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We may have Sonic on the brain [2] thanks to his 25th anniversary this month but I stumbled upon Mindwipe’s tribute album yesterday totally by accident. Mindwipe Goes Sonic – The Album [3] wasn’t released to commemorate his 25th (it’s from all the way back in 2012) but like all things on the Internet “if I haven’t seen it, it’s new to me” and in this case it’s perfectly appropriate.
I’m not familiar with Mindwipe [5]’s other music but I can attest that there’s some truly special treatments of Sonic’s memorable themes going on here. Overall I’d describe the sound as High Swank. The familiar Green Hill Zone [6] launches with orchestral pomp as the melody is sung by strings with breakbeat percussion racing behind. And it turns out what my life was missing was the Marble Zone [7] theme done up with accordion and driving orchestral flare. Naturally, there’s a treatment of Starlight Zone [8] and it’s instilling goosebumps and making me misty eyed as I write this.
The album hits 16 themes from Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3 and even the maligned 4th entry with styles that are wonderfully diverse. Spring Yard Zone [9] has the soulful funk, Chemical Plant Zone [10] a smooth electronic vibe and Death Egg Robot is blown out into a near-rock opera rearrangement for electric guitar and drums (sans vocals).
If you’re still on the hunt for more Sonic music to commemorate the occasion after Materia Collective’s new MOBIUS [2] album I highly recommend giving Mindwipe Goes Sonic [3] a few spins.