LaLa - Spellbound (Orchestral)

Track info
Arranged by:
LaLa Veteran
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Original SID:
Original composed by:
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Duration:
5:53
Released:
22/11/2002
All-Time charts position:
3346
Score:
67%
Story
Created for the Remix64 orchestral compo. In the instrumentation I tried to stay very close to how the various instruments would be placed in a real orchestra. I'm not 100% satisfied with the resulting tune, so I think I'll rework it a little when I have time.
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Could have some better samples, but it's quite good. Nice work
It's sad, the sounds, especially the Choir, whichs drops in so unnaturally, ruin the good impression. I'd love to hear a sound improved version.
I don't like the instruments, especially the choir, and I don't like the reverb. Not my genre! Only the Glockenspiel puts a smile on my face.
The flattest orchestra I've ever heard. Get it redone now! :P
Great intro... Choice of instruments is bad, imo. Arrangement is almost perfect. Better instruments and balancing could make this outstanding....
Try again with better orch samples
Nice Nice, not the top best but fine with me
I just commented another remix that was electronica. Now I know what I wanted: this! Muuuuch better! And the solo... Violin? ... Is so nice. Very very nice work, LaLa. This is one of the few tunes here that I will download and enjoy many times!
Outstanding arrangement and nostalgia factor...
Terrible... You are really man?
Nice :D
Great work! Maybe a little lack of ambience, but.. It's great!
It did not work
Review by datucker
04/02/2003

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Orchestral remakes seem to be quite popular now. This is another one. The arrangement is good. The choosen sounds are good. In a musical way the remake is good.

The only flaw of this remake is that (no offence to LaLa!) it just doesn't sound like a orchestra. I think that is due to the equipment used: I hear a synth trying to sound like an orchestra but which is still a synth. If this remake would be remastered using some high-end equipment, it really could sound way cool because from a musical view it is good!
Review by davidg
21/06/2003

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Classic game, Classic SID, Classical Remix.
The arrangement here really captures the atmosphere of the original as well as being musically very accurate. Of course it sounds like synthesised music, but the synth sounds are very good and the piece is hugely listenable.
This is the version that fans of the original SID will keep coming back to.
Well done.
Review by Craze
22/06/2009

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Yes! This is 100% nostalgia for me.

Spellbound is a song that I've wanted to make a remix on for a long while. Hearing this one has convinced me there is absolutely no artistic reason for a new version.

Great intro and the drum from 0:20 builds up nicely. You have used a lot of different instruments in this arrangement. The only thing I can complain about is the quality of the instrument bank that is used. Not sure if it's MIDI or not, but I see that the composition is from 2002. At that point there was not that much stuff on the market for affordable prices. Today, I use Nexus 2 (Dance Orchestra expansion)and Garritan Personal Orchestra myself. I'd be very interested to see what you could accomplish with those instruments.

2:10.. where the fiddle comes in is superp.

2:55… ahh… wonderful with the choir and.. hmm xylophone-something? Just great!

You are using the percussions in an excellent way! Gong, cymbal and metalworks and bells etc are used in a creative way and it enriches the arrangement a lot, making up for the quality of the weaker instruments.

Knowing that there are many older tunes with MIDI instruments much higher up the charts here, I'd say this tune is severely underrated. I'd like to put it somewhere in top 200. Maybe even top 100.

Cheers, mate!
Review by CGMcloud
05/12/2022

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It has a very midi sound. This was something that needs a lot of work. There are no dynamics and intrument envelops.