Larsec - Arabian Zoids (Themed Solo)
Track info
Arranged by:
Larsec Remixer
Member profile:
Original SID:
Original composed by:
Also check out:
Duration:
9:29
Released:
16/02/2003
Charts position:
4. in the year 2003
428. in all-time charts
428. in all-time charts
Score:
91%
Story
OK… Looooooong story behind this one
It started when I fell in love with a beat. I wanted to do an ethnic thing with it; The beat, some ambient pads, a male Arabian singer and a guitar gently playing Arabic stuff in the background. An original piece by me…
But then I thought that I hadn't exactly created the beat myself, well I had sorta since it's layered from four diffrent beats that I fit together, but they were still loops, and I have thing about that; When I create something that's supposed to be orinal work I can't use drumloops, but that's just me
So I decided to look for a SID to use it for instead. Since I started remixing SIDs I have wanted to remix something by DRAX since he is the only famous SID composer I have met in real life (that I know of). I found a SID called araber (Arabian in English) and it seemed to fit perfectly so I did the first part of it, and I liked what I had done (3.25 - 3.52).
Then I ran into a wall. I simply couldn't make the rest of the SID 'fit'. I tried various things but I just couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it to. I had made an intro (the first 40 seconds of this track) and a friend told me that it reminded him of Zoids and I had thought that myself. It wasn't intentionel but that was the way it came out. I decided to do Zoids instead but keeping the Araber part (hence the title). I added a female vocalist (since I couldn't find a male one). I wanted the mix to sound minimal when the mix started. I wanted it to sound kinda clumsey and then have the sudden stab/crash/explosion to sort of say,
When I was doing the lead guitar that comes in at 5.25 I had no idea what was supposed to come after that. I put in the strings and brought the guitar back in and almost completly stopped the track. Then I accidently played a few notes while running the cursor over the piano roll in Reason and the idea for the solo just jumped right into my head (6.31 - 7.39). I had been listening to a lot of Steve Vai the past month or so, that may have influenced that solo somewhat
I had decided that I wanted a solo to end it all. I did some diffrent stuff but nothing of what I did seemed to be what I wanted. I'm not exactly sure how but at some point the first bars of the solo came into my head and they seemed to fit. I could remember that it was a SID but not which one it was… I thought Galway and went through his SIDs and found out it was from Rambo. I then decided to take various themes and put them in the solo (again, hence the title )
They are:
The other thing about the solo is the teardown and build up… By the time you get to the solo I have torn everything down that I had build up, almost stopping the track completly. When the solo begins the track is just creeping along gently. Then when it changes from major to minor at 7.05 the drums come back in and the guitar becomes more 'alive' and the pace is somewhat pick up a bit more. When the pads do an unexpected shift to C-major at 7.29 the suspence starts to build. The C-major to D-Major must lead back to the G inwhich Zoids is played. What I really like is all that suspence and tenision hanging on that single guitar note from 7.36 - 7.39. It's even trembling a bit under the pressure… and Zoids comes back with a BANG! I love it!
It started when I fell in love with a beat. I wanted to do an ethnic thing with it; The beat, some ambient pads, a male Arabian singer and a guitar gently playing Arabic stuff in the background. An original piece by me…
But then I thought that I hadn't exactly created the beat myself, well I had sorta since it's layered from four diffrent beats that I fit together, but they were still loops, and I have thing about that; When I create something that's supposed to be orinal work I can't use drumloops, but that's just me
So I decided to look for a SID to use it for instead. Since I started remixing SIDs I have wanted to remix something by DRAX since he is the only famous SID composer I have met in real life (that I know of). I found a SID called araber (Arabian in English) and it seemed to fit perfectly so I did the first part of it, and I liked what I had done (3.25 - 3.52).
Then I ran into a wall. I simply couldn't make the rest of the SID 'fit'. I tried various things but I just couldn't get it to work the way I wanted it to. I had made an intro (the first 40 seconds of this track) and a friend told me that it reminded him of Zoids and I had thought that myself. It wasn't intentionel but that was the way it came out. I decided to do Zoids instead but keeping the Araber part (hence the title). I added a female vocalist (since I couldn't find a male one). I wanted the mix to sound minimal when the mix started. I wanted it to sound kinda clumsey and then have the sudden stab/crash/explosion to sort of say,
Enough of this!, then lead it to the female vocalist.
