OCR01247 - Chrono Trigger 'Far Away Memories' [Archive]

Shhteve

09-27-2004, 06:05 AM

Very well done, Neil. I'm very impressed.

This is by far my favorite track from Chrono Trigger.. the game itself has some incredible sentimental meaning to me and my own personal life, believe it or not. I'd be here all day explaining that, however.

Let's just say that I'm incredibly moved, and relieved that someone has finally made a submission for TFAT and got it past the judges. My heart is at ease.

I look forward to hearing more pieces from you, and hoping to see others take a shot at TFAT. :)

TimeMobius

09-27-2004, 06:47 AM

This piece simply KICKS ASS.

I'm sorry. I'm biased. I love Acustic guitars and I love this song. I hate it when people make their own piece and borrow from the original remix.

It's like making some crappy spinach and tossing some M&Ms in there for the hell of it. The M&Ms taste good but they don't go that well with the spinach nor do they make up with the spinach.

I'm really really suprised that this piece got rejected. I'm not dissapointed with any part of it. This SOUNDS typical of Yatsunori Mitsuda as a mellow ending track.

I still think that the sound quality is a little bit sketchy. Some of the complimentary sounds to the guitar are a little bit too sharp.

Oh, well, still kicks ass.

May the wind be always at your back,
-Timemobius

agentsmith4bond

09-27-2004, 06:53 AM

90 percent... 91... 92... Hehhhe- DL'in... and I'm really kind of excited as even on SNES sound it's still a long time personal favorite, hopeful song... and now for listening...

Very uplifting... wonderfully done. Huge props to the Square sound cast for the ground work and for you doing this already great song a most appreciated justice.

Caravaggio

09-27-2004, 07:08 AM

Liontamer

09-27-2004, 07:45 AM

I'm really really suprised that this piece got rejected.This isn't the rejected version.

It'll be an incredible day when webspace and bandwidth gets cheap enough so that websites like ocr can't let on nearly any mix. Maybe then they could just label some "editor's choice" and install a user grading system or something...http://www.vgmix.com

nem-x

09-27-2004, 10:11 AM

Only a part or two where the notes sound a bit delayed or off that makes me wonder. But I like this one.

D-Lux

09-27-2004, 12:10 PM

OK, so this is one of the best emotional/'get you into the song' pieces. I was pulled in almost instantly and caught myself swaying back and forth to it. It's one of those pieces that's repititious, but you just don't give a damn because it grabs you.

But, I don't honestly see why there's so much hype. The only thing I see that's really outstanding is that such few notes/instruments could cause such an effect. From about 2:50 to 3:30 you lose me (notice that's a little after it goes real quiet; you kinda lose me there every time). A horrible note on 3:32 that just sticks in my side. Piece picks up by the end with a little more energy than before, but I still have that captivated feel.

It is still an impressive mix, that subconciously I was lulled, but not mastered very well. Still, great job.

Silverburgh

09-27-2004, 12:20 PM

Damn, this one is really...whow...
I love the original song, and this really emotional one did make me smile over the whole time of the song.
There's nothing more to say than 'Good Job Neil...'

TheGreatTetsuo

09-27-2004, 01:05 PM

Awesome job man, one of the best remixes Ive heard of this track, keep up the good work and hope to hear more of your stuff in the future. The acoustic guitar was a nice choice of instrument for this song gave it a very "warm" feel.

DarkeSword

09-27-2004, 01:48 PM

Great piece. It'll be an incredible day when webspace and bandwidth gets cheap enough so that websites like ocr can't let on nearly any mix. Maybe then they could just label some "editor's choice" and install a user grading system or something...

Again, good work.

Bandwidth and webspace is not the prime reason OCR doesn't post everything we get. :roll:

Anyway, nice job Neil. I liked your piece for the most part. Some iffy spots melodically and harmonically in the third minute, but overall, nice work.

Geoffrey Taucer

09-27-2004, 02:28 PM

This mix is AWESOME! Congrats on finally getting it up, Neil.

nobodygetshurt

09-27-2004, 04:06 PM

thanks a lot guys. i'm glad you like it. yeah, there're a few bad notes here and there, but i honestly got sick of fine-tuning this song. :)
i'm trying to get together with a friend of mine and record a rock version of one of the tracks in the old game 'shanghai' for the master system. we'll see how that turns out. . .

irriadin

09-27-2004, 04:16 PM

Well, as much as I disagree with you, ShrikeArghast, the fact that you used a Terry Brooks novel as an example is awesome.

