Posted 2015-09-30, evaluated by the judges panel


Our final ReMix of September and the last to be included in our upcoming Q3 torrent update is a really slick DKC3 arrangement in a compelling combination of post-rock & chiptune from newcomers Marshall Art - Larry's got some relevant notes for us:

"Source is by Eveline Novakovic (i.e. not David Wise). Newcomer Mikhail Ivanov (streifig) is the current organizer for Dwelling of Duels, the monthly VGM arrangement compo with a live instrument focus where \m/ is \m/ (and of course, they have many other genres... maybe ;-). This mix is from the free DKC tribute album DKC Mix't Ape '94, organized by Those Who Fight member Big Mat & featuring tons of DoD alums."

Duly noted; context is greatly appreciated, and you should check ALL of that out by clicking on ALL of those links & reveling in the epic musicality. jmr (Jeffrey Roberts) has three mixes on OCR already, and as a member of Marshall Art, this makes four:

"Hey, OCR. jmr here. It's been a while. For the past few years I've been working with my friend Mikhail (alias streifig) on a project by the name of Marshall Art. I write all my parts using FamiTracker (a freeware hardware-compatible NES tracker) for the 2A03 and VRC6 sound chips, and streifig records layer upon layer of mindblowing post-rock-esque guitar. We live 7000km apart, so, using the magic of Dropbox, we exchange our parts and sandwich them together into an intense chiptune/prog/post-rock hybrid.

This song was put together over the course of January-September 2014 for a DKC tribute project. We were inspired by the band Maserati (hence the song title), although I think the song turned out a bit heavier than their usual style. We experimented with a few new things for this song, most notably the raucous guitar parts played with a violin bow. We're working on some other VGM covers as well as material for an original album, plus we play live shows whenever we can (together when possible, and apart on our respective continents), so this won't be the last you hear from us."

Definitely check these guys out; it's a distinct sound, they're doing it well, and the blend of purer chip textures with tortured/distant guitarscapes works. Palpable had some reservations/pointers, but ultimately agreed:

"Great adaptation of this source, and a pretty interesting hybrid style that I haven't heard before. No focus on leads, but it wasn't needed - the change-ups in instrumentation held my attention solidly. I wish the mixing was better, because I felt like the guitar really wasn't coming through at times, and what it plays is awesome. You've got it doing some lead lines, chugs, and then some flat-out drones at points. There was too much distance from the guitar, and the lo-fi instruments stepped on them too, so overall, not enough clarity. I tend to side with the YESes that this isn't a dealbreaker in this case. There's a lot of creativity stewing in this strange pot."

For my own two cents, I'm curious to see how they apply this style to other VGM with a stronger melodic component, because it's definitely unique and exceptionally well-suited to this specific source. Great stuff, and a great introduction to a group that's sprung up relatively quickly and already made a name for themselves - check 'em out, and enjoy!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 8 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Crulex
on 2018-02-19 00:11:00

Interesting. Some of the notes in the chiptune parts actual remind me of some of the old Game Boy Shantae notes with how the notes rolled, particularly a minute in. I have to say I really started to like this mix a lot half way through when it got more frantic, combining the electric guitar and chiptune together in a more driven sense. This was a fun song to listen to, and I kinda dig the idea of taking chiptunes and giving them a rock treatment and driving the intensity up a little bit. I actually hope to hear more aggressive chiptune/rock tracks like this in the future for more badass retro sounds. Awesome ReMix, I love it!

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nitrozsz
on 2015-12-13 23:50:08

This track strikes me as an almost psychedelic chiptune rock experience. I do wish there were more guitar solos like the one from 2:47 to 3:34. Overall, it was a very nice blend of chiptune age music with modern rock.

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Chernabogue
on 2015-12-04 12:49:34

This is interesting, like a blend of chiptune/electro elements with some rock/metal (the heavier parts) and a bit of atmospheric influences. The arrangement is very cool, but I found the track to be very quiet compared to the energy it has -- a shame ^^ The remix could have benefited from being shortened, as it felt a bit repetitive after a while. Other than that, it's good. :)

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MrKyle
on 2015-10-14 10:57:33

The synth work in this is great. Feels nostalgic and fresh at the same time. The first thing that came to mind was the "Earth" track from the Berserk OST. A little over 2 minutes into it, the vibe really syncs. Enjoyed this! Great work.

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paxl13
on 2015-10-02 07:31:55

Good lord, I do love so so so much Marshall Art. Personally I love how the guitar do

step on the chiptune and vice versa, it gives a very post-apocaliptic sound to me :D

Thanks to the post for making me discover DKC Mix't Ape '94. It's awesome.

Congratz to you guys

You are awesome

paxl13

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Black_Doom
on 2015-10-01 12:28:45

Yay, congrats to streifig! Awesome collab!

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Ivan Hakštok
on 2015-10-01 11:43:34

Great work you two! And nice to see streifig posted here finally :D

Btw, if anyone wants more Marshall Art awesomeness, their shows at last two Magfests were pretty damn great.

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Liontamer
on 2015-09-30 12:55:23

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (Nintendo , 1996, SNES)
Music by David Wise,Eveline Novakovic
Songs:
"Hot Pursuit"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Rock
Mood:
Dark,Suspenseful
Instrumentation:
Chiptune,Electric Guitar
Additional:
Time > 4/4 Time Signature

File Information


Name:
Donkey_Kong_Country_3_My_Monkey_Drives_a_Maserati_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
9,422,707 bytes
MD5:
1d6605d21cb22965e1371f70d3877d58
Bitrate:
236Kbps
Duration:
5:16

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