ReMix:Final Fantasy VI "Let Us Dance in the Dark Phantom Phorest" 2:56

By Star Salzman

Arranging the music of one song...

"The Phantom Forest"

Primary Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square , 1994, SNES), music by Nobuo Uematsu

Posted 2002-07-05, evaluated by djpretzel


Nice dramatic FF6 coverage from Star Salzman, back with a new name (formerly known as DJ StarBLaSt) and website (www.starblast.org). Beginning with a slowly evolving and building chromatic synthline, over which a high string swell comes in, the intro sets an ominous and tense scene. Then the simple-but-effective beat comes in courtesy of a rather nice snare fill and we get going. The afforementioned synthline is joined by the main melody soon afterwards, but Star doesn't let it just sit there repeating the same thing over and over - there are effective variations that make both lines interesting to listen to and enrich the relationship between them. Break at 1'48" where you can really hear the quality of the choir sample used - dig - followed by a major key segment that's more uplifting in tone, going back to the chromatic at the very end for subtle and tasteful closure. Very solid beat, love the snare fill, nothing seems out of place, and enough variation is present to avoid feeling like "auto-pilot techno". Recommended, to be sure - perhaps some ambient sounds or an alternate lead would have set it way over the top, but I ain't complainin'

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Necrox
on 2015-12-21 00:19:13

It's... calm EDM? I guess it's hard to do something really fist-pumping with this source. It's different in a good way though. It's pretty standard in arrangement and too conservative, but decent overall.

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42
on 2010-12-14 21:22:37

I like the quirkiness of this mix; it just fades in as if its just wandering through the woods lost in its own little world and marching to the beat of its own drums, so to speak, and then just continues on its way.

Speaking of drums, the beats here feels so trippily appropriate for dancing in a phantom forest. Overall, it's an interesting little mix, nothing too fancy but just ok.

Edit:

And I just now noticed that forest here is spelled "phorest". I feel that this is definitely significant.

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1makes2
on 2008-04-17 19:00:14
Pretty solid mix for it's time; well balanced production (except for a slightly too loud solo piano bit near the halfway point. it's just a few notes though), and some cool beatwork, i'm digging the 4 over 3 a lot. The ending was a bit abrupt, but worked, and the mix doesn't overstay it's welcome.

Nice sounds and a pretty creative interpretation; cool to know that even the more mundane Star tracks are well above average. I dig it.

lol i forgot about this mix..........

when i heard it for the first time about twenty years ago it was one of my favorite mixes (but back then, i was a really big fan of AE's work, which im sure we all were)

its wierd someone reviewed this 6 years later lol!!!! (*cough* so am I)

great song!

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OA
on 2008-04-17 13:59:41

Pretty solid mix for it's time; well balanced production (except for a slightly too loud solo piano bit near the halfway point. it's just a few notes though), and some cool beatwork, i'm digging the 4 over 3 a lot. The ending was a bit abrupt, but worked, and the mix doesn't overstay it's welcome.

Nice sounds and a pretty creative interpretation; cool to know that even the more mundane Star tracks are well above average. I dig it.

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Bummer
on 2005-10-08 15:23:26

Wow, the original wasn´t that much out of ordinary, maybe this wasn´t either really, but the synths and beats, it´s like dude! Somehow, you gave this one a more joyful tune, not as calm and soothing as the org. I say well done, you have successfully made a remix that´s definitly a downloader.

Starblast...I mean Star Salzman...wait...Ok, from now on, I´m gonna call you Star.

WELL done Star!! :mrgreen:

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Royal Sovereign
on 2004-08-16 12:39:45

Surreal, in a good way. This tune has a creepy edge to it, sort of like "I took too much Ecstasy and now demons are dancing around me," or something even more abstract than that. I really like this remix -- a good handling of the source material.

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maniacalsephiroth
on 2004-08-09 13:26:44

Awesome, very awesome. Not much else I can think of saying..other than awesome

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playingtokrush
on 2002-07-25 13:02:17

Oh, the drums don't sound like a waltz, and 3/3 and 4/4 and... *cries Starblast a river* Whee.

