ReMix: Sonic & Knuckles 'iMushroom'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Sonic & Knuckles (Sega, 1994, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): GaMeBoX
- Composer(s): Howard Drossin, Jun Senoue, Masaru Setsumaru, Masayuki Nagao, Sachio Ogawa, Tatsuyuki Maeda, Tokuhiko Uwabo, Tomonori Sawada, Yoshiaki Kashima
- Song(s): 'Knuckles' Theme', 'Mushroom Hill Zone: Act 1'
- Posted: 2007-01-16, evaluated by the judges
- Album: Featured on Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Project Chaos
Is it a new, Apple-branded edible hallucinogen that doubles as a love-it or hate-it pizza topping? Nah, it's Steve Olofsson's second mix to be posted here, off of Project Chaos. GaMeBoX writes:
"This is a solo-heavy song with a nice funky feeling. I started working on the song over one and a half year ago, so youll notice the song evolves technically as it progresses through time. There are some really cool stuff that were cut off. One of those was a rippin synth/guitar solo, but it ended up sounding too much like castlevania so... Heavy creds to my brother (chillalot), who helped me funk up the last section's drums! I also would like to thank everybody that commented on this song through the long creation-time; Ichitootah, Dryer Lint, Binster, voh, link12584, unrheeyl, vilecat and Antipode."
Pretty cool minimal hip-hop synth funk sound going on, with all sorts of fun instrumentation; check the transition from sleazily delicious fuzz guitar solo to Middle Eastern breakdown at 1'03" for just one of many examples. Extensive use of bitcrushing makes the drums crunchier than Honey Bunches of Oats. This mix actually sounds like the demo for a suite of effects at times, as it runs a wide gamut of verbs, delays, filters, distortion, and other mangling offerings that wouldn't normally all find their way into the same song. Thankfully, the usage isn't haphazard or gratuitous, and thoughtfully increases the musicality and funkdafication of the arrangement. It's also a good thing that Steve knows how to bust a solo, as this one's chock full of 'em. TO writes:
"The beats are less dominant in this one, and just seeming to keep the groove up until 1:40 where that switch-up comes along. The bassline in this mix reminds me of my old Jazz-Jackrabbit days where the composers weren't afraid of just taking a simple grooveline and looping it over some beats while the rest of the instrumentation takes care of the variation. I like this a lot. There's something new around every corner and it's always good. You should've been born 10 years earlier, GaMeBoX. This is the kind of music I would've liked to hear in a game."
If that ain't a compliment, I don't know what is. Excellent, very tight piece from GaMeBoX, who's certainly establishing something of a track record at this point.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the I love how the source tune is recognizable right from the
beginning. The low-fi funk really gets things started and the
transition after the first minute was great. I really enjoyed those
easter eggs you tossed in there, like Knuckle's theme and such, up
past the first few minutes and through the middle. Good use of
creativity and very good arrangement.
- Crulex on July 4, 2011
- Crulex on July 4, 2011
My main drawback are the drums, which really could have been a
little better implemented. Besides that, I'm all over this.
Relaxing, a wide variety of different instruments used and enough
changes of sound that I'm never not interested in listening, and
the freestyle synth parts go very well with how you put the source
tune in here. The gated swells in the middle are euphoric, as is
most of this song. A great take on the source and cool how you took
the word Mushroom and applied it to all areas, even if the listener
isn't on the stuff.
Just have to point out that your use of portamento here was great, and that's something that I have a big soft-spot for.
- Level 99 on February 17, 2010
Just have to point out that your use of portamento here was great, and that's something that I have a big soft-spot for.
- Level 99 on February 17, 2010
this is my personal favorite on Project Chaos.
stunning work. i love your lo-fi style. theres a lot of really technical progression in this piece that is just genius.
GENIUS! love it. i want moar, gamebox!
- halc on December 12, 2008
stunning work. i love your lo-fi style. theres a lot of really technical progression in this piece that is just genius.
GENIUS! love it. i want moar, gamebox!
- halc on December 12, 2008
GaMeBoX;235682 wrote: Congrats! you found an easter-egg.. (atleast its mushroom themed also) hehe, there are more eastereggs in this song actually. Good luck on the search :) also thank you everybody for the cool feedback :)
Like how the bassline bursts into Launch Base at 1:40? I'm very impressed you got that you got that to blend so seamlessly.
Edit: Holy smokes, does that mean Knuckles Sonic 3 theme used the Launch Base beat the whole time?
- Shadix on June 6, 2008
Somewhere in this song, the Theme of Knuckles comes in as the
drums. It's the Sonic 3 version, so it's the track that's just a
simple drum loop. But it's in there.
