ReMix: Metroid 'Kraid's Hideout'

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Metroid

First, the bad: this mix has some significant tuning problems. Seemed to bother me more than the judges, but if you got perfect pitch and can detect (and loathe) pitch discrepancies in cents as opposed to semitones, you might have some issues. Now, the good: first, newcomers Select Start (check the site, http://plaza.ufl.edu/wuli32/ for info) have not only a cool band name, but are offering something decidedly different to the annals of Metroid ReMixdom with this initial submission in ensemble strings and guitar. Very innovative, and works largely due to the arrangement capitalizing on the lack of percussion and really highlighting both higher and lower string parts (violin and cello) and varying articulations as well. The Metroid theme in question lends itself well to the sort of haunting, maudlin string performances here, which harken to classical horror movies from days of yore. One of the greatest things about this ReMix is actually the fact that he-of-supposedly-infallible-truths, Protricity, was totally wrong in calling what are clearly REAL strings samples. Let's look at his embarassing, factual blunder, shall we?

"Violins don't sound real at all. Lots of repeating."

Of course, he later went back and corrected himself, like the champ he is, but the damage was already done: clearly, Ari Asulin has been, on at least one occassion, wrong. Mark your calendars. Moving on - the same thing this mix has going for it it also has going against it; namely, the exposed style is quite risky, especially with real instruments, and while this couldn't have been done as effectively if not for the live aspect, there are some afforementioned tuning issues that are problematic, albeit at certain times more than others. Judge Cabrera writes:

"There is LOTS of variation on the attack and articulation. And the bad tuning is usually an indication of real instruments. Anyway, I like it for the same reasons that Mr. Wingless likes it. And it's not note for note. It varies in sections like the one that starts around 2:15. I'm giving it a YES even WITH the bad tuning because it almost adds to the creepiness of it all."

In all honesty, I don't think the tuning is intentional, BUT it does happen to work and add to the creepiness for that retro-dracula feel as Dan points out. Plus, even if it's not in absolute alignment, the playing is other regards competent and the mix will laid out. For another track, where the tuning might have been more prohibitive and not played into their hands, we might have had more reservations, but this remains a different take on an oft-covered track, a good combination of a real instrumental ensemble, and a haunting, ominous, gothic arrangement. Featuring real strings. That are real :)

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
There's some harsh opinions on this one, evidentally.
Look, I think this is pretty simple, no matter how you look at it. It's biggest creative stamp is the fact that it is out of tune, so it doesn't win me over on the arrangement side. It's a song that is suited for piano being played by a live string quartet. That's cool, and I think it works extremely well.
If this mix does something wrong, it's the fact that it doesn't do anything except whine out the Kraid theme. The different combinations of instruments working together in different sections of the mix are definately interesting and do evoke a dreadful, moody atmosphere, but I don't think this has much to say. I do wish that there was an off-center arrangement to go with the off-center musicality.
Regardless, this is nowhere near as bad as all the pro in-tune picketers would have had me believe. Or rather, the tuning is far from the mix's biggest setback.

- Marmiduke on July 18, 2009
This piece really presents a spooky, things-aren't-quite-right atmosphere that, frankly, is embellished by the tuning 'errors'. Intentional or not, they do indeed accentuate the uneasiness of the track -- of the titular situation, namely approaching the hideout of a gargantuan beast (which calls into question the logistics of his having a 'hideout') who longs to kill/eat you.

- JP_Wright on July 17, 2009
I think the off-pitch adds a certain eclecticity (I'm going to pretend that's a word) to the piece that takes it beyond what could have just been a simple cover; Kraid is a creepy guy, he's not going to have a spick-and-span tidy little string arrangement, it's going to be out of wack, it's going to be demented, it's going to sound like this. It's unusual and I like it.

- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
I just started listening to it, and I definitely think the off tune is intentional, as it is off-tune the same way every time, and no one who plays an instrument has that bad hearing to know that it's off (let alone 6 people who make up the band), I play violin and this is seriously EXTREMELY off the beaten path, but I can't stop listening to it, morbid fascination is an excellent way to describe it.

