ReMix: Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 'In Pieces'

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Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

I conveyed in a recently posted announcement my sadness in learning of Reuben Kee's passing; the community has been very supportive in expressing condolences to his family. I knew him more than some of you and not as well as others, but I think we all knew what mattered: Reu was a great guy, laid back, multi-talented, enthusiastic, and loved game music and anime music. He was generous in sharing that love, as expressed through his amazing arrangements, and since Thanksgiving was just last week, I'd like to express my belated thanks that we were able to know him for the all-too-brief time that we did. He will be missed.

Recently anointed judge Vinnie Prabhu, alias Palpable, gives us his first mix since joining the illustrious Judges Panel along with CHz. P writes:

"So here's the thing: I started with this grand idea in my head of remixing the Underground BGM with a stiff beat. I was really excited about it until I went to the site and saw that McVaffe had already done an incredible remix of that song, not too far off what I was intending. So instead I chose another great song from the game that somehow hadn't been remixed yet, and made it fit the same 4/4 beat in my head (which gave it a nice twist, since it's originally in 3/4). I think my ambitions probably exceed my talent on this one, but I'm still mostly happy with the result."

McVaffe's mix is hot, no doubt about that, but this is excellent as well, and significantly different at the same time. Over top a thick 80's beat, the ReMixer layers numerous fx and melodic elements. What's cool about this mix, and most Palpable mixes in general, is that each synth element not only has its own unique texture, but there's discrete attention paid to levels, panning, and DSP as well. Combined, this really lends each element its own character... actually, you'd think such variance would make things too schizophrenic, and it definitely can be a VERY bad idea to micromanage and/or vary a wide spectrum of settings on a per-instrument basis. BUT if you can swing it, as Vinnie can, it can lend a mix a compelling production quality that sounds very refined, and keeps your ears interested throughout. Shariq writes:

"Major props for pulling of a time sig adaptation. I live for that kind of stuff (see: blue skies over guardia). ;) I like the sound design in this piece. It's got a cool electro groove, and that wild synth around 2:30ish is so spooky. The groove in this song is great, but the arrangement doesn't really rely on it; there's enough going on on top of that groove to really give the piece substance. dnb stuff at the end was a nice way to keep things fresh in the end. Much appreciated."

It's great stuff, and I'll second Shariq that time signature adaptations, when pulled off successfully, always yield enjoyable results. Glad to have Vinnie on board, lending his ear and talents to the panel, but I hope he can continue to put together kickin' mixes like this at the same time.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Sitting here going through some soundtracks and trying to decide what my next remix to do "for fun" will be. Decided to check and see if this source had any mixes yet and came across this gem. Love the electro groove. Great work!

- Audix on January 5, 2009
this remix HAS been on my iPod (or similar) since it got posted - i have NO complaints, this is definitly a 10/10, so good! so good!
i love how the end breaks off from everything else and those juno-like synths just can't stop reminding me of the 90's and it's pureness :< :nicework: :razz: :-P

- Platonist on September 29, 2008
One of my all time favourite source tunes... at least in terms of character... which you gave a completely new and unexpected face.
Love the quality of the leads, adore the speedy ending and 'choruses' you could call them. Not exactly perfect... but I'll let everyone else gripe about that.
My ideal genre, a great track, and after listening to all the OCRs that were 1600+, this is in my top 3 no question.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on February 11, 2008
I actually heard this remix on Palpable's website before it was posted but I'm glad it got on OCR. Not that there was any doubt in my mind ;)
The sounds used are both interesting and fits well. Although personally I don't really care for the drums used but they have their function.
This remix also does a very nice job keeping the atmosphere from the original track, something I can appreciate a lot. I also enjoy the almost bitcrushed vibe-type sound, nice sound design here Vinnie!
The ending has a pretty nice build-up and some serious mono-lead wanking. I can relate :3 although the soundscape at that particular section is a bit thin imho.
All in all, great track. More please.

- Another Soundscape on December 16, 2007
Very nice reinterpretation of the castle tune. Manages to capture the spirit of the original tune while making it into something new and better. Nice.
However, there is one thing I have a problem with, and that is the last, the breakbeat part. While it is easily the best part of the song (I can't help but tap my feet to it), it still doesn't really gel well with the rest. Seems like an afterthought to me, tacked onto the end just to be there. As Harmony said, the whole remix would have worked without it, too.
Just make your next remix similar to what you showed us here in the last ~30 seconds, and I'll be a very happy man.

