OCR00601 - Chrono Trigger 'Ruined World (Eternal Derelict)'

[orkybash]

Chrono Trigger 'Ruined World (Eternal Derelict)'

This is, in my opinion. one of CotMM's best tracks. Definately sounds like it's from the soundtrack of a CT movie. Sets up some GREAT ambience, then builds a slow-moving (in a good way) melody on top of it. Then just as it starts to get boring, CotMM changes it up, first shifting out the melody and adding in some de-tuned bells, then bringing in a new melody (this one from The Day the World Revived). I would LOVE to know what COTMM had in mind with this, as it sounds like there was definately a concept behind it that goes beyond the music. Highly recommended.

[bartkusa]

I'm just not built for appreciating the stuff CotMM puts out. Except this. As high-brow as this may be, it's still accessible, mainly due to it's high chill-out factor. DJ Pretzel described it best, as the sonic equivalent of Oriental calligraphy.

[Ebonyks]

I usually am not a big fan of any of the CotMM remixes, but this one just struck me differently than their other remixes. It just has a nice, smooth beat that for some reason makes me think of mourning over a tragic event. I realize that sounds pretty abstract, it's a moot point. CotMM put together a great remix

[tobmaps]

solitude.

this mix makes me feel like the loneliest person in the world

[Thylacine]

I didn't know that such an obscure "song" could be remixed so well. CotMM does an excellent job keeping the background as the main subject, as it was in the original. The sounds and music used were overall soothing, making its length enjoyable rather than taxing. I enjoyed this remix thoroughly, which is quite good considering this was one of my least favorite songs in Chrono Trigger.

[Child of Kirby]

Tired, and weary, the weathered-faced man wandered with a slow, hesistant step into what he once called home. The outskirts of town were utterly ravaged, both by storm, and by time, the very faint traces of the energy that tore so horribly through steel and gravel assaulting his senses. A step foward, and a pause was all he offered as he stared up at the massive, now twisted and battered peaks of towers previously standing on either side of the massive stronghold a few miles ahead of him. His body seized and fell, his knees hitting the ground as his head lowered, accepting the fall of the acidic, corrosive rain that struck his head, neck and coat. The fountain beside him already bore the scars of the rain, declaring it's downfall in entropy.

After several minutes of staring at the ground in disbelief, and his brain swirling in mesmerization at the light ringing of the rusted old bell outside of the tailor's, he lifted his body up and turned away from the castle. With a brief look to the sky, he nodded, seemingly to himself as he whispered an unintelligable phrase to his invisible companion above him. Lifting up his blade, he continued on, away from the city.

Vengeance would be his, and Togras would fall at his hand, if he had any say in it...

-------------------

That's what *I* think when I listen to this track.

Oh, by the way, I like it. In fact, it's my favorite mix on OCR, no questions at all. For anyone who likes epic, atmospheric pieces, especially something to put in the background of your tabletop RPG games, and your party just happens to be passing through an old, destroyed town... This is your piece.

10/10

[Chorozon ID]

If total nothingness invoked an auditory response, this is the closest thing to it that I can think of. The true domain of this music as well as all of CotMM's tunes, is the realm of entropy and perfection. I've found solace and beauty in all of his recent works... but this takes the cake.

Keep with it CotMM... keep with it.

10/10

[Vig]

Like the track itself, my review will be simple and concise.

Pleasing to the ear, original, and very moody. this track proves that a mix doesnt have to be busy or complecated to be effective. this track in its simple beauty is up there with the best from McV, DJP, AmIE, Protricity, and anyone else whose name rhymes with those.

-Vig

[Kamikaze Noodle]

Wow. This mix is truly incredible. It really is a very simple piece, but it conveys emotions very well. I want to put it in my playlist, but I feel like putting anything after it would just not work. A very good track.

[Uberwulf X]

One word.

