OCR01234 - EarthBound 'Dreaming on Distant Shores' [Archive]

omega_squid

08-20-2004, 07:36 AM

I'm torn. On one hand, Earthbound is my favorite game, ever, of all time. Nothing will top it. So a new EB mix fills me with joy.

On the other hand, are we talking about the same Earthbound here? The cult classic SNES RPG? I've played it at least once a year, every year since it came out, and although I hear some thematic similarities and samples I really don't recognize this song as anything from the game. So I'm sort of disappointed in that regard.

However, as a piece, on its own, it does some really neat and funky things. The trance ebb is carried throughout and it's very relaxing, I like the acidic synths and the crunchy drums near the middle. The instrumentation is well put together and the acoustic guitar is great (I normally abhor acoustic guitar used in electronic music) and the percussion has a very minimal quality to it. I seem to be hearing a sample of the sound stone melody in the background at places, but it may be my imagination. I love how it breaks down in the end to simple guitar and bass, it's got a bit of melancholy that reminds me of the end of the game--happy, and yet, sad. If they EVER make another Earthbound game I can see this being part of the soundtrack. Great work, even if it's more of a departure than I normally like.

jorgandar

08-20-2004, 08:39 AM

it's cliche.

it sounds the same as every other electronica/techno mix i've ever heard. not that it's not a good mix, it just dosent offer anything very unique. seems like everyone is just copying each other these days.

Coucou

08-20-2004, 09:22 AM

My prefered part is the main central electro one,
from 1'27 to 4'33.
Excellent rythm effects around 2'30 !!!

Tansunn

08-20-2004, 10:48 AM

As much as I like it, I'd have to agree with Squid. On my first listen, I couldn't recognize any EarthBound music in it at all. After figuring out which song he was referring to and listening to it a couple of times, I could barely recognize bits of the melody in the intro and ending during my second listen.

Overall, I like the sound of it, but I never would have recognized it as an EarthBound mix if I hadn't been told that's what it was supposed to be, and even so, I'm still not sure that I do.

Less Ashamed Of Self

08-20-2004, 12:26 PM

*upnods to Relik*
Don't get it hosted too fast now Relik. :D

Claado Shou

08-20-2004, 12:35 PM

Great work, Rellik. I just hope you get your Kefka remix posted before OCR1300 rolls around...it deserves it.

SirRus

08-20-2004, 02:12 PM

Dang this is some really neat stuff, this is like "Calculus for the ears" (see The Wingless Teardrinker), really have to concentrate and immerse yourself to fully appreciate it - great job Rellik, you are becoming the most consistent producer of quality quality stuff.

chthonic

08-21-2004, 03:38 AM

it sounds the same as every other electronica/techno mix i've ever heard.
Just because you know what a 909 hi-hat is doesn't make you an expert on electronica. Please don't judge anything so "harshly" until you get some musical sense.

Anyway, this is some of the most developmental, dreamy, well-structured, trance-inducing stuff I've heard in a long while. The arrangement is excellent, and the production is nothing short of wonderful. My only real complaint would have to be the somewhat awkward flow of the song from the softer sections into the other stuff.

Very, very nice.

-chth

Fray

08-21-2004, 04:28 AM

Agreed, cthonic. There's nothing even remotely cookie-cutter about this remix. It's creative, it's well-developed, and it's executed just about perfectly. For me, it's an instant favorite.

Uboichi2

08-21-2004, 06:25 AM

first time listening:
I didn't like the intro, it takes some time before something really starts to happen. somewhere around 3'00 it gets really nice though.. makes you feel like floating trough the galaxy ;)

second time listening:
Yups, intro is definitely too long for my taste, but this time I listened more closely to the construction of this song. Although the same chords keep repeating on and on, they won't get boring. Those simple chords makes me feel like floating and I like the way they come back in a different variety each time :)

Overall:
Maybe the intro is too long, but listen it, and you'll get something nice in return :)[/b]

Corporal Eschebone

08-21-2004, 06:55 PM

I like this. Very original and dream-like.

I'm not sure how close it is to the original melody though... The Earthbound .RSN doesn't have anything named "A Flash of Memory", and while this does seem vaguely familiar, I can't put my finger on it. Still very good though.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm pretty sure that the intro and ending is Tessie's theme, but the meat of the mix is a different track.

