Earlier we have already reviewed a series of albums remixing old-timer Commodore-64 tunes, called Back In Time 2 and 3. Since then a few other similar initiatives have appeared, probably the best of them is the new CD from the Danish Press Play On Tape band with their debut album Loading Ready Run, which I'll talk about now.
Even the name of the band itself causes nostalgic feelings in many (since those who had tapes remember that after the LOAD command was issued the computer gave this instruction: press play on tape). After this came "Loading" (which is present in the title), then Ready, and finally we started the program with Run.
We have seen remixes that were created with the classic band setup (the BIT series wasn't exactly like this), but this new album is probably the best of them. The band has 6 members: 2 guitar players, one guy on the synth, one base player and a drummer (although he doesn't play on acoustic, rather on electronic drums, but the difference can be noticed only by audiophiles).
They stuck with the classic composers when they chose their tunes, but compositions by Chris Hülsbeck and Maniacs of Noise are still missing due to obvious copyright problem (although I think these composers would be better off if - similar to Ben Daglish, Martin Galway or Rob Hubbard - they looked beyond their own wallets). Let's review the tracks one by one, more or less with subjective criticism.
1 Rambo: First Blood part II (Martin Galway - 1986)
The CD starts with a classic music from a classic game which has seen many
remixes already, but not like this one. The beginning is well done,
although I think the guitar during the Morse-code is a bit too bright,
although nothing is wrong until the drums kick in. There the guitars burst
in, the drums are flinging around and the harmony that characterizes the
oroginal is gone: it is replaced by a tormenting chaos. I sure wouldn't
have put this much guitar in the background, more like into the foreground
in place of the melody-playing synth, with a smooth guitar tamed by a
volume pedal, that would've sounded better (but this is just a difference
in opinions). In the middle the situation becomes better, but not much,
and balance is restored by the end of the track.
2 Ghosts'n Goblins (Marc Cooksey - 1986)
I respect the original tune, but don't like it much. It has been remixed
before, too. After Rambo I thought that - due to its horroristic nature -
the musicians will play this even harder. I was wrong. I don't hear any
additional "pressure" from the guitar players, the drums are not
overwhelming, either, yet, it is not a bad track. It was interesting to do
the characteristic "hooting" sound with a guitar. It wasn't a bad idea at
all, neither was the inclusion of the "Darth Vader" sound. They succeeded
in making this tune truly bizarre (as it should be).
3 Warhawk (Rob Hubbard - 1986)
An interesting remix that is basically a guitar solo. It doesn't contain
many original ideas, but instrumentation is perfect here, too.
4 Monty on he Run (Rob Hubbard - 1985)
The Danish boys created a worthy memento from one of Rob Hubbard's old but
deservedly successful compositions. Like the previous one, this also
builds on a guitar solo, where the synth-guitar conversations, the rhythm
changes and the pauses also play an important part and they resolve the
high tempo well. The guitar is playing nicely, with variations and
persistently, the technique and the tapping is there on this instrument,
not to mention the wah-wah pedal. All in all, a well made cover.
5 Beyond the Ice Palace (David Whittaker - 1988)
Personally, I don't like this tune much. The beginning is not bad,
although I would've added more volume to the bass, which is somehow
missing from this track. The synth is nice and the piano sound was an
especially good idea. The second half of the track is somewhat boring,
though.
6 Wizardry
One of the least successful tunes on the album. The basic idea is
praiseworthy, mainly the instrumental-acoustic concept where the lead
consists of an acoustic in the foreground and a slightly distorted
electric guitar i the background. But this acoustic guitar gave me the
impresseion that its player is not sure in what he is playing on it. In
some places he is plucking the strings rather clumsily, in fact, gets
behind, which gives the whole track an awkward mood. Fact is, better
technique is requried to play properly on an acoustic guitar, and playing
with a finger instead of a plucker would've been better on Wizardry. The
very quiet synth imitating a symphonic orchestra in the background
could've been louder, while using a rattlers instead of the hihats
would've been better.
7 Commando (Rob Hubbard - 1985)
This 4 minute tracks is a true gem on the CD. Despite the violent nature
of the original the band didn't fall into the trap of overstuffing it with
guitars, like in Rambo. The tune is therefore not dominated by guitars,
more like they fill the background, the lead is left to synths, although
we can hear a refined guitar solo at one time. Special mention to the
slapping bass that makes the tune tighter and vexed, yet, it's not too
much at all.
8 Thing on a Spring (Rob Hubbard - 1985)
This is probably the other track that mixes with human voices, very
nicely. This is a bunch of solos by differently distorted guitars here and
there in canon with the synth.
9 Aztec Challenge (Paul Normann - 1984)
One of the most remixed tunes. Actually, this is a properly made good
remix by the band. On top of a rock-like base come the instruments, which
repeat the refrain with different timbres.
10 Auf Wiedersehen Monty (Rob Hubbard & Ben Daglish - 1987)
Excellent track, excellent remix, excellent sounds. I don't know whose
idea it was to add cowbells, but it was a great idea IMHO. The guitar solo
is quality stuff, the one in the background is also pleasing, although at
times it would've been better to crank it up.
11 Paperboy feat. Game Over (Mark Kooksey, 1986)
Paperboy's music is a very pleasant track on the CD, which besides being
too long and sometimes boring, also gives plenty of space for original
inventions, which was used well be the band. This latter part was named
Game Over by the band. [Note: since then I told Duke that Game Over is
just another game tune, not a set of improvisations by PPOT. ;] It is
truly excellent, although the original was excellent, too. I especially
liked the base guitar, the accords on the guitar and how it "talked" with
the synth, and the "piano" in the second part of the track. Only the drums
bother me a little: I would've chosen different sounds and would've turned
its volume down.
12 Krakout (Ben Daglish, 1987)
The guitar-double of the previous track is left intact here, while the two
synth sounds (similar to a piano) and the poppy, fresh drum carry the
pleasant background. The short track ends exactly where it'd start being
boring, so they didn't make the same mistake as in the previous track.
Important to mention that the original track's happy, silly, dynamic
nature was left intact, so it's a very good remix.
13 Thrust (Rob Hubbard, 1986)
A less known track, quality remix. It is very nice how the two types of
guitars (a rockt and the lyric) are talking to each other, and the
background synth with slightly oriental sounds was a good idea, not to
mention the synth solo that even the flinging drums couldn't destroy.
Superb!
14 Masters of Magic (Rob Hubbard - 1986)
I like the drum-machin at the beginning with the conga and the clapper. I
especially liked the splitting play of the base guitar and the
conversation of the guitar and the synth. I don't really have anything bad
to say about it: it's one of the best tracks on the album.
Finally it's worth to mention that the next album is already in the works from which we can get a sampling at www.pressplayontape.com. It's a freely downloadable full track, namely Out Run, which is one of the best remixes by the band. The excellent instrumentation is topped only by the base player's melodic play and the drums (cowbless, conga, triangle - all from a machine). If the second album will be full of remixes like this, I won't have anything bad to say about it. By the way, the CD can be ordered at the above URL. Highly recommended to every computer music enthusiast!
