ReMix: Ecco: The Tides of Time 'Medusa Mix'
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- Game: Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega, 1995, GG)
- ReMixer(s): Sadorf
- Composer(s): Csaba Gigor, Gábor Foltán, László Fazekas
- Song(s): 'Vents of Medusa'
- Posted: 2003-08-06, evaluated by the judges
Fast on the heels of SGX's Ecco 2 ReMix, the Judges have given the nod to this Ecco 2 ReMix - from the Sega Game Gear version - by newcomer Sadorf. An unnamed judge spent a good amount of time (in vain) looking for the original track amongst the many tunes in the GYM from the Sega Genesis soundtrack, so do take note that this is from the Game Gear Ecco 2 soundtrack, which is apparently different from the Gen and CD versions. Judges were direct and concise in their comments; Vigilante contributed: "nice dynamic variation, nice groove, sounds fresh. could be longer, but if it were, it would risk being repetitive". This is a short, decent, simple but not overly-so techno arrangement that features a very deep, dark kick, with building synths that lead into a nice, dark groove with a delayed electric piano-type lead. The delay really helps add complexity to the melody line and builds out the sound. Halfway through, we get a tempo switch to a decidedly slower vibe as a sort of breakout section, then we segue quickly back to the original pace. This isn't always an effective method of breaking things up as it can make a mix sound forced or come off like compensation for variation elsewhere, but it works here as the primary "meat" of the mix that bookends it juxtaposes in a way that makes sense. The melody has a travelling, epic feel to it - not really an underwater feel or anything that would conjure up particularly aquatic images (for that see SGX's mix), but it's a nice, direct, somewhat cinematic melody as well, and Sadorf's done a very respectable job with it. Good first mix, interesting & timely source material, and a nice, clean sound - check it out.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Absolutely killer source tune- pure melody. Anyone could do a remix
of this source and I'd probably love it. The sounds used were
pretty basic, and the drums were weak, but the intro build was
nice; that delay gives it a lot more character. Arrangement was
basic, but there were some cool ideas, like the tempo changes- the
halftime feel was great.
Overall not an amazing mix, mostly due to the production, but the source selection is so good, I can see why Sadorf remixed this same track twice.
- OA on November 4, 2009
Overall not an amazing mix, mostly due to the production, but the source selection is so good, I can see why Sadorf remixed this same track twice.
- OA on November 4, 2009
Even though I NOed "Fury of Medusa", I did like its more upbeat
take on the source material as compared to this one. Nonetheless,
the overall arrangement here was more creative, IMO, even if the
mixing wasn't so hot. Solid older school material with some good
dynamic changes throughout.
- Liontamer on April 22, 2007
- Liontamer on April 22, 2007
Mostly I liked from 0:16 to 0:32 part and 2:00 to 2:16 part.
It's still good. Not maybe my favorites but I listen it sometimes.
- Flux on July 9, 2004
It's still good. Not maybe my favorites but I listen it sometimes.
- Flux on July 9, 2004
I like it!
It starts out nice and slow, then gets progressively builds. Then there is the calmer part at 1:19 only to build back to what it was after the intro.
I think it gets a little repeatative, but that is somewhat counteracted by the slower part at 1:19. So the song isn't boring because it repeates, in fact it just has that kind of sound that sticks in your head and becomes a song that you can't get rid of.
Good mix! Make more!
- xamgis on July 6, 2004
It starts out nice and slow, then gets progressively builds. Then there is the calmer part at 1:19 only to build back to what it was after the intro.
I think it gets a little repeatative, but that is somewhat counteracted by the slower part at 1:19. So the song isn't boring because it repeates, in fact it just has that kind of sound that sticks in your head and becomes a song that you can't get rid of.
Good mix! Make more!
- xamgis on July 6, 2004
Jeez, I just noticed that I have not commented on this song! I was
among those that requested the final version of this song a long
time ago, and before that eagerly awaited each update. It is damn
catchy, that is what I have to stress.
