ReMix: Silent Hill 2 'StaticAversion'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Silent Hill 2 (Konami, 2001, PS2)
- ReMixer(s): Children of the Monkey Machine, Steve Pordon
- Composer(s): Akira Yamaoka
- Song(s): 'Promise', 'She'
- Posted: 2001-11-01, evaluated by djpretzel
This is actually a ReMix that covers tracks from Silent Hill 1 & 2, put together for Halloween by Cotmm and Steve Pordon. It's quite epic, and uses radio static as transition time between themes, which are covered primarily by eletric guitar, with some piano melody as well. Some of the pieces hit home more than others, but the variety is great, and the mixing between tracks is very well done. Please note that this is a ONE TIME exception being made because of deadline issues for the holiday - the ReMix size limit is 6 megabytes, as the submission instructions note. I love the section at 3'04", with more mellow tones, and the superfuzz lead at 5'26" is quite ballsy. Both ReMixers show an appreciation for Mr. Yamaoka's work in this piece, which is epic but definitely a trip worth taking - Cotmm excels at layered sonic textures and this collaboration turned out well.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Steve Pordon review:
As it's not really easy to distinguish who did what, this might be hard to separate the two remixers out, but oh well. Interesting intro. A very creepy vibe which is very appropriate given the subject material. The transitions were an interesting idea. I'll give the lack of punch in the drums over to the creative notion that they were trying to create the idea of a poorly transmitted radio signal. The automated panning of the guitar was a nice touch all around. I generally don't like guitars drowning in verb, but considering the vibe they were going for, I actually really enjoyed it here and there. A very simple and minimalist arrangement, which has Steve written all over it. A very experimental piece, but it worked pretty well.
- tweek on August 19, 2010
As it's not really easy to distinguish who did what, this might be hard to separate the two remixers out, but oh well. Interesting intro. A very creepy vibe which is very appropriate given the subject material. The transitions were an interesting idea. I'll give the lack of punch in the drums over to the creative notion that they were trying to create the idea of a poorly transmitted radio signal. The automated panning of the guitar was a nice touch all around. I generally don't like guitars drowning in verb, but considering the vibe they were going for, I actually really enjoyed it here and there. A very simple and minimalist arrangement, which has Steve written all over it. A very experimental piece, but it worked pretty well.
- tweek on August 19, 2010
Gonna say it right here - I don't like the static usage as applied
to in this song.
It took a long time to actually get to something substantial. I'm not sure how close it is to the source, but this has a quaint vibe to it...when you actually get to hear the main part.
Count me as not a fan :-( .
- Bahamut on January 19, 2010
It took a long time to actually get to something substantial. I'm not sure how close it is to the source, but this has a quaint vibe to it...when you actually get to hear the main part.
Count me as not a fan :-( .
- Bahamut on January 19, 2010
The idea of using the static/searching for signal sounds for this
game isn't the most unique, but it has it's effect and makes a
creative track. Having the static come back in every so often was a
nice touch, but I found it annoying a couple of time when I'd
rather focus on the music than the static.
I'm a little put off that it felt like the track took 3 minutes to get really started, and by then was nearing the halfway mark, but when this does get started it's pretty good. Not what I would have expected from CotMM, but it's always interesting to hear mixer's earlier works.
The melodies felt a little soft compared to the volume of the static in between sections, I would have liked that to come up a little in relation, or have the static brought down a tad. Other than that, it's a fun and interesting listen.
- DragonAvenger on November 18, 2009
I'm a little put off that it felt like the track took 3 minutes to get really started, and by then was nearing the halfway mark, but when this does get started it's pretty good. Not what I would have expected from CotMM, but it's always interesting to hear mixer's earlier works.
The melodies felt a little soft compared to the volume of the static in between sections, I would have liked that to come up a little in relation, or have the static brought down a tad. Other than that, it's a fun and interesting listen.
