ReMix:Bitstream "Ebb and Flow" 3:17

ReMixers ReMixing game music composed by other ReMixers! It's certainly happened before, and I'm sure it'll happen again, but it's always neat to see! DDRKirby(ISQ) [Timmie Wong] writes:

"Here's something a little different - a remix I did way back in 2013 for halc! =O

This remix was actually done on request for halc, who had composed the soundtrack to Bitstream (a spiritual successor to the GBA title dotstream). The original idea was to get a bunch of remixes together and do a sort of deluxe re-release, but that never ended up happening, so I ended up with this track which has been sitting around gathering dust. The soundscape bears some similarities to my Shuttle Rush remixes, as those were also done at roughly the same time period.

The source tune here is actually pretty sparse in terms of melodic material, as it's mostly just one chord riff. As such, my arrangement is admittedly quite on the liberal side (even more than I initially remembered) - there are callouts to specific melodic elements in the song, but I did add quite a fair bit of my own material as well, which understandably may rub some judges the wrong way. Sorry!"

Source usage:

• 0:00, and sprinkled throughout - short ascending arp, same as original (original @ 0:11)
• 0:15-1:01 - chord plucks reference original chord riff (original @ 0:23)
• 0:46-1:17 - repeated arp pattern references a very subtle arp in the original (best heard in original @ 1:15)
• 1:17-1:25 - whistle melody is a riff on the string pattern in the original (original @ 0:05)
• 2:03-2:34 - variation on original chord riff, different progression (ymmv) (original @ 0:23)
• 2:34-3:05 - again, chord plucks reference original chord riff (original @ 0:23)

Definitely expansive, but that's relatively necessary when tackling sources like this; halc's original has a bit more momentum, which makes sense for the game, whereas Timmie's dialed it back a bit & given things more, well... ebb & flow. Gario writes:

"This is DDRKirby at his finest. Crisp production, and some nice transformation of the source. There's a lot of power behind this track, but it also knows how to hold back, which gives the overall presentation a nice shape. Lovin' it."

I dig all the pitch bends and percolating chip patterns, and the drums employ a slick oscillation between trap & dubstep affects. The subtle glitching here and there on individual synth bits makes for a pleasing oscillator popcorn, and the last minute transitions effectively into heavier territory & more aggressive textures. Check out the OST - it's halc and it's well worth your time and you should give halc all your money so he can make more music but then you'd have no money, so maybe just a large amount - and enjoy Timmie's superb, extrapolated chip-step/hop mix; great stuff!