ReMix: Einhänder 'Waztelands'
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- Game: Einhänder (Square, 1996, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Jivemaster
- Composer(s): Kenichiro Fukui
- Song(s): 'Badlands'
- Posted: 2003-02-13, evaluated by djpretzel
Einhander is the perfect example of a modern game soundtrack that I admire greatly for technical proficiency as well as sounding very badass overall, but which also reminds me why I love the simplicity of less-modern soundtracks from the days of 8-bit, when melody reigned supreme. I'm a melody-centric fellow, and while Einhander's soundtrack was very contemporary and cool and *totally* appropriate for the context, and while I do indeed dig it, it's more about feel and motion than notes. Don't get me wrong, I think Fukui did a bang up job on this OST and I do enjoy listening to it. It's the fact that it's so good that reminds me why I still prefer the older stuff, if that makes any sense. I'd personally love to see a sequel to Einhander, with the same team at the helm, as I think it and Tobal were some of Square's more interesting side projects. Joel Bird, the master of jive from down under, gives us our first Einhander ReMix, some fast-paced techno that blends in guitar, which Joel seems to be working more with these days. The trademark quick, undulating, "helicopter" bassline that's prevalent throughout the OST starts off, with drums on top, and dual synth and guitar fairly polarized to either side of the stereo spectrum - JM does keep different elements discrete and clearly paid some attention to panning for overall effect. The main guitar chords used could have been meatier - the shred thing does add an edge, but if it had some low-midrange to it that would have filled a nice spot in the mix. Things dropout towards the end for a fadeout with a repeating piano motif. This is the type of BGM I'll probably never cover myself, so it's hard to say what I might have done differently. I think my only real beef is that the lowend and lower midrange feels a bit empty, and I might have added another bassline, some low pads, or fleshed out the guitar to compensate. Then again, the feel is futuristic, cold, and calculated, so the fashion that Joel did mix it in is in keeping with that atmosphere. A cool adaptation that brings guitars in and thus incorporates the organic into a very inorganic context. Like the Borg, man, like the Borg. Check it out for some quick, frenetic techno from Jivemaster.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Psycho Goth on May 5, 2009
I can't recommend this one, check out some of Jivemaster's other tracks; he's a talented guy, and I think his other mixes worked a lot better.
- OA on February 11, 2008
The beginning was a good way to start. As soon as the geetar kicks in I'm dancing inside my head. Then it breaks off into a -tar solo...ooooooooooooooooooo... Then the voices are a nice affect in the background...then comes GEETAR IN FULL FORCE. Now a break for some interesting stab orchs... A well placed break... Solo key action, beats, nice distorted voice bckgrnd. Then a bit further up there's some pretty nice piano fading out...
The fading pretty much worked for this song, but I don't recomend it for many others. I really liked the -lectric -tar. And just the fact that its got a good 4/4 beat makes it fun fo- me.
I woouldn't say that this is a full-bred techno track, more like a rock/hardcore/techno mix. Very well put together. I don't know if you could have done more with this song...but what you did do was pretty cool.
Official Zellus Mobilus Radikal Scale©
>------o---< 7.5/10
7.5
- Zellfreid on February 14, 2003
Anyway, pretty cool. This song is pretty damn crazy... the guitars, the synths, the drums, EVERYTHING... it all just [u]bangs[/u] which does maintain the feeling of the original. I didn't really recognize it too well at first, despite being very familiar with the original.
The song starts out pretty damn good. It snags your attention like nobody's business, and maintains it for awhile. I would have to agree that it gets a bit repetitive, though. My favorite section was 1:27 to about 1:55. That panned synth work is [b]very[/b] reminescent of the Einhander soundtrack. I also think the end section is hella cool, but it could have gone on a bit longer without fading, maybe throw in one big finale-type thing, and end it, but that's just how I'd have done it...
I can't really comment on the EQing and stuff because these headphones I'm listening on are total ass anyway, so I'll have to listen when I get home some more. All in all, nice work Jivemaster, but certainly not your best.
- Beatdrop on February 14, 2003
- Dekkon on February 13, 2003
I do have something that I must say about the guitar in this mix though, and I have heard it in many other remixes on this site. The guitar sounds [i]slightly[/i] out of tune from the rest of the song. Its not a major issue, but for me it kind of ruins the part of the song where the guitar plays a larger role. Its fine and not noticable in the part where the guitar is distorted in the background.
Everything else in this mix is wonderful though. Excellent synth effects, excellent drums, nice panning effects, love the stab organ, neat transition at 1:40, synthesized vocals....all so wonderful. Wow even some piano.
- Aureolius on February 13, 2003
Oh, and thanks for the comments guys.
-Jive
- Jivemaster on February 13, 2003
But I must say... why does everyone hate the fade out? I like fade outs. They add variety. Some songs stop on a dime, others fade out. I likes me the fade out.
- endblink on February 13, 2003
- SsaiskK on February 13, 2003
- sgx on February 13, 2003
0:01 - Interesting beat. Nothing amazing..but .. i suppose it works. But i bet its going to get repetative fast.
0:15 - pretty good work here.. The synth's used are very sharp and edgey, and paint the tone quite well..
0:40 - This is where the mix actually begins to take a much better level, and thats with the guitar. Which adds SO much. But that drumbeat is really ALREADY killing it for me.. and I can tell its going to keep it going.
1:14 - Again, sounds okay, but its that hi-hat thingie in teh backround thats driving me up the wall. You change it up a bit right here, and god bless that, but id still appreciate a bigger change.
1:49 - I think a bit more panning might've done this good.. It feels like everythings a bit centered..
1:53 - Again. Same drumbeat im pretty sure..maybe 1 new addition.. Oo..are those words? ..fit pretty well with the general mood.
2:10 - Boring. its gotten boring, its lost its flair, and it feels like the same thing with a few minor breaks. MIX it up man.
2:33 - A much needed change. But.. its an ending..and an ending that *I* don't dig. It's just a fadeout that doesnt really match the mood of the middle-work. On top of that. Instead of "cooling off" with the energetic Vibe and letting things close off, which is what SHOULD happen. it just falls flat and it's basically over before the crazy-stuff has a chance to cool off. it just sort've drops.. owell.
- k-wix on February 13, 2003
- Nigel Simmons on February 13, 2003
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