I really liked this arrangement. Very light stuff that doesn't get too ambitious.

Anyone else think the end sounds very similar to a well-known classical piece? I can't remember the exact name or composer of the piece I'm speaking of, but if Neil had segued into that piece at the very end, I'd have been highly impressed.

Aetherius

09-27-2004, 05:50 PM

yarr...definitely some weird notes in the rythm guitar...*shrugs* maybe it was out of tune.

Darangen

09-27-2004, 06:12 PM

It does sound like it was recorded on a lower-end guitar as far as quality goes, but it's still VERY good. One of the better remixes of TFAT.

8.5/10

Aetherius

09-27-2004, 06:27 PM

beats the hell out of MY To far away times mix...
Though...I think it may inspire me to reworm my old Brink of Time remix that got rejected...and thereby hurt my little soul, and forced me to quit remixing...and then I started again, and blah blah blah...er...

yeah...the mix is good, but those chords I mentioned earlier...

Fieari

09-27-2004, 06:37 PM

I can hear the poor guitar, but more than that, I can hear the "soul" of this peice, which is fantastic. I have but one complaint, and that is that I think that the snare drum used near the beginning really detracts from the music. It feels far to jarring to me. It's jarring near the end too, but not as much and could be forgivable. I just don't like it at the beginning at all. It makes me wince.

But there are so many moments this song has! Moments that are FULL of emotion and meaning! It's quite good, and well worth the download and listen.

Aprentis

09-27-2004, 06:47 PM

amazing song you made here man, the guitar is effing kill. soo good
i was just wondering if you could make a tab for this song, id love to learn how to play it on my guitar. keep up the good work man

Spoom

09-27-2004, 06:54 PM

This mix just made me smile. The arrangement here is absolutely great. And honestly, the technical areas where it falls can be ignored quite easily. Good job.

Sandman53

09-27-2004, 08:38 PM

This was by far the most amazing song I have heard yet. It's smooth and it flows beautifuly. Not to crazy, and it sets a mellow mood. I love how it picks up around 1:44. Awsome remix man.

RoboPanda

09-27-2004, 08:53 PM

Hey, I would like to say kudos to you, man. I've heard 50,000 ways inside and out to do that damn schala's theme, and you really helped me out in your remix of one of my favorites tunes.

Gives everyone a sense of hope, eh? Get knocked down and you just have to stand back up.

But yeah, I really liked listening to this mix. I can understand a couple parts where the guitar pickings are better heard than the notes (as a player I dislike that sound...). But other than that you've done a great job fiddling with the tune and making it absolutely "teh 0wnz0r!!11" Ha, wanna jam together sometime?!

Congrats. I like it. 9/10

weggy

09-27-2004, 09:27 PM

This mix really is great. It's one of few Chrono Trigger mixes I actually like =D

Fantastic mix to a fantastic game. Congrats Neil.

SDogMan

09-27-2004, 09:56 PM

Congrats on finally getting it up, Neil.

Do you know something we don't?

Anyway, this is a good song.

Jared Hudson

09-27-2004, 11:03 PM

LET'S REVIEW THE SONG NOW!

As far as the song actually goes, I liked the song. I don't hear too many acoustical arrangements for CT. It may be a little simplistic, but I had it playing as I was just walking around the room, and I enjoyed it..as a nice little piece of music. Nothing mind blowing, but certainly above par in my book.

Not bad :wink:

Jared

Figo

09-27-2004, 11:06 PM

O yeah... seems i forgot to review :P

This has become my favorite remix 10/10 love it...
I always loved TFAT so im kind of biased....
Congrats Neil, hope to see more from you!!

Winter_Stardust

09-27-2004, 11:32 PM

Usually I'm not one who likes mainly solo instrument mixes, (like one that is just piano, for example).
Or in this case, acoustic (Sp?).
But in this case I must say this one is rather pleasing to listen to. The guitar is well played, the song was a good choice, and although some parts DID have to be changed to "fit" said instrument, I personally think it worked rather well. It makes me think of a song you'd hear at the beginning/ending of an epic mini-series (no offence to the remixer is intended in that statment, you know, if they don't like mini-series.)
Nice accompaning music in the background. Not to bold or "IN YO FACE" blaring like so many other mixes I've heard.
Once again, in closing, I think this is a rather pleasing mix to listen to.

djpretzel

09-28-2004, 12:01 AM

It's unfortunate that this review thread turned into more of a discussion about the judging process, panel, and apparently my inadequacy as a human being for deciding (yes, voluntarily) to not attend school-sanctioned social functions, when the idea is really to let Neil - and others - know what you liked or disliked about his mix.

