OCR01053 - Chrono Trigger 'Zeal Love' [Archive]

Villainelle

10-12-2003, 06:39 AM

The distorted piano reminds me of a music box whose batteries are running low (er...or one that needs to be wound up again), but luckily it gets somewhat absorbed by the other instruments. I also didn't care for the sort of uninspired drums...it would have been nice to hear something more exotic, because they were such an integral part of the original. Otherwise, the arrangement is very pleasant and interesting, and a refreshing take on a familiar theme.

Shhteve

10-12-2003, 07:53 AM

It's been some time since I heard a remix that stood out as much as this does in overall quality. Really, really great stuff here. Zeal hasn't been mixed quite like this.. Even though there's a million Zeal remixes on OCR, this one is the most original sounding of them all. :D

Samurai Jin

10-12-2003, 09:51 AM

dude, great stuff, at the time this song just hit a spot in my life... so sad so touching... I would give you a full review over my big speakers... but NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! someone had to steal my 4.1's and my PC and my MODEM, so it took me like a half an hour to dl this song and I must say its well worth it... so dont listen for the Zeal theme... listen for the interpretation of the Zeal theme... the interpretation is what makes this one great.

ziwtra

10-12-2003, 11:36 AM

To me this rivals Love Hurts in originality and complete alteration of the context of the original song. The Zeal Theme, no matter how much we like it, has never really been the material for much emotional impact. Well, now it is.

That distorted piano/lead really owns me btw. It represents emotional strain much better than some crisp, clean sound would.

Hats off to Unipulator : )

yh

ShiroSynth

10-12-2003, 12:28 PM

Its a wonderful song, and regardless of the fact that the zeal theme has been remixed so much, it stands apart from the others quite nicely.

Prince of the Stars

10-12-2003, 02:53 PM

I love almost everyhting about this song, except for that distorted paino. The techniques used are nice, and the piece is generally pleasing, but the distorted paino grates on my ears a bit. It's still a good mix though.

Jackpoto

10-12-2003, 05:49 PM

good remix, break from the ordinary piano.

Drugski

10-12-2003, 07:16 PM

I don't care if the zeal theme gets overremixed. You wanna know the reason it gets remixed so often? IT'S BECAUSE IT ROCKS! No matter how many time you remix it, if it gives an original twist to the entire zeal theme, like this remix does, it's great and should be encouraged. Now for this remix. I like it. It's original and it's the zeal theme, which never seems to be boring :P

Unipulator

10-12-2003, 10:09 PM

none of my friends like the distorted piano and i knew most folks here wouldn't either, but as for the whole point of this song, i felt it was the right, if not the _prettiest_ sound. humor me for a moment ...

... see, the zeal theme is like the aging matron of game remixers ... it's been around forever, and has told its story time and time again. now, its voice may be strained and weak from overuse, but it is no less capable of imparting great emotion, as it did to me the first time i heard it, just as it did the hundredth time.

sometimes the straining, cracked voice of an old granny warbling an old tune can move someone more profoundly than the clear treble of a naive new diva singing about new love.

the zeal theme is that old granny to me, and when i listen to it, i reconnect with the time long ago when i realized that game music can have a very special power. that distorted piano may be a weak old granny humming as best she can, but the synth, bass and drum thickness beneath her singing is how that weak voice actually makes me feel.

i feel that zeal is the absolute epitome of great game music, and as one of the most well-traveled representatives of this art, it deserves the attention it gets. i didn't think twice about finally paying tribute to it.

UltimaAvatar

10-12-2003, 11:05 PM

I like this one, its good except the distorted piano solo in the beginning was a little off...the distorted in the beginning was bad, although throughout the song when it was accompanied with the other music it sounded alright. the distorted piano reminded me of my old old gameboy when i got gunk in its little speaker and the sound came out distorted like that. but i enjoyed the mix and i listened to your other one too and it was really good, but i don't know what the original sounded like so i can't tell how much better it was.