This is one of my favorites from Project Chaos. Very original.
- Jaybell on June 30, 2007
This is one of my favorites from Project Chaos. Very original.
- Jaybell on June 30, 2007
MisterBiggler;234409 wrote: One thing though, 1:00 to like 1:40 the base line reminds me of Eminem - My Fault, which made me chuckle a bit considering what that's about.
Congrats! you found an easter-egg.. (atleast its mushroom themed also) hehe, there are more eastereggs in this song actually. Good luck on the search :) also thank you everybody for the cool feedback :)
- GaMeBoX on February 19, 2007
I really enjoyed this song. It's mellow, but there's so much going
on b/t the sfx from the games, the drums; it's just great. One
thing though, 1:00 to like 1:40 the base line reminds me of Eminem
- My Fault, which made me chuckle a bit considering what that's
about. Good stuff though; enjoyed Robotnik Radio too.
- MisterBiggler on February 15, 2007
- MisterBiggler on February 15, 2007
This was one of my favorite remixes on Project Chaos. I like the
transition about midway through. Sounded like a possible gateway
between Act 1 and Act 2.
- sonic_fan69 on January 21, 2007
- sonic_fan69 on January 21, 2007
I wish there was some developed samples in this...but maybe not.
Def a unique song, as a lover of video game music I cannot shun
away from this at all. The creative flow and ideas are awesome.
Kudos on all the ideas, and also trying to take a chance with the
whole feel and vibe of this one. I forgot which judge said it, but
wow I wish vg music sounded this good back in the day.
- avaris on January 18, 2007
- avaris on January 18, 2007
I loved this mix on the project, and I love it still! I really
enjoy your style, it's very unique and oozes with fun and
creativity.
It's smooth and light enough to groove to at a comfortable pace, yet it's got enough delicious explosions of raw awesome to really make you smile :).
I'm totally going to save this to my hard-drive and groove to it some more :-P.
Jredd-
- Kidd Jredd on January 18, 2007
It's smooth and light enough to groove to at a comfortable pace, yet it's got enough delicious explosions of raw awesome to really make you smile :).
I'm totally going to save this to my hard-drive and groove to it some more :-P.
Jredd-
- Kidd Jredd on January 18, 2007
Ah, it's on OCR! This is a great submission from the project
because of how unique it is - and I love it. It's an excellent
style that's very catchy, and GaMeBoX has woven the main melody
lines really well together along with original material and solid
solos.
As the artist wrote, I was one of the ones who listened to this track since it was a WIP, and I'm glad his talent has fleshed it out even further to the solid, catchy piece that it is.
I really like the break at 1'03 - it really switches things up and catches you by surprise. The classic sonic sound effect later on kind of "brings you back", so to speak.
Anyway, recommended. Go download it.
- Antipode on January 18, 2007
As the artist wrote, I was one of the ones who listened to this track since it was a WIP, and I'm glad his talent has fleshed it out even further to the solid, catchy piece that it is.
I really like the break at 1'03 - it really switches things up and catches you by surprise. The classic sonic sound effect later on kind of "brings you back", so to speak.
Anyway, recommended. Go download it.
- Antipode on January 18, 2007
It's very well done. Not too heavy and not too light. It had some
very likable characteristics that I haven't heard for a while. It's
just a happy, funky song! Good-job.
- NegaNova on January 17, 2007
- NegaNova on January 17, 2007
Gamebox just doesn't quit, does he?
This is as always amazing funk. It's all there - the solo, the changes, the refined mastery. When you think you've got a handle on it, it applies some lotion and slips from your grasp in the most delightful way.
Top drawer stuff. Which is all the man seems able to do. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Binster
- binster on January 17, 2007
This is as always amazing funk. It's all there - the solo, the changes, the refined mastery. When you think you've got a handle on it, it applies some lotion and slips from your grasp in the most delightful way.
Top drawer stuff. Which is all the man seems able to do. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Binster
- binster on January 17, 2007
Some of the sounds seemed a little thin, specifically the drums,
but the interpretation and creativity is phenominal. The solos were
excellent as well; awesome work dude.
- OA on January 17, 2007
- OA on January 17, 2007
Creative, inventive, funky and fun as hell. One of my favorite from
the whole project.
Excellent work from excellent remixer.
PS.: I just love the interpretation at 1:04. Can't help but to think of it as a "quote" of Sandopolis. It's great!
- Mr. Fox on January 17, 2007
Excellent work from excellent remixer.
PS.: I just love the interpretation at 1:04. Can't help but to think of it as a "quote" of Sandopolis. It's great!
- Mr. Fox on January 17, 2007
