Emunator ⚖️ Posted May 7 Posted May 7 This track is being released in an abridged, lo-fi'd version on an upcoming Hotline Sehwani project, please check with me for the proper album plug links when the time comes. Credits: Emunator: Arrangement, production, programming, mixing mo.oorgan: Additional production/programming Chimpazilla: Mastering Comments: This is a sibling track to "Mechanomania", which is being submitted by mo.oorgan. There's multiple levels of synchronicity here - two Donkey Kong Country tracks, remixed in a lofi style, by two IRL siblings, each clocking in exactly at 2:40 (a totally unplanned coincidence), and the titles even play off of two opposing states of mind (mania = extreme passion, and phobia = extreme fear.) Although the two tracks are very different in tone, with this track being the dark, moody, electronic-tinged counterpart, they feel like perfect A and B sides to the same EP. I took the lead on this arrangement, mapping out the structure and putting the core synth and percussion sounds together that formed the foundation, and Mo came in with some really vibrant, totally original sound effects, transitions, and melodic layers, including the intro guitar and cello melody, that totally tied it all together. To be truthful, I don't even remember who came up with what at this point, but I'm in love with how this turned out. This is my first time covering anything from Donkey Kong Country 3 since I directed the DKC3 album project nearly 15 years ago. It feels good to be back here. Games & Sources Donkey Kong Country 3 - Water World
Liontamer ⚖️ Posted June 20 Posted June 20 Difficult source for me to wrap my head around; it happens. Thankfully the lil' repeating pattern anchoring the track's taken from the source and ends up being the foundation of the piece, so that makes the source usage checkbox easy. At 1:52, the repeating pattern dropped out until 2:11 and made way for some even darker, more ominous sound design choices. Loved the sound design evolution and experimentation throughout, it's a wonderful trip! :-) YES
jnWake ⚖️ Posted June 27 Posted June 27 I've always felt the water level theme from DKC3 is severely underrated, glad to see you cover it! Anyway, this begins with an acoustic guitar, setting a much calmer and less menacing vibe than what I was expecting given the source. At 0:07 we get one of the main motifs from the original on a piano (I believe?) and around 0:12 we move to a more electronic vibe, there's some cool chords going in here. We get a lofi slow beat at 0:25, nice. There's some different build-ups with the melody changing to a couple different instruments and some neat sound design flourishes (Emu and Mo together was definitely going to lead to that!). 00:51 continues the trend, still keeping at the same melody over a chill backing. I love how starting at 1:16 the tone of the main synth changes slightly. Around 1:32 there's a small tease of another melody from the source but at 1:39 we return to the first melody on a more menacing chord progression and we settle on a dark mood around 1:52. Another source section is briefly represented at 2:04 and at 2:11 we finally get the "main melody" of the source. Ending is kinda sudden and it fades out too quickly IMO, I'd have let it ring for a couple more seconds (major nitpick lmao). On arrangement this is really cool, there's arguably too much focus on one musical idea but there's so much variation in sounds and backing that it doesn't matter too much. I love each individual section and the transitions are well handled. My only nit is the ending. On production this is stellar, as would be natural when you get 2 people that are so good at both at it! Love all the samples, how the sounds evolve and also the very large array of SFX you guys used for transitions and just general ear candy. Overall, easy pass! I love your particular brand of more complex and extremely well produced lofi, and it's a perfect fit for this source. YES
prophetik music ⚖️ Posted June 30 Posted June 30 yeah, there wasn't really a doubt on this one. the landing at 0:51 is very nice and the variety of sound design elements after that are superb as expected. the break at 1:30 was less expected, and changing the key downward - something i've seen very rarely - works really well each time you do it. really interesting concept. the payoff chorus at 2:11 is great, although i'll agree with wake that most of the arrangement seems keyed off of the same little element of the original. this is a layup. YES
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