ReMix:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest "It's a Jungle Out There!" 4:32

By Joshua Morse

Arranging the music of one song...

"Primal Rave (Animal Antics)"

Primary Game: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo , 1995, SNES), music by David Wise

Posted 2010-03-16, evaluated by djpretzel


Taucer sums this one up succinctly:

"It's Joshua Morse. Really, do I need to say anything more?"

Well, you certainly COULD have, just to make my life easier in terms of doing so many writeups and having something meatier to quote, but as far as persuading me or a lot of other folks to check the track out, that'll certainly suffice. By now, like most of you, I walk into a Morse ReMix with a certain set of expectations - it's gonna be slick, funky, and polished, no matter what - but lately he's gone a little more gothic (quite appropriately) with his one-man Sonata of the Damned EP, and with this mix he again contextually changes his style a bit, in this case adapting to a tropical, Carribean vibe. Since I've taken to quoting from IRC, here's a good one from #ocremix just last night:

[01:58] <+Rellik> this is like a japanese tribal weather report
[01:59] <@djpretzel> 01:58] <+Rellik> this is like a japanese tribal weather report << post that in the review thread when the mix goes up, please

Now he doesn't even have to! It's a good analogy, for anyone that knows the band; jm really went all out in terms of setting his arrangement in a fully realized atmosphere, and it shows. Bahamut adds:

"Joshua Morse provides us with a lush song evocative of a jungle, the setting of where the original song "Primal Rave" was played in DKC 2. The ethnic instrumentation combinations found throughout immerse the listener pretty well, and the transition to JM's more trademark jazz style flows seamlessly like butter."

This source track was yet again ReMixed excellently by Protricity way back when, so yet again one of his mixes is getting some great company. The cornucopia of ethnic percussion here alone is superb, but the low brass motif segue into doubled flute and chromatic percussion lead melody, trading off with plucked, cross-panned soloing... yeah, definitely works. If a really talented instrumental band just set up a gig in the middle of the jungle and started riffing on Wise's pleasing original melody, this is what you'd have. Morse has got another great track on Serious Monkey Business as well, so there's more where this came from. Great stuff from a musical one-man army that still fits right in and makes complete sense in the context of a group album!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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timaeus222
on 2014-08-13 16:57:44

Man, this is cool. It has hints of Phantasy Star Online in the harmonies, and the percussion work is so slick. :D

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Bahamut
on 2012-07-04 14:00:07

I love this track a lot - personally, I feel like it was Josh's better effort on Serious Monkey Business, but they're both excellent tracks. This take showcases a bit of an ethnic flair combined with Joshua's trademark funk later on. The mesh of styles works to great effect here - the execution is strong.

For me, this was a highlight of SMB and still enthralls to this day.

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Emunator
on 2010-12-09 13:32:41

While I don't feel like this is quite as standout as Joshua's other track on Serious Monkey Business, I still feel like it's one of the best songs on the album. That should say something about his mixing ability :-)

The source is treated with a lot of delicate care, keeping that jungle atmosphere with ethnic flutes and some brilliantly-sequenced percussion, but managing to take it to a whole new level with the jazz flair you injected in, especially toward the end.

Pretty much flawless here. Love it :-)

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justinj212
on 2010-12-08 14:25:22

The ambient soundscape, instrumentation, and arrangement of this mix all work together to create strong imagery. When the tone of the mix changes around 2:00 to something much more chill, the solos introduced are really strong (esp the flute solo around 3:00). Very good mix!

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Anorax
on 2010-12-04 00:03:32

Perfect.

Not only does it have a good ambience, but it is also well-balanced.:smile:

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Mtlbro
on 2010-05-02 11:51:17

Way to go! sweet I love the layers but it doesn't sound too "busy"

Takes me back :)

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animatedjay
on 2010-04-27 14:11:26

Pretty good. Just a tad busy with the percussive bongo hits in the background, but done really well.:grin:

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ChaosPlayer
on 2010-03-17 15:38:54

This sound track is pretty much recomended for anyone that loves mellow-jive like music. Very funky and classic, almost as if I am at a coffee place with a live performance.

A+ must listen. This is perfect for my study breaks, hahaha :nicework:

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halc
on 2010-03-16 20:58:43

love this mix. the hand percussion is just sick 3

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Crulex
on 2010-03-16 20:41:24

Cool. I always liked Protricity's ReMix, but this takes it in a pretty cool direction. Jazzy and more "Jungley". Is it wrong for me to say that some parts remind me of those "Local on the 8's" themes on the Weather Channel, but in a good way? It's soothing and relaxing, I love it. Kinda funny how this theme annoyed me to no end when I tried to get through the Lost World, but this is so chill.

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Giga Bowser
on 2010-03-16 18:23:14

It brought a lot of memories on this hard level/part of the game I loved the background and the intruments were very well done:-o

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OA
on 2010-03-16 16:56:10

This track is all about the textures, and it's really cool to hear how they all fit in. Definitely check this one with headphones, it's way cooler! :-)

i'd suggest maybe even that people should pump up the volume and dance dance when that low brass comes in. :o

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djpretzel
on 2010-03-16 16:29:08

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo , 1995, SNES)
Music by David Wise
Songs:
"Primal Rave (Animal Antics)"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Jazz
Mood:
Mellow
Instrumentation:
Additional:
Regional > World

File Information


Name:
Donkey_Kong_Country_2_It's_a_Jungle_Out_There_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
8,622,689 bytes
MD5:
5ba0271e05d526ca19f601b6e1468132
Bitrate:
250Kbps
Duration:
4:32

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