ReMix:Sonic & Knuckles "Deep Damp Sandcastle" 4:05

By Beatdrop

Posted 2003-08-01, evaluated by the judges panel


This one REALLY grew on me. I think it was a little too different and 'whimsical' at times for me to really get into the first go-round, but I've had it on repeat while in the process of posting it after successful evaluation by the judges panel, and I'm much more appreciative now. While citing relative simplicity and lack of salient harmony or counter-melody like a couple others, judge Vigilante notes, "I really really really like the tempo/feel changes. this mix has excellent dynamics, which is something i dont hear often enough in the mixes on the judging board." - the tempo/tone change is what sort of jarred me the first time, but on further listens it's unquestionably the strength and memorable quality of the arrangement, and serves to assuage the simplicity elsewhere. I like some of the synth timbres, particularly an FM-ish tone that sounds like something you'd actually hear the Genesis' sound chip produce, but a bit higher quality. Dain has apparently been wanting to do something in sort of a semi-dub style, and this has aspects of that, while being hard to pin down exclusively to any single genre. I think I ended up actually liking this more than the judges did after hearing it a few times; it's a really conspicuous, tempo-changing, flamboyant piece of electronica that tries a couple new things and gets most of them right, and is certainly a change of pace for Beatdrop. Not everyone's cup of tea, and in my opinion definitely benefits from repeated listening, but on the average a different sort of mix from a talented ReMixer that's as worthy as arrangements in his forte genres. Good stuff.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
Crulex
on 2011-07-12 16:45:16

At least the ReMix kept up with the feel of the zone with the tempo changes. No, seriously, I think that is what is best about this ReMix. Starting off with a deep beat and then the tempo changing into a more frantic "ghosts appearing and the pyramid getting darker" feel before going right back into the "hit the light switch, all is cool now" feeling. As much as I hate Sandopolis Zone, this ReMix is something I can't even frown at, being so good.

avatar
Skinner3D
on 2010-11-19 17:59:37

The tempo changes in this song are the major focal point. As a couple of other people have mentioned I think it was done on purpose. :mrgreen: The actual game level was slightly frustrating because of lights, and doors that only stayed on/open for a limited amount of time. This remix reflects that and the underground feel really well. :)

avatar
Level 99
on 2010-02-17 14:43:12

I wasn't really captured from the first minute or so of the song, not that it was really bad. It just seemed very bland, and does seem bland until some of the drums, FX, and speed change at 1:20. Even then, there's really nothing that sticks out and grabs me. It's adequate, but just overall, I guess I was anticipating some more. I did like the echoes of some of the snare hits and the way it switched up and back and then up again at the end, but overall, this wasn't my bag.

avatar
OA
on 2009-12-22 14:02:37

definitely a unique take on the source. I found it really interesting, and while I can see where the mixed reviews are coming from, I found it to be a pretty sweet track overall. I love when creative risks are taken, and there are plenty in this track that paid off.

Nice work. :-)

avatar
42
on 2009-12-05 22:56:07

Eh... no.

If this mix was a sine wave, the period of it would change occasionally, but a sine wave is still a lazy, lolling sine wave.

Also the echo effects on some of the notes feel very poorly implemented.

While one has to be an active listener for this track, I feel it's for the wrong reasons. I don't really recommend this track.

avatar
KogeJoe
on 2007-01-29 03:48:32

This work was pretty cool.

The one thing I found annoying, however, was the tempo changes... Until then it was quite relaxing to listen to. I can actually picture being out on a hot desert listening to this...

avatar
darkmelee
on 2006-04-28 11:51:22

This is definitely one that NEEDS to grow on you. I was very fond of the feel, but the "whimsical" bit do tend to make it rather...uhhh...odd? i've had renditions of this song in my head before, but i never quite cross THAT many lines...not that it's a bad piece, don't get me wrong. it's actually quite awesome. Like...a LOT. It's just not my perfectionistic taste, but it's cool to listen to, nonetheless. Kudos.

avatar
Bummer
on 2006-04-28 03:00:03

Well this is obviously different from Beatdrop's Catapult, but this one was also made two years before that. At first I thought that Beatdrop actually was going to do something calm and ambient, since this castle is so damp, but at many places in the arrangement, that wasn't the case.

The turns might've been to sudden or simply too different. If you switch to a different melody perhaps, but this is two different music styles. I like what you did with the beginning, some bass and a silent sitra laying in irs loneliness, then BOOOooooommmm....it changes style to calm again. It's like if it cannot decide if it's gonna be relaxing and deep or fast and jumpy.