- DragonAvenger on November 18, 2009
A great tribute to my one of my favourite games. It has got some
great guitar work but my only complaint was that it ages for it to
pick up. Anyway i love it.
- yosefu on May 27, 2009
- yosefu on May 27, 2009
Definitly starts out not my type of music, but it is very well done
regardless of how I feel about the "genre" of ambient noise.
Once the 30 minute intro is over, it distinctly picks up, and the guitar is nice, especially the backing chords. Overall theres a bit too much static, and the lead tone on the guitar is a bit too bright, but it's a good mix. Nice work guy would be proud.
- OA on May 3, 2007
Once the 30 minute intro is over, it distinctly picks up, and the guitar is nice, especially the backing chords. Overall theres a bit too much static, and the lead tone on the guitar is a bit too bright, but it's a good mix. Nice work guy would be proud.
- OA on May 3, 2007
Too few comments on this one? I think think so
Falls under one of the best remixes in the site for me, both mixers do their jobs very well and mix together in a way few groups can. CotMM keeps everything spooky while Steve knows how to vibe with him on his guitar
It's not hard to see why this was let in even because the file size is over the limit, it's too good to leave out
- ILLiterate on April 18, 2006
Falls under one of the best remixes in the site for me, both mixers do their jobs very well and mix together in a way few groups can. CotMM keeps everything spooky while Steve knows how to vibe with him on his guitar
It's not hard to see why this was let in even because the file size is over the limit, it's too good to leave out
- ILLiterate on April 18, 2006
You can just see the SH characters listening to this on their
broken radios. But i felt that the static was WAY too overpowering
of the song. And since you never break through the static entirely
(even at around 3+ minutes it seems that the static will persist,
even with the electric guitar kicking the Static around), The song
remains just a slightly above average song.
- Kurokun1293 on April 18, 2006
- Kurokun1293 on April 18, 2006
The song itself is quite good, but it just didn't feel like Silent
Hill. The first part is the only part taken from Silent Hill 1, and
it's one of those songs that you almost don't remember. It took me
a few days to pick out which song it was, because I honestly
couldn't tell. The second segment just lacked in the way the style
was. They tried to to rock, but there wasn't enough bass, not
enough harmonization, and the part originially played by the violin
in the original song is taken up by the guitar, the SAME guitar
doing the rest of the melody, which just sounds screwed up. The
last part has no bass at all, and the very high pitched guitar
doing the back melody is not SH sounding at all, and doesn't
provide enough structure to back up the really loud guitar it will
be accompanying. (SP?) It seemed rather thrown together without any
fine tuning, or as if the people making it had NEVER played any
Silent Hill games. They essentially took the original songs,
removed parts, distorted the sound, and added static, which I found
REALLY annoying. When I want to hear music, I have a few gigs of it
on my computer, but when I want static, I've got a radio in my room
I can listen to anytime. The static-like stuff going on in "Act3 -
Search for Cheryl" Is quite good. In fact, it's still one of my
favorite remixes and it's on all of my haloween mixes that gets
requested from me. This remix is just... Not good enough to keep my
attention. 2 out of 5.
- Smartalec on June 15, 2005
- Smartalec on June 15, 2005
This song is exactly why CotMM is one of my favorite mixers. Both
of you have done an excellent job on this brilliant mix. Very
haunting and, at times, utterly rocking. Much like the original
Yamaoka tunes, though more like the harsh, original style of the
first game met up with the melancholy, melodic style of the second,
fell in love, and the result is this--their only child. Yeah, a
great mix even if my nonsense metaphors don't show a high enouch
appreciation. Around 2'10, when the opening to 'Laura' kicks in...
That is truly a euphoric musical experience.
- Ventrex on May 13, 2005
- Ventrex on May 13, 2005
WOAH!!! This is a total euphoric blast to my ears. The clever
mixture of different song, especially my fave part (about 5 minutes
into the song). Totally amazing, and an excellent collaboration
between two great remixers! Fantastic!!! 10/10!!!
