OCR01306 - Final Fantasy VII 'Ascension to Cosmo Canyon'

[djpretzel]

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

[Navi]

Another great ReuMix.

[Artificial_AI]

This is very well done. Very emotional.
Its a great trip from start to finish.

[Hawke Edge]

I really appreciate the eastern tone within it.

While the piano is definitely there, this is a very.. orchestral arrangement proving itself to be an emotional journey...

Red XIII, IMO, has the best theme in this game, since i also loved Nanaki Searches for Truth ~~ http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01104

[Roses N Revolvers]

The whole Cosmo Canyon/Nanaki/Great Warrior songs from Final Fantasy VII were always my favorite. They always seemed to evoke and portray a great deal of emotion.

I really like the way this piece was arranged. Everything flows together beautifully, and the piano accompanyment is great. Don't get to hear a lot of pianos, usually.

Reuben Kee did a great job of still pertaining the emotion the original songs produced, and honestly, isn't that what is important? This is without a doubt Kee's best work next to "Legend of the Snake."

[Txai]

Excellent piano in beginning.

In 00:09 the strings are added.

In 00:45 the strings present more power.

In 01:32 appear beats and voice of "mormons"!

Wow! What is this? In 01:59 something occurs unexpected: Japanese instrument and flute.

In 02:27 the strings appears again.

In 02:53 disappear strings. But they appear again in 03:14 with the "mormons" voice (again). :)

In the end, only strings, beats and the piano.

Yeah! That is great! This work contains a powerful energy. That is full of life and light. Thank you: Reuben Kee and Nobuo Uematsu! =^.^=

[gamklr]

Although I didn't really believe this to be a 'solo piano mix', It's still a great Mix nonetheless.

Reuben Kee, in the name of the United States Armed Forces, I salute you!

[Oubliette]

When I saw the title, I had to listen to it (Loving the Red XIII and Cosmo Canyon theme) and listened for a while in glee. I really loved the dynamics used later into the song and I was actually getting chills. I think it is very dramatic and brings the piece out very well. I'll admit when I was listening to the start, the piano, I was eagerly waiting for the main melody to be brought out and the first time I listened to it I didn't really hear it. The second time I heard it quite clearly. I just love the peaceful piano was interrupted with a loud percussion (and shout?) at 1:32 and it leads into the more recognized rhythm from the original. Very impressing (but having no talent as a muscician or a critic, I'm easily impressed... BUT very sincere).

[Oubliette]

In 01:32 appear beats and voice of "mormons"!

I can't help but ask... why Mormons?

[egli]

In 01:32 appear beats and voice of "mormons"!

I can't help but ask... why Mormons?

Indeed. And why the quotes?

[Oubliette]

So people knew what I was referring to?

[FinalGamer]

I couldn't believe how much wonderful talent people have here! I love the beginning piano which is just saddeningly beautiful. This really is a great piece of work, even if you are not a fan of the piano, for the chanting and accompaniment supports so well.
Excellent, just excellent.

[Txai]

In 01:32 appear beats and voice of "mormons"!

I can't help but ask... why Mormons?

ROFL! I think that these voices have relation to mormons. In my imagination, of course. :P

[XxSwtDreamerxX]

Okay. I would like to say... WOW. That was AWESOME. It was one of the greatest piece I have ever heard. HONESTLY. THAT was talent. Keep 'em comin.

[sivvus]

For the record, the start of this had me crying. It's so very beautiful. The transition into the second section seems a bit forced, but once you get used to it it's as painfully beautiful as the first part.

Well done :)

[LatentSanity]

I got this song a little while back while looking through the WIPs, and I'm glad that it made it through the OCR submission ordeal.

The beginning of the song doesn't really telegraph how great it will get, but a straight piano arrangement is also pretty good. It doesn't get phenominal until 1:32, when the drums and chanting come in. It kind of accentuates the tribal-y feel of the original song, and ties the piece together. The flute is a bit harsh at times, but in general it just makes the piece better.

Something that definitly adds to the excelence of this song is the fact that the source material is a really nice piece as well.

All in all, it's an awesome song, but the most impact comes from the second listen through. The first doesn't really give you enough time to fully appreciate the transition from piano to fully developed song-ness. The second go 'round lets you sit back and enjoy the full song experience as a whole, because it's not as abrupt a transition when you know it's coming.