Psycrow

10-13-2003, 12:54 AM

More Zeal mixes! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Admittedly this one's a little dull, I wasn't a big fan of what you did with the piano... reminded me a bit of someone tinkering with a computerized piano toy for kids :P

It's got some originality, though, and it's enjoyable. I'd give it... 6.67/10

DruManIaC_714

10-13-2003, 01:19 AM

Hey unipulator, is it legal to post on the thread thats reviewing your own remix ? :P:P anyway,

nice mix man... the piano in the beginning gets me a bit sleepy, but that could be because ive ben up sice 5 and i have yet to read 3 chapters in the scarlet letter

Unipulator

10-13-2003, 01:31 AM

laf is it "legal"? ;)

heh i just wanted to get all preachy, can't you let a man preach?

Fieari

10-13-2003, 01:56 AM

Preach it brothah!

LibertyCabbage

10-13-2003, 02:13 AM

I would have prefered something more original...

the zeal theme has been done many times and it will take more than a "distorted piano" to make this one stand out

sgx

10-13-2003, 02:46 AM

Hey unipulator, is it legal to post on the thread thats reviewing your own remix ? :P:P anyway,

Yea, djp has said several times I believe, that he wishes mixers would add more of their comments in their review threads.

Anyhow. Just gotta say I dug this. Distorted piano is nice. Bassline is tight. Good stuff.

Simoom

10-13-2003, 03:17 AM

i kinda like this one, this song is sorta halfway new age sounding, the samples are good and the distorted piano is different.

i really don't care how many remixes of zeal get made anyways, its a good song, and besides i don't even have that many remixes of the theme on my playlist compared to some other themes (like the chocobo theme, although people can feel free to stop making those cause i've always found it a bit on the goofy side anyways), so doesn't bug me. People should basically remix whatever they want to hear remixes of themselves, if what they want isn't already out there, you should make it.

Zeality

10-13-2003, 04:09 AM

As the foremost collector and lover of Zeal remixes, I must say that you've met every expectation conceivable; this is an excellent piece and does well to represent its own interpretation of Zeal.

Excerpt from a recent letter:

I’m sure you know Chrono Trigger was the great
epic I do; it is staunch proof that viable works can be communicated in
the VG Medium. As I went through it, absorbing Mitsuda’s rich music, I
received a gloriously lifting experience as I explored Zeal. Although my
classification of it as what my own, personal heaven would be had not yet
been formed, Zeal stood as a pinnacle of beauty, knowledge, dreams, and
enlightenment to me. I had always fancied the definition of a truly
enlightened person; one would speak many tongues, know the mathematical
and scientific workings of his or her environment, as well as have the
capacity to write prose and poetry and be able to weigh intellectual
matters fairly. Zeal, although it does not directly represent this,
exemplifies the shining residency of such wondrous people. Its emerald
hills, sparkling cities and azure lakes define this idea, but the most
striking attribute is its literal place in the heavens. Zeal is my
optimum; it is my dreamy celestial kingdom (not the Chrono Trigger one,
exactly, but Zeal in essence as an enlightened and immensely beautiful
place).

This adds another dimension to my vision of Zeal. I know I fail horribly in my attempt at a textual thank you, but I wish that you know I am deeply grateful for your remix, as it will shine to me personally forever. Thank for orchestrating such a worthy and enlightening work.

Again, thank you. Beauty lies herein...

TheRedBob

10-13-2003, 02:36 PM

I have to say I agree whole-heartedly with Zeality.

I feel the same way about not only Zeal as an essence more than a place, but about this mix also. I rather enjoyed the distorted piano, actually. Unlike some mixes on this site, this piece flows. It has a very cool climactic thing at 2:10, which I really liked. Unipulator, you have my deepest, most profound gratitde.

Drugski

10-13-2003, 02:43 PM

The more chrono remixes the better :D

_excousa_

10-13-2003, 03:09 PM

I could just listen to the first 20 seconds of this over and over(beautiful harmony and usage of the instrument). The 'distorted' chords just add to the overall quality of this mix. I love this mix, and looking forward to more. :wink:

Joshua Morse

10-13-2003, 03:38 PM

Unipulator, I wouldn't worry about half the people in here hating on you. How often do you hear distorted piano? RARELY! Can we try and embrace creativity in music? Unipulator, what you did is different. Not only do I like the arrangment, but I think you did a good job.