Xatos

08-22-2004, 01:27 AM

I didnt like earthbound very much including its soundtrack but i do like this remix.
One of the best trance remixes in my book.

Winter_Stardust

08-22-2004, 11:31 PM

The opening sounds like Tessie's theme, and the middle of the mix sounds kinda like the Sea of Eden track.
Other than being the most confusing remix I've ever heard, it's pretty good.

Ventrex

08-23-2004, 12:16 AM

I remember hearing this track some time ago on VGMix (which is what made me seek out other Rellik tracks here :D), and utterly loving it. Very "protagonist runs away from everything down the street at the end of the movie, right before the credits roll," if that makes sense. It gives me a sense of a cinematic, epic, and emotional ending, but not so much as to distract from the beauty of the track. All said, this is certainly one of my favorite game mixes ever. Very good to finally see it on OC.

This coming from someone who never could get very far in Earthbound. :D

08-23-2004, 02:36 AM

w00t

Simply wonderful.

MrNemo

08-23-2004, 07:24 AM

It is amazing that this remix captures the essence of Earthbound so well. It sounds like it would have come off of the "Mother 3" soundtrack, if the game existed. I love the grit of this track and the bass, reminds me of "Alan Parsons Project" song called "Lucifer." The 2:20+ SFX programming is VERY, VERY sweet. It is not easy to do what he has done. The 3:10 distorted solo is THICK. The breakbeat drum break, even though it is like 1 measure, adds a lot. The choir, perfect. This guy not only knows what he is doing, he can control his results. I love a quality mix, and this is top notch. No tricks, no bullshit, just quality mixing, filtering, and programming. I must confess that the breakdown took me by surprise, but it definitely keeps things interesting.

Talah Rama

08-23-2004, 11:06 AM

There apparently isn't a track in Earthbound called A Flash of Memory. However, it is in Mother 2. If you go to SNESMusic, you can get the tracks. So... The mystery is solved!

RimFrost the Tourianist

08-23-2004, 07:33 PM

nachokun

08-24-2004, 12:17 AM

I like this mix alot. It totally reminds me of the awesome japanese experimental electronica band Supercar (http://www.supercar-net.com/). Everyone who likes this mix should check them out.

Great mix, Rellik!

Khendros

08-24-2004, 02:25 AM

I really like this piece, and I'm not really sure why. It just kind of stuck to me when I listened to it even though I don't remember the EB song being remixed here. The only bad thing I can say about this is that I wished it kept the level of energy it picked up about 1/3 of the way into the song.

Tom Blackberry

08-24-2004, 08:36 PM

i like the way this one starts... while it gets into yer fun, somewhat bouncy beat later, the beginning is very good at capturing that mysterious, even eerie quality that some parts in EB have. This would make a fine ending credit song or something some day, if not an already astounding standing song. It recreates the feeling the game gives of returning home from a distant, terrible adventure, or even how close it came to not happening. Rellik creates a sound that is both reflective, relieved and yet aprehensive in some ways.
" Is Giygas truly gone? Are the Starmen lost without their leader?
... and what of Pokey?"

Liontamer

08-24-2004, 09:22 PM

There apparently isn't a track in Earthbound called A Flash of Memory. However, it is in Mother 2. If you go to SNESMusic, you can get the tracks. So... The mystery is solved!
No. EarthBound = Mother 2. Anyway, like he said, the soundtrack is available at SNESmusic: http://www.alpha-ii.com/snesmusic/spcsets/mo2.rsn

Good calls by Winter_Stardust on the how some of the areas of the mix sounded like other EB tracks. I could understand the stylistic connections there. The source tune "A Flash of Memory" is very short, but Rellik did a good job taking the one phrase of that theme and rearranging it, making sure to use his rearrangement of that brief material throughout most of the mix. The connection's gonna be tenuous with such a minimal source tune being used and overhauled, so I can see where people are saying "Earfbound??? Where be da Earfbound at?", but I'll vouch for it. Interesting interpretation and a very engaging track. Nice work, Rellik!