89/100

[eoaifhgak;shg]

Beautiful, emotional mix. I absolutely love it. Everything fits together so perfectly to make an amazing arrangement. This is definitely one of my new favorites.

By the way Txai, I happen to be Mormon, and nothing about those voices make me think about my religion. Sorry about that.

[CinderpawX]

I admit that I loved the original version of this piece, but you did a fantastic job with the song (: It's different, and just as good heh; it made me cry as well. Hope you stick around OCRemix for awhile *grin*

~

[^^DeusEx^^]

Well I'll be damned......I didnt know what to excpect when I downloaded this.....but by god this is great....

The piano intro, the voices...the beat's.....I found myself forgetting to breathe while I was listening to this a few times.

This has some powerfull emotive nuances....love it

[Oubliette]

I'm Mormon too, but the voices or shouts or whatever I guess sound a bit tribal. Maybe Lamanite-ish.

<.<

>.>

I like them though.

[Txai]

Please, forget my citations to mormons! It is not important! Only the comments about the work are important now.

[ChibiFirewraith]

My god...this is breathtaking. I can't even begin to describe how much this song affected me while I was listening to it(everyone, try it with headphones for a really incredible experience); the peacefulness of the piano, the power of the drums, the swell of the orchestra and the choir...I honestly began to cry during this. Wonderful. Just absolutely wonderful work. Thank you so much for this song.

[TaterChipMonster]

It began with a piano, searching for something. It searched until it found a familiar tune, and walked around it, admiring it, with violens singing their menlancholy tune, passing the Piano by with heavy hearts. The cellos than came, feeling a grateful sense of closure and admiring the Piano's optimism. They sang of the good that came with their trials. The Piano than said something serious, and the cellos sang one last long note.

Just the beginning of this wonderful remix surprised me, but when I thought things would get no better, thay did. The original tune came into focus in an oriental orchestra, and the piano came back with a beautiful melody. The soundtrack opened up to a broader range of instruments, varying their involvement to create different harmonies, different emotions, until the suspenseful moment in which I felt as if I had climbed my way to Cosmo Canyon and wished that I was still ascending into the sky itself.

Needless to say, it is already added to my gallery of worshipped music tracks.

[CopycattVII]

I like who this piece started off as a piano concerto. It was simply amazing. You can really see what arrangers can do with music and exspecially piano arrangments. I like the well round of insterments, and the ethnic feel. All the samples were exellent and this overall remix was A+.

[Fieari]

Oh wow, I haven't commented on this yet? I've been listening to it nearly nonstop for the past couple days. Play videogames? Turn down the ingame music and listen to this. Doing homework? Listen to this. Eatting? This. Etc.

The beginning, with the higher register notes present images of raindrops on clear surface of water. That surface of water is represented by the strings, subtly pulling tension in the background. The lower piano notes provide substance to this image and world... the still lake yet runs deep.

And then we have this tribal sounding area, bringing to mind a quest... a seeker... the lonely wanderer represented by the flute, the urgancy of the quest by the drums, the... mandolin? plucks describe to me the tall pines all around. In a moment, the piano returns, but now it represents the lonelyness of the wilderness. While forign, the string plucks sounded more familiar than the piano in this section, leading me to believe that those string plucks are the forest familiar, near home, and the piano is the wilderness, far away from all that is known.

The quest intensifies. The flute SOARS! Something important is happening here, it's hard to tell exactly what, but it is of the utmost importance. Perhaps we are flying... but not in a machine, not in an airplane... on the back of a bird, or perhaps we've spread our own wings and we ourselves are pumping the wind to leap to the very sky above.

Something happens.

But now the narrator refuses to tell us what just went on... we have an epilogue. Elsewhere, and perhaps days, years later, someone is telling the story to children around a campfire. The camera in my mind pulls up as we end things off, viewing the sparks of the campfire rising in the wind, floating up to the sky as we rise our view above the level of the familiar tall pines and witness the sunset.

There's still a sense of urgency, our wandering hero is still doing something important, the importance has not fled. Perhaps a new hero must arise to follow the path the other one set. Something must still be done... but that is clearly a tale for another day. This one is done.


