ReMix: Ghouls'n Ghosts 'Poltergeist Mix'
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- Game: Ghouls'n Ghosts (U.S. Gold, 1989, C64)
- ReMixer(s): Binster
- Composer(s): Tamayo Kawamoto, Tim Follin
- Song(s): 'Level 4'
- Posted: 2006-05-27, evaluated by the judges
Binster brings us a ReMix not from the more commonly known Genesis/SNES Japanese score to Ghouls 'N Ghosts, but the C64 incarnation penned by Tim Follin. Lo-fi and chiptunish elements abound, but there's also shimmering analog pads, spooky theremin-like sine drones, and a strong 80's Billy Idol beat, amongst shinier elements, and even the simpler synth textures are mangled with quick cross-pan modulation and filtering. The arrangement itself doesn't stray too far off the beaten path, but there's a great deal of expansion given to sound design and builds that change the nature of what you're hearing dramatically as the mix progresses. Vigilante insults our mothers:
"This is excellent. The synth programming is raw but subtle. The production is crisp and dynamic. The arrangement is dense and well-planned. Even the ending rocks. The whole track is tighter than, well...your mom."
Larry writes:
"Short and sweet, I thought the production was excellent the whole way through and that the arrangement displayed great dynamics to retain the listener's interest. Martin not only worked towards creating his own interesting sounds and textures, but substantially built upon the framework of the original with his own additional writing to fill this out and ratchet up the energy level."
This mix is actually the first posted result of a project Larry, Kaleb Grace and CHz are putting together to honor composer Tim Follin, titled "Dirge for the Follin". Had they asked me for a title - which notably they did not - I could have suggested "I've Follin and I Can't Get Up", the Tom Petty-flavored "Free Follin", "Follin in Love", or the very literary "Snow Follin on Cedars", among others. But perhaps it's best these gems be kept as mere potentialities, alternate arcs in any one of myriad alternate futures we'll never experience. While pondering that or other equally useless nonsense, take the time to download Binster's latest and give it a look-see, or rather a hear-listen - very crisp, sonically inventive stuffs.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Polo;879107 wrote: I like how the distinct melodies recur at different times and in different forms, alternating and mixing like they're old friends. To break it down somewhat, they're played by:
- the introing crystal-light synth (0:04)
- the chewy overhanger at 1:20 that marks every beat niche, then gains a soundalike ally playing fewer notes at 1:57 (and still another at 2:19 and 2:56)
- the bass that makes a subtle appearance at 1:49 but hands the reins to the guitar (most prominent at 3:28+)
Gotta love the heavy sounds employed, but my personal favorite in-your-face show-offs are the phat bass+percussive slap combos around 0:57 - 1:04 and the percussive hits at 1:55 and 1:56 (seriously, these players mean more business than usual). I also like how the whirly ghost sounds kinda reverberate to the beat (lovely little touch).
Definitely delish.
You appraised this remix so thoroughly I award you a doctorate in ghoulology. Nice work!
- binster on August 25, 2012
I like how the distinct melodies recur at different times and in
different forms, alternating and mixing like they're old friends.
To break it down somewhat, they're played by:
- the introing crystal-light synth (0:04)
- the chewy overhanger at 1:20 that marks every beat niche, then gains a soundalike ally playing fewer notes at 1:57 (and still another at 2:19 and 2:56)
- the bass that makes a subtle appearance at 1:49 but hands the reins to the guitar (most prominent at 3:28+)
Gotta love the heavy sounds employed, but my personal favorite in-your-face show-offs are the phat bass+percussive slap combos around 0:57 - 1:04 and the percussive hits at 1:55 and 1:56 (seriously, these players mean more business than usual). I also like how the whirly ghost sounds kinda reverberate to the beat (lovely little touch).
Definitely delish.
- Polo on August 25, 2012
- the introing crystal-light synth (0:04)
- the chewy overhanger at 1:20 that marks every beat niche, then gains a soundalike ally playing fewer notes at 1:57 (and still another at 2:19 and 2:56)
- the bass that makes a subtle appearance at 1:49 but hands the reins to the guitar (most prominent at 3:28+)
Gotta love the heavy sounds employed, but my personal favorite in-your-face show-offs are the phat bass+percussive slap combos around 0:57 - 1:04 and the percussive hits at 1:55 and 1:56 (seriously, these players mean more business than usual). I also like how the whirly ghost sounds kinda reverberate to the beat (lovely little touch).
Definitely delish.
- Polo on August 25, 2012
This is one of my all time favorites! I love the usage of raw
sounding synths in this mix! Honestly, it sounds like you took a
commodore 64, and plugged it into one heck of a beastly amp rack!
- Mikeaudio on December 4, 2011
- Mikeaudio on December 4, 2011
brilliant mix, I just got onto this site, and since the original
track was my favorite ever from the c64 days, I had to see if
anyone did a remix, and I am so surprised there is only one remix,
but man you have done it great justice, considering the original
track can easily stand by itself as one of the greatest gaming
tracks.
- bishaway on March 11, 2011
- bishaway on March 11, 2011
Ah YES! I've been waiting for this one to pop up in my random
playlist so I could give a little review. Definitely a good sign if
I think about a mix even when I haven't heard it for years.
It's clear that it's eclectic sound contributes a lot to why it's so memorable and why it stands out so much, moreso though is the fact that it's so well constructed and works on so many different levels. This is tight stuff.
