ReMix:Halo: Combat Evolved "Fall from Above (You Can't Stop)" 4:00

By Arkimedes

Arranging the music of one song...

"Halo"

Primary Game: Halo: Combat Evolved (Microsoft , 2001, XBOX), music by Marty O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori

Posted 2004-04-21, evaluated by the judges panel


Arkimedes gives us this highly interpretive but also highly enjoyable Halo mix of the title theme. There's some robot voice going on here that might initially seem cheesy but gets really rather cool & trickster at 2'12" where it's mixed in with some additional proclamations as to our collective inability to stop the beat... definitely works well with the choral underpinnings, which are the clearest remnants of the original. Things intro with some percolating, oscillating synth pulses, then minimal drums and a very nice, warm analog bassline come in and kick + vocal samples join the fun. The strength and warmth of the bassline go a long way towards providing a foundation for the track, and as strings swell in and lead the way to those crazy & wild monks, they keep the lowend thumping. There's a gradual addition and succession of ingredients here that truly keep things interesting and maintain momentum, and some great details like the morphing processing applied to the "you can't stop" sample. When the beat eventually DOES stop (hey, false advertising!) it's in a tasteful denouement, stripped-down breakbeat fade fashion. The Wingless offered this pseudo-misogynistic metaphor:

"Man, I am lovin' dis song. It's about time us Xbox fanboys came out of the woodwork and started making some noise. Excellent synth work here mixed with the Halo tabernakkkul choir. I'm sure some would find the "can't stop"-age bothersome, but I like it. Great variation, dynamics, samples, yadda yadda yadda. It's like a pretty girl that knows how to cook and clean..."

Good first sub from Arkimedes, who takes a minimalist theme and turns it into a more elaborate electronica affair without being too indulgent or stretching things too far.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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duskvstweak
on 2011-12-28 13:01:55

I like that this mix stays true to the source but really feels like another tune for me. The constant beat and the "Can't Stop" keep this as a really cool song. I get the feeling of just continually falling slowly over high city streets. I like the way the main chorus is used sparingly. Great tune.

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Codamadius
on 2011-12-03 23:38:50

This would definitely be a good jogging tune. "Don't-stop" would definitely keep the motivation x) but besides that, really good job on this. I wasn't sure as I was looking up "Halo" if there were going to be any decent mixes but this is the first one I clicked on and there I have it...I was wrong. I like how you kept the orchestrated part along with the electronica put in. Good job.

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WesternZypher
on 2010-11-13 23:02:31

This makes me break into a run and I don't stop til the song does.

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Dinkzta Studios
on 2010-07-29 08:07:28

This song is actually awesome. Didn't they use it in Podtacular?

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Liontamer
on 2009-03-29 11:25:51

Kick both of you. This is excellent all around. I keel u. I haven't got a thing against orchestration, but this is easily the most unique and creative approach to a Halo arrangement in existence so far.

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42
on 2009-03-26 17:18:41

I will concur that after 2:12 it gets better, but still the spoken parts are a turn off for me.

Barring that, this would be pretty good, and I really love the organic techno/biotechno vibe going on here. It's just sort of a "two steps forward, one step back" situation.

Not bad though.

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OA
on 2009-03-25 10:21:52

This is mixed a little strangely, and the can't stop line gets a litle old, but otherwise it's pretty cool. I'm unfamiliar with the original, but there's enough sortof confusion among the general reviews and such that I am guess it wasn't featuring a lot of the additional sounds. I thought the brief rapping section was pretty cool, but it should have been pushed forward- actually I think a lot of stuff in the mix was too far back. Nothing really stuck out to me, sonically. Some cool builds, and a nice choir sample (which is from the OST? I'm not sure).

Interesting, but it doesn't quite gel for me.

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Liontamer
on 2007-06-12 19:32:33

This arrived back before I joined the panel, but this was a VERY creative and unique take on the "Halo" theme. I LOLed at Binnie's NO vote; he couldn't hear the source material, even though it's present at basically every point of the arrangement.

I saved this at first, but ended up deleting from my harddrive. Every time I listen to it, it sounds... more boring. No offense, it just didn't feel imaginative, or enthusiastic. I don't have any problems production-wise, it's just bland, and the Can't Stop gets annoying. If I were a judge, I'd give this a NO... ah well.

I'm glad you're not a judge then. :-D This one is overlooked and very inspired. Just because the track has some ideas that repeat doesn't mean the track is repetitive overall. I wish Jaron would have submitted his other material; he's got some great ones that never surfaced here, especially "Ticking Clocks".

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Nobbynob Littlun
on 2007-06-12 19:26:59

I saved this at first, but ended up deleting from my harddrive. Every time I listen to it, it sounds... more boring. No offense, it just didn't feel imaginative, or enthusiastic. It may diverge from the original Halo music a lot, but to me it sounds like typical, run-of-the-mill electronica. I don't have any problems production-wise, it's just bland, and the Can't Stop gets annoying. If I were a judge, I'd give this a NO... ah well.

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Audity
on 2006-10-29 17:32:18

I wish there was more variation of the Can't Stop sample. I used to really like this song but it just got too annoying. Even making it seem like it started singing different pitches would be better! Like that "electronica" Bomberman mix with the constantly repeating sample. (How can anyone like that song? I know I would if that sample didn't repeat.)

Also, when the sample becomes more like a real voice at the end, there's too much treble on the S's or something.

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Baruch - Vampire Lord
on 2005-08-29 16:27:42

Nice! Sound is good. Does a very good job of incorperating some of the original elements. Takes the music from the game and gives it new life. Amd don't blame PS2 for its being inferior. At least it puts out an honest effort and one or two good games. Very worth buying when it is older and cheaper.

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Super Metal Mario
on 2005-05-04 18:04:53

How do yall do it you amaze me the songs are so great it stuns me.

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Bladewind
on 2005-04-20 15:34:59

1:30 to 1:20 (BTW my winamp counts down not up) really recreates the halo feel. I think there are better vocals here than in halo itself. Wish sum 1 would make the strings theme tho :(

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Cheeszeman_
on 2004-09-27 04:07:50

*shakes fist at Wing-Zero*

haha its a good song.... if you listen to the origional Halo music... its alot more opera and concert etc. but (he said but!) its got a kick @$$ beat!!

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Wing-Zero
on 2004-06-28 19:10:03

My Favorite song (from my favorite game) where has this been all my life?? I seriosly regret ever buying a PS2 now... *runs away from all the X-boc lovers who got mad at me for buying that crappy peice of junk* AWESOME SONG!!! :D

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Halo: Combat Evolved (Microsoft , 2001, XBOX)
Music by Marty O'Donnell,Michael Salvatori
Songs:
"Halo"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Dance
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Choir,Electronic,Synth,Vocals: Male
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Original

File Information


Name:
Halo_Fall_from_Above_(You_Can't_Stop)_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,857,968 bytes
MD5:
f39f6c6e4a0f93e75ebcf2c00e94a5bf
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
4:00

[x8]
You can't stop

[x8]
You can't stop

[x2]
(You can't stop - stop)
You can't fade the beat
(You can't stop - stop, stop)
You can't stop the rhythm, my rhymes are concrete
(You can't stop - stop)
You can't fade the beat
(You can't stop - stop, stop)
You can't fade the beat, beat

You can't fade the beat

[x24]
You can't stop

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