give it a chance. Sometimes the finest tunes are the ones that you grow to love - and not just instantly like.
This is indeed, a fine tune! Top rated Trauma - showing his individual class - well done.

Absolutely strange.
One of my absolute favourite remixes, weird atmosphere and funny vocals.
A bit better than the great schizophreniac mix from forbidden forest.

What a creative and well done remix. It's really a unique interpretation of the original. The production is great, and the structure keeps it interesting. The a cappella clips work well, and the theme that comes in after the introduction drives the remix forward with a simple but enjoyable groove. I particularly like the almost distant-/muted-sounding break section from 1:22 to 1:37. The guitar effects at around 1:51 also work well to thrust the piece back into its main theme. The vocal bends at 0:22-35 and 2:24-2:37 are very reminiscent of Mike Patton. With a professional sound, a wonderfully creative direction for the source material, and an overall feel that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is (in my opinion) one of the strongest c64 remixes out there.

I couldn't find the lyrics posted anywhere (and some people seemed to be curious about them), so I had a quick couple of listens and jotted down what I could make out. They're not official of course (as I'm merely a fellow listener), and I can't guarantee their accuracy, but I think they're correct for the most part. I couldn't make out most of the a cappella vocals, nor could I discern the 'low grumbling' from 1:30-1:37. Regardless, I have included them below:


I'm a pumpkin man
I'm a pumpkin man
I'm a pumpkin man
I'm a pumpkin man

a, a
cappella vocals enter
I'm a pumpkin man
a, a
I'm a pumpkin man
a, a
I'm a pumpkin man
a, a
I'm a pumpkin man

(g-good day)

in background

Aaaaowww…
Aaaaowww…

two stanzas in tandem

I'll be jumpin' you
Just like pumpkins do

I'm a pumpkin man and I'll be chosen like a pumpkin because
I'm a pumpkin man and I will jump, jump, jump-jump-jump
I'm a pumpkin, I'm a pumpkin, I'm a pumpkin, I'm a pumpkin
Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, Jumping

Aaaaowww…
Aaaaowww…

I'll be jumpin' you
Just like pumpkins do

section with low grumbling

I'll be jumpin' you
Just like pumpkins do

Aaaaowww…
Aaaaowww…

I'll be jumpin' you
Just like pumpkins do

Whoooaaa…

I'm a pumpkin man
I'm a pumpkin man
I'm a motherfuckin' pumpkin man

I'm a pumpkin man

Ay carramba! What a great remix! Technically, it's perfect: great mixing/mastering, overall quality and selection of sounds. Artistically, Trauma spills creativity all over the place, combining various styles into something unique - yet it works perfectly. This remix slowly but constantly builds up until it finally culminates in a musical frenzy. The lyrics and the clever implementation of Richard Joseph's original tune do all to spark nostalgia.

I wouldn't have thought it was possible to make a remix of this SID I'd like even more than the 909Sadist's! But here it is! (be sure to check them both out)