The arrangement and structure are the main focal points of adoration for me. It's got a very simple objective of extensive building and climaxing, but goes about it in gloriously diverse ways. The instrument choices do a great job in presenting those ideas by sounding really cool yet alien, but also rooted in that classic nostalgia the music derives from.
This is one of those mixes that marries the concept, sound and execution so well that its hard to believe it can be improved upon. Any OCR collection should have this in it.
- Marmiduke on June 20, 2010
It's clear that it's eclectic sound contributes a lot to why it's so memorable and why it stands out so much, moreso though is the fact that it's so well constructed and works on so many different levels. This is tight stuff.
The arrangement and structure are the main focal points of adoration for me. It's got a very simple objective of extensive building and climaxing, but goes about it in gloriously diverse ways. The instrument choices do a great job in presenting those ideas by sounding really cool yet alien, but also rooted in that classic nostalgia the music derives from.
This is one of those mixes that marries the concept, sound and execution so well that its hard to believe it can be improved upon. Any OCR collection should have this in it.
- Marmiduke on June 20, 2010
holy crap, this mix positively DESTROYS. Excellent arrangement and
production, and some amazing ideas. 1:51 is absolutely epic, and
the mix has a great sense of purpose. This was one of the first
mixes I grabbed when I started visiting the site regularly, along
with BGC's bionic commando mix, and it really has an amazing
mood.
Classic.
- OA on December 1, 2009
Classic.
- OA on December 1, 2009
Awesome stuff. Going back through and tagging mixes has let me find
a lot of top-notch stuff I missed in my break from the site. The
synth programming here is detailed yet the pieces come together to
form something really cohesive. Best moment is either 4:00 when the
high synth floats over the top, or 0:49 when you first hear the
massive synths. To have one moment like that in a song is special;
this song is a gem.
- Palpable on May 24, 2009
- Palpable on May 24, 2009
This one is something I've been listening to for almost one year
now and it still not gets me any bored. A good job is done here by
binster, thanks to Follin's unique SID style.
- Gezmen on January 12, 2008
- Gezmen on January 12, 2008
I was taken by this arrangement in the first moment I began
listening. It captivated me and kept me interested, but that's not
what makes it a 5 star remix - the thing I love about it the most
is that the more I listen to it the more I enjoy it.
Usually when remixes start out like this one does you expect they'll be a little cheesy. Let me say that was not the case here. There's no foreplay in the intro, Binster goes straight to work and doesn't slacken his hand until the job has been very well done. My Sennheiser 590's were kissing me in the ears from start to finish.
An absolute phenomenal job. I think I can say with propriety that this is one of my favorite arrangements to date.
Again, great work.
- Flare4War on October 18, 2007
Usually when remixes start out like this one does you expect they'll be a little cheesy. Let me say that was not the case here. There's no foreplay in the intro, Binster goes straight to work and doesn't slacken his hand until the job has been very well done. My Sennheiser 590's were kissing me in the ears from start to finish.
An absolute phenomenal job. I think I can say with propriety that this is one of my favorite arrangements to date.
Again, great work.
- Flare4War on October 18, 2007
As this is from one of my favourite soundtracks of all time and one
of my most nostalgic games and systems I may be slightly
biased.
This track is easily up in my top few favourites from this site, I love [b]Follin[/b]'s work and the [b]SID[/b] chip and here you've reminded me a lot of both. I'm looking forward to the fruition of Dirge for the Follin.
Keep up the good work Binster!
- andyjayne on December 18, 2006
This track is easily up in my top few favourites from this site, I love [b]Follin[/b]'s work and the [b]SID[/b] chip and here you've reminded me a lot of both. I'm looking forward to the fruition of Dirge for the Follin.
Keep up the good work Binster!
- andyjayne on December 18, 2006
Things I like about this song...
1. Its insane, in the good way.
2. Its very very replayable, sort of melting into itself.
3. That noise at 00:20 makes me feel extra fuzzy
4. 00:50 reminds me that this is just flat out awesome
Things I dislike about this song...
1. LoL there are none
2. Read 1
3. I like pie?!
- Dark Vagabond on October 20, 2006
1. Its insane, in the good way.
2. Its very very replayable, sort of melting into itself.
3. That noise at 00:20 makes me feel extra fuzzy
4. 00:50 reminds me that this is just flat out awesome
Things I dislike about this song...
1. LoL there are none
2. Read 1
3. I like pie?!
- Dark Vagabond on October 20, 2006
This is top of the line stuff as always Binster! Keep em coming! Im
still waiting for that batman wip to be finished! I love it!
/Steve
- GaMeBoX on July 31, 2006
/Steve
- GaMeBoX on July 31, 2006
Binster, I'm a huge sucka for Chip, and I think you can do better.
It's good; it's really good. It might even make the mixtape. And if
this is a taste of things to come then I'm just gonna go wet myself
right now.
But, you can do better. Switch the snare up a bit. Throw a filter-LFO on that badass grinder. Use some non-80s elements. Go Binster!
- meccaneer on July 18, 2006
But, you can do better. Switch the snare up a bit. Throw a filter-LFO on that badass grinder. Use some non-80s elements. Go Binster!
- meccaneer on July 18, 2006
This track's getting so well received, I'm worried I won't be able
to top it...
Creative downward-spiral, here I come! ;)
Cheers Master And Penwald - glad it's doing it for you.
- binster on June 22, 2006
Creative downward-spiral, here I come! ;)
Cheers Master And Penwald - glad it's doing it for you.
- binster on June 22, 2006