Crono3of3time

08-25-2004, 04:31 AM

It is truly Earthboundesque as it follows the strangely intriguing randomnes and bizzare effects that are prominent throught the whole game. I wish they'd make another game of it... And when the rhythm kicks in its a whole new adventure that awakes within. The high "wave" notes with the lower techno notes give the song a sense of "angelic chaos"...or mabye it makes it sound like Mr.Saturn... hmmm.. N E Wahay it tis GOOD Mon!

NessTheHero

08-26-2004, 12:18 AM

I don't know why you people disbelieve in this being from Earthbound. I believe it's either the part where Buzz Buzz dies or Ness sees a part of his past when he gets to a Sanctuary.

I really like this mix. It really makes you think of someone drifting off to sleep and dreaming of home. Makes me think of Winters a bit.

I almost want to play Earthbound again. If only my gamepad would work for my emulator.

Corporal Eschebone

08-27-2004, 11:00 PM

The opening sounds like Tessie's theme, and the middle of the mix sounds kinda like the Sea of Eden track.

I just checked on this, and this is indeed from the Sea of Eden ["Magicant2" on the .RSN]. Rellik did a VERY good job of remixing it - I don't think even die-hard EarthBound fans will be recognize this on the first listening.

Monobrow

08-28-2004, 05:28 AM

I think this mix has a very great overall depth. It's definately not "cliche" because it really captures that original Earthbound-y euphoric trippy feel that those who have played the game enjoyed so much. It's also well produced and has an all-around great arrangement. Kudos

And yet, I have to agree with Squid somewhat...I can barely place the songs where this arrangement come from...And believe me, I know Earthbound in and out. As a fan, I do wish it was a tad more recognizable, but anyway...You got the feel down, you got the soul. That's what counts.

chokst~1.bat

08-31-2004, 08:09 PM

Heh. I just picked a random song today and downloaded it to test my cable internet. This was the one I chose. I ended up listening to it into the background while playing online multiplayer games; works especially well with starship games, like Subspace Continuum (http://subspace.legendzones.com). It's very chill and lowkey, and flows pretty good as background music. :)

Corporal Eschebone

08-31-2004, 08:16 PM

And yet, I have to agree with Squid somewhat...I can barely place the songs where this arrangement come from...And believe me, I know Earthbound in and out. As a fan, I do wish it was a tad more recognizable, but anyway...You got the feel down, you got the soul. That's what counts.

Check the post above yours ^

Ferret

08-31-2004, 09:21 PM

I have to agree that this is an excellent remix. It's my personal opinion that this one will stand the test of time (at least I hope it will) and continue to be popular for many years to come. Worth every millisecond.

Hawke Edge

09-04-2004, 08:46 PM

Also being a huge fan of EarthBound (Starmen.net, or actually before the conspiracy revolving Tomato and Buzz Buzz on that site, EarthBound.net, being the first video game site I had ever really gone to), I could only place maybe half of the original music in this song - but I love it!

It's techno-ey, it's mellow, and it's just incredible to listen to. I recently put this on a CD to listen to while studying and constantly finding myself bouncing the highlighter to the beat of the music.

Very enjoyable, very good composition, and overall just a great piece.

I especially like the drum-like beat around 2:40 that seems to be coming off of the battle music..

Keep up the good work!

Winter_Stardust

09-05-2004, 06:51 AM

NeOmega

09-06-2004, 07:15 PM

First time I heard this, I thought I was standing before the gates of heaven.

This is a beautifully done song. I don't know if I have ever heard a song and fell in love with it as fast as I have with this one.

...never played the game.

EDIT: 1.5 years later, after having listened to ALL of the remixes, this is still my all-time favorte!

EDIT: 3 years later, and after having listened to all of the remixes, still my favorite.

Psycrow

09-14-2004, 08:53 PM

This is remix #1234, just in case no one noticed :)

schwagnah

09-16-2004, 09:46 AM

Honestly, when I first heard this, I thought it was very repetitive, but once you get past that first 30 seconds, the mix really takes off into its own world. I simply love it. I wish I had more to say, but I can not really describe it.

