ReMix:Space Harrier "Limitless Skies" 3:53

By CarboHydroM

Arranging the music of one song...

"Theme"

Primary Game: Space Harrier (Sega , 1986, SMS), music by Hiroshi Kawaguchi

Posted 2005-03-03, evaluated by the judges panel


The ReMixer writes on his website:

"At 10, I used to record my NES game soundtracks on tape by sticking a recorder against the speaker of the tv set!"

...which is funny, because at 8 I used to do the same thing, albeit with a Sega Master System. Christophe, alias CarboHydroM, gave us an excellent FF7 ReMix back in October of last year, and returns covering source material that's a bit nearer and dearer to my own heart, if (almost certainly) not most gamers': Space Harrier. Specifically, the oft-arranged main theme. One of the reasons this theme has been covered so much is because the C64 version of the game had basically the same soundtrack as the original arcade and SMS port, but several mixers primarily from the Commodore scene nevertheless paid it some attention due to the port. Christophe's take is different from the electronica, disco, and rap that has come before it, and sets Hiro's soaring, hyperfantasy melody to the same crunchy rock guitars that graced his previous submission, with considerably higher, adrenaline-infused pacing this time. Speedy rhythm guitar varies things up between sustained chords, offbeats, and fast chugs, a deep bass takes the time to pull some transitions here and there, drums whizz by quite quickly but especially towards the end mix it up with tasty breaks and fills, and over it all sings a sweet lead electric on the melody, adding some bends and subtle intonation over the original as befits the instrument. Binnie's essentially correct in noting that the main melody isn't altered too awful much, but the rhythm guitars constitute the buffer between the lead and the drums/bass, make up a large part of the song, and are decidedly different from the original, as is the drumming, plus there's the whole final minute of the mix, which manages to throw in some different ideas and reprise the intro without sounding pasted-on, so I think Carbo's got the arrangement factor down. The thing I absolutely love about the original, which comes through well here, is how the melody gains so much from simply being transposed an octave higher on its second iteration - see 1'04" for reference. For some reason that jump, one of the most basic, melodic reuse tricks you can pull, works better for this melody than many others which employ it. Love some of the guitar decisions the ReMixer made, specificaly with the ska change-up at 1'36" that triggers some tremolo on the left. Also, the mix does a better job than Carbo's previous effort of discrete panning, separating each guitar out very clearly, which is important in a mix consisting mostly of layered electric guits. zyko lower-casedly offers:

"this one is a winner. i love the tightness of the arrangement and the playing. the tone of the guitar is so perfect, it's ridiculous. the drumwork and basslines are intelligent and a good backbone to the mix. the lead guitar is his best work yet, i think, and very impressive. smart and flawless and at times, awfully creative arrangement. i love it."

Well-deserved enthusiasm. The only thing I'd nitpick on, although I'm a huge fan of the original and can't be expected to be absolved completely of bias, would be that as with his last submission (perhaps a little less), it seems like the EQ could have been opened up in the upper register to make the lead and drums a bit crisper and the sound just a tad cleaner and more open. Nothing major, in other words, and I'm overall thrilled that someone's taken the time to do a speed rock arrangement of this classic theme and to do it right. Great stuff from CarboHydroM, well worth deviating from Atkins to enjoy.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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LuketheXjesse
on 2010-02-07 01:38:04

Ah, one of the best songs from Carbo. I love the gritty sound in his songs, and I really enjoy how this song is much longer than his others. Great work!

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Inimitable
on 2009-01-10 22:48:27

I share these quite a bit with the ScoreHero/Guitar Hero community, but for whatever reason not usually this one. I think that's a bit silly. :)

Since I don't have remixing talent myself, this is the best I can do to say "thanks - this mix kicks ass."

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OA
on 2008-01-16 16:53:55

Early on it was a little too heavy on the right side for spatial balance, but as it progressed, it evened out a bit. Drums and bass were forgettable, but the rhythm playing is spot on. I keep throwing quarters at it, and they are bouncing back. Now that is what I call tight playing.

Lead tone i'd have preferred to have a bit more sustain, but it all works together, and the source is excellent.

Very well done.

