InfoPop
SYNTAX ERA - Remix64 Volume 3 - AMAZING 80s SOUND
magazinemusiccommunity

Listener's Reviews
 [SHOW ALL]
[SHOW C64 ONLY]
[SHOW AMIGA ONLY]
Displaying Reviews 1 - 30 out of 1333 		[LOGIN]

Review by Ic3m4n (01/05/2008)

I do not understand people who just comment to vote a track down...But that´s a topic for the board i think.

I would have loved this song, even it would be in english, spanish, chinese or swedish. It´s the artistic aspect that counts ! And not the nationality... Back to the track:

The relation is there. Great choice of lyrics ! And they are perfectly implemented.

The original theme is very accurate recreated. If i hear those caribbean, i feel like in old times. For me this song really transports the retro-feeling. "Nostalgika in perfecta !"

The mixing coulndn´t be better...the percussions, pads...simply everything is in it´s right velocity ! Something i still try to get right ;)

But ! ... No Gem without a scratch ... it´s way too short :P - But this (personal) feeling don´t drive the rating down for me.

All three criterias are fulfilled and needs to have the tomato-face ^^

Hope to hear some more - sometimes
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ggeudraco (01/05/2008)

This remix starts off with a good drumbeat to get you started; it's not too complicated and gets you warmed up. This soon gets accompanied by another well chosen instrument about 30s later, which then gets replaced with another. This is a different method being used here, and I think it works much better than the previous way, which used up to about five instruments at the same time.

The choice of using Mellotron and the choral is very wise, adding to the spooky theme that Cauldron II is supposed to provide. If you were told that a Rhodes piano would make a good proportion of this remix, it would be hard to comprehend, but there actually appears to be no problem at all using it.

In general, Reyn's not putting in too many instruments at the same time, letting off one if one more needs to be used. It's very well edited and laid out, but I would wish for a few more bars of the Theremin at the end of the track. It would really suit the spooky setting to have a long outro, like it was in the raw Sunday Service version - this would be my only qualm with the remix. I very much enjoy this and denounce the criticisms Reyn makes in his blurb (sorry).
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by nzo (30/04/2008)

Although this wasn't a track that had a lot of "remix" potential" - at least not in the musical sense, this is a fairly good attempt non-the-less. The original was written in about 90 minutes as an exercise in checking out the capabilities of a new tracker, where larger samples were permitted for the first time, thus was really a proving "test". Unfortunately, it ended up on a demo disk which found it's way into Psygnosis, and because of the pure luck of the "sample" content, it ended up being used for an appropriately named game - with a couple of tweeks. Don't be too harsh on the original, as Dr Future says.. it was a first for it's kind. The original was definately a marmite track - love it or hate it.. but this is an extremely brave and commendable attempt at recreating the old 80's feel of the original. Music can be faddish, and this was definately right at the time.. but ages badly - however, the author has done very well to retain the essence (where the hell did you get the HQ voice samples - lol) and provide a very acceptable variation on the original. Fans of the original will like it for sure, but the uninitiated will no doubt be clueless.. that also includes < 30 year olds:-)
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ggeudraco (25/04/2008)

The remix starts nice and quietly, building it's way up slowly - I find this is good to get comfortable with the track. However, at around 2:00, the inclusion other instrument feels a bit sudden, quick and overpowering the piano that started the whole thing off; only recovering with the harpsichord at 2:55.

This soothing calm is rocked again by the use of the SID sample at 4:30. While this may be considerate towards the nostalgia of the track, I think it would have been better used on a remix using synth. As the track reaches its end, the fading of each instrument goes smoothly and ends nicely with the piano solo that started the whole thing off (with appropriate Sunday Service bells).

For those who would start listening to C64 remixes, this may seem quite overdone and easy to criticise. But it must be noted that this was performed live on SLAY Radio, which shows Reyn's skills with multiple instruments and quick improvisation, and that is what rates this track highly. To respond to Reyn's blurb for this remix, I notice no significant glitches in the performance nor any issues with sound quality that can be heard over desk speakers.

Because of these considerations, this is a good early candidate for ROTY.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by el sid (01/04/2008)

I love the interpretation of this fine tune from Rob! I would vote red if the guitarist would better capture the technical quirks from the original tune.

I saw the youtube clip and it was really cool to see the one of the band members in a C=-shirt and all. They looked kinda geeky and that's awsome!! Kewl performance!

I would love to hear a studio-recording.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by XxDUSTYxX (31/03/2008)

This remix is pretty close to a red one. The Rhythmguitars sound ace and the drums are arranged very professional. The guitarsolo at 1:36-2:00 sounds a bit odd, and this trumpet-part at 3:30 can't convince me, because it sounds a bit like a mixture of folklore and a christmas tune. ;) It's awesome apart from that! Well done, Rebulus! I'm waiting for more of your stuff with impatience!
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ggeudraco (31/03/2008)

As you hear the initial solo guitar, then the starting drumbeat, you realise that Reyn has set up this remix to just get straight into the action - there's little room to get settled before he gets started with the body of the track.