I feel it's important to clarify, however, that my explaining the process behind the approval of this mix was not at all meant as a jab at the panel. They're doing a hard job, and doing it well, and will continue to do so, and if everyone was happy all of the time it would mean they weren't doing their job and were probably dispursing free narcotics of an uplifting nature. Usually, when there's a significant debate on the panel, I *do* feel the need to explain what it was all about to the general public in mix write-ups, so these accusations of clandestine behavior and being secretive and closed are unfounded. We post decisions for everyone to see.

Without further eroding the thread into a tangent that bears only tenuous relations to Neil's piece, I want to be absolutely clear: nothing about the process of evaluating the initial submission or resubmission of this mix lowered the judges panel in my estimation. Quite the opposite, I think "episodes" of this nature are necessary to keep debate alive and to keep people on their toes.

Posting "good music" is too broad a mission for almost any website. Our mandate is that we post music that honors original video and computer game soundtracks by interpreting them. That doesn't just mean fancying up the samples or adding a loop. If this type of evaluation were easy to make, there'd be no need for a panel whatsoever. It isn't. Furthermore, some people would honestly RATHER just listen to the original piece with fancier samples. We're not saying there's anything fundamentally evil about that, it's just not what OCR happens to be about.

Fortunately, a consensus was reached that this piece doesn't fit that description, but don't blame the judges for evaluating mixes based on the criteria they are instructed to evaluate against. If you don't like those criteria, blame me, because I'm the one who will keep them in place as long as it's my decision to make, and who believes in them. Better yet, don't blame anyone, but acknowledge that different websites serve different purposes and audiences, and don't hold that against any of them.

ambient

09-28-2004, 12:23 AM

First of all, I would like to address this particular mix. After all, this is a review board.
The mix almost sounds like it was meant to be on
Chrono Cross soundtrack. Acoustic guitar, ethnic
percussion, strings - all sound great. The mix builds
up great around 2:23 before it takes a break.
I really like the variations.
What really makes this mix stand out is the mood it creates.
Sure, the note at 3:32 sounds a little questionable,
yes drums are a bit repetitive, but there is a lot
more depth to this mix that makes those issues nearly
irrelevant. Great job Neil!

As for the OCR selection and judging system:

It works. The process is meant to be highly selective.
It's the selectivity that makes this site the premiere
video game music site on the internet. I am
sure if DJP had a problem with the judges, he
could handle it on his own.

And besides, this mix was approved by the judges, so
there should have been no argument in the first place.

Dr. Wily

09-28-2004, 01:23 AM

Review:

Very relaxing guitar all the way through, reminds me of sitting in a cafe, with nice ambient guitar drifting through as I'm having a chat with friends or perhaps enjoying a game of chess. Almost the perfect background music!

The Xyco

09-28-2004, 01:42 AM

All this arguing aside..

I liked all the aspects of this ReMix, with the teeny exception of the percussion, which seems more flawed to me more than the other parts.

I'm no music major, I just play an Alto Sax (badly, at that) but the percussion at times seems to conflict alot with the other parts of the track. Most notably would be the cymbal roll around 0:44 that leads into a steady rhythm. It really came off to me as something notably not sounding right. But I'm basing that purely on how it sounds to me, there may be nothing actually wrong with it and I might be tone-deaf. The same roll comes again at around 1:35 (and elsewhere), but the strings overtake the conflicting sounds. I'm not saying that they were used as a cover-up, the strings sounded very natural and fluid, just that something didn't really fit in the puzzle.

Other than that, I'd say everything is awesome. Great piece. It sounds to me like somehting they should play at the end of a comic drama movie.

JdeFalconr

09-28-2004, 01:57 AM

well I wanted to put my two cents in on this one--I don't know much about all the judging fiasco that went on with this one but I for one am glad that this mix made it to the primetime. It's a beautiful piece to begin with and I very much appreciated this remix. Well done!!

SILVERWOLF

09-28-2004, 02:53 AM

I LOVE the guitar. Kudos to you Neil :)

Raven_X

09-28-2004, 05:17 AM

oh wow. I love acustic songs. Love the vibe they put off. There many others on OCR? I'd like to hear them.