Fray

10-13-2003, 04:49 PM

Wow. Having played piano for a really long time before I got into remixing, I'm pretty picky about piano sounds -- however, I really liked the distorted piano in this one. I think it fits the Zeal melody really well. The non-distorted piano part is also really incredible.

Good job on a very interpretive, beautiful remix.

Only gripe I can give is that I would have liked to hear a more fleshed-out denoument and ending. I think the ending is a little too sudden, and it interrupts what is otherwise a really good musical flow.

Fray.

smh

10-13-2003, 09:14 PM

i am impressed. this guy knows what he is doing and does it well.

before you say to yourself "not another zeal mix!", download this one and listen to it a few times. it definitely stands out above the rest in terms of sheer atmosphere and originality.

Kamikaze Noodle

10-13-2003, 09:17 PM

I thought I'd heard the Zeal theme so many times inside-out and upside-down that I could never be *touched* by it. But then this happened. This piece is just awesome. The ONLY thing I really find faulted with is the drums. They just don't sound...as good as they could 1:05-1:45 but that is really it. I think the distorted piano conveys more struggle, more, difficulty, if you know what I mean. Instead of just "Hey it's the Zeal theme!" It's more like "This hurts my soul to sing..."
You've done a damn good remix of Zeal, Unipulator. :nicework: :nicework:

zircon

10-13-2003, 10:13 PM

At first, I was really expecting a ho-hum Zeal remix like most of the ones on OCR now (I can barely tell the difference even now). However, this is CERTAINLY above the bar here, despite the fact that the theme has been perhaps over-remixed. The amount of variation, the solid arrangement, and creative branching from the original really makes this remix stand out. I honestly don't have any problem with any of the arrangement or the samples. 9/10, definitly.

TSZelda

10-14-2003, 01:28 AM

This song is actually pretty good. This one reminds me of the song "Eyes on Me" from FFVIII(which this song was the base for). I thought it was too short, IMHO...

Isk

10-14-2003, 02:14 AM

dig it...interesting take on the Zeal theme. great music to play when it's raining.

Gekko

10-14-2003, 02:33 AM

Good stuff. Zeal was always my favorite track. I don't understand what people see in Shala, Zeal is so much better. Still waiting for a Lavos track though...

OmNiExiZt

10-14-2003, 12:39 PM

I do like this song, I really do. But I'm going to have to agree with everyone else who said that the distorted piano was not needed. It sounds more like a bad sample rather than a compliment to the other elements of the song itself. In fact I find it ear piercing, it's like right up there with someone sticking a cold piece of metal up under your eyelids. This sound alone was trying to ruin the song for me but I wouldn't let it. Unipulator I know it's a little late in the game to chage that but if you can please do. I don't know why, but this song kind of reiminds me of robo Ky's song from GGXX.

stratos

10-14-2003, 05:38 PM

Look, if this is piercing to your ears then just adjust your graphic EQ....sheesh. Unless there is something seriously lacking in my sound setup, which I don't think there is, the piano doesn't seem to be piercing anyway.
Anyway, I liked this tune. I guess I have a soft spot for impressionistic pieces. However, I think the artist suffers from a common problem that I seem to have whenever doing something similar - the melody loses its distinctiveness within the newly arranged chord voicings. Now that the new chord voicings are present, some of the old tensions caused by the melody have become unisons (the same note) and at other times I feel like there are some unintended dissonances that threaten to derail the mood. In addition, some of the new harmony is not as provocative as the original.
I seriously admire the artist for his vision in the piece. Honestly, these types of impressions aren't always that clear, and when you can articulate them like this artist has, it lends an honesty to the music that some more straight-forward arrangements don't have.
However, something we often forget in our excitement over our impressions is that the original composer didn't make up the harmony by accident. The melody is an integral part of the harmony and in some ways restricts our ability to alter the tune without carefully consideration. Yeah, it's a pain in the butt, and it has slain many a composition for me, but we all gotta deal with it.
Good job...this was enjoyable.

Zeality

10-14-2003, 08:53 PM

I think the piano is fine; it doesn't necessarily sting my ears, nor does it hurt the song. I would like to hear it done without the peaking, though.

Vortaka

10-14-2003, 10:49 PM

Ok, I'm NOT a remixer or anything... Nor am I plugged into music 24/7... But what I hear is good... It has a nice and unique style. A cool and smooth rythm... Every note is well placed and sounds very good! It goes in my Nomad all the way!

