ReMix: Donkey Kong Country 'Cry of the Chasmal Critter Chain'

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Donkey Kong Country
"The original consisted of a string of melody fragments connected by random cave ambience - so I basically just connected most of those fragments together. It's a little more stripped-down and lo-fi when compared to my past two OCR mixes... it might not stand out as much upon the first few listens. Still, I think everything ended up coming together in the end. And yes, that is me playing the cello. That part was actually the very last thing added and was more intended to be intermixed with the rest of the instruments rather than being a solo part. I did have some tuning problems as well, but I feel that it doesn't detract at all from the piece as a whole."

So sayeth Jack Ryerson aka Adhesive Boy, who gives us another Kong in Concert submission. JJT and Jesse both had very cohesive, substantive originals to work from, which is not to lessen their individual (amazing) achievements, but Jack perhaps had a bit more of a challenge in piecing together something as solid from the interlocking themes in the original material, here. He himself points out some minor tuning issues on the cello, which still does a nice job of tying things together and integrating them. Things intro with tempo-delayed electric piano, setting the scheme for a nice down-tempo groove, somewhat trip-hoppish, as some drones come in stage left, with a very spacious xylo on the right taking on the main "melodic" motif. The cello enters as the structural solo instrument that either covers or doubles the melody, mostly, as synth arpeggios fade in and out across a beat that ends up being faster than one would have expected. There's some repeated triplets on the brush snare that make the pace downright aggressive for a bit, as we then segue into the next of the themes, with distant television-speaker ensemble strings. The last of the themes involves a little xylo riff and is more major key, and the piece winds down on this more positive progression soonafter. Given that the initial and secondary themes get a lot of attention, I would have liked this very different progression and vibe to have been played around with a bit longer, to make it seem more like a third segment than an ending that decides to switch gears a bit before exiting. I love, however, the types of processing decisions Jack makes with his mixes - he's never content to mix things the way you'd expect (which is hard enough to do "right", by the way), but instead will always experiment with running this or that part through lo-fi, or distortion, or delay, or what have you - his M.O. often involves unorthodox combinations of effects with instruments they aren't conventionally paired with, and it always seems to work for him. This mix takes a few listens to fully appreciate - there's a lot of little details, many in the processing/production realm, that you notice on repeats. The arrangement walks the line between downbeat groove and something that's more aggressive and demanding of the listener's attention, which is a good border to dance across when you can make it work, as AB has. Also, just to point out, this mix is as different from JJT's as JJT's was from Vigilante's, and all three pieces do a good job of representing the depth and breadth the KiC project mustered together. Further KiC mixes will no doubt be posted, but this is probably the last time I'll talk too much about the project itself, so I'll reiterate my initial kudos to Binnie for pulling everything together and to ALL the mixers involved for their combined creative accomplishment. Great mix from Jack, challenging at times and moody, but slick, and an excellent way of handling the material.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Has a typical remix feel to it...

I have to disagree here - this feels pretty unconventional, partly due to the chosen source material, but it feels completely cohesive and organic. While the cello is nice, it's not just the live instruments that gives this mix personality. Every element of the soundscape comes together to make this mix memorable and unique.
One of my favorite DKC remixes, killer job! :-D

- Emunator on September 12, 2009
I truly love this song - the opening is absolutely beautiful! The smooth synths, the jungly xylo (i think) and the deep cello all come together to produce such a subtle beauty. It's astounding!

- windkirby on June 14, 2007
Has a typical remix feel to it...
EXCEPT... the usage of real instruments. The cello definitely takes the cake. Also, the improvised melody with the keyboard instruments. In the middle, there's a quiet but prominent suitcase piano instrument... can't put my leg on it right now, but it gives the melody a kind of cozy feel to it. Right about that point it gives me the feeling of sitting down, eating or enjoying coffee at a busy diner in the middle of a large city. There's bustling all about, but I'm able to sit down and talk and/or read the paper...

- KogeJoe on January 21, 2007
This is the embodiment of ass kicking. This is my favorite song on this site.

- Ujjay on June 28, 2006
Overall, this is a good mix. It starts off slow, but builds nicely over the first minute. I loved how the song layered all of the instruments, especially when the strings were added about a minute in; the song comes together very nicely at this point. The chimes at 2:25 really brings you back to DKC. After that point, the mix was nice, but you begin to lose the sense of being in a cave, which is what I think draws the listener into the song. However, it does not detract from from a very nice mix. Great job.

- k0ping on May 8, 2006
I don't know what to say, to be honest, that hasn't already been said.
This is a masterpiece.

- Fenzark on April 19, 2006
Nostalgia abounds in this piece doesn't it? It takes those beautiful natural "cavey" tones and draws them even taunter, and that cello just sends shivers down my spine!

- PlasmaDavid on April 19, 2006
I've had this song for months now, but I think it deserves a comment here now simply for the fact that this song contains such a beautiful intro. Cool yet so soft, it draws you in so carefully. I just find it strange that it still sounds absolutely perfect, it still gives me that feeling of exactly what it is being. I can't think of any other song that does that, I think "carefully" was the keyword there. The intro doesn't ask anything of you, and gets it so right that many months later I find myself wondering how a song exists that still makes me feel like it did the first time I heard it. I never really thought people could do that.

- Defend on October 27, 2005
I didn't like the original DKC song this was based on, but it's a good mix. I liked the arpeggios at 1:45. Overall it's nice and smooth .. What is that weird background sound panning at 2:20? Very realistic strings in the forground around 3:00 but the background strings sound fake and squeal a little. I likes the melody around 3:20 but the bass is overpowering the treble a little too much. I like how you subtlely worked a couple samples from the original. It's a well done inside reference.
It's a decent mix.

- Drack on September 30, 2005
Wow, this song is marvelous. It may start a little slowish, but if you just have patience, you can experience the full glory of this remix. Beautiful cello cooperating with drumbeats, synths and some cool marimba makes this one of the best, adhesive boy really sticked to this one and finished it graetly. And if you liked this, you REALLY have to check out the Kong concert.
I cannot set up links, so you just have to go to djpretzel´s review like everybody else.
Adhesive boy, until we meet again. 8)

- Bummerdude on September 29, 2005
Great stuff here.
As a cellist myself i can really appreciate the effort required. i cant express enough how great this mix is
Highly recommended :D

- FiremanJoe on July 27, 2005
Although this doesn't feature AB's usual tight drumwork this still stands as one of my favorites. It's so moody and very very ambient. The cello really makes this piece sing. It is really great in the car too. Good work AB!

- Pip is uh..... on July 22, 2005
Wow. This ReMix PERFECTLY encaptures the feel of the cave levels on DKC. For anyone who has grown up with the game, or at least played it and savoured the music and graphics the really do try to capture the essence of the wild jungles, forests, caves and other terrains covering Africa, this music perfectly encaptures my idea of CAVE. Beautiful, restful and CAVE.

- PlasmaDavid on February 15, 2005
g8 tune! it makes me wanna play the original for SNES. Like right now!
Great stuff. Sounds like the original only it's not. 10/10 Awesome!
_______________
"I don't remember anything"

- greenyoshieggz on January 1, 2005
[i]ooooooooooooo[/i]...love, love, love the beginning :D It is sooo nice...*melting*. -_GASP_-This [i]majorely[/i] rocks...it has an awesome triphop feel (hint: I LOVE triphop). Oh, this track needs some Tricky lyrics! It's got that bittersweet/coming f/a deep depression mood...ahhhh, I love this times9. :lol: K, this is the grooviest DKC theme mix *heart, heart*
~^~Mary_mari's seal of approval~^~

- Mary_mari on October 31, 2004

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