Paladin777-out

- paladin777 on April 16, 2007
Honestly, you need to get good players before attempting anything like this. I could hear the good intentions, but this piece falls flat on its face.
Forget the out of tune strings, where's the bass when I needed it? Left the lone guitar out to dry. Perhaps you made the last runs easier on the violin? It really sucks when people can't get the melody right...
Sorry, this is one of my favorite Metroid tunes, and it was ruined. Absolutely ruined.
Don't do a Metroid piece ever again.

- KogeJoe on January 26, 2007
Little update for ya'll
http://www.selectstartband.com/Select%20Start%20-%20Kraid's%20Hideout.mp3

- SnakeIz on April 19, 2006
I have to say that I absolutely love this take on kraid's theme, it sounds like it was all played live, but I could definitely be wrong. I really like the off tune nature of this mix too. Especially around 00:52 when the "chorus" comes in, I think someone else here described it as "nails on a chalkboard" but in a good way, and I couldn't have said it better. It's everything that I've ever wanted to do with mixing but couldn't (due to lack of skills/money). With this all being said, i think this mix deserves a 5 out of 5 rating.

- about:blank on October 18, 2005
I knew there was something [i]off[/i] about this song, but I didn't know what it was. It didn't really ever bother me; in fact, that "offness" is what makes me like this track. Knowing that it's offtune doesn't change my opinion about the song.
[img]http://www.flagmandesign.com/files/ratings/087.jpg[/img]

- MedHead on October 17, 2005
I agree; I could clearly hear the bad tuning and it was even off-key at some points. However, I really like this song. The bad tuning gives it an exquisitely depressing tone. It's really creepy. In my opinion, listening to this song is like listening to a rock song played backwards; it sounds inhumanely creepy, but is very interesting to listen to. Then again, I wonder what THIS song would sound like played backwards. Woah, gave me chills just thinking of it! 8O
Red Katana out :wink:

- theredkatana on October 17, 2005
I have to agree with the tuning issues, sometimes it was worse than at others, but by the end it was giving me a bit of a headache. Which is a real, real shame as I think that the strings are a really nice change from the rest of the metroid remixes. I would certainly listen to this over and over if the tuning issues were fixed. :)

- seiyojin on August 19, 2005
I happen to agree with the need for tuning on this one, fellas. When you use real strings and they aren't tuned, there's a faint essence of cat that tends to raise the hair on the back of the next. I like the arrangement and the original song, but the tuning ruins it for me.

- RoyanRannedos on July 23, 2005
I'll second all of the positive comments that others have made about this track. This is one of the first pieces of music that I found on this site that really impressed me and showed me that the quality of music here goes way beyond "novelty" techno remixes of old Nintendo music. Someone really needs to hire Select Start to write the score for a horror movie.

- Diabolik on May 16, 2005
I know this is a bit late to say, but for those of you who had issues with the dissonance/tuning:
A composer friend of mine told me that, were this tuned perfectly, it would be way too sweet. In her words:
"It wouldn't be Kraid's Hideout, it'd be...'Kraid's Cottage'"
Interesting point, I must say.

- The3rdMan on May 16, 2005
This is awesome. the creepyness of it reminds me of Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. Yes, the tuning is iffy, but to me the pros outweigh the cons. Great work.

- Czar Diego on March 19, 2005
By default, the sound sin the beginning drew my attention. It was the familiar sound of metronome, I believe. And then some one shifted in their seat. I was thinking that I was about to hear some sweet instrumentals. I must admit the sounds of the starting melody strings made me start a happy smirk. This was sounding good, already. And then that solo violin overpowered the white noise of my room. From then on, it was all downhill. Every twist and turn of the original tune made me grin with ideas of how to portray characters in verse and prose, each one more depressing than the next. The variations were a lovely desert. Regardless of a few tuning problems, this is among my top tracks to listen to late into the night.

- TaterChipMonster on March 4, 2005

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