ReMix: Final Fantasy IV 'Echoes at a Distance'
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- Game: Final Fantasy IV (Square, 1991, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): lasombra
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'The Lunarians'
- Posted: 2002-10-20, evaluated by djpretzel
Oooohhhh . . . now this here be some good stuff. Sounding unlike anything else on OCR, with amazingly dynamic, intimate, articulated ethnic percussion coupled with grandiose, filtered, phased, + delayed synth work, lasombra has a really unique bit of mix for you. Extremely cinematic, dramatic, and highly suspenseful and original, this is the type of mix that's got some fresh ideas and explores the outer possibilities of game arranging - it's not orchestral but has symphonic elements, it's fairly free-form and doesn't have a very distinct beginning, middle, or end, and it's cool. You can't dance to it and it's not the transporting, epic brand of soundtrackish work that's more common, so it may not be as immediately accessible, but I think most will appreciate & view this as a ReMix that's decidedly unique and not derivative in the slightest. The diminishing ending does give it the stamp of being ephemeral and transitory like many incidental BGM pieces, but it's highly memorable. I suggest giving it a download and at least seeing what you think, as to me its distinctiveness alone makes it a compelling work. Props to lasombra for choosing challenging source material and giving it some new threads. Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 12 comments/reviews; view the I have to agree with Bahamut regarding the samples. This is
something I used to listen to a bit years ago, but it just hasn't
aged that well.
I think I would have liked to hear this stretched out. As in... it wouldn't have hurt this mix to be longer. If it was longer there'd be more room for Iasombra to explore more ideas and such. As is, it sort of feels cramped up together. It'll start to get good, but them bam, it moves on to something else. I can't help but wonder what it'd sound like if the artist worked on it today. It has so much potential.
This isn't a bad song by any means, but compared with OCR songs of today with the upped standards it sort of pales. Still, worth a listen if you dig FF4 music.
- Otakatt on December 2, 2009
I think I would have liked to hear this stretched out. As in... it wouldn't have hurt this mix to be longer. If it was longer there'd be more room for Iasombra to explore more ideas and such. As is, it sort of feels cramped up together. It'll start to get good, but them bam, it moves on to something else. I can't help but wonder what it'd sound like if the artist worked on it today. It has so much potential.
This isn't a bad song by any means, but compared with OCR songs of today with the upped standards it sort of pales. Still, worth a listen if you dig FF4 music.
- Otakatt on December 2, 2009
I can't help but notice how poor these samples sound to me
now.
There's an interesting contrast going on here with the relatively empty sounding drumming and the bigger sound from the other instruments. At around 1:20, there's also an unnatural shift in direction - it doesn't seem like the transition worked very well.
The arrangement of the melody itself is intriguing in the first half, but too conservative in the second half of the mix, which is no good considering how short it is.
- Bahamut on October 2, 2009
There's an interesting contrast going on here with the relatively empty sounding drumming and the bigger sound from the other instruments. At around 1:20, there's also an unnatural shift in direction - it doesn't seem like the transition worked very well.
The arrangement of the melody itself is intriguing in the first half, but too conservative in the second half of the mix, which is no good considering how short it is.
- Bahamut on October 2, 2009
Great but short. Or maybe.. short but great. Yeah, that's better.
Listen closely; it sounds fantastic and there are some wonderful
details in there - I absolutely love the percussion. (There is also
a bit of offness in the final Lunarians part with lotsa delay
effects, but that's forgivable). The soaring b-part of the Another
Moon theme is *gorgeous* here. The fade is kinda unfortunate and
unnecessary, the ending could have been done without it. I could
just loop this without it, but now it's jarring. A proper
diminuendo would have been great. I hate being so negative about
what ultimately is a minor detail, but on such a delicate track
it's really unfortunate. Otherwise, it's a really tasty piece of
music!
