Peter Clarke - Complications (Encore500)
8. in all-time charts
So.. A track made for Encore500 and a really well-known Amiga MOD from Danko.. No pressure then, attempting to remix such a classic tune.. AND while working with Danko on Encore500 too.. It did feel as though he was looking over my shoulder at times, haha.. I worked really hard to take this track away from it's 90's 'Europop' origins and back to the late 70's with some funk/soul vibes which I think suits the track.. and diversity has always been one of the goals of the Encore projects..
I got Danko to mix & master this for me.. It seemed wholly appropriate to do this and he made an amazing and awesome job of it.. The final version here sounds clean, crisp and has all the elements of my arrangement, clearly audible.. Thank You for your post-production magic, Mr Danko..
3 Best Amiga Remix
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating
Attention to detail has been paid throughout so that the instrument placement is just right, nothing is wasted. And most crucially of all, the feel is all there, it has that in spades.
Technique
Artistic skill
Nostalgia factor
Overall rating
I wish I had nothing to do with it.
Having been privy to how Peter approached this interpretation was impressive. Initially it was to be 70s Motown, then Disco pretty much came out of the mixing process. The end result is Disco without the Cheese, showing Peter's talent when it comes to choosing tasteful aesthetics.
Peter got a severe upper hand by being able to play those funky guitar, Rhodes Piano and Hammond Organ licks live and with great articulation. To me, this is what makes all the difference in a world of 100% In-The-Box DAW Remixes. It did take a lot more effort when it came to the mixing and mastering, however in hindsight it was definitely worth all the ache, pain and harassment from Peter.
As I recall things it was the other way around with the C64 version happening later, but I digress…
Friendly banter aside, this track shows Peter Clarke's strength as a professional musician on guitar and keyboard which is something I've been suggesting for him to get back into after a decade of fake symphonic orchestral remixes.
So glad he did, because this one is one of the funkiest tracks on Remix64 this year and so different from all the numerous Complications remixes out there!