- Martin Penwald on December 15, 2007
Cool piece. I’ve gotta gripe though that I think the percussion samples sound a little plain, esp the hi-hats. That said, the sequencing easily makes up for that. The glitchy shaker sound at 2:00 and the stuttered open hats are fun little additions. The various leads are awesome, especially when they get layered with the bells, like at 1:19. The break at 2:03 is on point, and probably my favorite part. You’ve gotta picture me doing a little robot dance to get the full effect of how much I love that part :) The energetic driving vibe through 3:20 is absolutely hypnotic...much love for that too. 4:05-end sounds like it belongs to a different song to me. It’s cool in it’s own way for sure, but it just jolts me out of what I felt was a great enough vibe in the first section; I think that initial vibe easily could have carried the song to the end on its own.
Anyway, I have woken up with this tune in my head a coupla times now and it’s a hard one to get out! Great work.

- Harmony on December 8, 2007
Tons of atmosphere in this track. The production has lot's of delicious roooooom in it. I think there were some comments about repetitiveness - I don't agree. For instance the great groovy beat might even lose some of it's impact if it wasn't as solid as it is now - in any case it's great as it is. I'm not familiar with the original, and I have to say I couldn't tell the time signature has been changed.
I love all the different synth sounds that play the different melodies. The roooom in the mix is also the roooom to have all these alternating sounds in there. It wouldn't work so well if it was busier and more stuffed.
The build-up in the end is very good too. But I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the breakbeats in the end. It doesn't fit so well with the mood and tightness of the rest of the piece. At least I really miss a definitive OOOMPH in the lower fidelities either in 04:05 or 04:16. (Or is it there, and I just can't hear it with these headphones?)
--Eino

- evktalo on December 7, 2007
I really enjoyed the overall vibe these piece had. The bassline entering at :44 was def my favorite part. Def a nice track to chill too. It has enough of little elements to carry the song all the way through and warrant multiple listens. I would have like to either of seen a more defined break out section or some ambient sound design. That is more of a personal preference. The sound design def conveys the feeling of the song well, the glitches are used tastefully and in the correct situations.

- avaris on December 4, 2007
Nice buildup and atmosphere to the main riff all broken down; this has a badass, sinister vibe that I am really digging on, and when it gets into the full on chorus and morse code beeps, it's hot like hell.
I'm not huge on the snare's use in the chorus, i'd have preferred something a little sharper to mix with the razorblade synths, but a minor complaint in a fantastic mix is just nitpicking.
I also think some of the note choices in the solo could have been improved upon. Not that the notes are out-of-key, but it just didn't build as well as I was hoping it would, and the notes seemed a little random.
Great stuff, I really enjoy this mix.

- OA on December 4, 2007
I love when the bass first comes in. You know the track's gonna be awesome when you hear it.
Great time signature adaption, it fit's really easily into 4/4.
Dynamic use is also nicely done, I like the swells into the next section.
Good job!

- DragonAvenger on December 1, 2007
I tried this song a long time ago but gave up. [URL="http://www.ngst.nu/yoshi.mp3"]Here's what I did then[/URL].
Yours is a really evil remix, by the way. :) Even though it was naturally better than mine, I didn't like it that much, other than the mean leads you used (and well).

- Dafydd on December 1, 2007
Well I followed the progress of this mix as soon as I saw it in the To Be Judged queue. Something about the name of the track gave me this feeling that it would be awesome and would pass. When I saw it in the To Be Posted queue I knew it would be great and was wondering who the artist was. When I saw it was Palpable I knew this was going to be a quality tune and was wondering what track he had arranged. When I saw he had done the castle theme and heard the song, my initial feelings were confirmed. This is great stuff and a very worthy addition to the Yoshi's Island collection, or is that the McVaffe collection?

- DuskyFerret on November 30, 2007
I'll admit that I was disappointed when I found that this wasn't actually a remix of the "Underground BGM", as that's my favorite song from the game. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard this. My favorite part would have to be the ending, which caught me off guard in a good way and kept everything fresh. Good stuff!

- about:blank on November 30, 2007
Wow.
Very funky. Good stuff man.

- Arek the Absolute on November 29, 2007
Theres not much one needs to say about this remix.
What does need to be said tho, is that its very nearly too awesome!
Thank you for adding yet another addiction to my life hah.

- Dark Vagabond on November 29, 2007

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