ReMix:Sonic the Hedgehog 3 "IceCapped" 3:32

I agree that it still holds up. Great energy, great work on improving upon the source. Classic MkVaff

The intro to this remix is unmatched, it is SO good. This remix lived on my music library for years, it is simply fantastic.

It's really hard to go wrong with Ice Cap. McVaffe proves that with an impressive house beat ReMix that is a bit chill, but also has a nice supply of upbeat energy. The piano, drums, synth and harp really do it for me on this one.

So this was the first mix on OCRemix of this track?

It is still one the best interpretations, so I don't think it's even necessary to add anything else. Pure chilling heaven, guys.

Lets put it this way, the beat to this on a sub system...rattled my house and royally ticked off my surrounding neighboors LOL

11 out of 10 just because this is the best Ice Cap revision EVER!

Of course someone as prolific as McVaffe would have tackled IceCap at some point. There are a lot of subtle layers going on, and the delayed harp is awesome- excellent treatment to create a great hook. The filtered percussion break was pretty inspired, and the trck builds to a great call and response between the flute and piano. It lacks the super punch of modern OCR tracks, but it definitely holds up well.

Classic stuff.

Ha at the OCRPG for this being the desert music. Ironic immortalizations...

This review thread doesn't have ten+ pages... why? It's McVaffe. It's IceCap. People, what are you waiting for? I don't care that reviews didn't exist until more than a year after this was released - come back and give this its due recognition!

Then again, I couldn't give this an impartial review if I tried. My harp bias is even stronger than my piano bias (and yes, that is frighteningly possible), and here we have both! Though, even then, 'it's all in how you use it'. But oh baby is it used.

I know you all have ears, but let's do a play-by-play together to fully appreciate this. It opens with harp and synth, working first melody and (initial) bass line, respectively. Drums enter, transitioning from muted to open. While that's happening, flute is layered on top, playing the main melody (over the harp for some nice counterpoint action), and the drums culminate in a hi-hat pseudo-break. New loop: everything returns (with the hi-hat action), and another, deeper synth fades in - with its own line, of course - to round out the low end. This time around, the harp gives way to flute so the main melody is emphasized; and then, as the piano takes over for the flute, the higher-pitched synth rises for more even more melodic emphasis. But that's not all! After the return to harp, another, somewhat wah-wah-ish, synth line is added. The deeper synth exits for four measures ahead of time, lightening the sound for one of McVaffe's hallmarks: a sexy breakbeat solo with some nifty panning. But it's not just a drum break, it's also a segue to a few lone piano notes, where that lovely echo is given a chance to resonate. Then, slick as can be, the harp starts playing behind the piano. Oh and guess what: along with the wah-wah there's yet another layer of synth, this time slightly funkified. And a layer of glass music! The man never quits - not in layering or in ingenuity! Quick drum break and return to initial arrangement (with wah-wah and deeper synth included), but not without a twist, as the flute takes lead while the piano does a new interpretation that truly (ice)caps the mix. Then everything drops except the drums and the first two synths with an ending - drums and wah-wah only - that I swear was designed to be perfect for looping.

Yes, it's beautiful trance. But it's intricately layered, deftly crafted, beautiful trance. This still, nearly nine years later, holds its own against the best. And it's still, by far, my favorite IceCap.

My hat's off, McVaffe.

This is actually better than the newer ones imho.

Sorry, I need to say this. This is about the umpteenth up-beat dance remix I've heard with a synth flute as the lead instrument, and I think that takes away from the mix. Like, it's really soft and cottony, and it makes the mix sound weak. Sorry, flute and dance don't mix...

This man a genius with this song. I downloaded it a while back and i'm still listening it to do this day.

Yah, I've heard so many different mixes for icecap. It's a favorite to do! I'm always on the look out for the best of this track, and this one has remained the one to warm my heart the most. Forever excellent.

McVaffe found the best mood to extract from Icecap, and did so with great care. Soft, but cool and pumpin'.. how do you beat it?

I think you might have answered your own question. There have been so many variations of this song that it's difficult to create something original with this melody.

That's not to say it's impossible! I agree, I'd like to hear more attempts at this tune.

So there's a few of us that found OCR because of this mix.

Basically, this is a beautiful thing. This is the remix that made me realise they're not all dinky and sampley. Before hearing this, every mix I'd heard was.. quaint. All I wanted was a nice Icecap mix, and there were a few, but then I found this. Imagine being someone who didn't know remixes came this good, and who just wanted another dinky Icecap. Then imagine hearing this start playing. I was gobsmacked. "There are real remixes out there... ". McVaffe took the tune I loved, the level I loved, and made it into this beautiful thing. That's what I like the most.. this pays respect to something I loved. McVaffe didn't hype up Icecap, he admired it and looked after it. By creating such a quality mix, McVaffe's piece, more than any other, says "This is what Icecap is".

The downside is that its years later and still nothing has touched this. I'd love to hear a take by The Wingless. McVaffe found the best mood to extract from Icecap, and did so with great care. Soft, but cool and pumpin'.. how do you beat it?

This song simply hits the spot no matter what mood I'm in. The first song that comes to mind when I think of McVaffe.

Cheers.