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TheAverageJoe
on 2006-02-28 16:34:04

very rock like genre but still great. placed very well with the Space Harrier theme. I found this to be one of my favorite songs. Also CarboHyDroM's other song he made.

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mantis*ant
on 2005-03-21 06:20:26

The change-up at 1:25 is very nicely implemented, as are the heavier drums at 1:47 - I didn’t really feel that the drums were angry enough to support the vicious axe work at any other stage, though. But I guess you’ve done the original justice and that’s the ultimate compliment one can pay ;)

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BrainCells
on 2005-03-05 10:41:41

Very nice song and awesome job with the rhythms (how can you do those, man?!?!?!?)

Due to the fact of my complete lack of feelings for this game soundtrack I have to say that this one is in the bottom in comparation with other CHM's releases. Check them all!!!

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Less Ashamed Of Self
on 2005-03-03 21:35:57

While this has a little bit of tightening up to do before getting on a album or something... it's still a sonic treat for the punk/rock fan.

Any Space Harrier fan will be in ecstacy today.

9/10

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A-RoN
on 2005-03-03 16:44:06

I love your stuff, CHM. And this is no exception. The guitars and drumwork are very tight.

I don't have much to say except that this is a CLASSIC! Your best song yet, dogg!

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stuck in a dessert
on 2005-03-03 16:33:25

WHOO! rock on!

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Benjamin Briggs
on 2005-03-03 16:13:28

Huh... It appears that the quad post error tends to occur when editing an existing post?

Anyway... this mix. The arrangement is ace, and the variation is more than is expected with the genre. However, the EQ seems to be really lacking. There's not enough bass or treble, so everything sounds super-thin and distant. Otherwise, I'm loving this.

Also, I really appreciated the ska section at 1:26. :)

-chth

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Artificial_AI
on 2005-03-03 15:53:46

I don't really like how it has a sort of shallow sound to it. What I mean is the base and drums seem a bit too flimsy and unreal for my likes. It could just be the mixing.

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Xander k
on 2005-03-03 12:47:03

Very real and hard core what more to say? From a great game+great remixer=Great song (see math does help you in life.)

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Txai
on 2005-03-03 05:13:33

Good stuff.

The guitar is realistic. The beats are cool. I love the panning effect on beginning (and in other times too). That's a good rock. And I really enjoyed this stuff. Much better than original. Quite nice this new work by CarboHydroM. Wow,"The Nine Tails Fox And The Avenger" by CarboHydroM is pleasant too.

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AkumajoBelmont
on 2005-03-03 02:40:56

Okies, i'm not one to go for this style, but CarboHydroM never fails to impress me...

I love this track. It's one of my fave theme's EVER, and it's been done great justice...

As far as the mixing goes, you can hear this guy getting better and better with every mix, although i agree with djP's EQ comment... I'm a big fan of Carbo's Pop'n Twinbee mixes, but this easily outshines them both, which is a big thing for me (i LOVE those mixes!!!)...

Well done, hey:D

Great mix, great source...

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Rexy
on 2005-03-03 02:36:28

Definitely a contrast to I Got the Spacebeam :D Carbo has provided another rocking effort all around as provided by his take on the target themes, and solid proof that he can provide some quality punk progression all around; compositionally I see this to be one of his better pieces out there, one that has managed to match with the likes of Fight On and the recent Dual Storm (collab with BrainCells) from this month's DoD.

I was fine with the overall EQs, I'm sure, however if one thing had me questionable I'd point at the panning approach; the thick textures are definitely there when it came to the guitar, but I felt that much of it was dependant on one speaker within the opening stages. But outside from that, this is great, great stuff from CarboHydroM.

Funny you mentioned the tape deck though, because I used to do the same thing with my Sega Genesis when I was a kid. Coincidence, ney? :P

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Space Harrier (Sega , 1986, SMS)
Music by Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Songs:
"Theme"

Tags (2)


Genre:
Rock
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electric Guitar
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Space_Harrier_Limitless_Skies_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,918,995 bytes
MD5:
b4e9cc9de61539cbe13c72b27c8b42ce
Bitrate:
234Kbps
Duration:
3:53

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