ReMix:Battletoads "Toads in the Suite" 3:28

What's THIS? Mazedude, with a funked-out, eccentric jazz/blues jam that's our first ReMix from the original Battletoads for NES? Yeah, that's what it is:

"Well, as many of you know, I draw on all manner of inspiration, sources, and genres. And, oftentimes a remix will emerge in a stylistic homage or tribute to such an artist. This here is another case of that, this time around honoring Michael Manring. For those of you who aren't familiar, he is an electric bass virtuoso, and a really groovy composer. He does things with solo electric bass way beyond what it's traditionally used for, including fun with chords, harmonics, and oodles of effects.

So, this here is a Battletoads remix in that same style, mixed with some jazz fusion and crunchy Mazedude goodness. The title is derived from a conversation I had in my college suite with bass player Chris Kuffner, who introduced me to Manring's music in the first place."

Interesting, because *I* thought the "suite" was a reference to the apartment in Seinfeld, since the funky bass here might remind one of the trademark slap bass grooves the sitcom made (in)famous. In that light, this really COULD be the perfect soundtrack to a bizarre mashup of the Battletoads & Seinfeld universes, which I suppose would either entail Kramer as a playable character in the game OR an ironic television show about amphibians doing nothing, take your pick. I think I'd choose the second, but it's a tough call. halc writes:

"as with most of Mazedude's recent stuff, I'm really diggin' it. crazy sound design. there are a lot of weird panning choices, with not much going on dead center, but I think it adds to the charm and gives the piece an interesting sense of space. although the Ragnarok Canyon bassline/progression struck me pretty quickly from the start, the source melodies are a little hard to place. but damn if this ain't a clever, nuanced arrangement, preserving the rhythms moreso than the actual note choices. ;) weird stuff. I like it."

Staple Mazedude quirkiness is in full effect, and it works perfectly with the source material & context, but what strikes me is the somewhat bluesier feel here, with the offbeats and what not, which is relatively unique for MD. Great to have more of David Wise's repertoire represented on OCR, great to be posting mixes from unmixed games, and ALWAYS a pleasure to hear more from Chris, whose unique style & attention to detail shines through no matter what he's doing.