9/10

Putzy

09-17-2004, 04:25 AM

Whatever theme this is remixing from Earthbound it certainly captures the feeling of the game. Like many game sountracks the Earthbound tune in here has many similiar variants on the sountrack. My favorite part of the remix is definitely the softer ending part with the guitar strings.

joelsim

09-20-2004, 07:19 PM

The BEST song on ocremix!! Well at least my favorite.
I listen it on repeat since it was posted! A infinite
trance eyes shut! Greeeeeat work!

Longlive to relik and the earthbounds!

Wanderer

10-28-2004, 05:57 AM

This is such an underrated remix. I burned it onto a CD before I even listened to it, and when I finally did listen to it, I was in an absolute daze. I was in a introspective mood and when this came on, my face became an absolute blank stare, watching the rain fall outside my window. Highly recommended, remixes like these don't come around often.

jordex

10-29-2004, 01:23 AM

At first I just thought this was another trance song but turns out it's actually really mellow and calm. It's very good, I've had the tune stuck in my head the whole day.

I love the Cello! Or whatever strings those are.

I think I'ld like the song more if it was a bit lighter, like if the rest of the song was bit similar to the beginning, although the drums around 3:23 are cool!

Then there's that calmer part at 4:33 with the soothing cello, I LOVE IT!

Bring me more!

Dr. Gamut

12-03-2004, 08:01 AM

Turns out this is a great song to procreate to. Highly recommended.

...no, seriously.

Jiggles Mcpuff

02-22-2005, 10:11 PM

This is an excellent remix! Rellik is my new hero!

Slimtoad

02-22-2005, 10:36 PM

This is one of my favorites. Nice job Rellik!

Lucid Faia

02-23-2005, 12:18 AM

This is THE best remix on the site, in my opinion. At least out of the couple hundred that I have heard.

THIS is how it's supposed to be done. Many remixers on this site like to destroy songs by covering them in a style that's the polar opposite of the mood the game was trying to set when this song was being played. It always irritates me when someone on this site does a soft jazz remix of a battle theme or decides to cover a moderately fast theme on a piano, played at less than half the speed. It happens to even the best of them; even Nobuo Uematsu and the Black Mages managed to ruin Otherworld when they covered it. But this remix really sounds like it belongs in EarthBound. EarthBound was a light-hearted game with emotionally serious undertones, especially towards the end, and you really get that same feeling when listening to Dreaming On Distant Shores.

danvx6

03-22-2005, 08:10 PM

I can't really think of a good way to describe how this song made me feel when I really listened to it.
Every time this song plays I am filled with a strange mix of happiness and depression. The easiest way I can describe this song is that it showed me the meaning of life. That said, this song is excellent and I hope Rellik continues submitting more remixes like this.

10/10

lkoro

03-23-2005, 05:44 PM

Nice beat, I enjoy listening to it. But, what song is the remixed from exactly? I'm a very big EB fan and i'm playing it again right now, and I don't recognize this song at all.

jordex

03-23-2005, 05:56 PM

It's a remix of "A Flash of Memory" on the SPC

The original sounds alot different and was extremely short so Rellik did an amazing job recreating using such little source material, Kudos on this one Rellik!

Keiseth

03-29-2005, 07:26 PM

Bloody amazing remix. It is the sort of music you can listen to easily. It just reeks of style, I think. Easily one of the best remixs I've ever heard!

diamondfalcon

04-05-2005, 04:15 AM

At first I didn't like this song, but now it is at the top of my list! I didn't like it at first because it sounded staticky, I didn't recognize it, and it felt repetitive. But after hearing it a couple times, I got hooked on the wonderful, dreamy tune and its awesome drums. I especially like the end when it gets slow and I stop whatever I am doing and dream...

Millman

04-06-2005, 07:58 AM

A nice mix. I do believe this is the most ambient thing I've seen on this site. At first I was a little unsure of it, as seems to be the case with everyone else, but after listening my opion changed. The ambience is great because there is other stuff to take away from the repetition and makes it constantly unique. I can't believe I've gone this long without seeing this mix. I almost feel ashamed to call myself an OCR veteran, or even an Earthbound veteran.

VERY good stuff here. VERV good. Highly reccommended.