ThisisoneepicpieceofmusicidaresayIenjoyeditallandw ouldsimplyloopthisoverandoverandlikesuggestedIcoul dputthistothebackgroundoftabletop- RPGsandMugenifyouveeverheardofit.

:roll: Longest. Word. Ever.

[SineSwiper]

Nothingness. Depression. Despair. And some faint thread of hope, as the strings progress. Stays true to the original mix of the song, while enhancing its 16-bit fallbacks with real live sound and emotion. Not in the norm of what CotMM does, but it certainly has his fingerprint on it.

One very minor complaint: I miss the bells that drone in the original song, which added a certain flavor to the song. Other than that, I have nothing say that would compare to what djpretzel or the rest have wrote, except that I wanted to add my vote to the rest of the glowing reviews of this excellent score of ambience.

[Gnam]

I'm not really into COTMM's other stuff, but this thing is excellent. While on one hand it's a great remix of the song musically, it also works excellently as a ambient just sound effects. It doesn't just tell you the emotion of the scene, but give you a vivid picture and feeling of what is physically going on as well. Also, while it's very creative and interpretive, it also works just as well at staying true to the original and just enhancing it.

[Vasahond]

One word: Wow. This one totally blew me away. It's totally like the original, but it has real sounds! Not only that, but it captures the whole feeling of the original, and adds something of its own to it.

[smh]

i feel it is my duty to say something about this mix, as it is one of my favorites on the entire site.

CotMM has created something that is not quite a song, but instead a soundscape that draws you in and makes you feel like you were there. while listening to this song i am swept away through desolate ghost towns and barren landscapes, through the streets of future cities devoid of color, and among the ruins of civilizations long gone. this mix, while simple, transcends over the original piece and creates a world of it's own. thanks for creating an excellent piece of music.

my possible only complaint is that i think everything after about 5:30 is a bit extraneous. i like the "day the world revived" theme but the synth sound that is used for it sounds plain and empty after the rich piano chords and pads in the first 5 minutes of the song, and i am not left feeling as refreshed as if i press the stop button on Winamp somewhere between 5:00 and 5:30

[Kujila]

This is very gut-wrenching music. If you close you eyes you can see a vivid picture of a Lavos-destroyed world,... very, very vivid, and very, very good...

...Just,...awesome,...that's the only word for a song that leaves me in awe...

[Tacitus]

Amazing...

Definately soundtrack-quality music for any disaster flick. This piece perfectly captures the feel of the moment, and if I ever need some background music for my D&D players to wander a blasted wasteland or ruined town, this'll be it. Two thumbs way up.

[SILVERWOLF]

very emotional piece. i love it.
10/10

[Pherexio]

The volcanic destruction of so many years has wrought the planet a new face... conceived of destruction and hatred, the worlds quakes with the pain, and yet, in all this, there is a sort of beauty... an overbearing feeling of purpose, and yet despair. The small, bands of nomadic humans that still remain still hear the cries of the dying, the lost, the fearful, the burning, and the panicked. Lost in this reverie, no one notices the small flower, now trampled by the many feet of a wandering people; proof that even death and destruction can have a way of bringing forth new life; that the human will to survive conquers any obstacle; the hope of a people, rended from their homes, still lives on.

_____

This mix truly is an amazing work, and easily and accuratly conveys the feeling this track was meant to give. What else is there to say but keep at it! 10/10

[CTPhoenix]

CotMM... I hope that you are reading this..

You are a god of music. This song captures the climax of the game. The world in hopeless ruin, only to show the true nature of humanity versus universal fate... I couldn't have asked for more. This is one for tears. Keep it coming.

Entropy...

[Less Ashamed Of Self]

CotMM has created something that is not quite a song, but instead a soundscape that draws you in and makes you feel like you were there.

To this I must say, yes, many have also noticed it's the kind of piece that draws you in. It helps you see a mental picture merely with it's atmospheric style... But to your former point .smh, expand your definition. 'not quite a song'!?! ... fine; then don't play it at any parties any time soon and appreciate it for what it is: a 'sonic creation'. Music isn't a beat, music is sonic message through whatever medium. I would suggest using terms like 'more' or 'less musical.