Hence the need to put this on repeat. The story itself seems to loop, over and over again. Never any clear resolution. Something is always happening... but what, exactly? And how does it end? We may never know. I kinda wish we'd returned to that lake in the end, to really make things full circle, but that longing for circularness is part of what makes this song so powerful, so haunting, so drawing...


Awesome song.

[MaGi_TekK]

I don't get it, this is the most average song I've ever heard. Why is everyone going crazy over this? I downloaded it the first time and deleted it after listening to it once, then redownloaded it again after seeing all the reviews and noticing how its been sitting on top of the most recent list for so many days now. On listening more carefully a second time, all I hear is a lackluster piano opening, and later on a soundtrack that totally reminds me of eating in a chinese restaurant with bad chinese opera on in the background. Seriously, what's the deal here, this song is slightly better than a Justin Timberlake Ashlee Simpson remake of the macarena. But that's just my opinion.

EDIT: wow, that was a huge reply, now I have to redownload this

[The Tiger]

One of my favourite songs ever... thanks Reu.

[Strife.]

Very, very nice. I liked it all.

[BBB]

nice. i love piano remixes, but some of them get a little repetitive. this one builds for the entire song and gets better and better. it really captures the mood of cosmo canyon well.

[Nobbynob Littlun]

This song is just plain GOOD. I feel like expounding on its GOODNESS will not show just how GOOD I think this is, but I'll still say a few things for Kee's sake. Keeping in mind that I never heard the original.

I love how the background strings rise at 1:37. Such a great nuance. And of course the drums and piano are nice all throughout. The break at 2:57 is a nice touch.

On the vocals, a note for a little more believability - when people move to lower notes, their voices tend to "crinkle" a little bit from the adjustment. Especially at that particular area of the spectrum, as voices often have the edge of their registers around there (I hope this makes sense). Finding a way to introduce this would make it all the more convincing, and yummy!

The instruments definitely have a Japanese feel to them, but the arrangement and style makes me think of one of Blizzard's songs for Thunder Bluff in World of Warcraft. Unfortunately their posted one on the website is not the one I am referring to. For someone who has the game and WinMPQ or somesuch, you can extract it sound.mpq\Music\CityMusic\Thunderbluff\Thunderbluf f Walking 03.mp3 and listen to the first half :)

Reuben Kee, if you are curious enough and don't have World of Warcraft, AIM me at gnomewarriah or YIM at gnomewarriorsillymight and I'll send it to you - I bet you'll find it interesting, and I think Blizzard won't mind me sharing it for art's sake :)

[Dixie]

Really nice work! Pretty... oh, so pretty... ^ ^

[Citan119]

All I can say is wow. This peice is wonderfull, from the begging to the end. At first you have a slight sadness to the melody, then it picks up and just...wow. Great work with this one, I listen to it every night.

[Braden]

Wow... amazing... I don't know what to say other than amazing. I spent all of yesterday listening to nothing but this song. It is so beautiful. Someone made the suggestion (sorry, I didn't go back to get the quote) or listening to the song with headphones, and I did. Oh it was great because you can hear EVREYTHING! It's absolutly wonderful. I recomend this remix to anyone.

[Kaleb.G]

I don't get it, this is the most average song I've ever heard. Why is everyone going crazy over this? I downloaded it the first time and deleted it after listening to it once, then redownloaded it again after seeing all the reviews and noticing how its been sitting on top of the most recent list for so many days now. On listening more carefully a second time, all I hear is a lackluster piano opening, and later on a soundtrack that totally reminds me of eating in a chinese restaurant with bad chinese opera on in the background. Seriously, what's the deal here, this song is slightly better than a Justin Timberlake Ashlee Simpson remake of the macarena. But that's just my opinion.
:lol:

Well, I am to assume you just don't like the style of it. I think the style is fine, but my gripe with the song is the ho-hum melodic arrangement. What has been added doesn't really improve upon the original songs. That aside, the instrumentation is very well done...even if it does sound like bad chinese opera. ;)

[Schonste]

I do love this song. It's great.

But I just want to point out to those that are Mormon and seemed kinda offended, or didn't get the Mormon reference, that I'm sure the guy who posted was making an obscure reference to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who are pretty famous. ;)

Go Reu!

