ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Heart's Anxiety'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VII (Sony, 1997, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Ceracryst, cheez80
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Anxiety'
- Posted: 2002-11-02, evaluated by the judges
Very alternative percussion on this FF7 ReMix from newcomer Ceracryst - love to see people trying different things, and the drum track here is very unique. Sort of a combination between industrial and hip-hop - it makes (or breaks, depending on your tendencies) the track, adding the right amount of attitude and style to the fairly simple pads + bells arrangement that sits on top of it. There's some cool whispering samples, and then at 2'54" a double-time drum groove layer comes in and the vibes double-up and do counter-rhythms, building to a nice climax that ends on a sustain - this has very much the feeling of a storm that is at first forming, then getting more chaotic, then breaking (during the major-key interlude) to sunlight temporarily, then letting loose a torrential downpour but with sunlight still shining down. Really reminded me of weather, in other words :) It's free-form enough to be interesting, but not random, and though it leans towards minimalism, all elements have been chosen carefully and superbly. I've listened to this four times now and it gets better each time. I was a little lukewarm the first time - you have to be in the right mindset - but for fans of FF7 and mellow, peculiar music, this definitely comes recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Though some of the synths used are pretty generic, there is some
totally awesome syncopated and panned percussion that really gives
this a cool hook.
When you consider that the original is pretty much just some cool diminished chords, it really personalizes it. Really chill stuff, and even though I am a big fan of the source to begin with, and this is basically just some stuff on top of the original, I can dig it.
- OA on January 19, 2010
When you consider that the original is pretty much just some cool diminished chords, it really personalizes it. Really chill stuff, and even though I am a big fan of the source to begin with, and this is basically just some stuff on top of the original, I can dig it.
- OA on January 19, 2010
one of the first songs I ever heard in OCR, still one of my
favorites :)
- LuIzA on November 21, 2009
- LuIzA on November 21, 2009
this mix is sweet, very nostalgic, definitely an interesting take
on it, though i feel that at 2:11 was a bit out of place, it didn't
seem to fit into the track at all to me but its not really a big
deal. the ambience on this track is sick. wish they made more mixes
9 out of 10
- Ascendancy on March 17, 2009
- Ascendancy on March 17, 2009
I registered on the forums just so I could review this particular
piece. This is amazing! One of my favorites of all the FFVII
remixes.
0:00-0:28 Great intro - simple and pretty. Makes you feel sad/nostalgic, which are the emotions that the original track was supposed to induce.
0:28-0:45 Ok, some of these drums I like a lot and others not as much. One of them in particular that always goes DONK DONK I feel needs to be toned down a lot. What I do like about the drums though is the bass drum, which is the quietest one. (I much prefer "thmp thmp" to "DONK DONK") It almost sounds like a 'heartbeat'. The idea of the heartbeat is one thing I would have liked to have seen developed a little more, but you can't have everything I guess. Anyway, as long as I don't let the loud donks bother me too much, the rest of the drums are pretty fitting.
0:45-0:59 The distortiony-percussion is cool - though again it might have sounded cooler if it had a more muffled sound. I loved the whisper sound effects, especially the one at 0:50 is perfect, with a cool echo too.
0:59-1:30 Here we go, now we change key switching to the more familiar chords as in the original track. It's a good chill, slow setup. Nothing needs to be rushed.
1:30-1:45 Awesomeness. Quite eerie with the addition of the marimba
1:45-2:00 Here come the donks again. Are they really necessary? Something deeper or more muffled please, like a low or floor tom drum.
2:00-2:20 A change of pace which is good. Cool distortions again. The brief burning sound and ominous chords are a great touch. I can just see Sephiroth turning his back and disappearing behind the flames of Nibelheim. And heartbeat, yay.
2:20-2:53 Combines the elements from the sections from 0:45-2:00, effectively - including the cool whispers again.
2:53-END I'm digging the new drum rhythm right off the bat. The tempo had been dominated by the slow pace of the strings for the longest time (appropriately so), and now everything is more excited. The underlying chords go back to the way they were at 0:00-0:59. Best part of the piece in my opinion. It wouldn't fit in any other part of the song, but at the end the building excitement is perfect.
Overall: 9.5/10 - My only complaint is the drums/percussion, I think it could have been more fine-tuned to be in line with the emotions of the piece.
- Troy on March 17, 2009
0:00-0:28 Great intro - simple and pretty. Makes you feel sad/nostalgic, which are the emotions that the original track was supposed to induce.