Great work!

_excousa_

10-14-2003, 11:31 PM

On another note, I think making the original piano piece in the first 20 seconds into a full song on its own would make a great original work...I'd love to hear it. :wink:

SyncMaster

10-15-2003, 05:14 AM

I thought it was great...even though there has been tons of mixs made from this song this one s in my top 5.

Hobbes

10-16-2003, 06:57 AM

I agree with _excousa_-- the opening piano part is simply beautiful. As soon as I heard it I knew I would love this mix. This is definitely somewhere in my top 5 favourite Chrono Trigger mixes.

If the distorted piano had been in any other song, it might have annoyed me. But I really do think it is fitting for this theme. I'd say more about why I think it is fitting, but Uni already explained himself very nicely on page 1.

I haven't reviewed any mixes in a while, but this is my favourite mix in recent memory so I felt compelled to add my own recommendation.

Temporal

10-16-2003, 12:10 PM

If I could replace the music in Chrono Trigger with remixes, I'd use this for Zeal.

The distorted piano is beautiful, and gives the song a unique texture. It didn't even occur to me that it was distorted until I read this thread; it fit the piece so well. Also have to agree with all of Uni's preaching on page 1. :)

My only complaint is that the ending is rather sudden. It's like, "What? No more music? NOOOOOOOO!"

This piece easily makes my "best of the best" playlist...

Demos.Machina

10-16-2003, 08:24 PM

I'm not going to go right out and jump the gun by saying this is the best track on my playlist, but it's a damn good one I say. Still, it's unfair for me to judge a song after only having it for a day. It takes me many listenings to a song for me to fully appreciate it.

The piano at the start of the song is great, and the beat in the background along with the distortion starting at :22 only adds to it. Around :43, when the main riff of Zeal came on, I almost cringed my first time through. No, this isn't from it being bad, merely it was a shock. I had never heard Zeal like this before. It's a bloody good thing to hear though.

It goes through another change somewhere around 1:55 and gets out of the piano phase and into a great techno phase until 2:34 when the two merge into a perfect harmony. Seriously, great stuff. I don't care how many times I hear Zeal, it'll never loose that great touch it has. This is just a different way of listening to it, and I recommend it.

Wisdom

10-23-2003, 03:02 PM

This song is gorgeous. The distorted piano creates a unique effect, one I think works very well in the song. The strong bassline keeps the song from ever feeling empty, which is a problem I feel with a lot of Zeal remixes: there's too much attention paid to the frills and not enough to creating the total experience. I loved kizukaseru (why causative, though?) and I don't love this any less. Great job, Unipulator. You've got a new fan.

*Drasiir

10-24-2003, 07:52 PM

If a song has stirred an emotion, then it has done its job.

Well done.

brink-of-time

11-01-2003, 06:05 PM

ahhhhhh......what a great relaxing piece.
this song is very well put together. great.....well....EVERYTHING!!!!

nice piano, especially when it is distorted. i have seen pretty bad distorted piano, and man this sone was done with exceptional greatness!

lord-of-shadow

11-02-2003, 12:53 AM

Fantastic piece. One of the best remixes I have ever heard... Myself, I didn't notice a single bad thing. Perhaps it's jsut my sound setup, but this track was absolutely pefect for me all the way through. Quite possibly my favorite OCR remix.

To me this rivals Love Hurts in originality and complete alteration of the context of the original song. The Zeal Theme, no matter how much we like it, has never really been the material for much emotional impact.

Strange. The Zeal theme has been my favorite musical piece of all time for quite awhile now. Nothing else inspires emotion in me quite as well as hearing that music does. Others, Unipulator and Zeality especially, seem to share at least part of this.

beastsm

11-13-2003, 01:11 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed the first submission from Unipulator even though I have never played Last Blade 2. Chrono trigger however I have played, and this theme, appropriately named Zeal, was one of my favorites. Immediatley in listening to this piece I noticed a positive correlation to the Last Blade 2 Remix. Both pieces have an excellent balance to the sound, and while I enjoyed how Un. used the fretless bass in his first mix, I really enjoyed the heartiness of the bass used in this CT piece to bring out the melody and counter-melody. The altered chords were tasteful additions to the sound, and the distorted piano was a much-needed reminder of the humble origins of the tune. Each of the parts were weeved seemlessly into the chronic flow of the piece, and overall I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of this remix. Props to Unipulator who is undeniably one of my favorite remixers on this site (even with only two pieces). I look forward to seeing future works posted.