Simoom

09-28-2004, 06:32 AM

this songs great, not sure what all the problems in the judge panel are if this only had a few changes over the original. awesome acoustic!

LostLilMartian

09-28-2004, 11:04 AM

A beautiful remix of an amazing song. Easily one of my favorite ending themes, and this remix just adds to the emotion. The acoustic guitar creates a very warm and secure tone; just the kind of thing you might want to hear after a hard-fought battle to save the world! Thank you for this song.

Black Mage

09-28-2004, 03:43 PM

A new favorite. This song is simply beautiful.

Xatos

09-28-2004, 05:18 PM

I love remixes that keep relatively close to the original track like it is the case here.
My favourite ct remix now and as dont-know-anything-about-music listener i dont notice any flaws in the track (blame me).

nobodygetshurt

09-28-2004, 06:02 PM

aprentis, i'll try and put together a tab sheet, but it might take a while; i haven't had any musical training whatsoever. i can't even name chords, for pete's sake :P i just play by ear. plus i have a 10 hour night shift job that takes up all my time. i'll post when i'm done with it.

thanks again to everyone for your compliments and critiques. that includes the judges; they know what they're talking about.

Hawke Edge

09-28-2004, 06:22 PM

Wow, that was an incredible piece.

I don't know what to say, I feel kind of speechless.. and I'm late for class.

Warren

09-28-2004, 06:50 PM

Hi.

I love you.

Bye.

Aprentis

09-28-2004, 10:16 PM

Fridge

09-29-2004, 12:56 AM

Yeah, the instruments were definitely not of the greatest quality, but that really didn't detract from the mix much at all for me. The only truly greating note was the first time I heard the sequence around the 3:30 mark, but the line right after it actually resolved it quite nicely for me. On the repetition and subsequent listens, while it still may not sound particularly pleasant to my ears, it at least 'made sense'. Other than that, a solid peice, nothing really 'wow' about it, just a nice, pleasant listen.

Blake

09-29-2004, 03:17 AM

This mix is VERY, and even though there are some weak strings, it still has the soul executed. I'm glad this got accepted, because now I have something nice and soothing to sit on my playlist.

RimFrost the Tourianist

09-29-2004, 05:59 AM

Yes this is a refreshing change from the multitude of CT remixes around , theres too many right here..

Anyway on to what i think about this song :
It starts and ends with a mellow accustic guitar, Neil plays it skillfully enough to make it a classic piece possibly , i did enjoy ..and so do you !

tgfoo

09-29-2004, 06:13 PM

I have to say that I liked this mix. as blizihizake said, it's quite soothing and I find it relaxing. Definitely a good song to hang on to.

shadowrunner

09-29-2004, 07:07 PM

nice work Neil. very mellow I'm glad this remix was reworked and accepted.

Aderyn

09-29-2004, 09:30 PM

I like it. Mabey not the most technically complex piece ive ever heard, but sometimes simple is better. This is a piece I can just sit back and listen to. Its relaxing, its soft, its...gentle, is a term i would use i guess. No harsh chords, no nasty edges, no distorted and strained harmonies or melodies. etc etc and so-on. mabey it could be a little better, i have a pretty good ear but lack the technical knohow to say just how it could be better, so kudos to you, great mix, keep em coming. I look forward to your next work

Reshapable

09-29-2004, 10:49 PM

all the positive things said so far and more. My god this is so beautiful. To think people can makes things like this and not get payed but hundreds of bands score record deals for the same note over and over again...

The creator should feel proud on this one. I mean how often can you truly improve on the original?

Binarynova

09-30-2004, 03:57 PM

I don't post very often in these forums, as I usually don't have much of an emotional response to remixes (even ones I really like).

This one is different though. I'm a huge fan of acoustic guitar. That's a fact I simply won't apologize for, even if it's a major part of why I like this remix. I don't really have an ear for techno, trance, electronica, etc... though I know what I do and don't like in those particular areas. I do however, have an ear for acoustic guitar. I myself play guitar.

As a guitar hobbyist I love this piece. There is plenty of deviation from the original for me. I like pieces that deviate from the original, but not too much. This piece is just right, for me.

As far as the ideas of 'bad notes' or 'bad tuning' go... I really didn't notice the 'bad notes' in the third minute until I really checked for them. I have to agree with what one of the judges said... the notes are resloved by the following chord. Therefore, they work musically for me. As far as 'bad tuning' during sections... I haven't noticed it yet. At all.