Dark Knightmare

06-07-2005, 02:34 AM

I LOVE this song! It sounds so beautiful! I especially loved the ending, how the piano comes in. EarthBound is my favorite game of all time and this song is perfect for it. Great Job Rellik. If you made a cd with this type of music, I would buy it. Speaking of which, what would you classify this type of music as? Trance? I would like to find come cds with this similar type of music because I love it so much.

Lucid Faia

06-19-2005, 01:26 AM

It's the theme that plays after Ness records a melody onto the Sound Stone. For instance, there's a theme that plays when you enter a "Your Sanctuary" location, then there's a melody and a vision, and then "A Flash Of Memory" plays.

Heyjohnny

06-20-2005, 04:52 PM

I can hear the similarities in various Earthbound songs within this beautiful piece, although I haven't quite finished the game yet :oops: , but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a completely awesome and well put together piece.

I understand that most remixes are very time consuming, and therefore I show my respect to all you remixers out there. I would be remixing right now if I had the correct equipment......and I'm getting there, but until then I 'll enjoy beautiful masterpieces that inspire me to make something incredible, such as this one.

PostNoBills

07-24-2005, 11:37 AM

Still one of my favourite pieces on this site, and probably my favourite Rellik piece that I've heard so far. Its worth it to get the Original extended version (Rellik had it as a WIP at some point), its about a minute longer and for me is much more immersive.

Arek the Absolute

07-24-2005, 12:24 PM

Why am I not able to find this song on the RSN? What is it called on that?
Anyhow, great song! I can dig it. Very comforting.

Selios

09-16-2005, 04:43 PM

Nice drums on a sweet echoed synth... this sounds like trip-hop to me, even if there are some trance like parts. Works great on 3D sound.

irriadin

11-06-2005, 07:46 PM

Even with the bevy of new earthbound tracks, this is still the best. Masterful work, Rellik.

DarkFrog

02-03-2006, 08:55 AM

I've listened to every song on OCR, and this is definitely one of my favorites. This is also one of the songs, on a short list of about a dozen, that have ever made me cry.

Simply put, this song is beautiful. With its haunting introduction, its comforting electronica beat, and its saddening celo; this song covers so much ground that it has always remained interesting to me.

Rellik, I do certainly hope that you will make many more songs along the lines of this one, as it has been richly entertaining to listen to.

-Austin Spafford

Hell Pé

02-25-2006, 06:06 PM

It reminds me a Rez hidden track...

Fiendofthenorth

02-28-2006, 05:52 AM

Very trancelike, very calming. As a huge fan of slow, comforting Electronica, I highly enjoy this song. Truly a great remix by Rellik.

Gamelore

05-25-2006, 07:15 AM

I feel this wonderful remix is actually quite fast and intricate most of the time. Hearing people claim that it's "slow" and "ambient" is the exact opposite of how I listen to it. Must be a different mindset.

Doesn't get much more intense than this rich track. Lovely.

Red Shadow

05-28-2006, 05:01 AM

EVERY single time I listen to this I just go into this pleasure-trance.

I'm doing it again.

diamondfalcon

09-26-2006, 03:39 AM

I've heard this song more than 300 times and it never gets old. It's just so calming, so beautiful, and still so captivating. It is definitely one of my top 3 favorite songs on the site now and I've heard at least 500 of them. Thank you, Rellik, for this wonderful song. I am so glad this was one of the first songs I downloaded from ocremix.
Very highly recommended, although for me it took a couple playthroughs to look past the static into the dream that it brings. 10/10

Master_Yoshi

01-01-2007, 06:33 AM

I was going through the torrent file trying to see if there were any interesting songs and found this beauty! What a find it was! Have had it on repeat for at least the last half hour just letting it take me away.

Very excellent work, well worth any and all attention it gets.

Superrpgman

03-11-2007, 09:29 AM

Ok, first of all, let me just say that hands down this remix is spectacular, and totally deserves to be on the 100.

Second of all, that said, I'm sure that I'm wrong, but where the heck is the Earthbound music? I've replayed the game like 5 times, but quite frankly, I don't notice anything in this remix from it.