[Hyperion5182]

Good Lord...This is quite possibly the best FF7 remix i have ever heard. And yes that includes the Killer RedXIII theme and the concert pieces. If squaresoft were to ever come looking for a new sound track on a redone FF7 (not that it well ever happen :( This piece would be at the top of the list. By god this is beautiful in a way i never thought possible. It captures the epic level i have only found in a total of 10 remixes on here and the LOTR SoundTracks. This Is a true credit to the FFVII game and a truly well done remix. I dont see how ya top this one...I hope it can be done though :)

[~Foxy Grampa~]

You can't really say much about this remix. Only that ITS AWSOME!

[benevolensaurus]

This is good. I'll refrain from saying that it's the best Final Fantasy mix ever or that it's totally the awesome-est thing since sliced bread, just because it's not all that different from the original. I mean, it seems like for a large portion of the mix he just took the original, changed the instruments, and dramaticified (or epicified, I'm torn between which not-a-word word to use) it. This is a nice enhancement over the original, but I don't know... it just seems like the original piece with a fresh, new, stylish coat of paint.

I liked the original a lot, though, so I like this too.

[Chrono721]

This is good stuff. Though, cause I listened to this while watching The Ring, it reminds me of that... Weird isn't it. It's a great remix. I like it, though I wouldn't know about its originality cause I only saw bits of FFVII. I like it. Only complaint is that the "flute" is a bit too soft whe it comes in. It's probably just my speakers though. Great Job!
-Chrono721

[Chrono721]

This is good stuff. Though, cause I listened to this while watching The Ring, it reminds me of that... Weird isn't it. It's a great remix. I like it, though I wouldn't know about its originality cause I only saw bits of FFVII. I like it. Only complaint is that the "flute" is a bit too soft whe it comes in. It's probably just my speakers though. Great Job!
-Chrono721

[shrimpchips]

Wow... all I can say is this song really did make me feel like I was going through a journey - and really makes cosmo canyon seem alot more real. Good job.

[Red Light District]

Very classy. I love the pianos....

[Jogilius]

Very Nice! Excellent Original, and Excellent Remix. 8)

[AMDgeek]

MaGi_TekK says:

I don't get it, this is the most average song I've ever heard. Why is everyone going crazy over this? I downloaded it the first time and deleted it after listening to it once, then redownloaded it again after seeing all the reviews and noticing how its been sitting on top of the most recent list for so many days now. On listening more carefully a second time, all I hear is a lackluster piano opening, and later on a soundtrack that totally reminds me of eating in a chinese restaurant with bad chinese opera on in the background. Seriously, what's the deal here, this song is slightly better than a Justin Timberlake Ashlee Simpson remake of the macarena. But that's just my opinion.

What on Earth is wrong with you? "Lackluster" piano? Average? If this was "average", you'd hear shotty samples and terribly boring music happening. If this was "average", It would have had a much more difficult time passing the judges panel. If this was "average" there wouldn't be an incredible piece of music here that you can't seem to appreciate, or at least respect. Bad Chinise opera? Give me, and Reuben Kee, a break. Keep your malicious thoughts to yourself, you ill-mannered blockhead. :x

Shame on you for bashing such a clearcut piece of good, quality music. You should definitely reconsider your arguements here, because you're the only one that thinks this is "average" enough to be attacked so bluntly. This ReMix is absolutely astounding, and I'm ashamed that people like yourself must insist on bashing it. You simply had to say it wasn't to your liking because of this and this. You did NOT have to relate it to artists you think are "sucky" like Justin Timberlake and others and write negative comments without suggestions on how to improve those aspects of the song you did not like. I do respect your opinion as to your like or dislike of the arrangement, but I do not respect, and I most certainly denounce, your ignorance of courtesy and unecessary destructive criticism.

What you said was pretty disrespectful if you ask me, but perhaps that's "just my opinion". :roll:

Anyway, this arrangement was pure beauty. I had this on the back burner along with a couple new OC ReMixes I had downloaded recently. I just hadn't taken the time to listen to them. When I heard this, it just shocked me. The beauty, the emotion, and the culture (of all things!) put into this is simply awe-inspiring. I can seriously understand why some people cried while listening to this. This is definitely quality music.

Kudos to Reuben Kee for such a beautiful piece. Huzzah!

