ReMix: Return All Robots! 'Robotastic Dub-o-Matic Genetic Lab'
- 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.
- Bahamut on July 26, 2012
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
Good Stuff.
- ElementDuck on January 3, 2011
- Crulex on December 31, 2010
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
- DragonAvenger on December 24, 2010
- 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
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
- zircon on December 24, 2010