- FinalGamer on February 4, 2005
- FinalGamer on February 4, 2005
What just happened?
Yeah, this is one of those unique gems of remixes.
Never played the game, but this song confused me greatly, and instilled a touch of paranoia.
It's slow beat and horror movie sound. Strange.
Gave it a 5 of 5 I did.
- NeOmega on September 6, 2004
Yeah, this is one of those unique gems of remixes.
Never played the game, but this song confused me greatly, and instilled a touch of paranoia.
It's slow beat and horror movie sound. Strange.
Gave it a 5 of 5 I did.
- NeOmega on September 6, 2004
This is one of those songs you would hear during a bad dream.
Somethings there, but you dont see it. It hits you, the minute you wake up.
On the tv, the screen is all static, but there's no remote. Can't change the channel. Is it broken?
=====+
This is really sounds more like a BGM track. Just with added noize to bring that effect to life.
And it really messes with you after awhile..
Good stuff, that should never be forgotten. 8)
- Kadosho on June 18, 2004
Somethings there, but you dont see it. It hits you, the minute you wake up.
On the tv, the screen is all static, but there's no remote. Can't change the channel. Is it broken?
=====+
This is really sounds more like a BGM track. Just with added noize to bring that effect to life.
And it really messes with you after awhile..
Good stuff, that should never be forgotten. 8)
- Kadosho on June 18, 2004
How deliiightfulllly spooky... I really appreciate this one. Having
played the game just a little, the taste it left me with matches up
with this mix perfectly. The mood it sets is so great...
melancholy, yet tensed up on the edge. The intermittent static is
great. Makes ya feel so... unsafe. And scared. It's not easy for
music to do that ya know. Course we also got melodies and themes
mingled in, so it's better than just ambient "I'm gonna jump out
and surprise ya any second" kinda scary music. Yep, this is
better.
Boy, I really rambled there, but all in all - I like this one alot. Perfect mood-setting, nice use of the game music, and excellent mixing. I listen to this one more than any other CotMM mixes too, I have to say. Whether that's good or bad I'm not sure, but I love this mix.
-Mazedude
- Mazedude on December 6, 2002
Boy, I really rambled there, but all in all - I like this one alot. Perfect mood-setting, nice use of the game music, and excellent mixing. I listen to this one more than any other CotMM mixes too, I have to say. Whether that's good or bad I'm not sure, but I love this mix.
-Mazedude
- Mazedude on December 6, 2002
I really like this remix or rather remixes and the electric guitar
gives it a really good alternative -hardcore feel that hits home
with such remixes as done by Marilyn Manson for the hit movie
"Resident Evil". But to my own personal taste it brings into the
world of Silent Hill. One cool thing I noticed was that the radio
static also has an advertisement for a Mental Health Clinic or a
Clinic of some kind, but the first thing that popped into my head
was a picture of the hospital from Silent Hills 1 and 2, I can only
anticipate what remixes these two may come out with for the next
installment of Silent Hill, I also have several friends that love
the remix.
- Tvirus0584 on September 20, 2002
- Tvirus0584 on September 20, 2002
Silent Hill 2 'Static Aversion'
This one is going to take some eccentric souls to appreciate, but then I know a lot of people here are eccentric anyways. At some points the static gets unnervingly freaky, but noting the subject matter of the game, I’m sure that striking fear into peoples souls was part of CotMM’s intention (as his intention with almost everything he does). The work with the guitars in this mix is absolutely superb. This is a real piece of work by Children of the Monkey Machine and Steve Pordon.
- Ginnsu on May 23, 2002
This one is going to take some eccentric souls to appreciate, but then I know a lot of people here are eccentric anyways. At some points the static gets unnervingly freaky, but noting the subject matter of the game, I’m sure that striking fear into peoples souls was part of CotMM’s intention (as his intention with almost everything he does). The work with the guitars in this mix is absolutely superb. This is a real piece of work by Children of the Monkey Machine and Steve Pordon.
- Ginnsu on May 23, 2002
