ReMix: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 'Lanterns'

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Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Well, we just got done posting two play-all-your-cards, put-everything-on-the-table, no-child-left-behind ReMixes in a row, with ballsy, gutsy, and otherwise robust performances & production and ornate, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink arrangement. Hyphens are fun, but Radiowar's gonna slow things down a little for us with a fairly minimalist, very pensive DKC2 arrangement. This one's a resub; Alex wrote in his original submission email:

"...this remix started off as a solo piano piece, when EazyP got interested in it and sort of requested a version with more orchestral elements..."

For the resub, he changed some samples around and bumped up the volume on some elements that were a little too quiet. I have to say, there's still some issues with both sample quality and levels for me, but the overall sound quality's definitely above par, and turning up the volume fixes the latter concern. What sets this mix apart, both from other interpretations of the same theme and from Radiowar's first, more upbeat electronica ReMix of SMRPG, is the arrangement. This is a very somber, almost funereal arrangement, taking on shades of Phillip Glass as it slowly develops, and it's a very creative & different direction to take the source in. It's also got a very classy, modern mix title as well, which helps with the imagery of a funeral or procession of some sort, making its way upon a long and winding path, either at dusk or dawn, lit primarily by... lanterns. JJT's got it right:

"sample quality is the biggest issue for me with this track. its passable, but definitely nothing to write home about. the arrangement itself is a very well conceived interpretation of the source. i love the part writing, and the gentle dynamic shape of the piece."

Word. This one didn't connect with all the judges, and some took issue with the sequencing being too precise in addition to afforementioned sample quality concerns, but most were feeling the arrangement's very deliberate, almost Zen approach to the source material. Your mileage will definitely vary - if you're looking for upbeat, uplifting, or up-tempo, you won't find it here - but I think fans of the DKC OSTs should appreciate what Radiowar's done, and fans of Glass or similarly modern, relatively minimalist composers/compositions will love it. Very cool, very different.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Now here's a different take on Stickerbrush!
As has been mentioned already, some humanization on the orchestral elements would help this song a lot. Otherwise, this is a novel take on what is otherwise a more upbeat song. The execution is mostly there, although I feel it is a little on the short side & would have liked to hear more.
Not a bad take though!

- Bahamut on July 4, 2012
Impressive. I'm really glad this one came up in shuffle, I had forgotten about it.
Really pretty stuff. Very sentimental, I love it.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on November 28, 2010
Whoa....
The atmosphere is so thick I could cut it with a knife; oh how I love it, lol. ^_^
I keep thinking of something like a nighttime Japanese marsh in the rain with a lone lantern stuck on a pole, something from a Hayao Miyazaki film, whenever I listen to this.
The laborious effort in this mix astounds me; it feels so wonderfully weighty.
This is one of those rare mixes that is so unique that you will most likely never find another like it; go check it out.

- 42 on December 23, 2009
This one definitely feels like a funeral march in the rain, you captured that utterly-somber essence perfectly. I agree that this could have really benefitted from a live performance on the other instruments, but I think the piano is enough to carry this one on its own. It's nice to see a less-conventional Stickerbrush Symphony remix on the site - as great as the source tune is, I definitely think it could stand to get a more liberal approach taken, and that's exactly what was done here!

- Emunator on December 22, 2009
Slow, dark and melodicly beautiful. This paints the picture of a funeral perfectly, and while I'm not sure that should be a good thing, it's a great thing here. Well done, loved every second!

- Crulex on October 24, 2009
Hold on, I need to cry here...
(murders keyboard with tears)

Yeah, this is just so saddening. It reminds me of the people in my family who have died.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

- youthboy on March 6, 2009
It's cool to hear my beloved plink plink- plink plink ploonk turned into something so legato. I think a little humanization on some of the orchestra elements would have made this into something really outstanding, though as is, it is very good. Just some vibrato on the sustained notes, and as Mustin pointed out, some additional dynamics.
I think even an additional minute would have been welcome, it seems like it ends too soon. Very nice stuff, however.

- OA on September 16, 2008
Wow, this is really nice! I don't have a problem with the sample quality so much as the dynamics - the fact that once the instrument hits a note it stays the same volume for the duration of the note. I think all this really needed was dynamics - crescendos and decrescendos.
And being a fan of Philip Glass, I don't really see the comparison, but at times this can evoke the same sort of "mood" some of Glass' darker pieces stir up from within.
So great work to you. Glad I got to hear it!

- Mustin on June 24, 2008
for some reason, I loved the intro. Loved loved loved loved loved it. So very dark and simple and deep. Couldn't really figure out why, and then I figured it out.
Quite similar to Galamb Egyedül, with a little change of direction.
thumbs up hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

- Skrypnyk on June 20, 2008
Words cannot describe the appreciation I have for this song. Something about it makes me very nostalgic. It's not saddening but somewhat uplifting. The brass and strings, in my opinion, adds to the emotion the song brings out. Overall this piece is amazing and I can't really say I hated anything about it. Loved it!

- Jamonte on June 20, 2008
Ahhh the piano in the beginning is so nice, but the synthesized brass and strings seemed a little out of place. The piece over all though is really great though, I really did enjoy it. I wish it were live instruments, but I guess you can't always have that.
Nicely done!

- Alexis on June 18, 2008
Yesterday was a pretty crappy day for me. We all have those... I only heard this track late at night. It had a catartic effect on me, and I felt a lot better afterwards. Thanks for that.
In another angle, It really reminded me of some of "Legend of Legaia"'s darkest tracks.
In short, I really liked it.

- DramaNoMore on June 18, 2008
Ah man the more I listen to this the more I love it. It has a very strong emotional character. I only wish the string parts were played live...that would have been killer. I still think the string samples used fit the emotional quality of the mix. Def worth the wait for hearing this one.

- avaris on June 18, 2008
Potentially awesome remix that is brought down substantially by cheesy orchestral elements. Piano alone would have blown me away, though.

- artemisjaeger on June 17, 2008
I love this one. It's sad and gentle. It has a restained feel similar to Infinite Natalie by Shnabubula. It is not underdeveloped at all.
I really like the way how the piano is upfront and strings in the first part, and oboe throughout, are distant. It works really, really well. Oboe is stiffer than it should in a perfect world be, especially in the end, which is a bit unfortunate, as it leaves an "aftertaste". Regardless, I'm extremely glad this passed, I enjoy it very much.
--Eino

- evktalo on June 17, 2008