ReMix: Super Metroid 'Heat Vision'

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Super Metroid ~Reserve Tank: VARIAtions~Super Metroid

Happy Easter... or Passover (cont.)... or, as has always been the case for me, "Secular Day of Chocolate and Egg Painting"! I'd like to send a personal shout out to the Cadbury Easter Bunny - those eggs are crack. Shariq himself organized & hosts Reserve Tank: VARIAtions, and I have to say it's one of the nicer things anyone has done in the community. At MAG, and later when Anna and I visited Jordan & Jade in Vegas, they were doing great, and I'd like to think the album - on some karmic level - helped ensure that conclusion. Either way, it resulted in a few stellar Super Metroid mixes, which can only be a good thing. This one's from the Sword himself, Mr. Darke, who writes:

"My song is a jazzy take on Norfair with old school NES sounds mixed with natural elements. I hope everyone likes it."

This one actually went to panel because it was created in a very short amount of time, and in some ways doesn't have Shariq's usual polish, but it's still a damn fine piece of music. Based on the above, I was expecting something more "chiptunier" and jazzier as well, but the blend of natural elements - particularly the drums, where DS usually goes electronic - and simpler synth elements definitely comes through. The acoustic upright bass here is also a solid example of incorporating natural elements into a predominantly electronic arrangement/approach. What I especially appreciate here is that, even though this was constructed on an abbreviated timetable, Shariq took risks and tried something new, rather than rushing out something that was more familiar. The end result actually sounds a bit like his earlier stuff - which was good - thus accomplishing a rare "2X NOSTALGIA" bonus for both the original OST and Shariq's older mixes. Waleed writes:

"This track has an unusual aptness at validating its title. Listening to this almost convinces the audience that they, in fact, can see in heat vision. The track has a sort of polished tint to it, reminds me a lot of older Darkesword music.. The overall tone is crazy cool.

The arrangement isn't as bold in parts as one might like it to be but it does plenty of original things on its own with the source so it isn't any kind of concern. In a sense, there is a fearless manner to the arrangement in that it tackles the source and doesn't mind reiterating it differently each time that it is rather than falling back on original sections to fill it out."

My biggest gripe is actually something none of the judges took issue with: I wanted more support action from the piano. I'm cool with occassional upper-register solo piano lead utilization, but if it's a consistent element, I appreciate some left-hand action (that's what SHE said) with a supporting chord structure, even if it's minimalist in nature, to remind me of the full, multi-octave presence of the instrument. Nevertheless, even when Shariq's pressed for time, you know the overall end result is going to be slick, solid, & substantial. The arrangement is smart, the piece progresses nicely, the instrumentation mixes it up from the artist's more recent tracks, and the whole thing makes a perfect intro track to RT:V.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Gotta say, I love those arpeggios. Also, the swing rhythm caught me off-guard the first time I heard this one, but not in a bad way - it fits the rest perfectly. This is one of those where the flow of the song goes almost uninterrupted throughout the entire piece. While I've said that, keep in mind the second section, where the strings and other unnamed instruments come in. While that is in the original, it just doesn't seem to quite fit with the first half. It does well on its own, but not in conjuction. Nevertheless, it's still not that bad a fit. I really loved the part at 2:10 - you had a nice lead-in to it, and it was a very nice segment on its own. This one was nicely put together, and is reminiscent of the original (while still proudly declaring its variations) enough that anybody who's played this game, or Metroid Prime, or any other of the Metroid series that has this in it will absolutely LOVE this mix. While a fade-in doesn't really match other songs, or just sounds completely out of place, in here, it actually matches the piece nicely. I liked how you could hear the woodblocks still as the rest faded out - it went together very nicely. Great remixing, Darksworde! 9/10! This is seriously a piece that any lover of music should add to their collection.

- Red_Link on September 15, 2009
Ooooh... Jazzy.
Awesome piece done by Darkesword, the choir really helped to give this thing a bit of body, and gives the thing a whole 'Metriod-ey' sound.
A great song, worth the download.