Regardless of this, his choice of instruments is very wise - using a drum to keep the beat, while using twinkly metal percussion to add a special charm to the magic and whimsy that the original music was supposed to convey. However, the use of a honky-tonk piano is a strange choice, offering a (pleasing) deviation towards the style that the original track had.

Something that does intregue the ears is a specific sound that occurs from the middle of the track onwards. Whether this was intended or not, you can hear something in the background like a 'woah', as if a key got mispressed during recording. To me, this adds to the realism of the track, and makes it sound more like a live session than anything else.

As Reyn expresses his diversity in his musical talents through the use of many instruments (potentially splitting the track into 6 parts), the leading guitar finishes the track - you get the feeling that all has been done, but there's little lead-out to relax you enough for the next track in the album.

I rate this remix highly, but you can't help the feeling that there could have been something appended that gives the listener a feeling of depth and involvement, rather than a general feeling of enjoyment.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by MORBID (27/03/2008)

Your guitarwork is awesome and the production has exactly the punch I like. I added all your remixes to my collection and I'm waiting for more...MORE! MOOOOOORE! Rock on, fellas! ;)
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by SkyMarshall Arts (25/03/2008)

Well, this is my all time favorite remix, regardless of platform. It's been at parties, in my car, during work and at home. Even my girlfriend had to fight her "hate" against my "addiction" to SID and its remixes, and admit it was a catchy little tune. To me, it never gets old.

I like the arrangement and the drive it has. The persistent kick/bass-line and percussion (dam-dara-dam-da-ra) works perfectly, and its not too noisy and does not drown out the other instruments in the mix.

It might not be the most varied production ever when it comes to arrangement and originality, and could easily become a little repetive. But it dont. It does something new whenever its close to getting old, and the interlude makes sure it survives another go at the lead.

The low-to-high sliding at the end, before it all fades out, ends it perfectly. I dont think I have anything negative to say about this piece. The nostalgic factor on this one is ... well ... too huge. Good work, you need to whip up more like this.

- Eirik:-)
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by spellcoder (28/02/2008)

I'm not really familiar with Goa, but I like a bit of techno, trance and 90's.
If you like those categories you might like Dafunk's 'we believe in goa' remix of 'Hardcore Power'.

The remix is nicely mixed and build up. The style reminds me a bit of Capella and Scooter.
It starts very slow and athmospheric, building up the mood, much like Scooter does in 'Cosmos'.
The beat kicks in at 1:08, but even though this sounds like a long time to wait I wasn't at all bored with the intro.
Unlike many remixes, its produced very well. At around 2:54 we get a rest, making you want to hear more, instead of falling into repetition like some remixes do.
And we do get more. At 6:57 it's a long remix, and even though I dislike long mixes I loved every second of it.

Technically it's well mixed. Artistically it's not just a clone with different instruments, it's well though out and creatively done.
For nostalgia factor.... Well, until just now I hadn't heard the SID yet. Part of the melody does sound familiar to me so I might have had an .mod remix on my Amiga.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by Subzero (22/02/2008)

Listening to this gives me goosebumps, the arrangement is simply brilliant, mellow and relaxing but too short, any chance of an extended version? Its straight on my ipod, and definetely one of my favourites from dafunk:-)
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ahmadov1981 (16/02/2008)

with a specific space technic, this remix will be placed in the Crown of the techno trance’s ground
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by Subzero (12/02/2008)

There is nothing bad about ziphoids work here, everything gels together superbly, however comic bakery as a tune for me has lost most of its appeal as its been done to death. Im hoping for no more comic bakery remixes as the tune never seems to change.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ggeudraco (11/02/2008)

From the first few seconds, you can hear that this piece just jumps straight into the action, piggybacking off the SID. This piece immerses you into the music with its sweeping motions; something not easily done without using dynamic audio enchancement. Every instrument can be determined, and the subtle tones made keep me more than interested throughout the piece

This by far improves on the current soundtrack, and is what I would expect for a remake on a modern system, but I regret that the ending could have been done a few seconds earlier; a section of the buildup is played when it would be just left to a calming fade.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by AmiStyler79 (07/02/2008)

Also ich find den remix super. eigentlich hab ich gar nichts zu meckern. klingt wirklich cool... mir gefällt das klavier sehr gut. in der mitte, ab
minute 2.40. man könnte evtl. noch etwas mit lauter und leiser arbeiten. aber.... astrein! könnte ich mir gut als filmmusik vorstellen.
also: daumen hoch!
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by iolo (01/02/2008)

