Sonic Wanderer - Ocean Loader 2 (Dance X-Periment)

Considering how Instant Remedy started out, Sonic Wanderer's attempt sounds much like he's in the early steps of Instant Remedy. For a club remix, however, this one starts too late with stomping drums (at 1:22). The middle part with bass-line and steady percussions is better, but also has a questionable sequence where the rhythm is changed abruptly. Another thing that could be replaced or changed is the dominating Arpeggio in the background which is too close to the lead. Else this is a nice effort.

Comparing this OL2-remix to the first C64-remix that I heard from Sonic Wanderer (which was C64-Revisited, his first remix of Beyond the Zero, done with DreamStation back in 2000), I think it is safe to say that Sonic has kept his good taste in going for a powerfull disco-sound, now with better music equipment. And if I was forced to do a comparison to Instant Remedy, I'd say that it's out of question because SW already was a sure arranger for well-balanced disco-tracks 3 years ago.

The song got an intro now, so you're not jumping into the action from the start, which makes it a bit of a hymn, considering the wall of sound the song builds up using all the new modern synths and some vintage SID-sound. It even reminds me of the N-Trance sound in Set you free (synths and thunder). You can play this track to some not C64-sound-aware but disco-sound-loving person and this person will like it! No C64-pling-plang-plong-bleep-sounds in here.

Oh, and maybe another fact important for a dance-remix: this one is not boring at all. 😊

I'm never too keen on the over use of SID in remixes, it's just not my thing, but Sonic Wanderer certainly knows how to use it to good effect in this dancey experiment which well produced and utilised.

Don't let the almost romantic intro mislead you: this is a genuine dance remix. So genuine, in fact, that it's in the dime-a-dozen category: chew it once then spit it out.

A very nice dance-remix and I feel happy while listening, I guess that was the intention. The Arpeggio was quite in shape compared to the original SID (yes, I did). For a real dance-track the introduction is much too long, but there is shadow where is sun 😊

It begins very, very cool, creating a unique atmosphere, but too soon enough the dated sound of the C64 takes over and the whole thing collapses. A shame considering it could have been a classic.