ReMix:Half-Life 2 "I Tried" 4:08

By Redg

Arranging the music of one song...

"Triage at Dawn"

Primary Game: Half-Life 2 (Valve , 2004, WIN), music by Kelly Bailey

Posted 2014-07-08, evaluated by djpretzel


Every mix thus far from Redg (Brent Wollman) has been an exercise in creativity & sound design - in addition to being enjoyable, distinct arrangements of lesser-mixed VGM. Brent returns to Half-Life 2 with this highly percussive electronic piece that's got some specific inspirations:

"This track is a melding of the styles of Amon Tobin and Aphex Twin, a couple artists that I've listened to a lot. Like most of my stuff, this one is pretty out there. I incorporated a lot of organic/glitchy percussion that may be a bit much for some listeners, but I think I managed to make it all generally accessible. Conceptually, the idea was to create a chaotic and frustrated struggle for the first half which then climaxes into an emotionally cathartic release around 2:53.

Here is a source breakdown:

0:00-0:11 - A synth patch plays the bassline from the source track
0:11-0:22 - Some original percussive riffing
0:22-0:55 - The main melody from the source enters
0:55-1:18 - Another melody from the source
1:18-1:29 - Some more original percussion shit…
1:29-2:31 - The bassline from the source reenters. Another melody from the source filters in at some point.
2:31-End - The main harmonic/melodic ideas from the source are slowly reiterated and morphed until the end

Also, if this track makes the cut, and it's kosher, I would really dig it if I could plug another project I've been involved in, Sleeping Thieves. We make kind of strange hip hop/rock stuff that I think some OC ReMix cats might like!"

Very cool; check it out. ALSO, Brent just released an original 7-track album, Student, on OverClocked Records - $2.99+ and well worth it! Familiar with the influences, Palpable had some comments:

"Huge fan of Aphex and this remix. I'm always thrilled to see someone take an unusual style and make a rock solid VGM arrangement with it."

Larry adds:

"This HL2 piece was super-transformative with an arrangement that never stands still, even for a second. Brent's great at creating tracks that mutate and evolve. The beat dropoff at 1:54 was perfect at re-grabbing my attention before the midway mark and I was waiting to see where the more atmospheric second half would go.

If you're not listening closely, you'll miss it, but I really liked the lonely imagery I felt from the water bubbling SFX first used around 2:05. This track definitely succeeds in taking one to a deep, dark place. Even if you're eventually able to get out, you'll reside there for at least 4 minutes. If you want more music like this from Redg, definitely pick up Brent's original EP, Student, from OverClocked Records.

P.S. I get a little kick out of Kelly Bailey's "Triage at Dawn" reminding me of the House of Cards theme, even though it was written more than 8 years before the show. It can't just be me. :-)"

I hear it, too, although the "distant solo trumpet refrain" thing has probably been done a number of times, I'm thinking. Not much else to add between Brent, Vinnie, & Larry's comments; a ton of percussive & FX sound design make this a very percolating, mechanized, textural & atmospheric experience and an expansive interpretation of the source. Brent's definitely doing something different & worthwhile with his work, both arranged AND original, and you should check it ALL out if you're into deep, complex worlds of sound!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 9 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Nathan Allen Pinard
on 2016-06-23 10:05:27

God I love that pad at 3:13

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Necrox
on 2016-06-12 20:43:00

Once again, the mix makes sense once it nears its end (those synths are super AT-like). Things are definitely clearer on the second listen. Not an easy swallow but worth the effort. The ambient side of this is deep and imaginative, not that the percussion has any issues.

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Black_Doom
on 2014-08-23 14:53:32

I've downloaded this even before listening to it, because I love all Redg's stuff. Brent's works are very unusual and this one is no exception. This thing does not repeat even for a second and with all the glitching stuff, it's just a earcandy. Awesome!

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metamorphosis
on 2014-07-16 06:16:23

Would be better if it were less random- aphex and tobins work have structure.

My 2c.

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Crulex
on 2014-07-09 13:33:16

It's like ambiance with a pulse, which I can actually get behind. The sounds are so outlandish, but they work in an oddly cohesive way, like they are just meant to go together. Some of the synths and bliptrips weren't my thing on a personal taste level, but stylistically, this was a pretty good arrangement. Everything is so uneasy, but it still works as a whole picture, which is always interesting to hear. Cool stuff.

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OverClocked PodCast
on 2014-07-08 18:44:01

Hoo boy, this is the kind of music that never seems to resonate with me. Impressively fluid and distant, it's just too fluid and distant to connect with my brain. :P The echoing synth at 0:55 should, I think, bring me into the melody, but it pushes me away with a sort of dissonant disinterest.

That said, I ended up with a melancholy sensation of deep, dark gray waters-- a vivid sensation-- so the music's doing something cool all right! Just not my cup of deep, dark gray waters.

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timaeus222
on 2014-07-08 14:11:54

I love all the FM synths populating this excellent soundscape. The textures here are not abrasive, and quite accessible. You never know what's going to happen next, but it's still very much appreciable. Clem's arrangements are always so outgoing, and occasionally out there, but if you had never heard his style before, you'll remember it now!

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Brandon Strader
on 2014-07-08 12:40:52

This is outstandingly trippy. Love the sound design. Like someone's tuning an AM radio in each ear sometimes. Some good jamming, some strange but effective phrases, and glorious bouts of ambiance. I love that something so experimental got put on display at OCR, very nice. We need more experimentation! :-)

Forgot to add, that I love the title.

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djpretzel
on 2014-07-08 12:31:51

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Half-Life 2 (Valve , 2004, WIN)
Music by Kelly Bailey
Songs:
"Triage at Dawn"

Tags (4)


Genre:
Ambient
Mood:
Dark
Instrumentation:
Electronic
Additional:
Time > Tempo: Slow

File Information


Name:
Half-Life_2_I_Tried_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,031,734 bytes
MD5:
41f97a4de1529e7ef0be283da36673f1
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
4:08

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