ReMix: ActRaiser 'Thy Followers'

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Game: ActRaiser (Enix, 1991, SNES)
ReMixer(s): Russell Cox
Composer(s): Yuzo Koshiro
Song(s): 'Birth of Humans', 'Northwall'
Posted: 2002-08-23, evaluated by djpretzel

Just one mix tonight, as I'm fading out earlier than usual and will soon need to go lateral, but it's a good one. Actraiser's soundtrack is chock full o' sweets, but this theme and Fillmore are two of the standouts that come immediately to mind. The latter has been funkdafied by moi and technofied by McVaffe, but the former I actually covered a loooonnngggg time ago with a really weird, urban mix that I don't quite remember how I made or what compelled me to do so in such a fashion. Russell Cox, resident Finale-user and maestro of the symphonic mix action gives us a more conventional, classical take on Yuzo's tunage, incorporating additional themes as well into a well-roasted blend that is certainly closer to the original(s) in tone. Of note are the high-quality trombones and trumpets - difficult to do these in solo or ensemble fashion in even a half-believable fashion, but they're pretty smooth here. Epic horns, delicate pizzicato - the usual suspects make their appearances, and Mr. Cox takes his usual risks with cadenza segues and silent spaces that flow into new tangents. Though his craft is improving, Russell's maintained a pretty consistent (and impressive) style, and as long as his orchestral arrangements remain on par, I wouldn't mind hearing dozens of pieces in this vein. This symphonic mix is no exception, and comes recommended as well. One important note - it's late and I don't have time to double-check, but it appears that there's some clipping / static at the very end of this file, around 4'20" - if anyone can verify and if this indeed true, perhaps Russell can send me a fixed version. Might just be my audio card. Usually would check with the artist instead of posting - I'm tired :)

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

This seems like two very short remixes slammed together, and both are harmed by the force needed to get them to gel. I felt the Birth of the People section was boring and lacked direction. Meanwhile, the Northwall section is absolutely stunning. There's no real unifying force between them to justify making them a single track (other than perhaps a lack of length, which I don't think is adequate justification for the fusion here). The transition between them felt very clunky and jarring to me. In the end this one probably isn't going to stay in my playlist because the first half just doesn't do it for me. I really like the Northwall segment, but it's dragged down by the first half.

- Proven Paradox on December 6, 2009

Too bad we haven't heard from Cox in so long, but the winds tell me he's
popped back up [URL="http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=24199"]recently[/URL]? Pity I'm no pianist...
I really like his influences. "Lilt" is the adjective that comes to mind when listening to his pieces.
This is a great synthetic symphonic mix. I like 'supa clean' mixes like this that really go after the original work in a faithful way. The flute sample did get a little baked right at the end like some folks have already said, but considering this submission is nearing 9 years old at this point, and its the only negative thing I can come up with, I say download this.
And those comparing it to Symphonic Sweet, which is live rendition CD coming up on 20 years old...I don't think a comparison to it is necessary to enjoy this by itself.
..but what do I know.

- madmallard on July 7, 2009

This one brings back fond memories...
I love the progression, and the transition between the differents parts of the song.
The swells are quite good, and even though it doesn't sound as good as the symphonic suite
(we're talking Yuzo Koshiro & Kaoru Wada, have mercy!), this is a wonderful hommage to the original.

- Dj Mokram on March 18, 2009

A step up from a straight medley, but still has some flair to it; unfortunately, while this is a really nice mix, it sounds too similar to the symphonic suite official arrangement, and my mental comparisons to an actual orchestra, even to really good and well used samples are unfair.
Check it out for sure though.

- OA on March 18, 2009

Yeah, very nice piece. I get Birth of the People stuck in my head from time to time but it never occurred to me to check out remixes of it. This definitely does it justice, with some small but nifty alterations to the classic source. Good articulations, and the Northwall theme is handled pretty well too.

- Palpable on October 2, 2008

A very nice orchestral piece! You get a feeling of grandeur from the first half, and the second half is very light and quite, almost like it's waiting for something, or perhaps like something waking up. I quite like it.

- uthlu on June 22, 2008

Excellent orchestral piece. Well worth the download.

- DragonFireKai on April 30, 2007

This is what you'd call the traditional way to arrange the original source tune, that is, compared to Lord PROTEKTOR. I personally preferred the first half of the mix, being more melodic, or at least a little more up beat (the words 'up beat' in an orchestral song review, go me). The song overall just works well. One of my favourites from Mr Cox.
EDIT- Dammit, I just listened again and I had never noticed the flaw at the ending. It's cool when you don't notice flaws, because you can enjoy the work in question better. Oh well, still a decent piece.

- watkinzez on September 19, 2005

Wow, pretty cool stuff! As djpretzel said, trombones and trumpets of great quality. This song is really sweet and beautiful. The flute in the end is a bit awful. But I enjoy this ReMix at all. Lovely.

- Txai on April 27, 2005

this music is awesomE ! ^__^

- PotatoeCS on March 14, 2004

Now this is different....and by different I mean special, and by special I mean...special. Naw, anyways Im impressed to say the least, when I heard this I thought it was going to be one of those typical songs that I download, you know the mediocre ones. But I was slaped in the face with a classical tune that swept me of the floor, then started to use me as a mop for the floor, and before you know it I was enveloped in a town where everyone was happy, and this song was playing....or at least I think thats what happened. Anyways I give my first Kudos Bar to Russell Cox today!!!!

- Lunevalkyrave on January 29, 2004

A classical windfall here for those that like orchestral music, with some minor clipping problems preventing it from rising to perfection. Nothing really unexpected here, just a great-sounding symphony: brass are particularly strong, and there's even a fairly prevalent harp in the second half.

- Durinthal on December 15, 2003

This is an awesome rendition of the original. You truly know what you're doing. Anyway about the clip at the end. I found that if you use the wav hammer on soundforge you can omit the clipping and none of the rest of the sound is disturbed. Outside of that it was very good indeed. :D

- gideon1776 on October 23, 2003