ReMix: Deflektor 'Cover Your Light'
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- Game: Deflektor (Gremlin, 1988, C64)
- ReMixer(s): Zero Division
- Composer(s): Ben Daglish
- Song(s): 'Main Theme'
- Posted: 2011-11-01, evaluated by the judges
Back in August of last year, we received an awesome C64 Deflektor submission from self-described German glam rock band Zero Division. The judges loved it, but the only problem was that they wanted it to be released after their latest album had come out, which ended up taking a good, long while. Like even longer than it NORMALLY takes a mix to get posted around these parts (gasp!)... nevertheless, the day has come, and I'm happy to finally release their unapologetically enthusiastic 'Cover Your Light' anthem! They've put together a great music video for it that you should definitely check out, too. Band member Rufus Blake writes:
"Hey OCReMix, we're a German hard rock / glam rock band and we remixed the theme of multi-platform puzzle game Deflektor, huzzah! The song was recorded at home in our singer's home studio. Drums are sampled, the rest (guitars, keyboards, bass and vocals of course) is recorded. And the song is really fun to play live :D We're utilizing Creative Commons sound effects by users HardPCM, mapleleaf, dobroide, mattwasser, digifishmusic, Blackstrobe, Heigh_hoo and Trinity101 of freesound.org."
First thing you might notice, after the intro FX set the stage, is that Christopher Walken was apparently present for the recording of this mix, and let's just say his temperature was running high. Yes, the now-infamous Blue Oyster Cult bovine bell figures heavily, as electric bass introduces that instantly identifiable melodic hook which more or less IS the source material. Angsty male vocals enter and for a second, you might have some doubts, but then the chorus comes in and... fugettaboutit. That's some catchy, foot-tappin', manscreamin' 80's rock hook, right there. OA writes:
"Haha I love this so much. The 80's arcade/mall ambience, a great source that really fits the style well, and a solid performances all around. The mix wasn't amazing, and i think the guitars could have come up slightly, but the rest was awesome, with solid vocals and great harmonies. The lyrics were fun and great for singing along. I was totally expecting a shredding solo and then it went into the breakdown, nice changeup! Then dual leads into the solo. Super great.... If I was an 80's chick, i'd totally throw my panties onstage to this."
CAN'T UNREAD... Anyhow, this is a great example of extending a basic source hook/motif into an entire song, and it takes me straight back to the decade of my youth. At the time, we'd have earnestly described such music as radical, bad (the MJ kind, R.I.P.), blazin', and perhaps even dudical. If this mix doesn't land squarely in the part of your brain that will insist on it sticking around for years to come, being sung in the shower, etc., then there's too much in your brain, and you need to make room. Epic, instantly iconic Deflektor mix from Zero Division - glad to have it on OCR, glad to see more C64 love, and be sure to check out their other stuff at www.zero-division.com.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the DE-FLEK-TOR WHOO-OOAA
^I shout this (and the rest of the chorus) and fistpump regardless of where I am. It is radical.
- Mythezza on November 18, 2012
The intro (as well as the breakdown later on) with the pinball/arcade/mall background noise is a very neat idea, and the the bassline coming in a few moments later is great.
Have to say that most of the singing actually sounds more 90s than 80s to me, with the exception of the chorus which is all 80s, though that is also due to the awesome guitar work.
Solo starting around 3:10 is badass, too.
Catchy as all hell. More, please.
- Martin Penwald on January 24, 2012
Sounds like a song from the 80s. XD
Seriously, fantastic job and I think it was well worth the wait. Great job!
- Mirby on December 23, 2011
- Crulex on December 21, 2011
In short, I like lyrics that aren't all about the game, or games in general.
- Zen00 on November 10, 2011
:D
Amazingly catchy. I think it sounds a bit too modern compared to true 80s Glam but this is catchy as hell nonetheless. Rock on.
- Sir_NutS on November 7, 2011
Amazing work in fitting the vocals and rock into the game music itself. Loved it!
- Loning on November 4, 2011
- SuperiorX on November 3, 2011
- Nonamer on November 3, 2011
- BorgMan on November 2, 2011
Mixes with Lyrics are so hit and miss. This nailed it totally.
- Nearly on November 2, 2011
WillRock;817224 wrote: OA showed me this mix - seems like eons ago now - when it hit the panel, because he thought i'd really dig it, and dig it I fucking do - pretty awesome glammy stuff. I really don't think this is mix of the year tho, I think you guys are over reacting there. Each to his own tho. My only critique on this is that the production sounds too rough for glam... it lacks the production cleanness and is more rough sounding than much of the style. Maybe thats what they were going for however.
I do think the synths are biggest weak point, they sound too vanilla.
Yeah it sounds like i'm hating on this mix, and believe me i'm not, but as good as it is, it could be better, and i'm sure with time, these guys WILL get better and kick some 80's ass.
Hope they continue to submit :D
I know you're not hating Will :D But since you've mentioned some of the production flaws (which I happen to agree on), I think any lacking area is rendered a moot point by the sheer energy, passion and just plain awesomeness. I think the roughness in the mix is more of a stylistic choice, because the drums etc sound like they're mixed similar to Reyn Ouwehand's cover of this track... actually, there's a hell of a lot of that version of Deflektor in this mix; cues taken from production right through to instrumentation. But who can blame them - Reyn did create the ultimate remix... one that eclipses even the source in awesomeness. 'Cover Your Light' is a bastard child of glam rock, Reyn and gamey-goodness... but what a fantastic bastard child it is :D
- AkumajoBelmont on November 2, 2011
- Swanky on November 1, 2011
