Posted 2017-05-01, evaluated by the judges panel


Gibs & Mordi's take on "Aquatic Ambiance" remains one of my go-to arrangements of a VERY arranged source, and now (almost five years later!) Mordi (Martin Lande) returns with a smooth & chill acoustic/rock take on another DKC-series favorite that brings in some funk & swing as it progresses:

"Hope people will enjoy this one, even though it's yet another "Stickerbush Symphony" remix. I kept it mostly laid back, but listening to a lot of late 70's funk/disco lately compelled me to throw some more upbeat stuff in there at the end. I tried to channel my inner Nile Rodgers, but I doubt I'll be producing the next Chic album.

P.S. I'm aware that it's not a sonata, but I had no idea what else to name it."

That's okay... I'm not a DJ ;) Mordi's not wrong; with this ReMix, we officially welcome "Stickerbush Symphony" into the 10 ReMixes Club! And, no worries on the title: David Wise titled his original a "symphony," and it's not a literal symphony either. You're a talented musician in great company. Also, big congrats to Mordi, who last October joined the legendary game & demoscene music group Maniacs of Noise! Quite a badge of honor. I love this mix because it very naturally & gracefully evolves from something uber-mellow to something with a bit more pick-up & spunk to it; Jivemaster writes:

"Very organic crisp production and overall relaxed atmosphere. Guitar playing is emotive and solid, nice amount of highs without being piercing. The accompanying cheesy synths in the background somehow work, and complement the guitar well. Arrangement was not too complex but gets the job done. Enjoyed the break at 2:50, a great change of pace. The funky strumming after this provides an added surprise."

Sir_NutS addS:

"Ah, I remember reviewing this one in the workshop. I said I liked it a lot and that hasn't changed, this is a pretty cool, groovy yet laid back track, with good production and neat performances. Not the most complex of arrangements but there is a degree of personalization of the source that makes it stand on its own from the many, many remixes of this song out there."

Relatively conservative, but certainly distinct & creative, plus having the rhythmic/style development further differentiates this interpretation. No nits to pick; even the fadeout ending works just fine, in this specific instance, and is well-executed. I especially dig the 70's mastering aesthetic, which I think Mordi captures quite well; very lush & warm. Excellent & accessible stuff, highly recommended!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 10 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Crulex
on 2024-07-13 12:35:31

Intro had me thinking we was going to get a seagull birdcussion, but it was a nice lead in to this awesome song. Light and upbeat 70's energy with a damn good acoustic guitar. I loved this very much.

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Gario
on 2017-11-20 16:59:51

Wow, I think this acoustic-only version is a really rich, self-contained arrangement in it's own right. The additional elements of the arrangement compliment the core, most certainly, but you've really got a great base to work with here. I'mma gonna hold on to this other version for my own listening purposes, too, since there really is a different tone to it than the posted ReMix. Not better, not worse, just... different. It's definitely difficult to hear some of the more subtle guitar textures in the posted version than it is in this unplugged version, which in some ways is a shame.

Oh yeah, I like the remix, too - the overall atmosphere is almost heavenly, as the sound design compliments the lightness of the guitar work under it. The sounds are relatively basic, relying on what seem like preset pads and such, but I'd be damned if I said they weren't effective for the overall arrangement.

Great stuff, here.

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Mordi
on 2017-11-20 11:58:02
On 23.10.2017 at 2:49 PM, torkkkue said:

Is there like a tab i could see? Can't pen the background guitar / chord my self :P

If you're still interested, here are the chords: DqU4MP3.png?1

This is what I used as reference when I recorded it. The top row is the chord, the bottom row is the bass note you should use.

You can hear it better in this über-chilled version of the track (it's just the guitar tracks): .mp3

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torkkkue
on 2017-10-23 08:49:34

Is there like a tab i could see? Can't pen the background guitar / chord my self :P

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RedOrb
on 2017-06-02 00:47:56

Upbeat, cheery, warm, relaxing and energising. The more you listen, the more you admire the charisma of it all. Love it..

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lemnlime
on 2017-05-05 12:36:56

The world can never have enough remixes of this awesome song...and this is one of the awesomest! Love the acoustic mellowness of it

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Black_Doom
on 2017-05-05 06:00:27

I remember listening to this track in the workshop as well, yep. So glad to see it on the front page :) It's really my new favorite take on a classic tune. The acoustic guitar is especially gorgeous, and the juicy laid-back funky stuff @3:08 is very nice too - gives me creeps every time, in a good way, of course. Love your job here :D

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Ridiculously Garrett
on 2017-05-02 12:39:03

I knew this one would get in, and I'm glad it did. Great job, @Mordi! Loving the soundscape.

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Ybrik Metaknight
on 2017-05-02 11:14:39

Cool mix! I love the mixture of vibes here. I love it when an old standby gets a new and unique treatment. Definitely a solid arrangement of my second-favorite DKC2 source (I like Forest Interlude ever so slightly more than Stickerbrush Symphony; it's super-close). Nice Work.

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Liontamer
on 2017-05-01 11:31:48

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

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo , 1995, SNES)
Music by David Wise
Songs:
"Stickerbush Symphony (Bramble Blast)"

Tags (8)


Genre:
Funk,Rock
Mood:
Chill,Funky,Sexy
Instrumentation:
Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar,Synth
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Donkey_Kong_Country_2_Seagull_Sonata_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,471,643 bytes
MD5:
560f7226b4ff0041ac3364f028c24ba7
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
4:26

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