One listen.

I wrote this in part for similar reasons as to why I wrote about Retro Remix Revue’s cover of “Secret of the Forest”: I thought it’d be interesting to do so after writing about the original.

This one is similar and different to the original at the same time, which is to be expected. I think I did better in my writing about this one. Not exactly sure why; it might be due to having an easier time from being familiar with the source. I don’t know.

Retro Remix Revue’s “Donkey Kong – Aquatic Ambience” is from Retro Remix Revue, Vol. 2. It’s an album of covers from various game soundtracks.

I hope you enjoy.

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Sounds flow in, flow connected, not stopping. They drift, pause (at least some of them) then percussion comes in, brushing past, brushing alongside as everything else moves through its pressing melody.

There’s a quiet here now. Percussion pulses, urges, as do other sounds as they follow in their moving up and down before fading. Soon a rise and once more percussion fills out more. Steady, and woodwind comes in now, asking questions and exploring a deep quiet.

The woodwind disappears and the quieter sounds draw out, draw forward. Keys shimmer in the dark, in the impenetrability of the deep. Percussion becomes livelier, and synth now clearly carries the main line.

Here the sounds are stronger, more confident. They flow with a push and a thrust, and they play smooth, coming forward and pulling back where required. The drama of the melody is emphasised, and the heaviness is there.

Synth comes more forward, extends and compresses notes. It plays slow and fast, moving as required, not being too busy but putting forward an energy. Putting forward more drama, rising and falling, seemingly gliding, flowing. Flowing along, cutting its own current through.

When the synth ends, the other sounds lower. They move more toward a peace, but they keep that pressure. It’s not a heavy pressure. It’s not pressing down. It seems to urge, seems to reveal a calm among it all, and there’s prettiness to it, and focus and direction, and it suddenly stops at the song’s end.