ReMix: The Revenge of Shinobi 'Corner of Sunset and Keys'

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José the Bronx Rican could be a Queens Rican, Manhattan Rican, Staten Island Rican - even a Chicago Rican, Boston Rican, or the relatively rare Anchorage Rican - and he'd still be my type of Rican, because he's the type of Rican that makes some damn funky + ridiculously smooth grooves. Better yet, he's turned his attentions for his second ReMix onto turf that virtually cried out for them, Yuzo's splenderifoustastical Revenge of Shinobi soundtrack. José writes:

"Inspiration came from the smooth piano chords of the second stage track from Revenge of Shinobi, "Sunset Blvd." This ReMix is another trip back to that funky acid flavor I love so much, in the vein of the masters, Incognito. It's also to see how much I can get away with by programming the notes - since I can't play more than seven notes on a keyboard at any time - and having it sound like a good studio jam (probably explaining why so long for my second submission). The "Keys" in the title refer to the keyboard instruments jockeying for space, especially in the middle section: piano, Rhodes, and organ, plus a little clavinet on the side. Oh, and dig the ending. Created in Cakewalk Home Studio 2 and FL Studio."

I'm glad the ReMixer added that note about programming, because I wouldn't have guessed it - things sound very natural, especially on all the myriad keyboards. Right when the vibe solo enters at 0'37", there's enough humanism to keep the groove fresh and not sounding overly quantized. And check out them funky clavi at 1'10" when organ takes over - Yuzo would be proud. It's one thing to step enter or 'program' parts for techno tracks or orchestral of relatively average complexity, but a jazz/funk arrangement like this I personally would find far easier to play live. It's impressive to me that José had the patience and discipline to enter all of it in such a fashion. Then again, I play all my stuff live, sometimes even something as silly as a kick drum part in a techno track, so I guess once you're used to it, any methodology can become effective and more or less transparent. Drums are the funk, and if you've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell, the doctor is in, and he brought various assorted latin percussion with him. Bass stays out of the way largely, but isn't boring at all, and pulls away from the base of the chord at times, in addition to doing some slides and vibrato tricks. The mental image you get from the almost schizophrenic number of different keyboard solos is that there's, like, this group of keyboard players, each on their favorite axe - you got your vibes guy, your piano guy, your electric piano guy, your organ guy, and your clavinet guy - and they're duking it out ala Marvel vs. Capcom, trading punches and kicks in the form of riffs and licks. Who's left standing, in the end? Who cares, because it's a fight worth watching. If I had to pick, it'd be down to the Rhodes and organ, who deservedly chew up most of the spotlight. Regardless, this is a great instrumental follow-up to the ReMixer's first, rap mix, displaying additional versatility but fully living up to the promise shown. It might take him a while to make mixes like these, but they're worth waiting for, and that counts for quite a bit. Dynamic, fun, and well-constructed jams from Bronx Rican.

― djpretzel