I think of all the elements to a selection of music, the sensitive conveying of emotion is the most important; this track does that to a tee.
I am addicted to this mp3! It's a positively gorgeous, emotional piece of soundscape... you cannot listen to this and be thinking of a world of happiness and sunshine. The instruments are well chosen, and their faint flowing melodies masterfully used/developed.

If I were to put my spin on it, I would add a musical line of suffering... a faint digital something fading in and out resembling whining... like a form of whale noise. The ending melody too, while a great, was a little unnecessary... it was like it was added on so that it would be CT enough to be accepted. I think it's stronger before that point, but again that's my spin... not to be confused with a suggestion, this piece is complete. No one can touch you on this one CotMM.

10/10
*****
Two thumbs up.
Gorgeous.

PS: The track also reminds me a lot of the music from the group 'Boards Of Canada'.

[Ferret]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't love this. While the original is sparse and not really music at all, this piece is quite easily a master work of ambience and emotion. I listen to this and I can see the shocked look on their faces, see them trudging through a desolate wasteland in search of survivors, all the while wondering how this all came to pass.
Excellent work and clearly deserving of an award.

[SixthFlyingMan]

Wow, this IS great. Children did awesome on this. Concerto's right, in that it's not really music, but it is just as beautiful as anything Mozart, Bach, or anyone else could come up with. Oh, and Less, around 4:00, if you listen closely and turn up your volume, there IS that sound effect. Better speakers might also help.

[m68030]

This is probably my single most popular track.
It's also the one I think I've enjoyed the most over
the years. A lot of love went into this one.

The storm noises were recorded in stereo from several
different thunderstorms over the course of about two
years. The original intent was not for this remix,
but I think they found a happy enough home in it.

The chimes and metal noises (other than the single
in-game sample I ripped) were recorded from wind chimes
and other metal I found around the house.

Several people who have come to that home after having
heard the remix commented they felt like they were
stepping into the remix when they closed their eyes
and just listened. That made me smile, because I
designed some of the stereo separation effects in this
track to model part of my backyard. I've always loved
trying to take things that I find an unconventional
beauty in and try and share it in some accessable
form. That's probably why I love this track so much,
because it seems to universally be accepted and
enjoyed.


I have noticed several comments from various people
about the ending section. I can see where many of
these comments come from, since it may not seem to
'flow' really with the rest of the track, but I'll
lay out my thoughts and intention on it here...

The chord progression is strictly from the Overworld
theme of 2300 AD. In your first venture to this land
in the game you help provide some food to the
surviving populace. Their theme in the game, given
the scenario just seemed such a beautiful expression
of hope in the face of absolute despair.. at the end
of this long soundscape of wasted land, I wanted
the focus to shift that even in a world destroyed,
hope remains. My mental image standing, watching the
storms roll across the land, then turning to see a
few fellow survivors, and some food for everyone to
have.

I probably could have found a way to integrate it
a little more smoothly, but I still feel it stands.

Originally I was going to write a full 'tutorial'
about how I went about constructing this track, but
I never finished it. Don't ask me about finishing it,
because it's just simply been too long, now, over
two years ago.

http://silenthillbbs.dyndns.org/tutorial/
If you want the higher-bitrate version, change that
IP address in the document to the same domain as
the above URL. I'll edit the document one day
so it's not needed.

Finally, a screenshot of what I believe was the final
mix in the program I did the mix-down in, Acid.

http://silenthillbbs.dyndns.org/stills/ruined_world.jpg

I couldn't fit the whole thing into a single shot and
still show all the envelopes and such, but I think
it's a nice overview of the whole thing.

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. Enjoy.

[Miku]

This is just amazing.. Some day I hope to make something like this.

The only thing I'd change would be to put a bit of a fade-out at the very end (there is a bit of noise, and it just cuts off). But other than that, this is one of the most beautiful arrangements I've ever heard.

