ReMix: Halo 'Fall From Above (You Can't Stop)'

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Halo

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.
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.

- Liontamer on March 29, 2009
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.

- 42 on March 26, 2009
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.

- OA on March 25, 2009
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.
Nobbynob Littlun;282558 wrote: 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".

- Liontamer on June 12, 2007
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.

- Nobbynob Littlun on June 12, 2007
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.

- Audity on October 29, 2006
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.

- Baruch, Vampire Lord on August 29, 2005
How do yall do it you amaze me the songs are so great it stuns me.

- Super Metal Mario on May 4, 2005
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 :(

- Bladewind on April 20, 2005
*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!!

- Cheeszeman_ on September 27, 2004
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

- Wing-Zero on June 28, 2004
its a really awsome halo song. and i am a huge fan of halo. cant wait till halo 2 comes out.

- FUZE on May 24, 2004
I thought this was an amazing track (I get so much flak for using that word, but what the heck, it grew on me), that manages to strike a nice (not to mention rare) balance between maintaining the game's general feel and mixing in a sweet bit of originality for good measure. The vocals are quite inspired, I think, and complement the overall sound nicely, and its clear that the artist even made the effort of altering the original vocals at a few points. (or maybe it's just me, but I think it's a brilliant touch), and the aforementioned orchestral swell at roughly 1:25 really manages to draw you in, just as in the original piece. Also, the great blend of electronical/ochestral instruments make a truly unique piece you should certainly give a try, even if you've never played Halo. But seeing that the main Halo theme just so happens to be one of my fave songs ever, this one rings particularly well for me. Give it a download, and you might be surprised (and even get a slight feel for the musical goodness that is Halo.)

- The Master Maniac on May 20, 2004
I'm liking this. The can't stop does get repetitive but at 1:45 is when I start to love it because I like the drum work. Been waiting for a Halo Remix, nice job.

- SamuraiFoochs #Reload on May 12, 2004
Rocked!! Loved it! :) I really dug the orchestral string build at 1:24 - 1:33 when it brings up the climax and just drops out leaving you wanting more! I guess you've really gota sample the actual choir from the HALO game a bit because there's really no sample library that can compare in quality.
/j

- Edgen on May 5, 2004

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