Double Dragon 2 Arranged is a quirky album from the late 1980's that takes the various musics from the classic game and arranges them in full instrumentation.
"Dead Or Alive" is a vocal song thats stepped straight out of the 1988 pop rock era! Sung in Japanese, the song is strong enough without really offending or grabbing you. What is more intrestting is that the opening of this song, like many others, opens with the original piece of music before the arrangement takes over. It sets the album apart and makes it that little bit more diverse and original.
"Unleashing the Ogre" keeps things in the 80's era with bouncy basslines and a catchy keyboard tune which is backed up with nice etheral layers of sound. "Low Persuit" souns likes its came straight from a Japanese Anime film. Its strong electric guitar and brass lines keep everything held together very tightly indeed.
"Night Sky Tension" takes things to a different place with a strange and quirky little song with very low brass and keyboard playing creating a strange tense atmoshphere. Its almost clumsy and far too b-movie styled to be effected but is fun to listen to anyway!
"Advancing Towards Sunset" returns to the 1980's Anime feel with more catchy uptempo tunes that once again are very pleasent on the ears without really getting you going - the same sentance can describe "Escape To The Forest" too.
"Wicked God" is another strange short song using goblin & atmosphere effects to produce a highly orignal piece of music.
Back to the 1980's rock tunes again with "Breaking The Barrier" that comes across much more stadium rock than before and with a killer riff along with various tempo changes making it a very good song! "Entering The Enemy Base" is more keyboard influenced and has a slight oriental futuristic feel to it and is also very fun to listen to.
"Roar Of The Double Dragon" reminds me so much of the song "Eye Of The Tiger" - especially the beginning! Infact its that song that could well describe around 2/3rd of this album! This songs well played and incorporates the original games sound effects in the song perfectly, which is a rarity.
"Miricle Of Double Dragon" is the sole slow song on the album and makes for a pleasent change with its synth produced strings. "Rising Desire" comes across like a space oddessy. It is full of grandure and regality and stands out from the crowd as a fine ending theme. Finally "Dead Or Alive Edit Version" returns for a reprise of the 1980's style anime rock song.
"Double Dragon 2 Arranged" is fundamentally a very good album. The songs are quite catchy, the instrumentation is very well played and the production is great. While its not the life changing album, if you are prepared to get passed, or have a soft spot for some anime rock that reminds you in 1988, be sure to give this album a spin - I was pleasently surprised!
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