ReMix: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 'A New Place'
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- Game: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): M.J. Ault, Nicole Adams, Tepid, injury
- Composer(s): David Wise
- Song(s): 'Hot-Head Bop (Hot-Head Hop)'
- Posted: 2010-03-16, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on Donkey Kong Country 2: Serious Monkey Business
Love it! Nicole collabed on a fantastic vocal mix w/ injury off the first DKC soundtrack, and now they're BACK with reinforcements from Tepid on guitars and newcomer M.J. Ault on male vocals. Nicole's style really works well w/ vocals in general, and this is some of starla's best singing to date, with Mr. Ault also sounding great. Tepid's acoustic strumming is a great folksy addition and makes for an excellent and memorable ending, but I also like the very subtle oboe towards the end, the distant, watery piano lines, and of course the waves. This might be a stretch for some, but the overall aesthetic kinda reminds me of this track by Primitive Radio Gods, only sped up; it has a similar usage of waves and a light, floating feel. Obviously, plenty of elements are way different, but I'm just talking about the general vibe, which I totally dig. Taucer does too:
""Hot-Head Bop" always seemed to me like one of those tracks that was hard to remix just because the original is so awesome, and just doesn't seem like there's much to be done with the track that Wise didn't do in the original. However, Nicole proved me wrong, and took the track in a direction which is both beautiful and original. I've found that, perhaps as a result of remixing for so many years, I tend to listen to music thinking "how would I have done this differently if it were my track?" Both Wise's original and Nicole's arrangement left me unable to think of a single thing I'd want changed."
Wes adds:
"Stripped to just the instrumentals, one might think this song is an atmospheric piece. However, this is not what Nicole Adams had in mind when she crafted this duet with the voices of M.J. Ault and starla. The vocals provide an integral role in adding the drive of mutual perseverance, similar to Diddy & Dixie's effort in rescuing Donkey Kong within the game. The arrangement is crafted well around these vocals, complimenting them with the steady but gentle progress of the beats & the background synth. The guitar, played by Tepid, also adds to the song's ambient atmosphere whether it be by the electric lead in the middle of the song or the acoustic playing along in the background. Personally, I have to say that I love how this song turned out, as one brings up the imagery of a couple moving forward together through tough times, and becoming closer as a consequence."
I think the album's directors summed it up well - when it comes to vocal mixes (and mixing vocals), Nicole really knows what she's doing. I think she brings out the best in starla's voice, which itself juxtaposes nicely with M.J.'s singing. Any time you do alternating male/female vocals, you run the risk of raising the cheeze level OVER 9000!!!, but this is both tasteful and contextually relevant, avoiding that potential pitfall entirely. A very memorable, creative interpretation that succeeds in its vision, this ReMix is yet another of myriad reasons why I'm excited about Serious Monkey Business and what all the many artists involved have achieved.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Codamadius on December 3, 2011
- Skinner3D on January 4, 2011
It's a spectacular song though, one of my favorites from the album I have to say. I'm still in awe of the final product, as Taucer and I were skeptical originally at how it was going to turn out with just the instrumental, but I think this song is a perfect example of not being hasty. We waited to hear how it would come out, and the final product is gorgeous. It is a testament to the power of vocals when utilized correctly.
I have nothing but high regards for this song, and it makes its mark as a stellar song on OCR.
- Bahamut on December 7, 2010
May the Force be with you.:wink:
- Sarad_Thamia on August 18, 2010
- mj.aulternator on June 28, 2010
Saber Mage;681239 wrote: Edit: That vocalist I mentioned that M.J. Ault sounds like is [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Conte"]Steve Conte[/URL].
THAT'S WHO I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF.
And you're right, he totally does.
- Geoffrey Taucer on June 19, 2010
Emunator;677219 wrote: First off, Tepid's guitar is a marked improvement from his work on Permutation...
My friend Entheogen did the guitar solo in "Permutation."
- Nicole Adams on June 18, 2010
- UnveiledOsiris on May 28, 2010
A New Place makes use of especially awesome ambiance, and both the acoustic and electric guitar by Tepid are done well. Honestly, I enjoy the vocals most of all, but they wouldn't be as good without the instrumentals! M.J. Ault's voice is awesome, and is used very well (especially in the second verse). He reminds me of a very distinct vocalist The Seatbelts (Cowboy Bebop OST) use in a few of their songs, and that's definitely a good thing. Starla's voice is also used very well, and works great together with Ault's. Keep up the awesome work, Nicole and the rest!
Edit: That vocalist I mentioned that M.J. Ault sounds like is [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Conte"]Steve Conte[/URL].
- Saber Mage on May 24, 2010
EDIT: Well, there's so much to this song I guess I could expand on my favorite parts a bit. First off, Tepid's guitar is a marked improvement from his work on Permutation - the performance is better and the guitar tone is MUCH more appropriate. The acoustic flair at the end of the song is one of my favorite touches in the whole song :-) I'm also highly impressed with both vocalists, though I think they both shined a lot more in the second verse than in the first. Halc's right, it's a huge nostalgia explosion and I just get giddy everytime I listen to this song during the guitar solo and everything after that.
This is everything I've come to expect from a Nicole mix - simple, but with a lot of attention to ambiance and detail, coupled with some brilliant vocal performances... this is one of my favorite vocal mixes on the site! :-D Definitely a standout mix in almost all regards.
- Emunator on May 13, 2010
- halc on May 12, 2010
- Invader_Quirk on April 25, 2010
Then again, I may be rambling. Regardless, a beautiful track (in fact, the lyrics kept running through my head while playing) and well done! ^_^
- Mirby on April 22, 2010
- duskvstweak on April 19, 2010
- diotrans on April 9, 2010
