ReMix: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 'Mamacitas in My Valley'

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First off, let's just take a look at the mix title, here... because, on close inspection, you'll notice that it has the word "mamacitas" in it. So, I ask you: how can this mix possibly be bad? How can any fault be found? "Mamacitas" is like a free pass to the world of awesome... it's like adding 808 claps AND orchestra hits to your mix, and throwing in RAD TIMBALE LICKS, too. Frank serves up a heapin' helpin' of hip hop urbanism wrapped in a slick 'Gerudo Valley' arrangement. The source material is fantastic - really one of Kondo's best N64 pieces - and has been arranged a variety of ways by several ReMixers, including yours truly. I actually have yet another idea in my head for arranging it again; it's really attractive compositionally as it has a catchy chorus AND verse as well, which isn't too common.

At any rate, it's easy to see why mixers keep coming back to it, and I'm sure as hell glad DD has, as his version is fantastic. Rising piano arpeggios set the stage, but when the Kill Bill trumpets and Latin percussion enter at 0'16", the real mojo kicks in, amplified by a monoglide bridge into a heavy hip-hop beat with occasional string stabs, a nice & subtle moving harp part in the background, wah guitar riffs, and Spanish guitar on the melody. I did throw some similar Latin elements into my own arrangement way back when, but this has far better production values and hip-hop in its favor, plus an unstoppable mix title. The undulating synth bass groove more prevalent in the second half of the mix is absolutely delicious, and at 4'28" you'll wonder where the time went so quickly when everything ends. I know fadeout endings have legion detractors, but I might have preferred that to the very abrupt cut out that Frank opted for instead, but he compensates with beautiful layered beats and just a fantastic sense of rhythm and mixing. Everything Frank's done so far has been fabulous, but this just might be my favorite, as it succeeds so completely at accomplishing the goal of turning 'Gerudo' into a Latin/hip-hip jam piece. We've still got a lot of summer left, people, and if you don't party with this joint in your own valley at some point, it's your loss. Excellent.

― djpretzel