[Bren]

This is a great mix. It really captures the setting of the ruined world and the emotion that the characters must feel when they leave the portal.

[Black Mage]

This song reminds me of one of those ambient sound relaxation cds, very soothing.

[Isaac 117]

You know how Florida had that string of hurricanes a few months back, right? Well, right after Hurricane Charlie had gotten a little ways away from my neighborhood, I had to go help one of my mom's friends tape up some cardboard over a broken window.

So I was walking to her house, and as odd as it sounds, the first thing I thought of after stepping outside was this mix. It's one of the best I've ever heard. :)

[Ventrex]

All I can think of right now to describe this track will never do it justice. It stands on its own, and my upcoming comparison won't show that, but this mix is unique. No one else on OCR sounds anything like CotMM, and hats off to him for accomplishing this. That said...
This song reminds me deeply of the music of A Silver Mt. Zion (not so much the newer stuff with the choir and the swelling, exploding, incredibly loud musical joy they've developed, but more along the lines of the quiet, reflective, and far more hopeless sounding He Has Left Us But... era); slow, somber, sorrowful, simply beautiful.

This will be in my playlist quite a bit in the future, and is easily my favorite CT mix, if not one of my favorite OCR mixes at all.

[Petara]

The first time I heard this, I thought it was crap. The second time, I thought it was OK. The third, it was good. The fourth time however, I realized that this remix is truly great. Very atmospheric and, like djp said, "epic." The reason for the premature sour misjudgement could have been because it was one of the first remixes I heard on this site over 3 years ago. I mean, the first remix I heard was Blind's "Dream of Zeal", a bit hard to measure up to even to this day. Still, this remains one of my favorite CT remixes.

[Claado Shou]

Damn. If this isn't the quality of music I'd expect in, say, a VvVv CHRONO TRIGGER MOVIE vVvV then it isn't anything at all. First five minutes rock my soxx0rz.

~.C.S.~

[Bummerdude]

This is totally different for being CotMM, no beats at all and there are lovely strings that pierces through the depressive mood this hole song engulfs.

I get very poetic when I hear beautiful stuff, so I guess this one really is one of them. It doesn´t get very melodic, but come to think of it, "Ruined World" didn´t really have one, it was just a bell beating randomly with the wind blowing at the side. But at the end, you CAN hear a melody, "The Day The World Revived".

Very different of you, CotMM, and very good.

[RimFrost the Tourianist]

The song is 6:40 long for a good reason ,it's a wonderful emotive stretched-out version of Ruined World (the original could almost bring tears to your eyes). I miss the bells in this one ..although they do show up faintly in the beginning.

Otherwise ,no complaints. CotMM's far best remix :)

[Dionyseus]

Beautiful track, top 10 favourite song ever. This is Aphex Twin quality!

[Bobwillis]

This is great study, bath, driving at night after intense shit, or feeling a bit emo music.

I do enjoy how Cotmm's pieces attempt to carry the essence of the situations they are describing in the music.

[Blake]

Wow. :) Good job with this. I don't know how but this song completely holds my attention for every freakin second. If you've listened to the Flaming Lips this is like one of their non-vocal/atmospheric tracks that are thrown in each album, which I tend to like. So kudos for that, and kudos big time for taking such a simple song and making such a simple ReMix that can grab attention and heartstrings like beggin' strips to dogs. This is pretty mindblowing stuff.

[atmuh]

I can listen to this song over and over. Really great work.

[DaltontheSultan]

This is my favorite piece of work on this site. It's also one of the first OCRs I ever downloaded. Whether that colors my perception or not doesn't really matter- this remix is the the video game remixing scene's answer to legendary and powerful works like Adagio for Strings. Like Adagio for Strings, it is (if not the most) one of the most emotionally evocative pieces in its class. Absolutely stunning.


But I bet I'd be shutting my speakers off pretty fast if someone came in my dorm and it happened to be playing.

