ReMix: Super Dodge Ball 'Dodge Mahal'
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- Game: Super Dodge Ball (CSG Imagesoft, 1989, NES)
- ReMixer(s): Level 99, Protricity, bustatunez, some1namedjeff
- Composer(s): Kazuo Sawa
- Song(s): 'Vs. Team India'
- Posted: 2011-10-10, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on Super Dodge Ball: Around the World
Our next stop Around the World takes us to India, where Protricity hath enlisted the assistance of bustatunez, Jeff Ball, and Stevo:
"This remix is part of the project Around the World, the Super Dodge Ball remix project. I initially wrote it to support the underdog remix project of a game I never played, but eventually came to appreciate the soundtrack quite a bit. For the longest time, I was not enjoying working on the song, which I considered a disjointed mess. I have to thank Monobrow for pushing me so hard to finish it. I am much happier with the final, slightly-more-jointed, slightly-less-messy version. Additionally I have to thank remixers Level 99, bustatunez, and Jeff Ball for improving the song considerably by lending their live instruments to it. I wish the project well. Good luck."
Great to see Jeff's name appearing on a mix - we've hung out at PAX a couple times, and his (freely available) score to Astroman is good stuff. And of course, this is Prot's first mix in awhile, notwithstanding the collab on Katie's Summoning track, so that's good news. At 6'24", this is one of the longer tracks on AtW, and it uses that time wisely, incorporating a bunch of arrangement ideas coherently, changing up tempo & groove more than a couple times, and blending electronic & acoustic/ethnic components in resplendent, energized harmony. The phrasing on some of the runs and patterns is authentically intricate, and the ritardando and subsequent breakdown section at 1'46" is a highlight. Co-director Walan writes:
"Longtime OverClocked ReMix veteran Protricity takes listeners on a journey with this arrangement of the "Team India" theme. This remix continues the ideas started in the original song and expands them into a Middle Eastern-influenced odyssey with the help of bustatunez on flutes, Level 99 on guitar, and Jeff Ball providing expert violin work. Production- and arrangement-wise, this track is truest to my original idea for Around the World."
Definitely nailed Alan's original concept, so kudos there, but also props for the sheer magnitude of this arrangement - while the album itself is presented as a global journey, this mix feels like an excursion unto itself, with plenty of sights to see and only the necessary, appropriate amount of repetition. Great title, great collab, great mix, and a truly epic stop along Around the World's multi-culti musical expedition.
Discussion: Latest 10 comments/reviews; view the - Bahamut on December 6, 2011
- Crulex on December 5, 2011
- Locke on December 3, 2011
- WesternZypher on November 10, 2011
I admit, in my early days at OCR I was a HUGE Protricity fangirl, and even now I still hold high regards towards his influence on the site. So to see him write something on Around the World may not have been much of a surprise due to his involvment in Tales, but it was definitely worthwhile to see him return here again.
What I appreciate about his style the most is that for many of his ideas they tend to go by a rhapsodic nature, capturing several different essences at once while going through. "Dodge Mahal" is no different, with its starting from typical Prot affair in regards to the varied drum writing and synth/guitar use (props there Stevo for your contrubitions!), before going towards some creative variations on the theme in steadily more downbeat styles and capturing more of the Indian wilderness soundscape.
In particular when going later and later into the track, bustatunez's flute performance throughout - though a little dry in parts but may be more of a nitpick - really lifts up this progression tenfold, with some very expressive work throughout that further brings the atmosphere to life. Excellent stuff.
In a way though, the flow could also be seen as a double-edged sword. While it does indeed fit Walan's original creative decision in a highly-polished way, one may not help but think that most of the energy towards the track were emphasized near the beginning, therefore somehow starting to lose its punch as the writing became increasingly steady.
I do however understand that there were difficulties in writing the track, and for any artist it may be seen as a huge burden just to get out there and finish it. But I am glad in the end that you did (mostly under Katie's persuasion), because as it stood I saw it as one of the best team themes on the album. Nice work from all four of you :)
- Rexy on October 14, 2011
ALSO JEFF EDWARD BALL IS THE BEST! He plays some violin here but he's an extremely talented guy and you should check his stuff out!
Stevo really gave a lot to this guitar, as it wasn't the easiest part to learn, so yeah you did great!
And Lukas sure whipped out those flutes really fast. His flute solo at the end really closed the lid very well I think, and actually lead into the next track on the album which I hear is quite nice ;J
- Monobrow on October 10, 2011
- KyleJCrb on October 10, 2011
- Giga Bowser on October 10, 2011
