Tomsk - 'Clever Music' Medley

Track info
'Clever Music' Medley
Arranged by:
Tomsk Veteran
Member profile:
Barry Thompson (Tomsk)
Original SID:
play_circle_outlineListen at DeepSID
Original composed by:
Graham Jarvis, Rob Hartshorne
Also check out:

12 other remixes of Gyroscope

12 other remixes of subtune 1

Duration:
4:56
Released:
14/02/2022
All-Time charts position:
119
Score:
94%
Story

So, first of all, I'm not blowing my own trumpet here….Clever Music refers to the music duo who made the originals.
Throughout most of C64 history, they were incorrectly credited as Mike Alsop and Mark Alphingwood, when infact the duo were actually Robert Hartshorne and Graham Jarvis.
Their tunes were highly distinguishable and also well loved throughout the Commodore SID music scene. So a bit of corrected history lesson for those not in the know.
Anyway - I've always enjoyed their music, and started off by messing around with the Gyroscope theme, but it's very short, so I moved onto Fairlight and Wizardy and came up with the idea of a medley. I had a lot of fun doing this one, with bits of improv, a new style to try and new instruments to play with.

Many thanks to Peter Clarke on mixing duties and Tomas Danko for kindly mastering

Also -thanks to above mentioned 'Clarkie' for teaching me that drummers don't have an unlimited amount of limbs (although the next time I meet Andreas Wallstrom I will be checking!) and also for feedback and continued encouragement along with suggestions from my other musical pals.

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Shouts
Makke shouts:
Clever's the word though! Highly enjoyable medley. Great mix of songs and sounds. Love the sax!
Glyn R. Brown shouts:
Class tune man! :) Your choice of Instruments & the arrangement works perfectly.. Great work Barry :)
archon shouts:
Just wonderful and triggers so many memories and I find myself humming along. True to the original and great interpretation!
_steve_ shouts:
Started very much like Hotel California, then just merged into a fantastic medley of Wizardry and Fairlight
omoroca shouts:
Got a live performance feel to it, which I don't like when it's actually a studio recording.
Poppykuk shouts:
Really clever! The arrangement is top notch...
Review by Tas
14/02/2022

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The structure and how it morphs from one tune to another is quite impressive. It also shows that Tomsk is not a one trick pony. I really like how it mixes in between styles seamlessly - you'd never know it was medley unless you knew. Maybe misses some of the sprightliness of the originals and maybe a little somber but i can live with that. I think it a brilliant arrangement, well implemented and worthy of a very high score.
Review by Waz
15/02/2022

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Artistic skill

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Although the Clever Music originals are relatively short, it made perfect sense to put them into a medley with a feel of late 1970s rock about it. From the Kenny G inspired saxophone to the opening that drops a gentle nod to Hotel California, there's a real essence of reflection instead of more melancholy, and works well for it.

Sonically, there's plenty of lovely instruments that work well together and you can tell that love and care has been taken to ensure it's all well crafted with suitable nods to the SID originals to maintain that all important feel. An excellent remix all round.
Review by LaLa
13/02/2022

Technique

Artistic skill

Nostalgia factor

Overall rating

Pardon my pun, but this is not just a [i]Clever[/i] medley, but it's also a very clever medley. The way the individual themes are weaved together it's so seamless, it sounds so effortless, it's jaw-dropping. (Although I know it must've required a ton of work to put it together like this. It's always hard work to make something sound so easy. 😀)

On top of it, the instrument selection is spotless, too. The piano, the guitar, the sax, the vocal backing, the drums - all top-notch, and they all play together or alternate in a very natural way, depending on what a given section dictates. And I can't really complain about the mixing, either.

At times this remix is poignant, at times it's uplifting, and it's pure nostalgia all over. One thing is sure: this piece will touch you one way or another. Well done, Tomsk, I really enjoy it!