ReMix: Mega Man 2 'The Fifth Season'

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Very distinct, different sound from OCR newcomer GaMeBoX, a.k.a Steve Olofsson, who takes a melody that's usually immediately recognizable and makes it... less recognizable. A down-tempo synth-jazz/funk groove with a plethora of playful retro percussive action sets the initial stage. Electric Piano, acoustic and electric guitar, and later even banjo(!) add some non-electronic presence to the otherwise robo-instrumentation. The arrangement actually covers both the ending theme and the title theme (also played at the credits), in that order, so it's like the reversed bookends of the OST in that sense, though both are merged seamlessly enough that it seems quite natural. In addition to varying things up and possessing a generally unique presentation, I think the specific strength of this arrangement is its use of layering - percussion especially, but also the lead melody at 1'14", where a shaky (but cool) guitar pairs up with a vibrato-heavy lead synth. The transition at 2'09" is surprisingly good - one of my favorite aspects is how the mix morphs almost undetectably from theme to theme, and then Steve brings in the banjo for the final minute, which is a rather unorthodox instrumentation choice, but again, oddly enough, works. I side with TO's take on the 'jo, and also agree that a subtractionist ending would have been preferable to the fade that's employed:

"The arrangement is, well, minimalist. There's not a lot there outside the punchy drums. But what is there is enjoyable to listen to. I'm the opposite of Larry in the sense that I feel the banjo is what ended up saving the mix. When the credits music comes in at 0:55, it's quiet but it works as a minimalist groove. Not sure what that twittering sound is in the background from 1:13, but it's strange and unique. I like it. The fadeout at the end of the mix wasn't what I was hoping for. Taking the groove out and perhaps letting the banjo or one of the other instruments take the mix to the end might have worked better."

This mix is just... a little peculiar. It's got a certain charm to it; I do think you need to pump the volume up a bit to hear both the melody and some of the details the ReMixer's thrown in, but overall the four-plus minutes go by fairly quickly, and at a very deliberate tempo no less, as the instrumentation and layering keep things interesting, and the transition halfway through anchors the piece and adds a lot of resonance that wouldn't have been there had things stayed on the same track throughout. An odd but attractive first mix from GaMeBoX that brings something new to the Mega Man 2 compendium and adds a few novel touches to a solid arrangement.

― djpretzel