A blast of nostalgia and relaxation! Today at Moon Stage, we received a rather fresh and special offering: Adam Nelson's reinvention of the Super Mario Bros. theme songs. His new EP, "Mushroom Kingdom Grooves," offers a relaxing and inspiring experience lasting twelve minutes and fifty-one seconds. With a blend of rock, funk, and jazz, it evokes nostalgia for those childhood moments spent in front of the screen and the Super Nintendo.
There are six magnificent tracks that will bring out the inner child in us. For example, the first track, "Overworld," is reminiscent of the franchise's most famous theme. Its brass arrangements and funky, danceable bass lines will create a dopamine rush. The musical arrangements unfold leisurely, filling the atmosphere with serenity.
"Starman," I'd say, has a lot of magic; it's like listening to that magnificent soundtrack filled with invincibility. Its sound is based on the soundtrack of the star when Mario is invincible for a few moments; this track features dynamics that lend themselves to free interpretation; where its drums, keyboards, brass, and guitars take on a more progressive and unpredictable sound.
Underground, the well-known soundtrack of the level below the sewer; this track captures the funk essence of the original version; here, it elevates that danceable and sensual side with funk arrangements of its pianos and guitars; it's like a disco track ready to make us feel relaxed and full of vitality.
Underwater, the reinvention of the underwater theme; this track felt more jazzy to me, with a 3/4 tempo that resonates with a dynamic and energetic tonality; here we can see his virtuosity as a musician, as each instrument takes its own path, complementing the melodic experience. It sounds playful, fun, and lively. What more could we ask for?
Funk Castle, the castle soundtrack; This soundtrack evokes the same suspense found in Koopa castles, with its peculiar interplay of arpeggios that create tension. Although it's a darker soundtrack, it truly manages to offer an escape from reality. Its progressive rhythms make it difficult to follow, as it lacks constant or repetitive patterns. On the contrary, it's so playful that its dramatic panning induces a trance-like state.
In conclusion, I can say that this soundtrack has a very modern feel, yet it also has the ability to make us feel like children again. It's incredible, and its jazz and funk influences truly showcase Adam Nelson's immense talent as a musician, as creating music in this style is no easy feat.
No comments :
Post a Comment