[DragonFireKai]

Very evocative. I like the storm sounds in the back. Epic could be used to describe it.

[bladiator]

So far in my race to 1000, this is easily the worst remix so far.

Yes it evolves, yes it creates a scene of imagery. But it evolves just about as fast as prehistoric man from a protozoa, and it conjures up imagery of me sitting long and hard on the crapper in a meditative state.

If this is such an obscure song that THIS was well thought out upgrade to it, then I never want to hear the original song. If this is a piece that sounds like it comes straight from an epic moment in a movie, then I need the movie to accompany this because I can't get enjoyment out of this alone. Sometimes music that is part of a movie soundtrack only belongs with a movie and cannot standalone. I feel that this is one of those pieces.

CotMM for the most part is higher on the food chain than this regarding his remixes.

[a_d]

I suppose it helps to know the context of this song in the game (e.g. the review preceding this one), but this song perfectly accomodates the scene in Chrono Trigger. this piece is so sad and it incorporates No Hope into it fairly well. I definitely like this better than Children of the Monkey Machine's similar mix for Silent Hill (maybe that's because i've never played it, though). Although hardly a song, this piece is epic

[Darth Magus]

So far in my race to 1000, this is easily the worst remix so far.

Yes it evolves, yes it creates a scene of imagery. But it evolves just about as fast as prehistoric man from a protozoa, and it conjures up imagery of me sitting long and hard on the crapper in a meditative state.

If this is such an obscure song that THIS was well thought out upgrade to it, then I never want to hear the original song. If this is a piece that sounds like it comes straight from an epic moment in a movie, then I need the movie to accompany this because I can't get enjoyment out of this alone. Sometimes music that is part of a movie soundtrack only belongs with a movie and cannot standalone. I feel that this is one of those pieces.

CotMM for the most part is higher on the food chain than this regarding his remixes.

To be fair, there really isn't much to the original... they sound quite similar, with CotMM's having more depth, of course but the fact remains. It's not really a song at all... it's more a mishmash of sounds that create the feel of a dystopian future. It is a strange mix to listen to if you're not familiar with the source tune and the scenes it accompanies, but if you do know it, you see how it fits.

[OA]

I'm actually surprised to find that I really love this one. It might have a lot to do with a very strong familiarity with the original, and this enhances it significantly. I'm not sure i'd be as smitten if I hadn't played through the game 20+ times though.

[Silver Skree]

Hey, I was just letting Shuffle go through my OC Remix folder, and this came on. It somehow inspired me to make a video, so I opened Sony Vegas, and after about an hour of picture and clip hunting and track motioning, I pumped out this and threw it up on YouTube. I guess it falls under the definition of a 'music video' but I'd refrain for actually calling it one. I'unno. Just watch if you want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbeM6jtf18

Do see description, please.

[SubNormal J3]

I love COTTM's work so I supposed this review isn't going to be very helpful to anyone who doesn't like his style, BUT for those that do, go ahead and download it now. I think it is a brilliant track. It builds upon that simple, haunting melody (which I found to be quite effective in-game) by adding the proper ambient effects. It never really progresses in the traditional musical sense until almost six minutes in, but it is quite an enjoyable listen. Just shut your eyes and listen to the intricate details of the sound scape.

[Koncur]

I've never written a review on this site before, but I felt that this piece deserved the effort. I originally downloaded it years ago, probably when it was first released.

Initially, I didn't like it, as I was in the mood for something with more of a melody or beat. However, at some point later I listened to it when in more of a downer mood, and found that it fit perfectly. Since then, this piece has become my favourite on the site, and over the years since then I've probably listened to it hundreds of times.

This one isn't for when you want to dance or feel badass or whatnot. This one is when you just want to sit or lay back quietly, close your eyes and think on life, or when you're feeling down and want a score to reflect your mood.

I want to thank Children Of The Monkey Machine for this piece. It has helped me through some hard times.