ReMix:Secret of Mana "Dry Towns" 3:40

As a fellow DJINO (dj in name only), I'm automatically a fan of Dj Orange (Geoff Harding), but orange happens to be my favorite color, as well. Actually, I don't truly know whether Geoff currently jockeys or has ever jockeyed disc, but I DO know that this ultra-chill, creative lowish-fi Western hip-hop take on Secret of Mana is just what the doctor ordered; he writes:

"Another fall mood remix."

Now, it's been... over sixteen years... since our last featured Dj Orange mix, but it *was* indeed a fall mood mix as well, so the continuity amazingly checks out. I love the mellow blend of country/western slide guitar with hip-hop beats, mellotronesque flutes & string swells, and even a muted trumpet - it's eclectic, but it works. I happened to vote on this mix, so let's see what else I had to say:

"...a wonderfully creative & still very recognizable take on the source that relishes exploring interesting instrumentation combinations. Muted trumpets flutter by, a wide slide guitar lazily recounts the melody, bass walks around a bit, pads swell in & out like an inflating/collapsing lung, and.... well the whole thing feels like an organism, exhaling & inhaling with its own confident, off-kilter swagger. Almost Cowboy Bebop-esque - not in any similarity to Kanno's score, but to that show's irreverent wild west futurism. We haven't posted anything from Geoff since 2005, and now I'm scratching my head on that.... either way, I enjoyed this rather a lot, and believe it succeeds in a worthwhile & utterly unique concept."

Unsurprisingly, I concur with myself. Emunator adds:

"This remix rides on the strength of the underlying groove and the sheer variety of instruments as you saunter through this arrangement. There's a distinct early PS1-esque character to the sample and production quality here, but not to your detriment - rather, it evokes a nostalgic, quirky quality that is mirrored in the arrangement. Throughout the track, you employ plenty of sequencing techniques, such as pitch bending and vibrato, to breathe life into each of your samples and make the most of what you have.

I'm really surprised by how much I got lost in this on repeat listens - without needing a lot of high quality samples or effects, you crafted a wholly immersive experience full of life and character. 16 years since your last submission and you haven't missed a beat."

All that; there's variety, imaginative instrumentation pairings, and as Wes says, just a lot of character - it feels like wandering down the main street of a mostly-deserted frontier town, as tumbleweed rolls by... except chill. I don't know where Geoff's been for the last decade & a half, but I'm glad he's back, and this picks right up where he left off, with creative, unorthodox arrangements that surprise & delight. A breath of fresh air; enjoy!