ReMix:Silent Hill 2 "Numbness & Knives" 3:18

Our second Halloween feature is a chilling, dark, & minimalist ambient/cinematic take on Silent Hill 2 from HoboKa (Alex Shtokalko):

"Did this without using a MIDI. Had a lot of fun making it. It's gleefully bleak. Just as Mr. Yamaoka had envisioned it. :) Actually took piano lessons on this one. Then, I used a MIDI controller to record. Then, I cheated for the rest, using a mouse to rearrange stuff. Don't judge me. Well, I mean judge away. Just not ME. It's always been this way for me. God, I need sleep.

Used my keyboard to figure out the notes, then I fixed them b/c, my god, the left hand stretches 2 octaves frequently on the arp. I'm guessing Akira did this all one-handed... That sounded wrong (or maybe that sounded right). (Probably used a mouse.)

There are notational edits at many parts (0:11, 0:37-0:52, for example). 0:54 to 1:32, the rhythmic notation and operatic-ish support lead are quite different from the source material. Again, 2:20 to 2:41, there are rhythmic alterations (especially with the organ-like electric keyboard). Also, let me add that conservative stuff - conservative medleys including this awesome remix - have passed before."

This is, as Alex himself forthcomingly notes, a conservative arrangement, but the textural combination of elements really sends tingles down the spine, and Larry lays out the case for interpretation:

"As I was reading through HoboKa's Workshop thread for this one, I laughed because Gario called this one wrong while XPRTNovice had it exactly right. :-) Alex played things melodically conservative with his customary approach, indeed, but he did a lot with subtle rhythmic, instrumental, and textural changes within that space to easily make this one stand apart enough from the original source tune. Dug the operatic vocals at :53 in particular (which had a Parasite Eve feel for me), but the whole piece is a textbook example of how you can combine a multitude of low-key arrangement techniques for a successfully interpretive ReMix. Very nice work, Alex, and a new personal favorite from your body of work!"

Reminded me of Donnie Darko a bit, for the same reasons :) Stark, dark, bleak, cold, & even a bit disturbing, HoboKa fully embraced the SH aesthetic & dialed in his own sinister tweaks; frightening AND frighteningly good stuff!