The percussion doesn't detract from the piece for me as much as it might for some people. The string sound is very obviously electronic, which I don't like, and is most likely the only thing about this piece that I don't really like. I love this mix, and in addition, I'd like to hear a 100% solo guitar version. But that's just me. :)

So, overall, this is easily one of my all-time favorite Chrono Trigger remixes, and I have to say, "Neil, keep up the good work!" Definately an 10/10 for me.

arias

09-30-2004, 05:12 PM

Listening to this mix is a pretty unique experience to me; on one hand I've had it on repeat for about half an hour and I really like it; in general I really like acoustic guitars and pieces that utilise guitars only.

To the remixer (Neil Benjamin, I believe); great job.

However, I'd like to give additional comments which I believe you could take into consideration.

I would LOVE to see stronger guitar playing; it's true that right now it works well, but if you had a better guitar and more technical finesse I have NO DOUBT whatsoever with the current soul infused into play that the piece would become a masterpiece on OCRemix. Maybe you could revisit this song a few years on; it would be an ORGASMIC experience.

Ideas for stronger guitar playing include more grace notes, more improvisation and just more inbetween notes that you think fully express your feelings. The playing is pretty stuttered even when the notes go abit stuttered and it detracts from the experience abit. The Chrono Trigger arc around 3:40 suffers a little bit from out-of-tuneness.

You could rotate some instrumentation for the melody; for example, the lead guitar never ever stops playing and I personally think that giving the melody to the strings while the guitar rests for abit would add a nice dimension and give a refreshing re-entry of the guitar. I realise this is a kinda big suggestion but I think these kind of arrangements will give your mix more variation.

But like I said, just some additional comments. Great job.

SirRus

09-30-2004, 06:37 PM

Maybe you could revisit this song a few years on, it would be an ORGASMIC experience.

It would have to be one hell of a song to make you orgasm.

But I agree, kind of like what Vigilante has planned for Zebesian Midnight, reworking (now) after some time, just with the new skills and production techniques he has picked up, it would greatly please all the fans of your song, maybe even help a few reach that ultimate climax of musical experiences.

endblink

09-30-2004, 07:59 PM

JdeFalconr

09-30-2004, 08:00 PM

Hey what would it take to post the tab for this song? I'd really like to learn the guitar part.

Sam Ascher-Weiss

09-30-2004, 08:04 PM

endblink

09-30-2004, 08:33 PM

I've had this song playing on loop since I've downloaded it.

It's fantastic. Kudos again to Neil.

Editing this post 'cause.

I understood what I meant, although I admit, I could have worded it better. Regardless, I stand by what I said.

EternalVertex

10-01-2004, 03:15 AM

Very good remix,very nicely put together i liked listening to it very much keep it up

Protricity

10-01-2004, 05:32 AM

I just want to thank djp for standing up to the panel and fighting for this mix.

It's no secret I've had issues with the panel before and often times I've hoped for something like this to happen.

It's nice to see when active measures are taking to get great music like this posted for the fans.

Great work to both Neil for a truly wonderful song and to djp for getting it to us.

Yea, you definately do not understand what happened. First version had pretty major issues. I was the one who worked with the author for hours getting the song fixed. The author got all the major issues fixed. The judge panel voted YES on the fixed version. I bet you never even heard the first version. The judge panel always recommends fixing problems and resubmitting. This is simply another case of an author fixing issues in a song the panel brought up, resubmitting, and now having a better, cleaner version on ocremix. The facts are all there, non-ambiguous, clear, and out in the open for everyone to see, and as such will remain regardless of how much you want to assume happened 'behind the scenes'. Now, lets have no more of this judge hate garbage on neil's review thread. Its very disrespectful to him.

Orion_Black

10-01-2004, 10:44 PM

I really enjoy this remix, it all sounds good and seems to help me relax. The guitar melody is perfectly layed out and played.

Strife.

