ReMix: Yoshi's Story 'Oh, Say Can Yoshi'

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Karl paves the way for anyone who's ever had a really cheesy mix title in mind for their latest opus to not feel quite as ashamed, as it's hard to best "Oh, Say Can Yoshi" - it's a fine, ripe gorgonzola to the day-old muenster most of us can muster. Blad's latest solo piano has some recording issues - it's live, but it's mic'd a little distant, with a whole lotta room going on, almost like a too-generoulsy applied convolution reverb. However, levels are decent enough to hear the variation in dynamics and nuances in the performance. Karl says as much himself, with visceral language:

"So, like, I have this remix. I got the idea from Dr. Fruitcake because he is totally the man, the midi man, but the man, none-the-less. I took the songs from the end that came from Yoshi's Story and I made this remix. Then I had to go search for the music because I didn't know what it was. From what I can tell, this is the Title Screen music and Yoshi's Theme (a section from both). Then I got the bright idea to do it live, and it came out ok. It's like the Kirby one: not the best recording, but I really just work with what I have, and the university obviously is not one for high production quality. I'm surprised they can hit the record button some days. Anyways, I was juiced, the mics were hot, and I really squirted this one out. Hope you enjoy it."

Karl squirts, and what can one do but appreciate the byproduct? Whilst undoubtedly enjoying a vegemite sandwich, TO writes:

"As soon as the mix starts we can hear the title screen theme brought in softly with the piano, and that plays until 0:53 when Yoshi's Theme is brought on, playing those groovy parts on the lower chords of the piano from the original. Love that sound. The Yoshi's theme part continues until the Karl eventually mixes the two themes together after the 2 minute mark to create a very creative and upbeat mix of the two themes."

Highlight for me would be the jammin' chromatic flourishes at 1'16" and 1'19" and the like, as they break the happy-go-lucky, almost Peanuts-esque mold and throw a little more bebop/jazz into the swing of things. The overall vibe transitions from mellow nostalgia to upbeat romp in well under three minutes. For a live performance, the confidence, consistency, and coherence are all admirable, but it's ultimately the transitioning, fluid arrangement that starts off pensive and ends up pompous (in a good way) that makes it all tick. More unique, inspired work from Bladiator that I'll never be able to come close to playing myself, making me appreciate it all the more.

― djpretzel