Splendid Amiga tunes as yet unremixed

[Matt Smith]

AmigaRemix is, of course, a thoroughly excellent thing, providing as it does the chance to hear tons of classic Amiga melodies spruced up and taken in new directions by a whole load of talented remixing folk. But while certain tunes from the likes of Allister Brimble and Chris Huelsbeck are revisited time and again (which is perfectly understandable, because their stuff is obviously super), some particularly lovely bits of music from less celebrated composers have (to my knowledge) never ever been tackled by the remixing community; even, as we shall see, music from some particularly noteworthy games. Join me now as I provide a quick rundown of some of the sadly neglected tunes from the heyday of Amiga gaming, which I reckon would make for some ace new remix material.

1. Harlequin. Everyone has doubtless heard Barry Leitch's remix of his intro music from the Amiga's finest platformer, as featured on Immortal 1, and jolly super it is too. But Harlequin's in-game music is, if anything, even superer, especially the bit you first hear on the opening level, The Clock Tower ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... g3_T01.mp3 ), and the tune that first turns up on the level full of busted tellies, known as TeeVee Wonderland ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... g5_T01.mp3 ). They're both very different pieces, and they both evoke very different atmospheres; indeed, the music was one of the reasons why Harlequin was such a hugely atmospheric game, being uplifting and joyous one minute and doom-laden and creepy the next, and I'd say these fine tunes are particularly deserving of the remix treatment.

2. The First Samurai intro music. http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... ai_T01.mp3

It's a top game; one of the best showcases of the Amiga's capabilities in terms of graphics and programming, and absolutely heaps of fun. This track sets the scene splendidly for the torrent of hack-and-slash adventuring to come, and it's a surprise to find that nobody has yet remixed it. Acely, there's at least one remix currently in the works from top musical fellow Andrea Milana, and you can hear a short snippet here: http://andreamilana.wordpress.com/music ... me-remixes . But there's surely room in the world for more than just one remix of such a smashing track.

3. Second Samurai. The intro music for this one is great as well: http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... am_T01.mp3 . Fun, isn't it? And the tunes from the third and final world ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... am_T01.mp3 ) and the end sequence ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... am_T01.mp3 ) are impressively stirring, too. Give 'em some love, folks. You know you want to.

4. The music from level three of Disposable Hero. http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... 29_T01.mp3

Rock on, chaps.

5. The music from the first world ("Caves") of Twinworld. http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... es_T01.mp3

I was always surprised that Twinworld was never held in higher regard by Amiga magazines and Amiga users; in terms of gameplay it's probably the closest the Amiga ever got to equalling the simple-but-compulsive gameplay of Super Mario Bros, and it doesn't look half bad either. The music, though (by Haiko Ruttmann), is simply gorgeous, especially the chipper melody that accompanies the game's first world of caverns and clifftops. I've seen it mentioned as being an all-time favourite tune of many a person on YouTube and various message boards, so it'd be totally fab if someone could do their funky remixing thang with it.

6. And finally, the music from the Ma-Ti and Linka levels of Captain Planet.

Yes, yes, I know, the game was almost entirely terrible; shoddy graphics, wonky collision detection, ambitious but fundamentally flawed (and at times incomprehensible) level design and frankly laughable animation. But you know what? The music was great, especially in the levels where you controlled Ma-Ti ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... 5x_T01.mp3 ) and Linka ( http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/media/soamc/so ... 3x_T01.mp3 ), the former being a delightfully unexpected daft and bouncy number and the latter actually managing to inject a sense of energy and danger into the lacklustre on-screen "action". Being one of the first Amiga games I ever played (it came free with my Amiga 500+), it retains a special place...well, not in my heart, but certainly in my ears. And of course very few people will ever have heard just how groovy the music is, because only about a dozen people ever managed to summon up the enthusiasm to get past level two; an injustice that really ought to be rectified.

So there you go. These are the tunes that, more than any others, I think would make for some outstandingly marvellous new remixes; and if anyone out there feels compelled to give any of them a go, you'll be doing a great service for the neglected Amiga tunes of the world. Oh yes.

[C64GLeN]

My brain box faulty memory reminds me someone was doing the First Samuari music for one of the Amiga Albums, but I think it was cancelled.

[Jim Power]

Anthony Putson was working on an orchestral remix of the "First Samurai" title track for the fourth volume in the "Immortal" series. Tony wasn't entirely happy with the results though, so this version was never actually finished. However, I am glad to report the I4 album will include an arrangement of the "First Samurai" music after all - this CD version was produced by the original composer Michael Davis and Andie Burt.

[Matt Smith]

Anthony Putson was working on an orchestral remix of the "First Samurai" title track for the fourth volume in the "Immortal" series. Tony wasn't entirely happy with the results though, so this version was never actually finished. However, I am glad to report the I4 album will include an arrangement of the "First Samurai" music after all - this CD version was produced by the original composer Michael Davis and Andie Burt.

Hurrah!

This is great news, and yet another reason to look forward to Immortal 4. Any word yet on when the album will be released?

[Jim Power]

Still aiming for a release in summer 2010. Be sure to check out the official "Immortal 4" newsthread over here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6110 - oh, and stay tuned for the new Amiga album by remix veteran Instant Remedy as well!