[djpretzel]

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

[RimFrost the Tourianist]

Melodic ,yet dissonant and chaotic.
An interresting remix if given some time to listen through..

[Darangen]

I love it! Great work DarkeSword!

[Txai]

This is of course really clean. I listened this song on VGMix and put it in my toplist a few times ago. This is probably very cool for the Megaman fans. I enjoyed a lot what Shariq Ansari did with this track. In terms of arrangement and instrumentation, it is too satisfactory and pleasant. Very interesting effort.

[unpagedclerk]

DarkeSword has some good stuff and this is one of his best.

[Brim]

I've been listening to this song for quite awhile, and its still just as enjoyable as ever. I agree that X doesn't get much coverage, and this is definitely the perfect song to compliment X.

I can see some influence from Makoto Jungle Jazz, which happens to be one of my top favorite mixes as well.

[Rexy]

Aw man, this mix is going way back. I remember catching it on VGMix several months ago, and even to date I find it to be one of Shariq's better works published. I can't associate the track with its inspiration given that I haven't listened to Matoko Jungle Jazz yet, but the style is there to easily capture the recognition X deserves.

Naturally I'll quote in my semi-old VGmix review, which was somehow generated before I knew about his dislike for the play-by-play system O.o

Production techniques
I have seen some references to his Chrono Trigger arrangement Through the Dark through some high-speed drum references and the use of relaxed keyboard instrumentation alongside it, therefore showing that this track should be in a familiar state. Stereo panning is present through elements of drum spread, some light space being given to the keyboard instruments and steady placements of the remaining channels. The instruments are shown to be at a very high quality - maybe higher than some of his previous works? And the sound levels have also been warmly created well enough, even though I feel that there should be a bit more emphasis towards the treble instruments to compete with the bass. In general this setup is very good and should be set to take the listener through the piece at a powerful state.

Compositional structure
The use of the Rhodes piano has been showcased well enough in the gentle introduction, helping to add a laid back atmosphere to begin with. The melody soon starts to show up at 0:20, still appropriately fitting for the moods for the listener, and thus carefully fitting with the theme as required. The variance of the drums is also seen to create some strong interest-related liberties, adding to the tracks main strengths easily. If there seemed to be a light slip somewhere on the lines, I'd probably gesture at some elements of instrument expression, although I dont really see it was a big thing.

At the turn of the 1 minute mark, the chilled moods start to return slightly, before we get another melodic riff being provided at 1:07. It fools you first by providing the first elements of the original melody line, but 2 bars in it breaks into a very good set of improvisation, which should be able to guide a very strong emphasis that I doubt I've seen in some of Shariq's recent works. In other words, this area has to be seen as a highlight. Its entrance might have been a bit justified though, but it's not that big a problem - still very good.

1:58 brings in a brief return of the chilled moods once more, before the melody starts to build up over time - first it's a variation with pitches altered, then it's the original, and then both melodies coming together before the whole sequence comes together. Now I see this to be a good way to create a slick climax for the listener, even though I feel that the textures here could have wanted to welcome another instrument channel to go alongside it.

The ending shows a nice breakdown from 3:05 onwards, where the minimal instrument textures show once more, guiding the listener down a relaxed finishing scenario. I'm not exactly too fond of fade-out endings though, but I can admit that it's been positioned at the right time at the right place, embedded almost flawlessly to match. So that should be set to satisfy the listener accordingly.

Naturally you can tell that I really enjoyed this; compositionally there's definitely a broader sense of ambition in comparison to some of his other works, and the atmosphere is also up there to generate a well produced track fitting of its moods. I do have to agree with Larry that some of the areas of the track sounded a little bit thin and empty on both fronts, but after a few listens you'll be able to see that it won't hinder the experience that much; just seen as a light distraction that might falter for some.

But as far as I can see, this is definitely some great, GREAT work from Shark, and one that people should really check out. Well done once more, and let's see you provide some more material in the future :)

[Hawke Edge]

I'm going to sum my opinion of this in a cliche one word sentence as though my opinion is not just a drop in the bucket, but the actual bucket a drop is being placed in:


Cool.


Yea, that sums it up very well.



Post-edit after further criticism to give further props to Darke:

I guess it's difficult to enjoy a song such as this from more recent Mega Man remixes considering those had more symphonic elements that continuouslly said "HERE I AM!! ROOOOOARR!" (especially considering recent entry from MMZ2, Cool Mind).

Yet, this song can be appreciated in the dynamic that it seems static but actually has quite a bit going on within; as noticed a bit down, the tempo changes slightly in the second half of the song, primarily as it nears to the 2:00 mark, but then resumes its previous groove.

This may be a mix more or less meant to be in a certain mood for it, but that it has some ambience to it alludes to a further "chill" feeling - that this song may introduce that mood, a la the recently departed Israfel's Shiver's remix, Cerebral Rose Jam; however, the latter does so in a much more seductive way.

Father of All may not be a direct "kick you in your FACE so you move" kind of song, but at least its a good, steady melody that proves to be a good mix over the original.

[Dectilon]

I'll sum it up too.

Boring.

[shadowrunner]

cool, mellow, and not drawn out. this music would definately make a good driving tune. good work.