Heh, well, that kinda proves that I love this remix though, doesn't it?

richter

02-28-2008, 04:04 AM

More than 3 years later I'm still pretty passionate about the following:

1. I love this song
2. It has no business being on this website (and should be removed)

:)

Marmiduke

09-27-2009, 02:46 PM

You'd never know it at a brief glance, but I consider this among the strongest mixes on the entire site. It manages to be both fast and meloncholic; blurring the lines between those elements of light and shade and varying degrees of intensity. Seeings as I like long, understated intros, I found the setup perfect. Things progress so naturally, you can just hear it all clicking into place, like it's all predetermined. Even the bends and glitches and other experimentation have a real poetic rhythm to them and just sound like they belong. It's a magic listen.

And look, while I can't say I'm well versed in every piece of music from EarthBound, I trust the people who say that this mix does represent a small portion of the game's OST. And correct me if I'm wrong, even the shortest piece in the soundtrack is viable for remixing, given that the remixer uses that piece thoroughly for the mix's duration. If there's no doubt on the judges' part that the mix is derived from some specific chords played in an obscure moment in the game, then normal rules should apply and there shouldn't be any more dispute. This is not the first mix to remix a short series of notes that are seemingly inconsequential in comparison to larger themes but are nonetheless part of a game soundtrack and thus valid.
I think it's a credit to Rellik that such an overlooked piece of music could be nurtured to blossom into something as freaking awesome as this.

stkyle

01-21-2010, 07:41 AM

This came on my ipod while I was walking along the beach the other day. The way the atmosphere of the music along with the beauty of the ocean and the feel of the sand all came together ... I'm fairly certain I'll remember that moment forever. Terrific song.

Rob C!

08-07-2010, 10:23 PM

What the first user thinks... I think, because I think I know what he's taking about, I think. Great mix. Lots of Earthbound's tunes have been remixed into techno songs. But I think this is one of the most mature techno songs from those tracks.

08-26-2010, 06:39 PM

great rhythmic textures and filtering over a really serene backdrop making this a pretty excellent track. The source is pretty sparse to begin with, so a lot of the additions make it into a whole new song.

Overall really nice, check this one out. :-)

chthonic

08-27-2010, 01:23 AM

You'd never know it at a brief glance, but I consider this among the strongest mixes on the entire site.
I completely agree

urdailywater

03-15-2011, 04:32 AM

...Why haven't I commented on this yet.

I'll go on the record saying that this is, without a DOUBT, THE best remix on this site. I am in love with it in every single way possible. I have no quarrel with it. I loved the source, and I love this. I'll be honest, while Earthbound isn't necessarily my favorite VG soundtrack (the Metroid games take that spot), it is probably up there in the top 3 or 4. Or 2 if I can count the Prime series as just the Trilogy altogether. :P I digress,what I mean to say is this does the source justice. TBH, melodically I couldn't tell the source right away, but that doesn't matter, because this just feels like Earthbound, and definitely feels like a Flash of Memory. In fact, I think this song feels more like a Flash of Memory than a Flash of Memory does. Damn.

This song has meant a lot to me in the past one year or so that I've had it on my playlist. It does its job of taking you away to another place. I remember the first time I listened to it, I was surprised to see the song was 6 minutes and 20 seconds long. It didn't feel that long. Time really does go by faster when you're dreaming :P
This is also an extremely emotional mix to me. I'm not sure how to explain it without dragging this on too long, though, so I think I'll leave it that.

Thank you so much for creating this beauty Rellik. You are without a doubt the most rockin' dude in the whole world.

5!D34RM

05-30-2011, 03:19 AM

You sir just dethroned "Chekan Winter" by Prophecy as my all time favorite remix on OCR. I've been here since this site's genesis and I have no idea how I missed this masterpiece. This song is working on so many levels yet everything feels symbiotic and harmonic. Also you manage to combine of my 3 favorite genres of music Trance, Trip-hop (rolling ambient in with this one), and chiptune in this mix. If you got a donation page or anything let me know I'll be glad to fund your hobby when the product is this amazing.

Ectogemia

07-04-2011, 04:15 AM

This is the second most emotionally evocative piece of music I've ever heard (Overarrow by Anamanaguchi = 1st; that screeching square solo just wrenches me), and my pick for the best mix on OCR -- and I've heard 'em all! You really did something amazing here, especially in light of the simplicity of the arrangment. Every single element contoured perfectly with the next. Just excellent work :)