I normally need to be pretty hammered to want to dance, but this song makes me want to bust a move and stuff. . .
- Noon on October 23, 2003
I normally need to be pretty hammered to want to dance, but this song makes me want to bust a move and stuff. . .
- Noon on October 23, 2003
I /really/ dig the "dark" groove djpretzel mentioned... at 0:33 I
was afraid for a second that it was going to turn into just another
generic techno mix with all the usual tricks and patches, but
Sadorf didn't succumb to the temptation, pumped a fresh feel into
this and the world is a better place for it!
- fisherman on August 21, 2003
- fisherman on August 21, 2003
Wether you liked the song or not, i wuold just like to thank you
all for your comments, as it is always nice to get feedback on what
is right and what may be wrong. and to clear up a tiny thing about
the snare being weak. I lost the file for the song and was stuck
with what you see here, and i would have encoded it a little higher
to rid it of some of the swishy sounds, but ah well heh.
Thanks again everyone, maybe the next song i do will have all the problems people had with this one fixed (and prolly have diff probs) heh.
:D
- Sadorf on August 21, 2003
Thanks again everyone, maybe the next song i do will have all the problems people had with this one fixed (and prolly have diff probs) heh.
:D
- Sadorf on August 21, 2003
There's a lot that contributes to this remix, and IMHO, it deserves
picking apart.
0:00 -nice relaxed intro. the bass almost sounds bell-like, and I'm really liking the synth that's playing the melody.
0:15 - hey! Where'd the melody go?!? I was really enjoying that. What's that high quiet annoying synth?
0:20 - Oh, must be a new melody, now that I can hear it well. Not quite as much fun as the first, but it's OK. It feels tense how the melody's a little off from the bass, especially with the odd syncopation.
0:33 - Oh good. Sounds like the main melody is coming back.
0:35 - Mmmmm. There it is. Hmmmm. It's a much more alive this iteration, with the drums and the tempo change.
0:44 - Mmmmm. Nice effect with the glockenspeil countermelody. That helps me get re-oriented from :15.
1:18 - ??? It's all slow again.
1:32 - different countermelody, different synth, but has a similar stabilising effect. it's a little creepier this time, which fits with the slower tempo.
1:57 - alright! sounds like main melody's coming back
2:01 - not only is it back, but it's faster and has a glockenspeil doing a countermelody again
2:17 - sounds like it's coming to a close
2:27 - the bouncy melody fades
2:37 - and it's over
This remix really resonates with me, but I can't put my finger on the reason. Hmm. Nice work, at any rate.
- IdeaMagnate on August 20, 2003
0:00 -nice relaxed intro. the bass almost sounds bell-like, and I'm really liking the synth that's playing the melody.
0:15 - hey! Where'd the melody go?!? I was really enjoying that. What's that high quiet annoying synth?
0:20 - Oh, must be a new melody, now that I can hear it well. Not quite as much fun as the first, but it's OK. It feels tense how the melody's a little off from the bass, especially with the odd syncopation.
0:33 - Oh good. Sounds like the main melody is coming back.
0:35 - Mmmmm. There it is. Hmmmm. It's a much more alive this iteration, with the drums and the tempo change.
0:44 - Mmmmm. Nice effect with the glockenspeil countermelody. That helps me get re-oriented from :15.
1:18 - ??? It's all slow again.
1:32 - different countermelody, different synth, but has a similar stabilising effect. it's a little creepier this time, which fits with the slower tempo.
1:57 - alright! sounds like main melody's coming back
2:01 - not only is it back, but it's faster and has a glockenspeil doing a countermelody again
2:17 - sounds like it's coming to a close
2:27 - the bouncy melody fades
2:37 - and it's over
This remix really resonates with me, but I can't put my finger on the reason. Hmm. Nice work, at any rate.
