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OCRA-0053 - Final Fantasy IX: Worlds Apart


djpretzel
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Firstly, credit where it is due! This album project was originally started by Brandon Strader, who you might also know as the director of the FFI and FFII albums on OC ReMix. Please do check out those, and all of the other Final Fantasy albums!

As you might have heard, this album has been a long time coming. This is partly because it is humongous, featuring 58 tracks with contributions from 57 artists. Final Fantasy IX has a huge soundtrack (over 120 tracks), and the reason for this is the great number of variations on motifs. There are so many variations that we actually had to limit the number of versions of similar themes. Twice in interviews, Mr. Uematsu has said that the Final Fantasy IX soundtrack is his favourite of the series, and you can definitely tell he got carried away given the depth on display. Even if you don't agree that it's his best, I definitely think it's the most cohesive effort in the series.

One thing you might notice about this album is the amount of new faces (or new at the time) who contributed multiple tracks. This is because they actually joined OC ReMix just for this project because of how much they love FFIX. I'm personally really happy for that to be the case, as I've always thought that you can really hear when people are invested in their tracks. Spotlighting the game music you really love is what we're all about here, and I feel like that is particularly true with this album.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to all the contributors to the album including the 57 ReMixers; the awesome artists at Game-Art-HQ; José for working on the trailer; Kevin "TheGreyNinja" Merriman for the cover art; Flexstyle for a bit of mastering; and finally djp, Larry, and the other staff for helping to get everything out the door.

Thanks for waiting, and I really hope you enjoy it!

 

- Cain "Fishy" McCormack

 

 

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Just finished the first disc and this is outstanding.  I'm forcing myself to listen to everything cover to cover as I'm guilty of cherry picking my favorite tracks off albums in the past and missing out on some really awesome stuff. 

 

The one thing I'm a little sad to see is no remix of Mt. Gulug (or Gurugu Volcano, whatever you prefer to call it) which I arranged for my high school percussion ensemble in 2003.  I'll try remixing it when I have time in between work/school stuff, but I'm admittedly still an "artist in progress" when it comes to remixes.

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The one thing I'm a little sad to see is no remix of Mt. Gulug (or Gurugu Volcano, whatever you prefer to call it) 

There was a pretty dang good remix of that on the FF1 album by blackguitar

 

http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02555

 

I'm stuck at work so I haven't got to download the album yet! But I can only imagine how awesome it is  :cry:

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There was a pretty dang good remix of that on the FF1 album by blackguitar

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I definitely like what he did with that track.  Uematsu added a few more melodic ideas and embellishments to the FF9 rendition (heard mostly in the beginning) that made it my personal "hidden gem" of the OST.

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I cant even begin to think of where to begin.

 

Everywhere i turn there is audio awesomeness.

 

Kate once again proves every bit Pixie's equal.

 

Amanda delivers a truly surprising awesome performance.

 

Natalya and Seth pull off the near impossible imo in remixing a remix and making it FIT.

 

Melodies of Life was an absolute shocker. I looked at the timer before the first note played and thought it was an error...Then the second part of the song hit. Mind=Blown.

 

Freya...I'll say what I said on twitter. My favorite character of the entire FF series. My personal archetype of a character and a story of redemption I just loved start to finish. Her theme was as well done as I could hope for.

 

FF6 was a long time dream fulfilled hearing the Opera in its entirety with the Aria being my capstone.

 

In FF9 I only hoped for staying true to the game in all its awesomeness and faults. Well, you people somehow managed to pull off underpromising and overdelivering with this one.

 

You people could drop the microphone right now your mark on the world of music made forever with what you've released recently.

 

Personally I want you people to bind that microphone to your hands with adamantium wire. Long Live OCremix. God has sent you all to earth with a purpose. And you all have found it.

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First thing I have to say in this "review" is that I think that maestro Uematsu's music for this masterpiece is perfect, and when I say perfect I really mean perfect, "as it is".
I had to listen to the whole album twice to start understanding something... you know, more than 50 tracks, more than 50 musicians, everyone with his own style and influences... It's not an "easy-listening" album, even you are used at listening prog music as I am and even if you are the biggest fan of Final Fantasy IX on Earth, as I am.

So... after the second listening it was almost 3 am, I was very tired of course and I was... fully disappointed. I expected more from you guys.

I think many of us can say that Uematsu's masterpiece of the original soundtrack is "You are not alone". Half of the hype of the last 5 years for me was for this song.

The version of Poolside and Amanda looked a lot strange to me, not fitting to the original mood of course, and it was a kind of sacrilege to me. :mellow:

I went to sleep, woke up and I suddendly found myself under the shower screaming "I'LL WAIT FOR YOOOOOU UNTIL OUR SOOOOULS ARE TOOORN APAAAAART".  :lol: 
And I now I'm listening to Worlds Apart for the third time and I feel ashamed cause now I know that I can be a stupid fanboy too, "corroded so much by the waiting" (hope it's proper english)  to not be able to recognize some great music when I listen to it.  :D 
Thank you Fishy, thank you OC community, hope I'll have the skills to work with you one day.