[Paladin|Steve]

02-15-2004, 11:41 PM

This song is one of the best I know, very soothing ';,,;' Someone who is listening outside of a mixers knowledge cannot spot the so called "flaws" you claim it has, therefore its fine to me

CatfishGuru1982

02-16-2004, 12:19 PM

Wow. Another Zeal theme. I agree that it's been played out, but Unipulator, congratulations on rekindling my interest on Zeal remixes. This mix is absolutely beautiful, the piano is awesome. Keep up the good work.

SlaveToTheDark

02-18-2004, 11:58 PM

I must say that this is actually my favorite of all the Zeal ReMixes here. It just seems to hit me in a very emotional way. The harmonies are great. I don't really know what it is about this song, but I love it. My favorite part is definatly at 2:32 when the back ground piano line comes in under the main theme. The distorted piano adds more emotion in my opinion. This Remix, overall, just touches me. Zeal is not only one of my favorite video game songs, but in my top 5 favorite songs of all time, and I think Unipulator not only does justice to the song, but gives it a new, more touching and melancholic depth.

Ayutrance

05-02-2004, 02:56 AM

Alright, I'll admit it. I love this remix :D It is so unbelievably awesome, and at first I thought it blew. I was WRONG. This is going to be burned and put on a cd that I will be listening to when I am driving to work. ARE you f***ing kidding me 8O ?!?!?! I got goosebumps listening to it. If you don't like this remix, well, not everyone has the same tastes, but you would be foolish, or be in posession of a tin ear if you did not find this particular remix of the Island of Zeal theme to be one of, if not the best out there. I was doubtful at first, but this is going in my top 10 game OST remixes.

Hotlanta

06-16-2004, 02:02 AM

Again, it's been said...but I'll say it again. This is quite possibly my favorite Zeal remix. Everything flows together in perfect harmony, and nothing disrupts the melody...like cheezy, 16-bit sounding crap. Job well done...'nuff said.

Flux

07-09-2004, 06:43 PM

If you ask me, this is the best Zeal remix from all Zeal remixes at ocremix.org

That instrument which plays those main notes from 0:43 to end, has some static which spoils the remix a little bit or it's my Grado SR-80 headphones. :(

I like this so much that I put it to my favorites. 8)

Animazed

08-06-2004, 11:59 PM

this song is so good.. wow one of the best remixes on this site

Aurora

08-25-2004, 06:36 PM

I am in love with this Zeal mix. Wow. I love the Zeal music from CT, and I love all of the mixes... but this one I didn't find until recently for some reason... And i'm in love with it. It is so amazing. Just so good. Wells the emotions and makes me stop everything I'm doing when it comes on... its amazing.

Thank you.

DJ Riott

08-28-2004, 03:10 AM

There are a lOT of CT remixes.. its hard to keep em all straight and remember the good ones.. But this one is a must have.

That piano, with that bouncing synth makes me so Sad :cry: Excellent use of emotion.

Lots of memories. Good work.

BlueEnvy

08-31-2004, 04:36 PM

This is very emotional. Great job applying a new chord progression to the often-remixed Zeal theme. The distorted piano does work very well as djp stated, which is not usually the case. The slight waiting at some points on the attack of the piano adds great feel. This has a unique style, and perhaps is one of the more creative of the Zeal mixes out there.

Blue

ShrikeArghast

09-23-2004, 02:58 AM

This is a song that just completely went under-the-radar for me. I was only browsing the site today when I stumbled upon it and realized I didn't recognize the name.

This is easily the best Zeal remix out there. It isn't overdone, it isn't grinding, and it isn't melodramatic.

What it is is highly emotional, but in a subtle way that doesn't cause you to weep openly when you listen to it. I guess the best way to describe it would be melancholy-- kind of like drifting memories of the once-glorious-yet-now-fallen Zeal Kingdom.