Shame on MaGi_TekK for their painfully appearent lack of respect and courtesy to others. Boo! :x

[Kuroude7]

This is really well done, Reuben. I love the nuances and subtleties within this song. I see a definite power in this song, as well as emotion that can be taken from many different perspectives. Awesome job, one of my favorites. - Cloud

[Dryft]

In one fell swoop Reuben manages to touch on both faces of this wonderful piece. The sensitive, introspective piano segues seamlessly in the triumphant tribal drums and flute.

I really like the register change at 3:12, where the flute goes freestyle and adds so much ambient awe to the climax of the song. The end drops out almost unexpectedly, leaving the listener waiting for more but not dissatisfied.

Definitely a mix worth several listenings in my opinion.

[Platinus]

Faints. And whilest in his coma, he dreams of Red XIII coming down from his grandfather's conservatory after his death. Saddened by the loss of BugenHagen, he travles through the cave under Cosmos Canyon to be with his petrified father. Finding comfort in the monument, he naps and has visions of his two great ancestors. They tell him that he must continue to fight for the planet.
Years after Meteor was summoned and destroyed, thousands of people head to Cosmos Canyon to hear the great words of the wise Elder Nanaki.

This is just one amazing opus. I can't get over it. It's just so beautiful. It feels as if there was some kind of divine inspiration behind it. Wonderful. I really must hear more of this kind of work. Again, simply beautiful.

[MalevolentArch]

This dong sent a shiver down my spine when the music picked up... f-ing great remix

[Zero_]

Strangely enough, me too. I wonder what triggers the body to shiver when listening to good music...

Excellent Remix. Very eastern any symbolizes Red XIII and his offsprings very well.

[Keithius]

A very good mix... I love it. It has that oriental flavor to it... but, it's almost... I dunno, Native American in it's feel at some points. Anyone else notice this?

Also, having recently picked up the DVD "Hero", this gave me flashbacks... there's some music in there that's very similar, IMHO. Or maybe it's just the deep percussion with the chanting. Oh yeah, gotta love the chanting. :D

Although it's been said many times before - this was a truly AWESOME remix. But I would expect no less from OCRemix.

Peace out, yo.
-Keithius

[Krythan]

Amazing piece of work here...it gives me chills every time I listen, especially at 3:15. I love how the soft piano melds together with the powerful tribal-sounding beat. Simply incredibly...10/10 in my book. Nice job!

[hitokirisabin]

I normally play this song on repeat while I'm doing a long homework assignment or report. It calms my every nerve. Reuben is a genius. I especially like around 00:56 when the piano stops and you hear the violin-like strings. Can't get enough of it.

[Chulainn]

This is definitely one of my favourite remixes. Of all time. Period.
This is truly exceptional work, from the beginning of the soft piano to the adding of the deep drumming voices and the flute. The song effectively provokes an emotional response (*tear), and brings back good memories of the game. The soft sections are exactly that: soft. And yet they lead into a powerful dramatic piece with a good ending.
Smooth. Very smooth.

[Antelucan]

This has to be the most moving piece on this entire site. Seriously, I can't get over how beautiful this song is.

Imagine a grand ascension taking place on top of cosmo canyon. That was the image which I based my inspiration on while working on this piece.
That's exactly what I thought of too... you really outdid yourself in capturing the majesty and grandeur of such a spectacle.

[the frantic melon]

What can I say about this piece that hasn't been said already? Well done, Reuben! Nobuo started out with a simple, yet powerful, melody in synth, and at last, it has been done justice. The choral bit is fantastic- subtle enough that it doesn't boom over the melody, but comes in after just the right amount of pure melody that it still emotionally overwhelms without hurting your ears (damn, I hate it when they think loud=emotion!). The mental imagery created really does capture the grand ascencion of Nanaki from the ending of the game. Gorgeous piece, well worth the download!

[Bluemage142]

I just know I'm going to get flamed for this, but I really didn't like the original Cosmo Canyon song. It just felt too atmospheric for me: heck, I'm listening to it right now, and all I'm getting out of it is an 'Okay, I'm in a primitive, semi-tribal settlement. Now what?" kind of feeling.

