ReMix: Return All Robots! 'Robotastic Dub-o-Matic Genetic Lab'

main

download

Download MP3
4,489,106 bytes, 4:00, 147kbps

Play Preview
Streaming preview on YouTube

Game: Return All Robots! (Microsoft Game Studios, 2010, XB360)
ReMixer(s): Mattias Häggström Gerdt
Composer(s): Mike Worth, zircon
Song(s): 'Jamaican Cyberturtle', 'Main Theme of Return All Robots!'
Posted: 2010-12-24, evaluated by djpretzel
Album: Featured on Return All Robots! Original Soundtrack

Alrighty then; I'll be in the doghouse if I spend too much time on this mix writeup and don't assist in preparing for the imminent holiday festivities, so I'm gonna keep it short! Yesterday we released the Return All Robots! Original Soundtrack, which we heartily recommend checking out at the low, low cost of "free," and also posted Radiowar's slick, downtempo mix. Now we've got Mr. Gerdt, formerly known as Another Soundscape, with his own take on two of the game's themes, including the main theme. He writes:

"Arranging a composer friend's original game music is definitely one of the most fun, rewarding experiences there is. Trying to disassemble and reassemble the work of someone you actually know makes it just that much more fun. Tackling Andrew's music was especially nice considering that VotL and Andrew's support got me into OCR and game music to begin with! This arrangement also gave me a chance to flex my groove muscles a bit so I made a thumpin' dub arrangement fitting of a Space Whale with some live electric bass and guitar added for great justice. The track is, as always, done in Reason+Record by Propellerhead Software."

Bob Marley in the house... Production here is straight up reggae/dub, with funky wah clav, dubtastic delays & deep verbs, a strong offbeat, and really rather nice acoustic kit drums, all of which deviate from AnSo's recent, more electronic direction. Replace the synth lead with vocals singing about shooting sherrifs, jammin' in the name of the lord, buffalo soldiers, or better yet, all three, and you'd have a modern reggae track with some pretty authentic-sounding ingredients. Mattias stirs it up and really embraces the genre, and it shows in the details; while the actual notes are relatively simple, the production & nuance around those notes, in particular on transitions, is superb. Great stuff from AnSo... damn, gotta get used to this... great stuff from Mattias, who throws down some legit, funky, atmospheric groove & gives Andy's source tunes a smoky, Jamaican makeover.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 12 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

This has a sneaky yet light relaxed feel to it - I like it! Well done here, the song makes me smile.

- Bahamut on July 26, 2012

Strangely, the sources seem to sound as if they'd want to adapt to reggae, ESPECIALLY the Main Theme. So I say you went for something rather tasteful with the genre adaptation. :D
So the track arrangement-wise has "Jamaican Cyberturtle" as the front piece, though the cameos thrown into the game's main theme managed to fit in appropriately within the set too. This genre adaptation kind of works appropriately with the ambience and the envelopes that kind of give that 'creatures living on top of the water' vision towards it. There are indeed a couple of parts throughout the song that rises the track into more of a cacophony of textures - fitting Matt's maximalist approach - and even then they seem to take more of a backseat to the minimalist dub writing that makes this atmosphere so unique.
Also, is that live bass at the 3 minute mark? I swore that slap feels somewhat distinct, and I somehow feel clueless for not seeing you able to carry that forward before :razz:
To me, this feels so relaxed and chilled; a completely different writing-based vision to zircon's score, but I personally felt it all paid off by providing a very rare laid back experience, complete with a light hint of tia maria in the mix. (don't ask where I got that from, haha) Nice going!

- Rexy on December 17, 2011

This is great. I don't know what it is, but for some reason listening to this makes me feel all nostalgic and wanting to play some old adventure games. The music just seems to resemble that unique and classic style that certain games had.
Good Stuff.

- ElementDuck on January 3, 2011

Robotic Dub Reggie? Jeez, you just can't put a limit on the amount of new things you hear on this site, eh? The music sounds really good in this tune, what with the whole funky robotic dub thing going. Has a nice beat and the flow really works over the course of the song. Reggie and Tropical Beats are some of my favorite genres, and this is an impressive take on all that so well done. Was really hard to find any faults with this track. Sounds really good, Mattias.

- Crulex on December 31, 2010

Some of the samples are a bit iffy, like the accordion or harmonica sample (can't really put my finger on what it is), but besides that, this works. Nice funky bass with cool effects sprinkled throughout. This is like a mixture of bad drug trip and reggae, and it chills me in my loins. It does drag on a tiiiiiiny bit longer than I thought. Very enjoyable though, I'm finding it hard to pick a lot of stuff out that I dislike (a good thing).
Oh yeah, the name rocks too.

- Level 99 on December 27, 2010

Another Soundscape;740423 wrote: I'm familiar with Kaiba but have yet to see it. This is more inspired by Ott and some classic dub compilations I found at a library in Stockholm. :)

Honestly, this is in my top five favorite remixes for this year. Awesome work!

- Theophany on December 24, 2010

Love the vibe this pulls off. Bass is sick, and everything is just as awesome. Great combination of sounds, and it was really fun hearing something in a different style out of Mattias (not that I don't LOVE his electronic stuff). Check this one out.

- DragonAvenger on December 24, 2010

i LOVE this. easily one of my new favorites of yours. nice work, sexyman. :nicework:

- halc on December 24, 2010

Theophany;740407 wrote: Really cool.
edit: I also have to ask, have you heard the OST to an anime called Kaiba? There's a track on that OST that has a similar dub/electronic fusion style... though I think your track is better :)

I'm familiar with Kaiba but have yet to see it. This is more inspired by Ott and some classic dub compilations I found at a library in Stockholm. :)

- anosou on December 24, 2010

Really cool.
edit: I also have to ask, have you heard the OST to an anime called Kaiba? There's a track on that OST that has a similar dub/electronic fusion style... though I think your track is better :)

- Theophany on December 24, 2010

Even though Anso is super-busy these days actually SCORING (rather than remixing) tons of indie soundtracks, I'm glad he was able to participate in the RAR remix contest and create this awesome arrangement. It's as bizarre and quirky as the game itself, and the whole development team got a big kick out of it. Very creative, perfect dub groove. Go Anso!

- zircon on December 24, 2010

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

- djpretzel on December 24, 2010