ReMix:Sonic & Knuckles "Lava Reef Zone (Las Trompetas Maravillosas Mix)" 3:20

By Rayza

Posted 2003-12-18, evaluated by djpretzel


This is the ReMix I've been waiting for Rayza to make. Not because I've been bored with his consistently impressive trance/techno stuff, or because that genre has gotten stale for him, but because I could tell from his creative techno pieces that he could work in other genres just as well. This S&K ReMix features jazzy electric piano, tasty flamenco, peppy brass, and a nicely integrated synth bass along with a varied and layered percussive groove that ties the whole thing together. There's great variety in the arrangement too; never sits in one place too long, has a nice breakdown with congas/bongos and guitar, and the brass changes from short hits to longer notes as appropriate. Also, there's castinets. And how, I ask you, can castinets be a bad thing? Damn right. This is a great enjoyable mix. Just as important is that, relative to Rayza's existing oeuvre of more electronica-centric tracks, it shows some chops in alternate genres and in blending genres as well, while maintaing the same levels of quality instrumentation, mixing, and arrangement as before. Recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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MechaFone
on 2010-12-19 15:48:46

I think the only gripe I've got for this song is that it's too short. Excellent arranging skills, excellent everything!

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Level 99
on 2010-02-17 14:54:44

Style = very yes. Considering it's age, I'm willing to forgive some of the lackluster samples used. This is all about arrangement here, and it's got emotion out the wazoo in that regard. I'm particularly enjoying the hand-drum segment with the acoustic guitar-ish sample. Inspiring!

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Marmiduke
on 2009-05-27 04:19:22

Top marks for arrangement. The instruments, though. My ears couldn't grasp them as much as I wanted. It was weird, because on the one hand, I was loving the arrangement and the mood and the tempo, but on the other, I was wondering "This sounds like it should have been bad."

Luckily it isn't. I've always been very leniant to dated, overly-familiar or just plain terrible samples, because they are only the tools we use to express our talents. The talents are mostly untarnished by them, which is the main thing. Besides, the sounds in this mix are FAR from unbearable. In a way, they are actually fun and lively. The trumpet is bleh, but its inoffensive. Same goes for the guitar on a lesser extent. The percussion and epiano were actually quite nice.

Would this mix be better off with a more realistic sounding approach? Yes, and it's a tiny bit of wasted potential in that regard. But I still recognise this as a top-notch effort by Rayza. It's hot, bright and gyrates all over the place. Very well-made, despite the tools used.

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OA
on 2008-10-08 12:05:48

Nice layered rhythms throughout this one, with some dated-sounding but well-used samples. The nylon string guitar sounds pretty synthetic exposed at the beginning, but the attention to sequencing detail makes it work pretty well, and when it is used with a fuller track supporting it, it's much more believable. The brass isn't awesome either, but it fits well into the soundfield and isn't overdone.

I love that low synth that comes in; gives a bit of old school Rayza feel to the track. The expanded sections were very well done, with good transitions to them, and some cool solos.

Even the king of pop himself would love this track; check it out.

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KogeJoe
on 2007-01-29 05:32:43

Takes a pre-existing rhythm and elaborates just a bit; nothing special... Could it have been given a cornier name? Was a bit of a let-down, actually...

The name "Las Trompetas Maravillosas" means the "wonderful/marvelous trumpets," and the trumpets were anything but "marvelous..."

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Bummer
on 2006-05-20 08:50:01

This remix is awesome to the max. The opening with the marimba and spanish guitar got my attention immediately, and it didn't lose the grip of it by throwing new instruments into the arrangement and changed it pace very often. The castanets didn't stand out much, you could mostly hear them in the back clapping together. However, they suited this remix nicely, since it has so many spanish elements inside it.

The only bad aspect I have about this is the use of the trumpets that appeared after some time in the beginning. They came and disappeared as they wanted, I would rather have them playing long tunes instead of coming suddenly since it gave off a strange MIDI:sh feeling.

But other than that, this piece had no bummers whatsoever. This get an A megaplus. It deserves it.

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Pip is uh.....
on 2005-03-11 00:53:06

WHAT NON TECHNO RAYZA!! GASP!!! Its a good peice. My only qualms was the instrument quality. But it gets extra points for the fact that it comes from Rayza who is notorious for techno mixes. This is an excellent change of pace. The one thing I really dug was the way the trumpets just bursted in every once and a while. Im a big fan of spanish music and flamenco. Id love to see Rayza do more stuff like this. Despite a few problems here and there this is a solid mix and worth the download! Oh and yes the castanets fucking rule.

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A-RoN
on 2004-09-29 23:18:35

Hmmm....sounds pretty good. The guitar sounds a little artificial, but it's pretty okay.

I love the castinets. I'm definately throwing those in a future rap song.

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Corporal Eschebone
on 2004-09-05 11:52:22

Has plenty of distinctly Spanish character. Pleasent mix to occasionally stumble across on your playlist.

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CC Ricers
on 2004-08-03 17:35:50

Great song, you can feel the Spanish influence here. I've been wanting some Spanish or Latin-sounding OC Remixes as of late, and Rayza delivers.

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wpifirebane
on 2004-01-28 14:45:44

This is a very origional remix of this song. The beat is catchy, and it builds on itself well. It does take the listener along with the flow of the song. Near the end, it seems you are building to somewhere, but it seems the song ends before you get there. It didn't take me back to any melody. All things aside though, this is a superb piece. Definitely worth a listen.

91.2% Excellent!

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Kadosho
on 2003-12-22 12:03:28

Who doesnt mind something different? ^_^

Its got a beat you can dance to, plus a SK stage rolled into one.

Excellent tune.

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*Drasiir
on 2003-12-19 20:16:06
I've heard people make comments on the quality of those trumpet samples before, but who cares?

That's right. It's not the size of your sample, it's how you use it. :wink:

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Mr. Merc Kage
on 2003-12-19 12:43:03

i really like this song..just makes you want to stick a rose between yor teeth and dance. :D

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Shion
on 2003-12-18 18:19:21

Wow !! Very cool piece!! I like the instrumentation, the mastering, and the playing! great !! Impressive :D

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Sonic & Knuckles (Sega , 1994, GEN)
Music by Howard Drossin,Jun Senoue,Masaru Setsumaru,Masayuki Nagao,Sachio Ogawa,Tatsuyuki Maeda,Tokuhiko Uwabo,Tomonori Sawada,Yoshiaki Kashima
Songs:
"Lava Reef Zone: Act 1"

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File Information


Name:
Sonic_&_Knuckles_Lava_Reef_Zone_(Las_Trompetas_Maravillosas_Mix)_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,882,358 bytes
MD5:
756113b3e472daef4b8a3bd7b11da2bd
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
3:20

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