 

(as always sorry for my poor english)

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Great  to see this album finally here! Patience well rewarded, a lot of jewels in a large variety of styles! After a first listening, it will be difficult for me to list all track which really marked me, so much there was.
I'm almost impressive by arrangement on tracks whose originals wasn't really marking IMO("Fixations", "Into the Sandstorm", "Four Score and Six-Eight"). Very much interesting tracks in this album. I retain also :
- "To Be Forgotten", really surprising knowing original and so nostalgic
- "I Am Gonna Stop Eventually" where Brandon has a new time managed to surprise us by using a new style
- "Corra!" not really surprising, but so powerful!
- " Knight-wit" I didn't expected this style for this track, but I love it !
- " Vamo alla Django" Impressed by virtuosity of artists. Style original and welcome !  
I tried to make an eclectic selection. But a lot of other tracks are really great !
Thanks to OCR and to the artist for this album ! I've really found in it the tribute that the OST deserved :)
 

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Dare I say it? This is the best official album yet! Usually, there's quite a few songs that I don't like too much, but I think I like just about all the songs here. Nothing too avant garde. Loving Gario's contributions especially. They seem so thorough and has a great flow to them. The retro theme might've earned some bonus points from me though. Overall, the arrangements and mixes make for a pleasant experience, back to back.

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Currently listening, I just finished disc 2 and I haven't found a single song that I dislike (I even like the vocal performances which is rare). My favorites so far (Off the top of my head) are "To Be Forgotten", "Terraforming Gaia", "Ambitious Whispers, Immoral Chants", and "Zaghnol Comes"(This is one of Sixto's best songs IMO). There have been many others that I really enjoy but I forgot what their names were so I'll pinpoint them when I re-listen to this album.

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I haven't finished the album but I'm super impressed by this album. I had to play songs on my radio show because they're so good. And now? Now...Dear Lord I'm stuck on Late Night Lindblum. Oh. My. God. The drums on this track are astonishing in its simplicity. And the entire track rarely continues one motif in the exact same way. It represents the Worlds Apart theme. And. Those. Drums. Definitely giving this song love on my show tomorrow. Those drums... The pocket... I know it's all electric but Mattias made them feel so good. I want to cover this track badly.

 

Sorry. Just mouth-watering. Someone's got to relate.  :razz:

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Did I just miss it, or is there no arrangement of Rebirth of the Evil Mist on this?

I mean I hate that song solely because once you get to Disc 4 it replaces Crossing Those Hills forever and yeah, but still.

 

It's also missing the music from the frog catching minigame, unless it goes by a different name.

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So I've given the whole thing three full listens-through. There's definitely some good tracks on this album. I think the standouts for me are as follows:

 

All of Kate Covington's tracks are superb, as per her usual M.O. - I think You Don't Know Me is probably my favorite thing on here. FixationsLunar Rebellion, and Craic in the Castle Walls are all amazing, particularly as they showed off tracks I had no real expectations for due to their being tracks that weren't particularly favorites of mine in the game; Fixations in particular struck me strongly, as I had totally forgotten about the wedding music in the game. As Long as We Remember is an excellent rendering of Garnet's theme, and The Knight of Woeful Sorrow, Crystal Tempest, Doomed Lovers, Black Mage Master, and Filtering Through the Memories are all really great takes on some of my favorite parts of the OST.

There were some disappointments too, but I won't go into detail about them here. I do have a question though, and Mirby/Pipez' posts made me think of it: Is it my imagination, or did Eidolon Wall also get missed? Just for curiosity's sake; it's possible it got worked into a track and I just missed it.

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 Fixations in particular struck me strongly, as I had totally forgotten about the wedding music in the game. 

Cheers for the pick-me-up! I really feel like I went out on a limb with the arrangement, but I'm glad if people can still enjoy it. Bringing even the minor&forgotten tracks back to people's minds is, after all, part of what remixing is all about. 

 

I really gotta have myself a marathon in the near future and listen through the whole thing. 

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So I've given the whole thing three full listens-through. There's definitely some good tracks on this album. I think the standouts for me are as follows:

 

All of Kate Covington's tracks are superb, as per her usual M.O. - I think You Don't Know Me is probably my favorite thing on here. FixationsLunar Rebellion, and Craic in the Castle Walls are all amazing, particularly as they showed off tracks I had no real expectations for due to their being tracks that weren't particularly favorites of mine in the game; Fixations in particular struck me strongly, as I had totally forgotten about the wedding music in the game. As Long as We Remember is an excellent rendering of Garnet's theme, and The Knight of Woeful Sorrow, Crystal Tempest, Doomed Lovers, Black Mage Master, and Filtering Through the Memories are all really great takes on some of my favorite parts of the OST.

There were some disappointments too, but I won't go into detail about them here. I do have a question though, and Mirby/Pipez' posts made me think of it: Is it my imagination, or did Eidolon Wall also get missed? Just for curiosity's sake; it's possible it got worked into a track and I just missed it.

Granted there's like 152 tracks on the soundtrack.  Even if you filter out the ones that were from previous games and recycled tunes, you still might not have enough room.  That being said I kinda wish there was a remix for this:

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FixationsLunar Rebellion, and Craic in the Castle Walls are all amazing, particularly as they showed off tracks I had no real expectations for due to their being tracks that weren't particularly favorites of mine in the game;

 

Cheers dude! Much appreciated!

 

I maintain that Lunar Rebellion is quite possibly the best piece of work I've done. It was heart wrenching to sit on it for so long, but I'm glad it's found an audience finally! Glad you enjoyed it :)

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