ReMix: Secret of Evermore 'K-Pax for Evermore'

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Merrrry Christmas! While we've still got a ways to go on the East Coast as of my writing this, a lot of people I know open gifts on the eve, and from an international perspective, many of you may have already gotten your haul o' the season. We always open at least a few on the eve in my family, and I'm now the proud owner of BioShock (360 version). Given my family's familiarity with video games, or lack thereof, it's a minor miracle I didn't end up with BodyShock, which my sister insisted on calling it, or Bio-Dome, with Pauly Shore, which is surely what Santa gives the very naughty kids, along with mint copies of Yahoo Serious' immortal Young Einstein. Lucky.

Mazedude's American Album continues to resonate and result in continued submissions, even two years after its initial release. With the perspective of considerable time to reflect on his masterpiece, Mr. Getman confides that this particular piece may in fact be his favorite of the bunch, which puts it in and above excellent company. As always, Chris provides a solid background narrative:

"Okay. If you haven't heard the soundtrack to the feature film "K-Pax," by Edward Shearmur, you are missing out. It is awesome. It sucked me in from the moment I put in the DVD, and I daresay it dwarfs the movie in coolness. Shearmur's blending of piano, mallet instruments, pads, and groovy electronic percussion is just so friggin' cool.

When first listening to the Secret of Evermore soundtrack by Jeremy Soule, I knew I wanted to remix this track in emulation of the K-Pax style. It just made sense to me.

It was actually very hard to do. It took me several tries to get started. I just couldn't settle on the right samples... but I stuck with it, and kept trying. Eventually I got a flow going, and then I ran with it. I even took it in directions that Shearmur didn't go, mingling in screaming synth leads, Reichian minimalist sections, and even a bit of Michael Manring electric bass influence. The end result is a soothing yet kickass remix of a great song. I'm quite proud of this one."

I remember seeing K-Pax in the theaters, and I remember vaguely liking it, but definitely being somewhat more enamored of its score, so I'll toss my hat into that ring as well. This is amazing work, and is also my favorite off AA; I think Chris really nailed core aspects of the K-Pax sound, while implementing quirkier, Mazedudish percussion and FX. There's also something here that reminds me of Kondo's score to Super Mario Galaxy (an instant classic) - I think it's the "spaciness", for lack of a better word. I could easily pun off Kevin Spacey at this point, so appreciate my measured restraint. I think this piece should have an audience even with those who might find some of MZD's other material too zany, as it's a bit more melodic, and a bit less polymorphous perverse, sonically, probably due to the K-Pax emulation. Essentially, Chris is uber-flexible, and while you could still (easily) identify this as one of his pieces, it's also very distinct and a bit more ambient/hypnotic than most of this other fare. But the important thing is, it's excellent, and pays homage to both Soule and Shearmur with class and style.

― djpretzel