I love this song, and I didn't have any problems with the drums. This one rocks the house Starblast!

By the way, I love that subject heading! ("doot doot") LoL.

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Illuminati
on 2002-07-10 11:38:55

Incredible! I love this ReMix a lot..! Very nice tempo and synth sounds, in a slow techno style, wow. *speachless*

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Ryan8bit
on 2002-07-10 07:36:44

Well, I like it for what it is, which is just a good dance/techno tune. You proved that you could make what you wanted to, starblast. I mean sure, it doesn't stand out from a lot of techno or even other Final Fantasy mixes, but that doesn't make it bad. It's still pretty good.

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StarBLaSt
on 2002-07-08 13:02:53

alright here's the deal. I hear your 4/4 and 3/3 gripes with this song. But in response i say you're not listening hard enough. If you listen closely, you'll see that the drums are in fact in a pseudo 3/3. This is accomplished using a hi-hat velocity change on every 3rd beat.

If you listen closely to JUSt the drum track you will have trouble counting off 4/4. http://www.starblast.org/starsongs/pdrums.mp3 I admit its hard to get used to but once you hear that the drums are in 3/3 the whole song kinda just fits together. Yeah, listening to music shouldnt be this difficult, and perhaps i should have made the 3/3 drums stand out more. But by the time i was finished with the song, i was used to the pseudo 3/3 and it was fine. Look to the melody for the pulse of the song in this one, not the drums, if you get my drift... But in any case, i like the crazyness of the drums. It gives the song a unique feel in my opinion.. even if it is awkward at first. :D

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Chrisrj
on 2002-07-08 03:35:30

I agree with the above post. Dance music is supposed to be 4/4, while this song is 3/4. This happened with the ET theme also(albeit in a cheesier way than this song).

What could've been done is turn the 3/4 rhythm to something of a 3-3-2 rhythm(in eighth notes), inside a 4/4 beat. Or, it could also be turned into triplets and have the 4/4 beat thrown into the middle of each. I have a cover of GooGoo Dolls' Iris(also mostly 3/4) that does this exact thing, and it works fine:)

The opening synthes are there, and it has potential, but this remix just doesn't work.

...WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?!?!

j/j (Just joshing) :P

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Largo
on 2002-07-07 16:13:52

This mix is of one of my favorite songs from my favorite game, and it was headed in the right direction, but something just didn't seem right about it. The beat just didn't stay consistent, it was like I just couldn't tap to it right. The problem is, Phantom Forest is like a waltz, it's a one-two-three beat... and then salzman throws a standard one-two dance beat on top of it, obviously you end up with the downbeat alternating between bass and snare, and everything just feels screwy.

If it wasn't for that, I'd probably be groovin' to the song this very moment, but as is, it's too awkard.

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Fyrewave
on 2002-07-06 10:52:30

I really enjoyed this mix. I think the bassline is clean and not to overpowering, and the highs are crisp even with the nice echo scattered. Strings are always good if not too loud, nice.

Good to see the follow thru too on the beat, some remixers feel the need to vary the song for the sake of variety. One objection - too short. I think the melody solo near the end should have been recoursed with a standalone bass solo n some more jammin.

I think this one is right up there for top 10 awards if there ever are any!

ok im done 8)

FW

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GreatLeo
on 2002-07-06 00:13:07

This is awesome!!!!

I have seen alot of remakes of this theme but they have all been subpar but this is by far the best version I have ever heard!!!

I really liked the strings and the "gothic" feel to it. The cymbal doesn't quite fit in though I think, but that does not take away from the great arranging job you did. Choir and drums help add to the atmosphere, and I particularly liked the piano at the end. I hope to hear more from you in the future. :D

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Final Fantasy VI (Square , 1994, SNES)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
Songs:
"The Phantom Forest"

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File Information


Name:
Final_Fantasy_6_Let_Us_Dance_in_the_Dark_Phantom_Phorest_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
3,605,790 bytes
MD5:
c7f31fbf9427072fd5dbda4909ac6870
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
2:56

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