OCR04803 - *YES* Super Mario Galaxy "Dancing with the Wind"

[prophetik music]

A few months ago I collabed on a track that Xaleph did for his debut Dwelling of Duels entry, Cybernetic Skullstorm. Was quite a track and managed to pull in the bronze on it with his debut so that was pretty awesome. Then the twins, paramcdiddles or somethin, invited Xaleph and I to join them for another month of DoD. So we did, conjuring up the the track "Stay Away", a chaotic adventure into constantly changing complex time signatures. Sometimes you just need to feel the music instead of counting to 4. :) 

Anyway, I was supposed to collab with them again but decided to take my own chances heading a track for July's competition. It was a free month so I decided to finally arrange a piece of music that I've wanted to do for quite some time. Gusty Garden Galaxy's theme just slaps you in the face repeatedly with the catchy and memorable melodies. Anyway... I dove in right away, and sketched out the entire thing in a couple of days. Soft beginnings, big endings. That was the plan. And I stuck to it. As I worked on it I moved away from purely using guitar as the 'performance' part of DoD and started roping in more and more performers as I progressed. The track wouldn't be what it is without everybody that pitched in, and I can't thank the crew enough for their support and enthusiasm during the process. 

ZackParrish: Arrangement, Production, Keys, Guitar, Mixing, Mastering
Emunator: Production, Keys, Sound Effects
TSori: Trumpet
Shea's Violin: Violin, Additional Parts
Sean R. Hanson: Auxiliary Percussion
GameroftheWinds: Flute
Pearlpixel: Oboe
Chromatic Apparatus: Cello

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Games & Sources

Super Mario Galaxy - Gusty Garden Galaxy

[prophetik music]

opens with some winds and bells. has a light ballad feel when the acoustic comes in as the lead element. backing brass is a little weird from a timbre perspective, it sounds really strong but is fairly quiet. i liked the rising chord pattern through 0:35 to about 0:40. the lead acoustic immediately after this is a touch stilted in some of the moving passages - there's just a bit more space between the notes than i'd expect. the countermelodic material is great though and the backing elements just keep changing and shifting, it's great. there's a goofy synth that's sliding around back there during the pizz section that's just delightful.

2:10's a bit of a shift to more live elements (and some ennio morricone glam, thanks Tsori!). i like the percussive elements in this section (maybe just a touch dry). 2:55's a shift to a much more percussion-driven section, with some great string realization behind it. the shift to a macro beat at 3:36 is also just great, keeps it moving forward. 

the strings take the melody after this point, and again the realization here is great. at this point though we've heard the original melodic elements in a straight line several times. i'd really have liked to hear a more personalized version of the melody to help keep it fresh. your backing work is so good that hearing the original melody with essentially no changes for six or seven minutes in a row is jarring. you've clearly got the chops to handle personalizing the melody - that'd really take it to the next level.

the last minute's guitar is a touch wheedly in tone, just a little thin. might be the backing element that doubles it. regardless, the backing elements still are exciting and enjoyable, and the final crescendo and finishing note sound great. the final trumpet tone sounded the slightest bit flat, but that might be the verb and not the fundamental.

this is, of course, way over the bar. it's mixed well, mastered clearly, the arrangement is excellent, and my nitpicks aren't more than that. excellent job.

 

 

YES

[Liontamer]

Obviously not a spaghetti Western track, but I got some pasta Morricone vibes from this regardless, thanks to TSori at 2:09 along with the complimentary guitar and percussion, of course. Oh boy, Pearl Pixel on oboe at 4:55 was a quick treat as well with excellent interplay with the lead. Dayum, this is super smart arranging!

I greatly appreciated the fullness in the performances. Great original writing elements & performances here throughout to bolster an already strong composition. 

YES

[Hemophiliac]

This is really lovely, another great arrangement with tremendous performances from everyone.

The restraint that is demonstrated early in the track really allows it to develop and explode into a wonderful full sound late into the track. Slow burn again pays off with cool vibes.

My only complaint is the tambourine in the second half being hotter then my personal preference, but that's not a knock at all when that's the only thing I can complain about.

Frankly my favorite stuff about this is in the first half of the arrangement when things are exposed and sparse. The piano early on is a great gentle accompaniment. The acoustic is wonderful. The 1:34-2:05 gentle sine synth was such an unexpected but ever so fitting addition that really felt that it belonged within the context of all of the acoustic setting. Very well done!

YES