That's the way I want to think of Zeal, and that is the element that this mix so perfectly captures.

PancakeHero

09-23-2004, 06:31 PM

]This song is one of the best I know, very soothing ';,,;' Someone who is listening outside of a mixers knowledge cannot spot the so called "flaws" you claim it has, therefore its fine to me

I second that....awesome mix.

k u n g f u c h i c k e n

09-24-2004, 04:50 AM

Wow. Amazing. This is the best Zeal remix ever, and I dare someone to argue. It's so emotional..... like it has been said. OMG. Great work dude.

BlueMage

11-10-2004, 12:36 AM

Personally, I don't like a lot of the Zeal remixes....not sure why, but they just don't grab me. This one on the otherhand....what can I say but superb? This remix conveys the emotion and grandeur most people seem to associate with Time Circuits, and, like When All Hope Has Faded, it does so by combining traditional and electronic instrument manipulation. Can't go past this one.

*WARNING* more emotional individuals may need a tissue or two at hand when listening to this one - I kid you not. This track moved me, almost to tears when I let my imagination start running about what it could pair up with visually.

Imports4me

01-31-2005, 04:58 AM

I have downloaded many songs from the OC site but this one keeps my coming back for more nearly a year after I first heard it. I get the same feeling now when I hear at as I did the first time. This has to be one of the best songs.

nomindo

02-17-2005, 10:26 AM

Unipulator, this is simply great stuff. i think it takes balls to distort the piano, and the risk pays off. the first few chords are a little rough, but 30 seconds later i have forgotten all about it as i drift off into OCR bliss. this is a premier(sp?) example of why this site exists so please Uni, keep up the good work

jilya

02-26-2005, 05:30 PM

this is my absolute favorite zeal remix.

Linear

04-03-2005, 06:39 PM

Zeal Love stays in perfect harmony with its predecessor. It never sways away from the original melody. If you liked the Orignal, then there is no doubt that you will absolutely love this version. This is what i believe can be the successor of the original piece. This is very very passionate music here.

Bummerdude

09-27-2005, 03:44 PM

YOU CAN FEEL THE LOOOVE DUDES, ZEAL LOOVE!!!! :D :P :tomatoface:

The very irritating fact that there´s a million Zeal mixes really puts me in my bad mood, but I can´t withstand the power of love. :wink:

Anyhow, great mix, very funky and groovy, actually hippie-style man. The piano was great along with the looping synth at the back, and distortion thingie, didn´t bother me.

This would be the number one track at OCRemix Love Collection Album, trust me.

Meteo

09-27-2005, 04:17 PM

Someone's obsessed with Chrono Trigger remixes......

Dhsu

09-27-2005, 06:56 PM

this is my absolute favorite zeal remix.
Ditto.

Bummerdude

09-28-2005, 06:46 PM

Someone's obsessed with Chrono Trigger remixes......

HAHAHA...very funny. I guess I got a little carried away, and I do love these remixes(who doesn´t?).
Is that a crime? Huh?

about:blank

09-30-2005, 12:47 PM

I downloaded this mix a few days ago and I still can't get it out of my head, Zeal has always been one of my favorite video game songs, but this take on it made me appreciate it in a whole new light. The distorted piano is very artistic, and at times very emotional, thepiece as a whole is just beautiful, one of the best pieces I've heard on the site so far, this one is definitely staying on my playlist. Keep up the good work!

fireflower

02-09-2006, 02:15 AM

wow. just wow. that's all.

and thank you. that too.

XUL!

02-18-2006, 12:54 PM

This is, without a doubt, the absolute best Chrono mix.
Ever.

Flare4War

03-06-2006, 07:23 AM

Incredible take on Zeal.

By far my favorite Zeal arrangment.

Phenomenal work.

Fiendofthenorth

03-07-2006, 02:57 AM

Only 2 songs I've heard by Unipulator, and I fell in love with both the first time I heard em. Truly an awesome remixer, this remix does so much to the Zeal theme, and is probably my favorite remix of it.

about:blank

03-05-2007, 11:11 PM

This has always been my favorite take on "Corridors of Time", with "Electric Clouds" coming in a close second. Some people reacted negatively to the distorted piano, but I feel that the song wouldn't be the same without it. When it's first introduced, everything except for the percussion and a pad is taken away. Eventually, the other synths come in again to create a truly bitersweet sound.