0:28-0:45 Ok, some of these drums I like a lot and others not as much. One of them in particular that always goes DONK DONK I feel needs to be toned down a lot. What I do like about the drums though is the bass drum, which is the quietest one. (I much prefer "thmp thmp" to "DONK DONK") It almost sounds like a 'heartbeat'. The idea of the heartbeat is one thing I would have liked to have seen developed a little more, but you can't have everything I guess. Anyway, as long as I don't let the loud donks bother me too much, the rest of the drums are pretty fitting.
0:45-0:59 The distortiony-percussion is cool - though again it might have sounded cooler if it had a more muffled sound. I loved the whisper sound effects, especially the one at 0:50 is perfect, with a cool echo too.
0:59-1:30 Here we go, now we change key switching to the more familiar chords as in the original track. It's a good chill, slow setup. Nothing needs to be rushed.
1:30-1:45 Awesomeness. Quite eerie with the addition of the marimba
1:45-2:00 Here come the donks again. Are they really necessary? Something deeper or more muffled please, like a low or floor tom drum.
2:00-2:20 A change of pace which is good. Cool distortions again. The brief burning sound and ominous chords are a great touch. I can just see Sephiroth turning his back and disappearing behind the flames of Nibelheim. And heartbeat, yay.
2:20-2:53 Combines the elements from the sections from 0:45-2:00, effectively - including the cool whispers again.
2:53-END I'm digging the new drum rhythm right off the bat. The tempo had been dominated by the slow pace of the strings for the longest time (appropriately so), and now everything is more excited. The underlying chords go back to the way they were at 0:00-0:59. Best part of the piece in my opinion. It wouldn't fit in any other part of the song, but at the end the building excitement is perfect.
Overall: 9.5/10 - My only complaint is the drums/percussion, I think it could have been more fine-tuned to be in line with the emotions of the piece.
- Troy on March 17, 2009
I rarely enjoy anything related to FF, but hey... I've been
listening to this one several times in the past few years and it
surely has a creative arrangement. Never dull. Very chill.
- Txai on November 10, 2008
- Txai on November 10, 2008
Love the beats in this song. They remind me me of the sound made by
a heart beating (mostly at 02:51-02:55), so it really even fits the
song's title like a glove! :-o
- Koizo on June 16, 2008
- Koizo on June 16, 2008
Ive been away from here for over 2 years, nice to come back and see
everyone
- Gatorelf on May 24, 2008
- Gatorelf on May 24, 2008
I have had this remix on various CD's to relax to. I even took part
of it, and hacked my Razr phone (via hex editor) to be able to have
my own mp3's on it; just so I could use this song from 2:56 onward
as my ringtone.
This remix has always jived with me. And it inspires me to someday ReMix.
9.9 of 10 anxious hearts. (Nothing's perfect)
- JadeAuto on April 23, 2008
This remix has always jived with me. And it inspires me to someday ReMix.
9.9 of 10 anxious hearts. (Nothing's perfect)
- JadeAuto on April 23, 2008
Wow, this one fell under the radar big time on me. I'm just now
hearing it for the first time (having the entire OCR playlist on
random will do that to you). Nice downtempo hiphop with and
electronic feel, my favorite style ;).
- metaphist on November 2, 2007
- metaphist on November 2, 2007
cheez80 wrote: hrmm. is it possible to add my name to the "creators" caption? 'twas a collaboration.
Yeah, I saw your name elsewhere in an interview with Ceracryst from years ago. Props on your second half here. We're a few years late, but I'm glad I secured your co-credit.
http://www.ocremix.org/remixer/cheez80/
- Liontamer on August 27, 2006
You gotta love it! You've got a hip-hop beat plus these sweet
little quirks added to it. And I love the transition at 2:00, it's
as if all of a sudden everything went all sweet sounding and then
before you know it, it's back to the original mood. I love it.
Different, innovative, and most importantly, all the elements fit
together. I agree, it's a must-listen.
- lady zelda on January 28, 2006
- lady zelda on January 28, 2006
COOOOL stuff. This may be one of the most boring but yet
beautifullest tracks in the game, but ceracryst made a few
changes(fine then, many) and now it´s not boring anymore. Very nice
beats added, but kept those strings, they´re good. The marimba
starting at 1:30 is real good, somehow sad, somehow hopeful,
perfect for this mix. When it gets more playful at 2:00 it gets
very beautiful, but then Sephiroth jumps out and brings terror so
that the mix must start from square 1. But it gets back to the
rhytm very fast, around 2:56 it´s back again with a marimba that´s
all over the place.
Excellent stuff, ceracryst.
- Bummer on October 16, 2005
Excellent stuff, ceracryst.
- Bummer on October 16, 2005
This is my favorite FF song... Kept me coming back to find more
like it... I will take this music over the mainstream hip hop crapp
any day!
- Gatorelf on September 26, 2005
- Gatorelf on September 26, 2005