When I was doing the lead guitar that comes in at 5.25 I had no idea what was supposed to come after that. I put in the strings and brought the guitar back in and almost completly stopped the track. Then I accidently played a few notes while running the cursor over the piano roll in Reason and the idea for the solo just jumped right into my head (6.31 - 7.39). I had been listening to a lot of Steve Vai the past month or so, that may have influenced that solo somewhat
I had decided that I wanted a solo to end it all. I did some diffrent stuff but nothing of what I did seemed to be what I wanted. I'm not exactly sure how but at some point the first bars of the solo came into my head and they seemed to fit. I could remember that it was a SID but not which one it was… I thought Galway and went through his SIDs and found out it was from Rambo. I then decided to take various themes and put them in the solo (again, hence the title )
They are:
- 8.20 - 8.27: Galway_Martin/Rambo_First_Blood_Part_II/Subtune 10
- 8.27 - 8.30: Galway_Martin/Parallax/Subtune 1
- 8.30 - 8.34: Just me wailing away…
- 8.34 - 8.37: Me doing Last Ninja inspired wailing
- 8.37 - 8.41: Daglish_Ben/Last_Ninja/Subtune 6
- 8.41 - 8.44: Follin_Brothers/Ghouls_n_Ghosts/Subtune 2
- 8.44 - 8.47: Brooke_Jason/Out_run/Subtune 1
- 8.47 - 9.01: Me wailing it out
The other thing about the solo is the teardown and build up… By the time you get to the solo I have torn everything down that I had build up, almost stopping the track completly. When the solo begins the track is just creeping along gently. Then when it changes from major to minor at 7.05 the drums come back in and the guitar becomes more 'alive' and the pace is somewhat pick up a bit more. When the pads do an unexpected shift to C-major at 7.29 the suspence starts to build. The C-major to D-Major must lead back to the G inwhich Zoids is played. What I really like is all that suspence and tenision hanging on that single guitar note from 7.36 - 7.39. It's even trembling a bit under the pressure… and Zoids comes back with a BANG! I love it!
Vote distribution
Achievements
Top Rankings
1 c64 charts February 2003
ROTY 2003
3 Best c64 Remix
2 Most Innovative Remix (c64 or Amiga)
Shouts
A very strong epic track. Great production effort in this
There some moments where it sounds really out of tune and in the second half it is getting boring.
Cool - can't think what else to say really
Yes there is a great athmosphere and feeling when I hear this sound!! Great work, you did that track very well!
Beautiful
Not a SID remix really, I'll give you that. But as a piece of music.... Wow!
Excellent work
Epic!
Doesn't sound too Arabian to me, aside from the female singer. But who cares, as long as it's that good! Excellent!
This is great... Its like the soundtrack to Blade Runner 2 or something...
Wonderful musical trip. IMO it's not the best version of Zoids, anyway.
All time classic!!!
Absolutely stunning.
I love it
This is impressive!
Give me more of this please:))
Wonderul. Had this in my system for the past eight years.
I really enjoyed this track. The guitar had some Dave Gilmour/Division Bell vibes. Great work!
Review by immacolata
18/02/2003
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Review by maharishi
17/02/2003
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I do appreciate music most definetely, though, but as an inductor of emotions and memories. I often react strongly emotionally to tunes because of what they bring forward in me. Its kind of like a surge of goosebumps that rushes my body. (I have heard Christians refer to it as the Holy Spirit 😊 lol)
Hmm, I'd better get to the point. I signed up as a member on the site just to be able to write this, and it's all because of you Larsec! I don't have any terms to describe any of the technical diddeleyidoo, that you fuss around with, but let me congratulate you anyway with the a purely emotional judgement I can humbly give. I love it Larsec. It gave me that surge of energy when the solo begins at 6.31 and a strong sensation of sadness and beauty followed and giving the fact that I just fell in love (another story, but you know that one, hehe 😉) it speaks even more to me.
Keep up the spirit and life will bring you to the forefront of music, my friend. At least that is my wish for you.
Anders Lillemand
Review by craigg
18/02/2003
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In some cases it perhaps moves a little too far from the original arrangement, and there's a little too much noodling here and there, but it would be churlish to penalise such an accomplished remix for a few minor niggles.
Review by beldin
18/02/2003
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Review by Tas
21/02/2003
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This remix isn't your typical like for like approach as with many remixes you hear. Starting of slowly the track seems to give you a false sense of security, but it really kicks off at the 1:30 mark where female arabian vocals are added, which just enhances the feel more than ever. At 2:30 the tune evolves slowly bringing an electric guitar in and replacing the vocals as the tempo slowly increases. Adding more instruments and effects along the way, and it just keeps evolving as it goes on.
It has everything a good musical ear should appreciate, mellow moments, attacking moments, and a massive amount of variety. Oh and it lasts just over 9 mins which is no bad thing as tracks like these can go on forever!
Excellence in remixing and excellence in music! superb!
Review by LaLa
01/03/2003
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Review by eliot
08/03/2003
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The stereo profile of the lead instruments is not existent 😒 and the low mp3 rate does not satisfy me. (I listen any music always with my headphones (Sennheiser SD590).) Besides a small glitch at 5:50 and the individual chunks on the end, this track is technically good.
The guitar solo is a highlight for me but also sounds a bit Mike Oldfield to me😉 - a SID-cover does not need to be a 1:1 cover, but should transport the flair of the C64.
Zoids is one of my all time favourites so the nostalgic impression has to be a 6.0 😊
Review by LMan
17/02/2003
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I've listened to this mix a thousand times, and will propably listen to it a thousand times more. Please, more of the same, Larsec!!!