10-02-2004, 06:18 AM

I hadn't listend to any new Remixes in a while, but djp's write up on this one made me give it a go. I was pleasantly supplied. One thing I thought that sounded a bit out of place was the background bongo near the start, but as the main part of the song started, it blended in very nicely. The notes were nicely played out as well, and like others have said, very relaxing. Very good. It helped after a tough day :D

Thylacine

10-02-2004, 08:39 AM

I'm glad this one survived the controversy. It starts out with a tune like the "California Dreaming" intro, then switches into playing the guitar to the tune of the ending theme of Chrono Trigger. I hate to repeat what others have already said, but this is a very soothing piece. It will be a pleasant diversion whatever the situation.

kilaak

10-02-2004, 04:47 PM

Very well done, I love this remix. I don't think you can listen to it without smiling, or remembering something far away. (Far away memories) :)

Wonderful and I think it's a great addition to an already great library of remixes!

AbyssWyrm

10-03-2004, 03:28 AM

Typically I'm not an admirer of guitar, but Neil manages to pack a LOT of feeling into those strings. I don't see what the controversy was about.

tyler_lucero

10-03-2004, 10:44 AM

Well, I may as well add my voice to the chorus. Very nice work...I've listened to this mix 20+ times already and it hasn't gotten old. The first time I heard it, I wanted to cry...very emotional! 10/10.

Kuwanger

10-04-2004, 03:40 PM

I liked it.

Darklocke

10-05-2004, 05:47 PM

I must say I quite enjoyed this remix... this is now my 2nd fav. chrono trigger remix. My fav still being 600 A.D piano remix!! something about a good old fasion pianist playing video game music is soothing.

Go Download this and that one! :P They are EXCELLENT!

Fallen Angel

10-06-2004, 05:50 AM

This mix was amazing. I enjoyed it very much and it was exactly the type of music that I have been looking for. Very soothing and it provides the ambience I have been looking for lately. Very nice indeed. It gets the Fallen Angel seal of approval. :wink:

Skett

10-06-2004, 11:41 PM

Hey all, I like this track too and decided to make an attempt at figuring it out on the guitar, heres a tab of what I've figured out:

http://www.sinalliance.co.uk/misc/farawaymemtab.txt

I think its correct so far, hope you guys find it useful.

PS its my first tab so its not exactly neat, should be readable tho

Fallen Angel

10-07-2004, 01:26 AM

Sweet a tab, I can actually play those with a little practice. I will have to give it a try sometime and see how it sounds because being able to play any song from CT is a good thing lol.

Thornless Rose

10-14-2004, 09:29 PM

i was really excited to see that this was finally excepted. though there are a few minor flaws to the piece, it is definitely better than a lot of the OCRemixes.

Samurai Jin

10-20-2004, 01:14 PM

This is a truly excellecent mix, the judges's panel did a good thing by making Neil resubmit his work.

On a side note: My uncle passed away on Friday evening, and hearing this song makes me recall the memories I've had with him. As mentioned before the strings bring back memories of those Far Away times.

9/10, didnt like the ending, felt it dragged on a little much, other than that completely solid.

nobodygetshurt

10-24-2004, 06:36 AM

sorry for being so late about this, but i've finally put up a partial tab sheet for this song. i didn't tab everything (only the first half of the song), but if you can play what i've tabbed, i'm sure you can figure out the rest on your own. you can find it at my website linked below, or you can just go here: http://www.s93850634.onlinehome.us/ct_tab.htm

final_oblivion - i'm sorry to hear about your uncle's passing away, but i'm glad that you can find some comfort in my song.

thanks for all the enthusiasm and compliments, you guys. it's really overwhelming to know that your work is liked by many. thanks again.

esden9

10-26-2004, 08:48 AM

This remix really moves. I've woken up to it a number of times and just thought "damn..today is gonna be a fine day". I love the original track in game but this just gives it new meaning and new life.

Mighty Gazelle

11-03-2004, 06:41 PM

If you had as much issues with your panel of judges as is suggested in your review of this mix than I suggest you ditch the panel because they don't recognize good music. Most of the Chrono Trigger remixes on this site are awful, this is one of the few exceptions. Yet somehow it almost doesn't even make it to the site... something is wrong with your system of evaluating submissions.

This tune is a refreshingly serene interpretation of a great Chrono Trigger theme and feels more like a "real song" than most oc remixes.

BlueMage

11-10-2004, 12:29 AM

Accoustics convey feeling through simplicity, and if anything was able to make me want to learn how to play an acoustic guitar, it'd be this remix. It's one remix staying on my CD for a long time.