- Sir_Downunder on May 19, 2009
A little bit jazzy, a little bit space opera, this this is a really cool and unique sound for OCR, and it still has that distinct Darkesword quality to it. Some parts almost give me a FF6 OST vibe, mainly the bass and that slidin' synth, while the choir-backed sections were distinctly Metroid.
DS is bringin' it, and i'm groovin.
[i][b]Solid.[/b][/i]

- OA on May 4, 2009
Oh man, I'm loving this from the first second and everything after. I've become more familiar with the Metroid series music, and I'm loving what's been done with this. The beat itself is very laid back, yet still conveys the mystery behind the melody. This one is highly recommended.

- MechaFone on April 28, 2009
I'm not bothered by the minimalist piano at all. On the contrary, I think it fits in really, really well.
The part between 2:10 and 3:00 somehow makes me remember the X-Files.

- Martin Penwald on April 27, 2009
I've always liked how DarkeSword can keep the melody easily recognizable while giving it a radically different feel than that of the original track. For instance, it doesn't have the oppressive vibe of the original but manages to keep a nice sense of familiarity despite the new twists. A few elements kinda make me think of FF4's music... cool stuff.

- Kureejii Lea on April 27, 2009
this has to be my favorite DaSw remix yet! it's just completely fluent and awesome, just like Super Metroid Remixes should be .. i would prefer the hihats being centered in the mix though .. but other than that, great work!!!!

- Platonist on April 22, 2009
to be honest I think it works without the "left hand" piano action... its interesting that it sounds quite forboding. Bringing in too much might have made it sound too instrumental, as it stands, it kinda... leaves me teetering on the edge a bit... cautiously. It stands well. not sure bout the "whistling" part tho.

- dfcentre on April 19, 2009
Seriously sweet - the rhythm and strings all worked together to make it dramatically engrossing but still completely hip.
The only thing that weirded me out was the whistling - while there was nothing wrong with the timbre's authenticity or whatever itself, I thought, it felt very out-of-place in what was besides that a rather dark piece. I also thought the third rendition of the first part really lacked the punch that pushed it past being repetitive.
Still, pretty good overall. The arrangement was a tiny bit off, but overall it was very fierce and thrilling. I absolutely loved the intro.

- windkirby on April 16, 2009
The opening is fantastic, swinging the bass. Doing that alone made this mix win. Everything else is icing on the cake.
This was one of my favorites on VARIAtions. Love the style for this mix, and I enjoy it a lot more than the original track. Nice work DS!

- DragonAvenger on April 16, 2009
Sweet remix. I really enjoy the laid back feel because that is the kind of vibe I get from the source track. Well done!

- jintoreedwine on April 15, 2009
So. Damn. Good. Yet another phenomenal mix by DarkeSword.
I noticed about half way into it that I was compulsively tapping my foot. I really like this one and I can tell it's only going to grow on me.
I thought it was very creative where it went at 2:10 and even more awesome how it leads back in at 3:00. More piano work might have been cool but I wouldn't dare say there is a lack thereof. I also liked the cutesy outro. Great job.
Loving it.

- Flare4War on April 14, 2009
wtf STOP MAKING ENJOYABLE MUSIC THAT EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO!
...so frigging annoying...
In all seriousness though this was a pretty good rendition. I was expecting something like power-metal-ish kick you in the head lead and some kind of cranky-sounding audio, but instead was treated to this smooth-talking streetwalker who just scammed me out of all my money and made me like it.

- Ferret on April 13, 2009
Mtlbro;530961 wrote: Bravo!! I love that use of the piano :) and the breaks transitioning into other sections were brilliant

Intro took me off guard as really off beat while all the different layers set in. But that's what I get for not listening to much jazz.

It's not really jazz so much as...jazzy.
Or jazzish.
Jazz-like?

- DarkeSword on April 13, 2009
Bravo!! I love that use of the piano :) and the breaks transitioning into other sections were brilliant

Intro took me off guard as really off beat while all the different layers set in. But that's what I get for not listening to much jazz.

- Mtlbro on April 13, 2009