ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 'Strip Mine'
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- Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega, 1992, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): Beatdrop
- Composer(s): Masato Nakamura
- Song(s): 'Mystic Cave Zone'
- Posted: 2004-07-13, evaluated by the judges
Beatdrop has the unique honor of being perhaps the most intuitively-named ReMixer on the site. True to form, in every mix of his that comes to mind, the beat does indeed drop, hence the conjoined noun-verb moniker seems appropriate and one of those rare examples of truth in advertising. This Sonic 2 mix is Dain's trademark unsubtle, hard-edged techno, with plenty of sharp corners on the smorgasbord of synths offered up to cut, slit, or otherwise maim yourself on. At just over three minutes, this is shorter work for BD, but it's got a lot of verve with its somewhat carnivalesque melody and jumpin' downbeat. Mr. Olsen (no relation to those scandalous twins) explains his motives:
"I wanted to accomplish a number of things with this remix. First of all, I wanted it to sound massive, so I created multiple layers of drums. Secondly, I really wanted to include a bit of the sound of classic industrial music, thus the saws and drills used as instruments. And lastly, I wanted it to sound dank and gritty, thus the title: it has a sleazy sound that you might hear in a strip club, yet it also has a mechanical sound, reminescent of a mine being carved into the side of a mountain. Took some inspiration from Benny Benassi with one of the synths, too. It's a dirty bass synth with heavy reverb on it, which is masked with overcompression to give it a breathing sound. "
Good stuff, as the panel concisely noted, with a stronger emphasis in the sonic realm than in the composition/arrangement arena, but with enough mojo there to sufficiently amplify the aural textures in a workable symbiotic relationship. Whether you personally strip to it, you play it while watching someone else strip, or no stripping at all is involved whatsoever, it's solid, high-energy mixage.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the The technology for making ReMixes evolved relatively fast. While
not without their merits, Deep Damp Sandcastle and Strip Mine are
perfect examples of those rare types of ReMixes from more than
1,000 catalogue numbers ago that haven't stood the test of
time. As always, that's the exception, not the norm with
ReMixes between 2003 and
2005. The consistency of O-Clocked's
music hiked in 2006, a year and a half
after this track was posted.
- GTAHater836 on October 7, 2012
- GTAHater836 on October 7, 2012
The over-the-top production on this one I think serves it well.
Like Las Vegas itself, sometimes you just have to go so far that it
goes beyond tacky/contrived and becomes brilliant.
The high-frequencies in this I think trigger some sort of fight-or-flight type response in me that results in increased heart rate and adrenaline, and make me more alert and prone to dancing. Probably why Emunator likes to kick ass on Smash Bros to this tune as well. As such, I think this polarises the listeners into 2 groups, those who want to fight/dance to it, and those who would rather run away and never listen again.
- DarkSim on December 15, 2010
The high-frequencies in this I think trigger some sort of fight-or-flight type response in me that results in increased heart rate and adrenaline, and make me more alert and prone to dancing. Probably why Emunator likes to kick ass on Smash Bros to this tune as well. As such, I think this polarises the listeners into 2 groups, those who want to fight/dance to it, and those who would rather run away and never listen again.
- DarkSim on December 15, 2010
I actually enjoyed this piece. I used to play this song while I was
in the mines, it really fit well and it's an awesome take on the
original source.
- MechaFone on May 28, 2010
- MechaFone on May 28, 2010
cool arrangement, but ouch, that production is stabby. :-(
I dig the track, but can't listen to it a second time.
- OA on March 29, 2010
I dig the track, but can't listen to it a second time.
- OA on March 29, 2010
Wow... That intro really stings the ears there..
It feels like it was composed of different tones of white noise to me. >.<
Meh...
All in all this is waaaaaaayyy too grating on my ears for me to like.
Still, the arrangement of the source is very nice, distinctive, and unique, but this just isn't the mix for me.
- 42 on December 14, 2009
It feels like it was composed of different tones of white noise to me. >.<
Meh...
All in all this is waaaaaaayyy too grating on my ears for me to like.
Still, the arrangement of the source is very nice, distinctive, and unique, but this just isn't the mix for me.
- 42 on December 14, 2009
Ouch, that synth at the very start is pretty piercing, it's over
super fast though. Niiiiice beatwork and effects to start things
off. Sounds like typical heavily distorted Beatdrop soundscape
here. The melodic section at :58 actually felt a bit weaker than
the surrounding passages (and also a bit like an FF7, passage
interestingly enough). There's a lot of detail in all of the
effects and parts here. Very cool new section at 1:30 - nicely
contrasting everything around it. Great track here, worth
hearing... several times.
- Nutritious on December 14, 2009
- Nutritious on December 14, 2009
This has to be my favorite Beatdrop mix. I used to pipe this song
over the TV whenever I'd play Super Smash Bros. Melee because the
intense beats would really put me in the mood to kick some serious
ass!
You really tore it up here, Beatdrop... fantastic stuff!
- Emunator on October 12, 2009
You really tore it up here, Beatdrop... fantastic stuff!
- Emunator on October 12, 2009
Gloriously busy and pinging with sonic energy. You really have to
admire the intricacy of Beatdrop's sound. It fleshes out the
rythmic and percussive elements of the source tenfold and
superheats it until it's whitehot. Debatably, this is everything
that Sonic music always should have been.
It may not be the friendliest mix, what with the squinking synths, multiple layers of percussion and a source tune I've always found quite unlikable, but there is a tonnage of enjoyment tightly packed in here if your ears are calloused and ready. Recommended for people who don't require their mixes clean and soft-spoken. This is how to make a lame tune awesome and then some.
- Marmiduke on October 10, 2009
It may not be the friendliest mix, what with the squinking synths, multiple layers of percussion and a source tune I've always found quite unlikable, but there is a tonnage of enjoyment tightly packed in here if your ears are calloused and ready. Recommended for people who don't require their mixes clean and soft-spoken. This is how to make a lame tune awesome and then some.
- Marmiduke on October 10, 2009
The metronome clicking reminds me of Panel De Pon. Love this mix so
much.
- Desert Guru on October 9, 2009
- Desert Guru on October 9, 2009
This is a crazy song. I just love the sounds and the
textures.
Very well done.
- metalsnakejuice on September 20, 2009
Very well done.
- metalsnakejuice on September 20, 2009
Lol. this was the song that got me hooked on oc remix. to me,
having never been to a strip club, this reminded me of a carnival
at 0:24, where the main melody kicks in. I <3 this song.
- mew2king on July 21, 2009
- mew2king on July 21, 2009
This is by far my favorite OCR song. I heard it on my iPod the
other day during a library shuffle and I was suprised by how good
the song was...
There's a lot of stuff going on in this song and it all works perfectly. It sounds great played really loud and the instruments/samples chosen for this remix perfectly fit the setting.
- thealexfish on December 1, 2006
There's a lot of stuff going on in this song and it all works perfectly. It sounds great played really loud and the instruments/samples chosen for this remix perfectly fit the setting.
- thealexfish on December 1, 2006
I can't quite explain the vibe im getting out of this song, Its
upbeat with a downbeat vibe. I can just picture a massive fight
with one guy in the middle not breaking a sweat but breaking heads.
- Dark Vagabond on October 5, 2005
- Dark Vagabond on October 5, 2005