Don-Don

11-20-2004, 08:10 PM

this is amazing, my new all time favorite song

AngrySquirrel

11-25-2004, 01:49 AM

I've been listening to this for awhile, it's really an emotional piece that brings out something each day.

someone1977

12-03-2004, 05:19 PM

Neil: Just want to let you know that this is an incredible piece for me.. No matter how often I hear it. Always get teary eyed when I listen to it.. Lots of emotion into that song!

Thanks and hoping to hear more you!

:D

nobodygetshurt

12-10-2004, 09:31 AM

christ, i never would thought that this song would get this much of a reaction from people. i'm really really glad you guys like it. i'm currently working on a few other songs (whenever i get some time to myself, which isn't often). i have more music at my website, if anybody's interested. mostly original vocal songs.

also as a reminder, i've put up a partial tab of 'far away memories' at my website, for all those people who asked me for it.

you'll be hearing from me again. . . :)

bladiator

12-10-2004, 02:37 PM

I burnt a CD with remix music on it for my car, and I almost always zip ahead to this song on the CD. Man, this was great. I even sing along to it. O_o (Harmony of course.) You did an awesome job here. Although the ending is REALLY quiet, and I love the ending chord progression, so I have to crank it way up to hear it, then remember to crank it down quick so I can save my eardrums/speakers.

BBB

01-23-2005, 04:50 AM

wow, and i thought the original brought a tear to my eye... this is my new favourite remix.

AboveTheDust

02-18-2005, 01:38 PM

I have a mix going of my favorite music off of OCRemix.

This song just joined the select few "beautiful" songs on that list. Wonderful job.

And this is my first post. This was the song that pushed me over the edge and was just dying to be commented on.

Good job.

-Dust

Djsquex

02-25-2005, 10:05 AM

This version of this song is the greatest ever! so peaceful, soft and i love it! hopes more in this style will be uploade to this site soon.

Squaresoft Music4ever!

SilentMartyr

03-11-2005, 07:49 PM

I never come down here to give regards to remixers, but this song is just so damn emotional that I have to. From the second I heard this I knew it was going to be my favorite. I wanna take up guitar just so I can play this song. I would really like to see Neil do a similar style rendition of Peaceful Days, that would make my life.

KelVarnsen

03-18-2005, 01:28 AM

The original was one of the most powerful songs from a video game that I've ever experienced... I've always had a great emotional response to that song. And I really like this version. :)

The strings could be better, but I agree with what many others have said... it has soul. This piece brings out the emotion in the song and also adds a different sort of feeling of its own to the original, which works well, I think.

I wish more people would do this song. For now, Neil's work will satisfy me.

Fieari

04-24-2005, 01:31 AM

I may or may not have reviewed this piece before, but I need to come back and do it again. I have been listening to this a LOT recently. The segment at 4:24... brilliance. Mixing the two patterns together like that, each instrument REALLY repeating without changing anything, and yet on each repeat there's a different emphasis due to the way they layer and combine...

Brilliant.

I wish I heard that kind of pattern used more often. It's so neat!

DJ Magotrox Brazil

04-24-2005, 03:34 AM

Wow!

As an acoustic guittar player, I´m suspect to say, c´os I like acoustic music versions, of course!!!

Good News!!! :D
Very beautiful acoustic version. Very impressive! A good one, and a "need to hear" remix, mainly for Chrono Trigger Fans. The musician shows a lot of sensibility, a great shot.

Bad News
Fist thing to say, it´s the mix is "very", VERY good. These badies are just for "perfectionism". :wink:
I think the "instruments volume mixing" can be made better, and, as the musican seems not to be a drummer, the same goes to the percussion arrangment. But maybe it´s just a question of taste, as I always say... But the beginning was very, very nice.

At all...
I hope some day guys like you make, soon, part of the game music industry. You have talent...

A great remix.

Deathaven

06-16-2005, 01:22 PM

One of the best oc remix's ive heard. Its up there in my top 5 of oc remix tunes. Dude you should feel happy with this coz its one of those wonderfull songs you not to often.

Bummerdude

09-25-2005, 06:17 PM

This is sooooooooooo beautiful. I never thought that anyone would make a version that actually is exactly as good as the original, but now someone did, and he did with acoustic guitar! This is marvelous! I´m so happy I could faint! But before that, I just wanna say that Neil rocks and that I lov...

ThePieEater

01-16-2006, 01:50 AM

wow, this song is wonderful. i joined the forums for the sole purpose of to reply to this song. its wonderful.

