ReMix:Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge "Twin Millennium (Nitrous Mix)" 2:50

Formula 1 kicked off this week, so let's embrace the need for speed with Lashmush's fast-paced Amiga racing electro from Lotus III! The bassline of the source is very quietly referenced from :20-:29, then the melody kicks in at :33 and this is definitely LOWD, so be prepared when the checkered flag waves. After conservatively arranging this theme in the past -- resulting in a DNF -- Lashmush decided to push past the pace car and take more creative risks:

"I originally made a synthwave version of this more close to the original tempo. I did not upload it as it was simply way too samey as the original, so more of a cover, not a remix up to standards. However, I worked very hard recently on my first live performance (big success, BTW) and I figured I could do a sort of experimental psytrance approach in 160 bpm instead. Sooo, I started ripping out old synths and slapping in newer mix techniques I've learned, I added a synth harmony to the VST guitar, I did all sorts of junk for this one. The original even has a bunch of AI-isolated samplings of voice lines from Hot Fuzz, the Edgar Wright movie. Removed for OCR, ofc. In any case, I suppose total time put into this is like 35-40 hours maybe, 6-7 of them being this remix of my old remix version. Drive carefully with this one, folks. You're liable to arrive much faster at your destinations, if you catch my drift here?"

Fast is the key, and it's not a racing game arrangement without copious vrooms & zooms! Thankfully, judge prophetik music was a fan of the SFX usage, including the clever way Lashmush integrated it into the beginning of the music:

"neat idea shifting the engine purr into the initial synth line. the track really starts around 0:33 and features some (super hot) engine sfx throughout the first ten seconds at least. [...] the faster tempo really works for this melodic material too since it's so fitting for the theme of the game.

there's a 'break' at 1:39, and certainly what source material is being represented here is quieter, and doesn't speak much at the beginning. the energy kicks at 2:05 and it goes pretty good to the end when we get more engine sfx.

this has a ton of energy! i don't think that the quieter leads at 1:39 are enough to sink it. it sounds great overall and i especially liked the synth guitar lead. nice work."

Agreed that the VST electric guitar added into the back at 1:10 filled its role well; because it sounds mechanical, it's actually good that it's not upfront, allowing it to add some texture without exposing the sample. The dropoff at 1:40 was a good idea to vary up the intensity of the track until restoring that energy with totally different instrumentation at 2:05. Love the brief groove from 1:54-2:04 as well; lots of good moments to cite, which judge DarkSim was also very easily able to do:

"Great use of SFX in the intro, warping into the synth pad. Good use of engine revs as a riser at 0:35 as well, although it's a little loud in the mix. The use of distortion on the lead synth at 0:33 and 1:11 fits with the growling sounds of an engine as well, leaning into the car theme.

Real punchy kick in this one, although it does drop out for a beat or two, and has some fills, so it's not on autopilot, and the rest of the percussion isn't too overcomplicated for such a high BPM track. Nice switchup at 1:54 with the hats on the off-beat. Some lovely synth interplay in the chorus around 1:23 - definitely my favourite section there. [...]

This one packs a huge punch, and drags a great source tune kicking and screaming to the finish line."

Strong usage of these sounds, lots of textural variation, and fun, driving (no pun intended) intensity throughout. After putting the pedal to the metal, Lashmush deserves to take a nitro-boosted victory lap for our first Lotus series representation in over two decades! Not to mention also providing a +1 for our should-be-way-way-more Amiga coverage. I've said it before, so I'll say it again: Amiga love is something we always want on OCR! :-)