That said, Ascension is almost pure brilliance. I love the first 3:19 of it without reservation, and 3:29 on is just as brilliant. I could listen to it all day, as some of you have. When I first heard the 'ascension' at about 3:10, it was powerful enough to bring tears to my eyes.

There's just one problem, from my perspective. After that brilliant buildup to the climax at 3:12 to 3:19, the song meanders along aimlessly for about ten seconds. It's too much of a letdown too soon, in my opinion. Still, it's like the obviously fake trumpet sample from the beginning of Terra in Black: a miniscule smudge on the corner of the Mona Lisa, or a tiny scratch on the Venus de Milo. The only reason it stands out to me is because the rest of the piece is so flippin' good.

[Bummerdude]

This one of the best remixes I know. The piano in the beginning was astounding, and then surprisingly it changes to a beautiful indianorchestral version with
drums an some kind of indian-panflute. And when you think that it´s over, it´s comes back with even more power with a male choir in the back saying hummm, hummm,
hummm, or something like it.
Thank you Reuben Kee, I beg you to do an another FFremix, please. :)!!

[lady zelda]

I get reflective when I listen to this one, and when a remix or any song gets me reflective, then it's totally won my heart. It's truly beautiful from beginning to end, definitely enough to put me in tears. I always loved the Cosmo Canyon theme, but Reuben, you opened up another side of it, actually many different sides: not only re-defining the beauty, but opening the haunting and foreboding side of it as well. You have talent, Reuben, but I don't think you need me to tell you that! ^_^

[archi]

yeah, this track is amazing.
quiet and loud, slow and full of power.
that`s what a final fantasy mix should be like.
thank you for wonderful moments.
:D

[Psychotic Ninja]

Downloaded this remix a few months back when I was in the mood to listen to FF7 music. It's not one of my favorite OC Remixes, but it was good enough to stay in my playlist.

[isthan]

I cannot express my love to this remixs with words...

Beautiful. That's the only word. I'm sure Nobuo would like to hear this... It made me very nostalgic.

Best FF7 remix in OCR. 10/10.

[Ranael]

This is definetly one of my favorite remixes by Reuben Kee. He is an amazing musician and this piece certainly shows it.

[Firestorm8880]

well, my 2 cents on this masterpiece:
i loved the way you used the taiko drums and the choir the create the grandness, and the flute definitely played a part. my only muse is that the flute style was celtic and not an oriental flute (japanese/chinese), coz i felt small bit of disharmony arising from there...somehow i feel that if a chinese orchestral instruments were used instead, this piece would be perfected. Anyway, that's just me being picky. Near perfection, definitely something no FFVII fan should miss.

[Hyperion5182]

In 01:32 appear beats and voice of "mormons"!

I can't help but ask... why Mormons?

For the record the tabernacle choir is among the elite in vocals religous views aside they are incredible vocalists.

[GreyMage]

incredible

this truly justifies the original cosmo canyon theme. very nostolgic and powerful without the incredibly loud area. 10 out of 10

at first, i didn't approve of the flute part because it just didn't sound in place, but i listened to a bunch of times and now the song seems like it would be nothing without it

[Flare4War]

At the death of the author to this remix, OCR's own Reuben Kee; I would like to get a few of his remixes up on the bulletin so people who are new can get acquainted with his great work.

If you don't have this remix, download it. Excellent arrangement.

[Sam Ascher-Weiss]

Beautiful fucking work man... I'm practically in tears at the thought of the music you'll never get to write

[anosou]

It's truly a great loss that we won't see more of Reuben Kee's excellent work. Cherish what's already here. Like this amazing, beautiful arrangement.

[Jaybell]

This is beautiful. Why haven't I listened to this before?

I'm almost in tears from this.

[Fishy]

I suppose today is the best day to do this...

Truth be told, this remix was the reason I found OCR. A friend of mine was listening to it and telling me how awesome it was and I wondered where he got it from and pointed me towards here. This is a perfect tribute to a favourite scene from my favourite game, and listening to it really makes me feel happy.

I'm listening to it right now and thinking about the tragedy and I just shed a tear, which I haven't done in years, so if thats evidence enough of what a emotive and sincere remixer Reu was then I don't know what is. RIP man.