I can't believe I'm the first who rates this as outstanding. This is just awesome. Yes, the start in the original is more energetic, but I think this re-mix is more in the mood of the second part of the SID. And yes, I think the second part is the best; the soundscapes remind me of the soundtrack of "Blade-Runner" (Vangelis). Technically flawless.
S. Reich, Terry Riley, Robert Fripp, K. Schulze, Edgar Froese, Martin Galway, and probably R. Hubbard would be proud of this.
Danke!
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by ggeudraco (26/01/2008)

After hearing this a few times, your realise the gradual and sometimes subtle changes Reyn does for his intro. However, when you know the drums mark the beginning of the action, you're constantly waiting and feel tortured until they do kick in.

Reyn has used a very appropriate set of instruments for this remix, but I'm afraid to say that his decision to perform it in a 'live' setting has led to degradation of what I can hear the guitar do - I often have to apply dynamic audio enchancement to fully immerse myself. A nice ending is achieved by the slow and subtle fading down of every instrument to that final few notes done by one unit.

Does it capture the environment the SID does? No - Galway has this music sounding like a dawn chorus; Reyn has made it over the top and turned it to a different meaning. However, has Reyn applied his own style and succeeded as a result of it? Definitely!
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by iolo (17/12/2007)

The good: I like your attitude -- submitting a remix again after some very unfair reviews of your previous efforts.
I also like the sax's timbre for this melody. But are you sure this is alto? Sounds at least tenor to me.

The bad: I think your skills at the instrument can't follow the melody quite well (no offense). Also, I think a more appropriate rhythm would be a better fit. The melody and the sax are too melancholic for this dance rhythm.
Finally, I think it should be more concise (which would fit the "parallax melody" label more precisely). In the original, the previous segment of the tune settles the mood for this segment (in a quite remarkable way, I should add). Without that segment, the first couple of minutes of your remix--while waiting for the sax--gets quite boring.

In sum: I'd recommend to keep practicing and re-submitting the remix in a couple of months.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by iolo (17/12/2007)

There are several great renditions of this song, but this version rules them all. Very original. The only mistake is the title ("oops... ). I was reluctant about listening to it just because I thought about some kind of dance-pop tune.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by LMan (10/12/2007)

Funny idea and vocals, thumbs up for that. Could be much better if the guitars were properly tuned to match the harmonica.

Speaking of the harmonica: additionally to being off tune with the main guitar, it sounds very harsh and piercing in the mix with too much treble.

Overall good effort with weak points in the production department.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by infamous (02/11/2007)

I have absolutely no idea of the original tune so can't really get the link between the two but lets face facts off the bat here, dafunk know's his stuff and wouldn't write something completely out of context unless thats what it was.

This is a remix, its doing whats said on the tin.

The first thing that strikes me is the beginning (funny that should happen at the start aint it.. way to make myself sound like roger ebert) but it smacks of all the large progressive trance outfits, a slightly dubby low slung stabbing and straight into the 4t24 drumbeat and slowly building up to a very very sweet vocal.

On the way to that point it has a beautiful soundscape which really does give it that clubby feel (so you succeeded with getting what you was looking for) and if I was still going out and getting drunk every week id definitely dance to this. So what about beyond? well lets talk about the mainline for a second.. genius trance work without a shadow of a doubt, its alot harder to write a decent trance tune than most people would realise (took me a while to realise this too) and dafunks done just that.

As I said in my shout this would chart very high in the uk charts, I'd even go as far to say that it'd find itself getting airplay on radio shows and sitting no1 in the dance charts before armand van helden re-releases another one of his tunes heh.

Technically speaking there isnt anything to fault, all the levels are perfect, the synths/drums etc clear and concise, no off notes no screw ups.. perfect production. and unless you really dont like trance music (in which case i 2nd dafunks "go away dont download it then") a damn good bar for the rest of the "dance" artists on this site to work from.

remix of the year for me without a shadow of a doubt, unless paul van dyke comes on this site and releases a remix, that accolade is safe :p
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by jackal (26/09/2007)

While the sounds are OK, I mean they are decent modern representatives of the amiga samples, this is where remixing becomes an art, you need to embelish the parts that simply dont work with synth sounds, you gotta try and take what the original samples were trying to do, and take it one step further.. A good example of that is where the strums were playing repetatively, on the amiga it sounded great, cos it was strums, and they were there, but when you're using real sounds, well nobody would mindlessly strum away like that, so you have to embellish it with fingering etc.. Gotta rate this one pretty low as there seems like there wasnt much work done other than load new sounds
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by jackal (26/09/2007)