I first listened to this mix about two years ago, when I first discovered the site. It was a relatively rough time in my life, and I would often listen to this mix, as well as many others. Anyway, time went on and it's been a couple years since I've listented to it.

Just five minutes ago, I decided to listen to it again, and I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of nostalgia. In my opinion, the fact that this remix brought up old memories and emotions is proof that video game music and remixes are a form of music that is just as powerful as any other.

i talk to the rain

03-24-2007, 12:23 AM

i love this mix almost as much as i hate it... in '03 i dated a young man who said he made this and many other oc remixes. he was lying, of course, and the betrayal hurts to this day because every time i hear one of those songs the pain returns. this particular song was 'our' song. i can't even listen to it anymore, haven't been able to since, but it's so beautiful... every so often i have to torture myself with it.

and i don't care what any of those other losers say. :wink: (i kid, i kid - some of those 'losers' are the big names around here) but i like the distorted piano. emotional acid reflux aside, this is my favorite zeal remix.

HoboKa

03-25-2007, 04:53 AM

plz...no...more...zeal...remixes....

but its good :D

fullmetal_puck

02-13-2009, 08:29 AM

I've been an on-again-off-again visitor to the website-- though recently my interest was revitalized when I came across this old favorite by Unipulator.

I downloaded "Zeal Love" in 2005 after a friend of mine told me about the website, and it was more than just a trip into the memories I had of playing this game-- but of music linked to emotion in a way that was startling, sad, though sweet and familiar all at once.

While I'm no remixer, I'm a fan of music across the board. I like to think of ways in which it affects soundtracks to film and how it's used in theatre. "Zeal Love" certainly seems to sound like the utopia that would have been. The oft maligned distorted piano that was used in this piece can almost be compared to the swell of woodwinds that Mozart used in his "Gran Partita". At first, like a rusty instrument that seems to groan and ache, but then when the rest of the instruments fall into place, the transformation from the old world to the new is complete, and the music is accomplishing its mission in ways you couldn't begin to define.

For the "haters", I'd say they have to let the piece do its work. It's not the original. It doesn't need to be. It's an expression; in this case, a well-crafted, beautifully moving expression.

yosefu

07-07-2009, 12:24 PM

A very beautiful and emotional song that to me is the best interpretaion of the original song. Great Job

metalsnakejuice

07-09-2009, 11:13 AM

I enjoyed ever minute of this wonderful remix.

Emunator

12-19-2009, 08:35 AM

The synths entered way too abruptly and I can't say I'm a fan of the distorted piano, but the rest of the minimalist soundscape is handled quite nicely, and the non-distorted piano sounds great! Thanks for reminding me how much I love this tune :-P

There's lots to love about this, so even if some elements don't jive with you, you might find that the end product is still something highly listenable!

tweek

08-26-2010, 10:18 PM

To date, this is our 2nd and last mix from Unipulator which is a real shame. THe man knows how to create ambience better than just about anyone I've ever heard. His tracks are 7 years old, and my goodness they have aged well. Out of the gate, we hear a piano intro that is very similar to his past song, and I'm diggin' it all the way. The arpeggiated synth line is awesome by creating an intensity to the track that helps drive it, but never intruding upon the laid back vibe the track is aiming for! The soundscape is extremely lush and resilient. The arrangement is fairly simple with the backing chords holding the music behind the main melody, but don't hear "simple" as a bad thing at all. Even in the simplicity, Eric has managed to create something with a full and beautiful sound. My goodness, when I listen to the mixes I was trying to do back in 2003, it was down right embarrassing compared to this. Beautiful arrangement all around.

08-27-2010, 06:06 PM

I gotta agree with Brian here, this track has really aged well, and sounds pretty timeless. THe distorted piano struck me as an odd choice, but it really captured my attention, and when the rest of the synths came in, it felt just right. The backdrop is lush and beautiful, and the chord progression alterations are even better than the original ones, imo. It really mixes some hope with melancholy and mystery. The structure is really similar, but the completely new feel is what really sells this one.

Fantastic work. This is the best Zeal remix.