[Kizyr]

Everything about this song is amazing. The Cosmo Canyon theme was always my favorite track from FF7, and Ascension just puts such a majestic feeling to it. In particular, the instrumentation, and the way the crescendos/decrescendos are handled are incredible, and really lend to the overall emotion that's conveyed by this song.

On a more personal note... This was the song I referred to in the memorial thread as one that I associate with certain events in my life. This was the first song I heard when I moved out of my home in Nashville (after college) to find a new place in DC. It captured what I was feeling perfectly, and I'll always associate Ascension to Cosmo Canyon with that sense of uncertainty and optimism that I felt when moving out after college.

It does seem a bit late for me to review this, since this is perhaps the second or third remix I heard from this site, and it's what encouraged me to join the community and listen to everything else here... KF

[Trapical]

This is without a doubt my favorite mixes on OCR, The song just carries so much emotion with it.. and now with Reuben gone...

It's, it's just beyond words really.

[twitch2021]

My apologies to anyone I offend with this statement but this remix is hands down the best remix I've heard to date. It just builds on itself so well. And the chanting at the end (which I would have liked to hear more of personally) just put the emotion of the piece over the top. This one will be on my MP3 player for as long as it works I guarantee it.

[Lucentas]

Reuben Kee didn't just create arrangements. He created worlds.

I actually started actively watching this site just weeks before his passing, and by then I had already heard and downloaded this song, so to me it's the piece that's the closest testament to his genius.

It's just beautiful and powerful in so many ways...I only wish he was around so I could tell him personally what an amazing job he did with this and all of his work.

[Ascendancy]

this is incredibly well arranged, i love the drums being used and the hymns just give it that tribal feel if you get what i'm saying, i think my only problem with this piece is the flute but then again it does fit into the concept. i guess its just me, maybe i'm just not feeling the flute that much maybe some chinese string instruments would've worked better. but that aside great mix 9.5/10 =]

[jordash11]

Personally whenever I hear this piece I think of a native American vibe which is what Nobou was going for when he first wrote this song. Still one of my favorite pieces

[OA]

Excellent piano sound, And a great soundscape with subtle strings and some nice percussion. The choir wasn't amazing, but the flute sounded great.

Super recommended, it's both beautiful and dramatic.

[WannaPollkaLlama]

Quite literally my only wish is that it was longer, so that I wouldn't have to keep hitting replay :) This is one of the 3 songs out of all of oc remix (yes I've nearly listend to them all) That can bring out emotions so perfectly and clearly. One of three that can make me cry because of the beauty created.

Thank you Reuben Kee :) You've created something truly beautiful to share with the world. :) Thank you

[reesiiv]

Hi, I am new to posting but I am not new to OcRemix.

This song is great and it is the first song that has compelled me to post.

I would like a lot more songs like these in my playlist, they do not necessarily have to be from video games.

Orchestrated, with piano or flute solos. Native American theme. I do not really know how to describe it, nor search for similar music.

I've tried for the past two days to find music like this, with almost no results.

Does anyone know music similar to the themes in this song?

Thanks in advance.

[hrvstmn31]

I'm not entirelly new to this site i've known of it's existence for a while and haven't really had the need to register and post until now all in all this is a great song that had a wonderful beat and tune almost made me forget i was laid off lol. Anyways i want to thank you five years later for such a kickass song.

[Melbu Frahma]

Wow, I can't believe I haven't done a review for this track already. Time to fix that.

While Reuben's solo piano pieces are definitely excellent in and of themselves, I am eternally grateful that he chose to depart from that route for this piece; while the piano intro is hauntingly beautiful, the track doesn't really take off until that deep "hoom" around the 1:30 mark... at which point it goes from being a great track to an exceptional one. The gradual addition and blending of percussion, woodwinds, and other sounds builds perfectly toward the "cliff" overlooking Cosmo Canyon, and I always get a chill at 2:26 and then, again, at 3:13 when that final "step" up occurs. An almost perfect handling of the gradual build; the only thing I would've suggested would be to maybe build one more step even beyond that, or at least lengthen the end section, because I'm left wanting more, more, more of all of the sounds playing together at the end - it ends too soon.

Easily in my top ten of all time OCRemixes. To quote WannaPolkaLlama,

Thank you Reuben Kee :) You've created something truly beautiful to share with the world. :) Thank you