ReMix: Donkey Kong Land 'Revisiting the Ruins'
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- Game: Donkey Kong Land (Nintendo, 1995, GB)
- ReMixer(s): Patrick Burns
- Composer(s): Dave Wise, Graeme Norgate
- Song(s):
- Posted: 2006-10-25, evaluated by the judges
I recently started a new job with a longer commute; it's more challenging, but it's definitely taking awhile to adjust to the schedule shift. I've also been filling some of my free time with The Wire, the current season of which has to be some of the best television I've ever seen; HBO really is worth the extra dinero. Meanwhile, the panel's been cranking away, and has approved this ReMix by Patrick Burns, our first from Donkey Kong Land. This arrangement comes close to featuring some birdcussion in its intro, what with the avian effects, but a mellow bossa nova groove kicks in with a wonderful acoustic guitar solo over top, and things get real smooth real fast. The same fx are later used as a bridge to a more upbeat section where synth bass is replaced by slap (fresh move there, Mr. Burns) and there's more of a latin feel, with free-range xylophone grazing in pastures of synth pad. A lot of the instrumentation touches - bass slides, pad fades, transitions of all ilk - are very polished, even achieving a sort of "workstation demo" vibe at times, only with more coherent musicality than most "look at all the impressive sounds" demos you'll hear from Korg, Yamaha, Roland, etc. The acoustic guitar adds a valuable organic element to the slickness, even though it's got a sheen to it as well. Shariq writes:
"Oh man, I love that smooth bossa nova feel. More people need to work in this style. Guitar work is really clean and competent. Balance and production is really nice; good choice of sounds. I liek it~!"
Patrick impresses on several levels - performance, arrangement, instrumentation, and production. The use of fx bridges and the two truly complimentary sections are only made better by the instrumentation changes (e.g. the aforementioned synth/slap swap) that are effective in adding variety without being at all jarring or non sequitir. The overall piece seems also to have benefitted from the revision/resubmission process. It's just downright solid stuff; I'd be proud of it were it mine, and it's definitely got some stylistic attitude that diffuses any "smooth jazz ennui" that might have cropped up. Patrick's been around awhile, but with this mix he not only crosses the infamous OCR submission bar, but does so definitively, with a great first mix of DKL and a great first mix in general.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - luckystud77 on August 6, 2009
Classically beautiful and pristine. This has such a controlled and elegant approach, but it's so full of life. Adding to the fact that i'd probably never hear the source tune otherwise, this is a total gem. I am absolutely in love with the marimba sounding instrument that comes in with all the delays near the beginning. Great emotive guitar playing, and some very well used and thought out effects.
I'm sad that there's only one mix of his at OCR, when he has several on his site that would fit in pretty well.
Anyways, I can't recommend this mix enough, and also check out the tracks on his homepage.
- OA on April 2, 2009
I had never heard the original song before I heard this. I can safely say that I don't want to listen to the original song now.
This remix is amazingly chill. The sounds are crystal clear. The production, arrangement, and mixing are top notch. I love the way Patrick added in the sounds of the birds and the water. It adds a depth of realism to the remix. I also like how it takes you 'underwater' for a segment of the remix. The sounds totally change.. and the parts written for it sounds just like something I could picture as underwater.
Amazing quality. Patrick is a great remixer.
I've personally sent him an email before and he is incredibly helpful and kind.
Keep up the great work bro.
I will always be listening to this remix.
- Degree on April 2, 2007
Edit: Nevermind, seems to be fixed...
- Old Man Time on January 30, 2007
- diamondfalcon on December 9, 2006
- Martin Penwald on December 4, 2006
Going to keep a closer eye on this remixer.
- DMZ on November 9, 2006
- Poga on November 9, 2006
diamondfalcon wrote: I absolutely love this remix. You did a great job picking the right instruments, style, and emotions. I recognize the melody, but which level exactly is it from? Anyways, thank you for remixing Donkey Kong music!
Here is the level music. It's from a few levels from this area:
[img]http://burns212.googlepages.com/dklruinsmap.jpg[/img]
- Patrick Burns on November 6, 2006
- diamondfalcon on November 5, 2006
And more guitar next time!!!
- ambient on October 29, 2006
This ReMix is so greatly groove-ridden. Like, groove is literally raping this song.
The end kind of reminds me of the tumbleweed commercial theme.
- Souliarc on October 29, 2006
I'm a sucker for these natural ambient groove tracks,
- Zipp on October 28, 2006
(Outside of computer Duke Nukem arcade FTW!)
Brings back memories...like that I could never beat it because it was really hard.
Good mix, despite that I am not much of a fan on the genre.
- Arro on October 27, 2006
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