ReMix:Kyatto Ninden Teyandee "TEYANDEE!" 5:30

No shenanigans for A1 this year, given the pandemic and what not, but we DO have a bangin', sample-laden, hyperactive EDM take on Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (NES), better known outside Japan as "Samurai Pizza Cats," from Black Ace (Alexey Bakhmetyev). It's chock full of ganbattes & various anime interjections, glitches aplenty, and morphs between different EDM subgenres while packing some mean wubs, blending traditional Japanese flavors (koto, mostly), and even making time for a synth solo. All of this adapted from a pretty short source tune - Rexy evaluated & approved:

"Let's start with an anecdote. Samurai Pizza Cats was the first animé I remember seeing on TV, so of course, I have nothing but fond memories for both the insane English dub and the original (and darker) Japanese production that I witnessed many years later. I wanted to curb my bias back, but it's hard to do when Alexey once again pulled out all the stops!

Just like his previous Contra mixposts, the production values are astronomically high, especially for Eurodance. The mix is immaculate, the effect work on the synths and voice samples keeps the soundscape engaging, and the sound palette is insanely rich for the most part. There is some minor critique, as the koto and shakuhachi samples could've benefitted with more articulation personally. However, they're both small parts of the instrument selection and still fit well with the synths and their overwhelming qualities.

The interpretation - of a 15-second loop, may I add - is no slouch either, especially when the time signature change from 12/8 to 4/4 is already great on its own. While mostly relying on backing instrumentation and effects to provide a subtractive and evolving arrangement from underneath, there are some other brilliant moments like the 12/8 breakdown at 2:03, the call-and-response between melody and voice samples (3:03), and even some cool playing around with the melody during that ethnic build-up at 3:27. Overall, the sum of the parts has a compelling package that doesn't stagnate, uses what little content there is to significant and dominant effect, and bears a presentation so tight it'll send ripples across the dance floor. Alexey's still got the mojo!"

Indeed; this is some of his craziest work yet, with extensive incorporation of samples from the show, intertwined with wubs/glitch FX in a manic, high-voltage anthem. There's the switch to a syncopated bounce groove at 2'03", the cheeky chromatic descent at 2'39", the break at 3'20" that lets you appreciate some of the traditional bits on their own, and a precision ear for cuts, gating, splicing, & otherwise making the various samples, FX, & synth bits work together. There's a lot on the plate, but it's all been tweaked to perfection, serving up a fun romp with technical craft & surplus energy. For this type of jam, specifically... this is how you do it. Highly recommended! よくがんばったね!