ReMix: Sonic & Knuckles 'Lava Reef Zone (LasTrompetasMaravillosasMix)'

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Sonic & Knuckles

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.
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.

- Marmiduke on May 27, 2009
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.

- OA on October 8, 2008
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..."

- KogeJoe on January 29, 2007
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.

- Bummerdude on May 20, 2006
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.

- Pip is uh..... on March 11, 2005
I liked this song in the game, the Remix to this is cool, also has like a...how do u say...i dont know...lol

- supertrunkten on February 18, 2005
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.

- A-RoN on September 29, 2004
Has plenty of distinctly Spanish character. Pleasent mix to occasionally stumble across on your playlist.

- Corporal Eschebone on September 5, 2004
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.

- JustChris on August 3, 2004
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!

- wpifirebane on January 28, 2004
Who doesnt mind something different? ^_^
Its got a beat you can dance to, plus a S&K stage rolled into one.
Excellent tune.

- Kadosho on December 22, 2003
BigShot wrote: 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:

- *Drasiir on December 19, 2003
i really like this song..just makes you want to stick a rose between yor teeth and dance. :D

- Mr. Merc Kage on December 19, 2003
Wow !! Very cool piece!! I like the instrumentation, the mastering, and the playing! great !! Impressive :D

- Shion on December 18, 2003
heh, i have actually had this excellent remix for a good while now (i got the hookups with my bro RAYZA!! :D) *dies*. Ok, when rayza first told me he had done a remix of the lava reef zone with a latin flavor to it, i was like "hrmm, a techno genious going to latin flavored shtuff!" I didn't know what to expect, and then 30 minutes later (dial up) i listened to it and BAM!, i fell out of my chair, when i came to i had hair like EINSTEIN! 8O (ok maybe i didnt but hey!!) if anyone actually reads these things, just know if you dont download this fine piece of work, then the sun will surely explode and we shall all die!! -_- (someone shoot me please). Keep up the good work Rayza! you remain one of my top favorite remixers! (under djp of course) *wipes some brown stuff off his nose* wonder what that could be? :D.

- Tritoch on December 18, 2003

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