Very good, its amazing how the use of expression really gives the piece emotion that I'd never heard there before. When I remixed it for immortal 3 I cut the piece short as I felt that musically it was weak and if I continued the piece, it would have been too repetative. So it's a breath of fresh air to hear this.. Makes me wanna finish the remix.. INcidentally, the arpeggios towards the end were a "nod" to combo racer that i'd written previously..
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by jackal (26/09/2007)

Nice guitar work, sadly the backing chords are a bit out of tune Lead work is good tho.. The drums could have used some more work too.. Shoot me an email and maybe we can work together on something, its always hard to find a good guitarist..
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by jackal (12/09/2007)

Excellent work Allister, definitely one of Galways strongest pieces, and love the bassoon work.. Attention to detail sets it head and shoulders above the other remixes..
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by Brian (15/08/2007)

Extremly well guitar playing: in time, with feeling, good vibrato and little gimmicks . The best i heard so far concerning c64 remixes. But not only well played, also very tastefull and the arrangement is far more than power cords with one, and the melody with the other guitar. I especially like how the bridge(?) is done with harmonics. Very original! The rhythm guitar is quite loud, compared to the melody. It's ok for me because it makes the track quite heavy and i wouldn't call it unbalanced.

In my opinion the overall sound is a bit lacking. Though the tuned down base (or is it a 5 String?) sounds great, the drums do not match the guitar sound that well. The drum sound should by more dry, a bit more dirty and less sterile, witch would be more fitting to the modern sounding guitar. But hey, this would mean to hire a drummer and spend much money recording it. So this is not really fair to critizise it. Besides, the sound is far better than another rock version of Thrust (maybe you know whitch i mean), which wasn't even quite in time and tuning, though the guys sell it.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by DJB (26/07/2007)

This is the first time that someone has covreed one of my tunes, and I LOVE IT!!! I knew that this would sound nice after reading the comments, but its absolutely awsome. I love the drum change too, a little more upbeat than what I originally wrote the song to be, but a nice change. I can take or leave the quotes through it, it does add that little extra which is good. Hopefully I can come across a few more of my tunes remixed in the future. :-)
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by Instant Remedy (26/04/2007)

Real well executed commercial-sounding remix, top marks for technical achievement and sound! Impressive.
Although, I can't really say why I don't want to push play on winamp again. There wasn't any "magic" even if it sounded oustanding. It sounds really like a song from the Replay-series (Replay Dance Mania etc.) with remixed hits from the 80s and 90s which are lined up and machine-gunned out by popular remixers. I don't mean daXX made this in a coffe-break, I'm sure he had himself working many hours to get it sounding this good. The voice becomes a little too much at times, could have been used less with better effect. I also agree that the sound is a bit to "hard" to fit the original, just like the case with most remixes in the Replay-series.
There is something missing to keep it interesting even if it has a sound which is way above standards for this genre at RKO. But I'll be looking for daXX at RKO in the future!
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by DHS (20/04/2007)

Techically perfect, commercial techno at his best. I have no complaints: it features a lot of dancey tricks to keep the track interesting and it totally centers the objective: making a *real* contemporary commercial track out of a sid. I must say that maybe this is the remix on RKO that manages to better cover that task.

so:

-Technically perfect.
-Target centered 100%.
-Features all the tricks.

For me is a red, totally deserved.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Review by liontamer (12/03/2007)

On some level, I'm willing to forgive the relative repetitiveness of the structure here given how little there is to the original (30 seconds' worth). But to clarify, the beat structure clearly changes from verse (:15) to chorus (1:15) to breakdown (1:47) and so forth, so while we're grooving, it wasn't on complete cruise control. For the record, I'm down with vocoders (and that synth bassline).

The intro actually didn't sound jarringly abrupt all things considered (re: Makke's disclaimer). The synth design and production here was ace, business as usual from the top European mixers.

Hahaha, cheesy vocals coming in at :45 that present a nice adventure motif (when you're trying to make out the words). They're actually taken right from the game; it's a poem describing the plot. Wish the vocals stood out more from the synths and beats, but everything was fine overall. Nice new writing underneath the vox with that synth at 1:01. The chorus instrumentation at 1:16 was great, playing off :15-:30 of the source tune with some beefy stuff filling out the soundfield. Loving how spacious the soundfield felt with this one; nice use of stereo.

All of the expansionist writing intertwined with the source is seamless and logical, with the chorus in particular preventing the arrangement from getting too original and thereby liberal. McDonalds, I'm lovin' it. Don't be put off by the groove here. The arrangement component was very well handled, the throwback to the game by integrating the poem into the song was smart, and the production was solid.
Technical Impression:
Artistic Impression:
Nostalgic Impression:
Overall:

Reviews - Page: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45