- IdeaMagnate on August 20, 2003
The low kick was a nice touch. However, I find the snare just a tad
weak for my liking.
The square-based synth and the saws are a nice contrast. But I like how he cut off the delay from the square-intro synth.
The saw-pads are nice, saws they may be but of the right texture to make it not grating. The pipe-organish synth (I think its a saw?) is pretty good.
But what I like is the tinkling off the leads... how nice and laid back they are.
- Xelebes on August 11, 2003
The square-based synth and the saws are a nice contrast. But I like how he cut off the delay from the square-intro synth.
The saw-pads are nice, saws they may be but of the right texture to make it not grating. The pipe-organish synth (I think its a saw?) is pretty good.
But what I like is the tinkling off the leads... how nice and laid back they are.
- Xelebes on August 11, 2003
Wow, it FINALLY made it. I was one of the first people to hear this
song way back. I actually already had the final version that you
see here because I PMed him and requested it when he told me he
finished. This song is more then half a year old already and it
just appeared on the site heh. I still got the last few wips saved
somewhere. I'm just glad this finally made it. Congrats Sadorf!
- Fallen Angel on August 11, 2003
- Fallen Angel on August 11, 2003
Hmm.
This is a pretty simple little peice. It doesn't very too much from the original, even in the arrangement of the music. The drums are mushy sounding, and are just a little too basic. Some nice snare fills would fit in nicely, or some hats that weren't just straight 16th notes. Most of the synths are flat and tinny, and lack the movement (automation is your friend. Use it) that is typical with this style. The tempo-change in the middle is a neat idea, but it comes in at entirely the wrong time. Just as the music is starting to pick up, everything sloooows down. This technique can sound good and add a lot of tension/interest to a peice, but it just doesn't work here.
I like the accompanying(?) synth line at the beginning, it's got a great texture, and fits into the peice (not too loud, not too high/mid/low freq.). I felt I had to find at least one thing I liked about this peice, so I wasn't completely bashing on it.
Frankly, I don't see how this made it past the judges. I just find this mix fairly amaturish and hastily/lazily put together. This peice has plenty of potential, but it sounds very underdeveloped at the moment.
- Nines on August 11, 2003
This is a pretty simple little peice. It doesn't very too much from the original, even in the arrangement of the music. The drums are mushy sounding, and are just a little too basic. Some nice snare fills would fit in nicely, or some hats that weren't just straight 16th notes. Most of the synths are flat and tinny, and lack the movement (automation is your friend. Use it) that is typical with this style. The tempo-change in the middle is a neat idea, but it comes in at entirely the wrong time. Just as the music is starting to pick up, everything sloooows down. This technique can sound good and add a lot of tension/interest to a peice, but it just doesn't work here.
I like the accompanying(?) synth line at the beginning, it's got a great texture, and fits into the peice (not too loud, not too high/mid/low freq.). I felt I had to find at least one thing I liked about this peice, so I wasn't completely bashing on it.
Frankly, I don't see how this made it past the judges. I just find this mix fairly amaturish and hastily/lazily put together. This peice has plenty of potential, but it sounds very underdeveloped at the moment.
- Nines on August 11, 2003
SoUnDoLe wrote: I actually prefer this to SGX's version. Creates an epic kind of feel, yet remains calm. Good choice of patches. :nicework:
Why must you compare two different pieces of work. Apples and oranges, really. :roll:
- GrayLightning on August 7, 2003
SoUnDoLe wrote: I actually prefer this to SGX's version. Creates an epic kind of feel, yet remains calm. Good choice of patches. :nicework:
Version? They're two different songs by two different composers....
- sgx on August 7, 2003
OOOOo Mesdusaaaaa! hmmm...does kage like? yes..he does 8O ooooooooo
nice calm mix to put me asleep after long day of......stuff. :D I
likes....bye bye
- Mr. Merc Kage on August 7, 2003
- Mr. Merc Kage on August 7, 2003
