ReMix:Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest "The Forest That Never Sleeps" 3:59

By halc

Arranging the music of one song...

"Forest Interlude (Web Woods)"

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

Posted 2011-01-27, evaluated by the judges panel


You might think it spells "halcdkc2," but halc + DKC2 can only truly spell "awesome"; Mr. Wheeler recently released his Pixel Perfect EP, so do go and check out some of his original work if you haven't already. The artist writes:

"I've always loved this theme, and it was fun playing with some new sounds this time around. I hope you all like it!"

More like love it; judges basically all heaped praise on this chippy, 8-bit treatment of Wise's original, with Larry resorting to outright indentured servitude:

"Indeed, I'm really feeling the attention to detail here. Everything was always flowing and evolving. Excellent arrangement, and great textures throughout. All hail halc, our 9-bit overlord!"

Pretty damn hot, no doubt, and as Drew's first mix from the DKC series and his first (of many, no doubt) of 2011, it delivers. What strikes me is that, in addition to all the chippish, crackling nanorhythms and retro goodness, the beat here is a bit thicker/heavier and the bass a smidge more resonant than some of his other mixes, lending a sound that's familiar yet distinct. Great way to start the year from an artist that completely rocked the last one.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Black_Doom
on 2016-12-09 12:08:49

Taking classic Drew's crunchy chips and mixing them with the mellow original is certainly an awesome idea and the final result couldn't be anything but a beautiful chunk of lush 9-bit eargasmic awesomeness. Still might be one of the best halc's works ever. Mad props, man!

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fxsnowy
on 2015-12-10 17:17:12

What do you get when you mix Halc and Dave Wise? 9-Bit perfection. Probably my favorite ReMix ever

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Mirby
on 2011-12-26 02:17:16

This has to be some of halc's best work ever. Seriously. It takes the source and manages to keep the wondrous feeling while reducing the bits. This song is beautiful... hauntingly so.

I honestly can't think of anything else to say to it, except...

Nope, nothing else. It's just so good... there are no words. You have to listen for yourself.

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Arceace
on 2011-09-05 23:52:49

This song gives me shivers every time that I listen to it. I love the original, and I love this version as well.

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Less Ashamed Of Self
on 2011-06-07 00:02:46

An important and common critique I note of many ocremixes is that melodies feel frequently changed for no good reason. I understand that there needs to be a certain amount of 'originality' to the melodies on OCR so that they're not just 'midi-rips' but I often feel that certain deviations feel forced.... changed for change's sake... a few new notes now dancing aimlessly from where the original had them as if harmonies were so difficult to pull off.

My point is that this is NOT what is done with this mix. Any variations on the source tune here feel not only natural, but taken in a great new direction from the original that doesn't once make me feel like questioning if 'it was really necessary'. It all works. From the quick rising chords at 1:20 to the reserved 8-bit effects (another tired cliche at times thank god used well here), to the great harmonies at the end of the bridge, and the modern take on a decrescendo, it's all very apropos.

Very much enjoying coming back to this one. It's been on my desktop since it was posted.

TAKE NOTE remixers... this is the reinterpretation part of the OCR mission statement DONE RIGHT!

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Martin Penwald
on 2011-03-26 01:35:00
yeah, definitely my favorite halc mix ever. COnsidering he makes like a new remix every hour, that's a lot of remixes, and if this is the best one, that is sayin something!

This, essentially.

Lead coming in around 1:25 is chiptune bliss, and the more atmospheric stuff around 2:50 reminds me of Final Fantasy 7, weirdly enough.

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Gomitachan
on 2011-02-15 20:07:15

LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Donkey Kong ruled as one of the best soundtracks on the SNES back in the day. Your remix really puts me in the mood of playing it again. The 8 bit sound, I was like OMG!!!! :o!! AWESOME!! I crank up the volume, and my co-workers just stare at me... hahaha! XD! Keep up the excellent work!

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Sir_Downunder
on 2011-02-14 07:36:53

Maor Forest Interlude... yaaaay! :

I love the source, and very happy it's been receiving a little more love in the form of a killer Halc mix. I'd go on to say this is probably your best mix to date.

Continue on making your blippy goodness, my good man!:nicework:

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Pyrohazard
on 2011-01-31 17:29:45

Halc your remixes are like a bottle of soda, they're cool with a pop to keep em sizzlin. XD

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ruskii
on 2011-01-31 16:43:40

I would just like to say that from 0:46 on, I embarrassed myself at work due to spontaneous grooving to this music. Sorry if I defiled the sanctity of this song with the image of someone grooving to it, but it's true. Thank you, halc.

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Matt E. Waldman
on 2011-01-30 17:38:13

oh GAWD this is amazing.

Fantastic work as usual, sir halc! :]

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Jewbei
on 2011-01-30 06:22:51
emphasis mine, we've been putting this off for far too long. it still depresses me that we no longer have kh-SERIOUS.flp. :-(

yeah man :/ i couldve sworn i backed it up :( but dont worry we'll figure out something.

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halc
on 2011-01-29 23:57:54
yoo halc im really feeling this man i have an early wip of this but good shit its always refreshing watching you turn out new stuff keep at it mang! ...now we collab? LOL

emphasis mine, we've been putting this off for far too long. it still depresses me that we no longer have kh-SERIOUS.flp. :-(

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Jewbei
on 2011-01-29 19:22:28

yoo halc im really feeling this man i have an early wip of this but good shit its always refreshing watching you turn out new stuff keep at it mang! ...now we collab? LOL

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Giga Bowser
on 2011-01-29 04:26:41
yup, that's me! that was the first song i submitted to OCR (rejected, obviously), but I've always liked the title so it carried over when i made this. :lol:

i'll upload a zip of my old pre-ocr mixes soon. glad you enjoyed the mix, and thanks everyone else for all the comments as well! 3

edit: http://halc9bit.com/private/oldstuff.zip

Wow thanx I'll be looking forward to your future remixes, ofc chthonic as well best combination u too ;) Oh and can't wait for the sound of speed too.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo , 1995, SNES)
Music by David Wise
Songs:
"Forest Interlude (Web Woods)"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Chiptune,Electronic,Synth
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Donkey_Kong_Country_2_The_Forest_That_Never_Sleeps_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,819,679 bytes
MD5:
d08670f4ee233b61ce0a32fe46fa0969
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
3:59

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