I liked the part that began at 2:35, since the strings and the sitra worked well together and created this ancient feel to this arrangement, and when the synth appeared it went alot more smooth than the previous time. But when it went a level higher, it didn't smooth anymore, and the it suddenly started to fade and that was the end of it.

Nice remix, no questions, but it was more like two remixes in the same arrangement that argued of which one of them that would take the lead.

avatar
Jemnisimi
on 2005-08-29 19:50:54

I think the change of pace is the musical portrayal of the lights going out in Sandopolis Zone 2. I didn't really think about it until I noticed some of the beat sounds were very reminiscent of the 'levers' you push to make the lights turn back on, and from there was drawn back in time, imagining the ghosts which became more violent as the lights dimmed more, making you wanna rush rush rush to get to the next lever.

This mix really made me smile. Creativity aside, I caught myself tapping my foot more than once. Yay!

*boogie*

avatar
Pip is uh.....
on 2005-03-11 13:47:25

Man oh man this is nice. I dig how ambient and moody this track is. It feels like your in some damp cave or somethin. Of course the beats are great. The track has an excellent flow to it. It's great stuff.

avatar
jordex
on 2005-02-22 23:30:59

Dang I love when the song speeds up but it quickly goes away

The slow part isn't bad, its just too long, most of the song should be at that faster tempo

Anyways yeah, great at some parts. The slow parts not actually that bad, it's just not what you're looking for if you're looking for "trippy"

=)

avatar
Error 404 KMA
on 2004-04-11 17:54:55

What an utterly brilliant piece of work. Delightful contrast between instruments, excellent bass line running through the background, and a suitably scrumptious "Indiana Jones meets the Sacrificial Altar" eerie-yet-addictive mood running throughout. My personal favourite remix I've heard on the site so far. Playing Sandopolis Zone in time with it on the keyboard, I couldn't stop moving it was so catchy. I especially liked the sudden increment of tempo at the "C; C; B; B; A-flat; A; B;" bit. Excellent. I'd say about... 9.5/10 =P

avatar
DistantJ
on 2004-03-08 09:57:10

The slow tempo tends to make the song drag a little, and can sometimes make it hard to recgonise the tune. It'd fit nicely in a videogame as an "Act 2", or a RARE style remix theme, as it works better when you're more familiar with the theme. The end is the point where this mix gets good though, when it starts to speed up. It's a shame the song had to end so soon after the speedup.

avatar
Nys SOB
on 2004-03-01 14:58:09

I'm having mixed thoughts about this mix (no pun intended). On the one hand, the instruments and SFX keep that creepy Egyptian feeling. On the other hand, the slow tempo for most of the song takes away from the feeling that it's a Sonic song. It also sounds a little uncoordinated.

It's OK, but it needs work in a few areas.

Also:

This level in the game used to scare the crap out of me when i was little, you know trying to keep the lights on in the temple or else the ghosts would getcha?

I hated Sandopolis Zone because:

1. Too frikken long

2. Impossible to find any giant rings

3. Scary ghosts

Yes, the ghosts were scary, at first (I tried to avoid opening that capsule as Sonic for the first few times), until you remember the jumping and lever pulling paterns for the level. But I do remember that there are at least 2 giant rings in act 1 and one in act 2. All I can remember is that you should be going higher than the game makes you think you should.

The only thing I really hated about Sandopolis was the boss for Knuckles. For those of you who never played SK, the Knuckles story line is shorter than Sonic's, about 2 zones shorter. To make up for this, it seems the designers decided to make the bosses for Knuckles harder. If you ever manage to get the game, by the time you get Knuckles to the Sandopolis boss(who, by the way, moves twice as fast as the one Sonic fights), you'll see what I mean.

avatar
nodspaw51
on 2004-02-14 15:56:28

Wow, this is one of those songs you dont have to previously know to like. The tempo change always gets me all hyped. Nice job with the end I like that the best...

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Sonic & Knuckles (Sega , 1994, GEN)
Music by Howard Drossin,Jun Senoue,Masaru Setsumaru,Masayuki Nagao,Sachio Ogawa,Tatsuyuki Maeda,Tokuhiko Uwabo,Tomonori Sawada,Yoshiaki Kashima
Songs:
"Sandopolis Zone: Act 1"

Tags (0)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Sonic_&_Knuckles_Deep_Damp_Sandcastle_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,993,369 bytes
MD5:
577c7b7546caf273014a4832d822cc2c
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
4:05

Promotion

8-bit Jazz Heroes - Press Start
View All

Latest Albums

View All

Latest ReMixes