--Eino
- evktalo on December 16, 2008
--Eino
- evktalo on December 16, 2008
Love the drumwork in this, really atmospheric. Not sure if I like
the synth used for the first melody, but it's alright. Fade out is
lame though, especially as it goes into a 'suspence' feel just as
that's happening. Could have liked an entirely different ending,
actually.
Definately a very memorable track, and a nice take on both the original moon themes.
- DragonAvenger on October 12, 2008
Definately a very memorable track, and a nice take on both the original moon themes.
- DragonAvenger on October 12, 2008
This is def one my fav themes from the incredible edible ost from
FFIV. The source tune is very repetative although very catchy and
emotive. The mix has a good deal of variation in the textures and
backing to really keep the piece feeling fresh. I really like how
the percussion keeps a very deep and distant sound, really adds to
the mood. For anyone who likes really ambient type of songs this is
something to def check out. Also for back in 02 the production on
this is awesome.
- avaris on March 8, 2007
- avaris on March 8, 2007
Very clean production, this is very easy on the ears. :)
The percussion was very nice, and the soundfield was well filled out. The transition to the strings was nice, but shortly afterwards, the ending arrived, and it was way too abrupt.
Overall very cool and had a very distinct feel. Check it out, IMO.
- OA on February 1, 2007
The percussion was very nice, and the soundfield was well filled out. The transition to the strings was nice, but shortly afterwards, the ending arrived, and it was way too abrupt.
Overall very cool and had a very distinct feel. Check it out, IMO.
- OA on February 1, 2007
Cool bells, drums and that respectful atmosphere this mix gives
away really does this thing good. The theme of the moon maybe
wasn´t that fun, this one either, but this is clealy a soothing
remix, meant for you to just let your problems melt away for 2 min
and 39 secs and just chill. Or dig, the drums gets a little heavier
at the end.
lasombra, well done.
- Bummerdude on October 4, 2005
lasombra, well done.
- Bummerdude on October 4, 2005
Although the sound certainly had a great deal of clear depth and
brought a definite image of a crystal cavern into my mind, I didn't
really care for the way the piece finished up in an anticlimactic
fade. When the piece ended I felt like something was missing to
make this memorable.
- Asterin on November 14, 2002
- Asterin on November 14, 2002
Ryan8bit wrote: IAt 1:40, it seemed to have a weird transition... I don't know if this was a problem with the mp3 or player I used, but it almost sounded like a loop was pasted after another loop.
Huh. That was the point at which it cut off for me. I redownloaded it, and the same thing happened again. :?
What I could hear of it, I liked.
- Slackbot on October 21, 2002
I thought this was very interesting, and I like the way it started
out, but when it busted into that part at 1:25 or so, it didn't
have the same effect on me. It was almost like it shifted into
something much more traditional, which isn't a bad thing.
At 1:40, it seemed to have a weird transition... I don't know if this was a problem with the mp3 or player I used, but it almost sounded like a loop was pasted after another loop.
And the ending, while kind of different, just didn't strike me the right way. Perhaps if it slowed in tempo or diminished naturally rather than fading as it did, I might've liked it better.
Overall, a decent piece, despite some of my opinionated suggestions.
- Ryan8bit on October 20, 2002
At 1:40, it seemed to have a weird transition... I don't know if this was a problem with the mp3 or player I used, but it almost sounded like a loop was pasted after another loop.
And the ending, while kind of different, just didn't strike me the right way. Perhaps if it slowed in tempo or diminished naturally rather than fading as it did, I might've liked it better.
Overall, a decent piece, despite some of my opinionated suggestions.
- Ryan8bit on October 20, 2002
Final Fantasy 4 'Echoes at a Distance'
This is quite the dramatic piece of music that lasombra has produced for us here. I especially love the way the bass and toms rumble through my head phones, gives it a really awsome spacish feel. Excellent work lasombra.
- Ginnsu on October 20, 2002
This is quite the dramatic piece of music that lasombra has produced for us here. I especially love the way the bass and toms rumble through my head phones, gives it a really awsome spacish feel. Excellent work lasombra.
- Ginnsu on October 20, 2002