GregCaldwell

01-30-2006, 08:55 PM

I can't even find the right words to describe this piece of music. It has this memorizing sense of peacfulness and calmarity about it. This remix doesn't change its sound or pace much. But for that, im very glad. It doesn't make perfect sense that something rather simple and mildly repetitive is SO amazing. This remix is on a level of its own.

Zero_

02-17-2006, 08:57 AM

... Wow. How could I have missed this one? I think this remix is really beautiful, it's a fresh change from all the rock and techno on this site, and I love it. I hope you do more remixes with the beautiful acoustic guitar.

ragnarqk

04-09-2006, 09:31 PM

I love it, I really do. Yes, the drums are a bit bright, but saying it makes the mix bad is like saying you won't drive a car unless it has leather seats. It's important to remember that mixes aren't a competition to see who's the best, it's about the expression of a person's musical taste and abilities. But I'm preaching to the choir. :)

weirdboy997

10-23-2006, 07:04 AM

This song was very well done. . . though I have not yet made any remixes of my own. . . I'll wager I've listened to almost all of the remixes on this site. (I've downloaded songs from here for probably 10, since I was 6 that is) and I have to say, I really love what you did with this tune. If there was some way you could teach me this song on guitar, that would be a dream come true :]

good job.

DragonFireKai

02-28-2007, 06:06 AM

This is by far my favorite song on the CT soundtrack, and Neil really does it justice. The nature of the song makes it good for a simple, clean remix such as this. The guitar is excellent, and the concept of the song is very solid. Good Job.

siven7

04-28-2007, 03:53 AM

Really strong arrangement! Production is really strong and I think that you picked the perfect song to do with acoustic guitars. There are parts that sound a little bit tentative in the solo but all of your melodic stuff that plays off of the game is really nice!

Are there more ways that you could've interpretted it? Maybe in the form? Range? Now that you can do it, push further - how much further can you go?

Great work, I really enjoyed it!

Lucentas

12-06-2008, 11:55 PM

I think I had listened to this some time previously and passed it by for whatever reason, but a went back a while later and gave it another listen, and I love it. Great job.

Marmiduke

12-17-2008, 01:34 AM

Joyous is probably the most fitting word in my vocabulary for this mix. It's pretty damn joyous. The source tune is one of the infamous greats of gaming tunes, so it would have been a shame to mess it up with unnecessary technical padding.
I think this is a terrific, varied piece that offers the source melody in spades, while also presenting new ideas and branching sub-melodies without being too intrusive. I absolutely love the interpretation that begins at 2:30, and then another at 4:30. Great moments of musical exploration, heightened even further by the guitar. Also of note is that despite a lot of variation, the mix has some great pacing and momentum.
Nevertheless, it's not the sort of mix that is going to standout or top any of my favourite lists. It isn't the shiniest diamond in the rough, but I still find it valuable, and I have a great time listening to it. Hopefully, that's exactly what the remixer intended.

Lovely Peach

01-12-2009, 03:43 PM

I like this remix a lot. It's not the most technical piece, and it doesn't have a lot in the way of instruments and crazy orchestrations, but the song has a lovely simplicity to it. Very enjoyable to listen to, very acoustic new-age feel to it. I could put this in a playlist with Yanni tracks and it would fit in perfectly.

A very pleasant listen, and it stands out from a lot of the heavy mixes on the site.

Level 99

07-16-2009, 08:00 PM

I couldn't hold back any longer: this was one of the mixes that got me started coming to this site and trying to make my own in the first place. Back in my college days, this sonce was posted just as I was getting into the video-game-mixing-thing and, while playing it one day, a dorm-mate of mine stumbled in and went on one of the randomest deep-sounding nonsensical reflective monologues I've ever heard. He did this every time I played the song, even once incorporating the McDonalds "badabababa" into it. Despite the comic relief my friend added, this is one of the most down-to-earth acoustic arrangements I've heard and still love it today.

ZapRowsdower

09-30-2009, 04:40 PM

Listening to the preview of the song, reading review comments on it, when suddenly I hit one of those moments that was, to say the least, epic.

Sitting in my over-sized chair, eating breakfasty foods, its early October in Ca so its finally cooling down, windows open, cool breeze coming through the room, someone has there fireplace going so you get this great smoky smell that's not too powerful but just right for some reason, its 9:30 AM and I don't have anything better to do today than to play games and listen to music. For just one second everything was truly awesome.

Also...YARRRR!!! Manly things!!!

-ZR

PS-Are you still here!! Get this song already!