ReMix:Xenogears "The Lost City of Shevat" 4:18

By GrayLightning

Arranging the music of one song...

"The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky"

Primary Game: Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1), music by Yasunori Mitsuda

Posted 2003-05-11, evaluated by the judges panel


Some say love makes the world go 'round, others money, others power, and still others, cherry-flavored PEZ. Today, however, we honor the candidacy of Moms the world over as the central impetus for continued global revolutions. Whilst celebrating all things maternal and paying homage to those that bore us onto and into the frightening and wonderful world we know and love, what better accompanying music than... a quality Xenogears ReMix from GrayLightning!! Okay, it's a bit of a stretch, as this is one of those holidays that doesn't conjure a particular musical vibe, but work with me here people, it's late and I'm semi-inebriated. GL gives us an atmospheric, new age Xeno-arrangement with rock drums, plenty of breathy, ethereal pads and leads, and a swirly, floating overall mystique. Judges found this to be a spacy, moody, deliberate mix that doesn't aim to incite or exhilirate but more to explore and develop. Anyone into new age or mellow, exploratory rock should appreciate how GL has slowed down the original and changed the essential vibe and tone. Give your mom a call, or buy her some chocolates or something if you can deliver 'em live, and enjoy this reticent Xenogears ReMix as well. Good stuff from GrayLightning.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Liontamer
on 2016-01-28 16:36:00

Good work that typified a lot of Gray's early sound. I liked how the melody and beats didn't line up in the typical way, which created some interesting rhythms. Sequencing's too tight for some parts, but there's lots of character here, and the instrumentation choices are nice and strong. I definitely miss the unique sense of style GL brought to the table at OCR with his new age influence.

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Marmiduke
on 2009-03-10 10:35:34

Xenogears was the first game soundtrack that I thought was too good to belong to a game, back when I considered games something to entertain kids while parents did whatever. Even though those days are gone and my views have changed, I can still understand what I was thinking at the time.

GrayLightning really did a great track justice here. I've always thought that Lightning had a great ear for instrument selection, and this is exactly why. Just listen to this track and everything sounds right. The melody is weird and complex, but that's what made it the best one in the game. There's some really nice sounds in this one. I don't know whether it is Lightning's biggest or most creative mix, but for what it is, it's practically unbeatable: Great music to accompany a meandering mind.

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OA
on 2007-07-18 19:00:36

The intro was great, the soundfield was just seemingly massive; I love it. It seemed like once the melody started, it thinned out just a little too much until maybe the halfway point. I understand the need to break things down to build them back up, but it seemed sparse for a bit.

From the halfway point and on it was really nice. I think I would have brought down the high end of the pad, but really a minor detail; it comes out clearly and i'm not sure if the melody would have been as pronounced if the high end was dulled.

Overall a really nice mix, good for a rainy afternoon looking out the window.

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kirbenvost
on 2004-02-02 05:37:51

Hmmm...pretty good....the beginning was really making me drool (I like that kind of music :D ), and later on when the percussion comes in it's still fairly good, though a little slow and erratic for my taste. Still a good ReMix nonetheless.

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Aetherwalker
on 2003-09-18 15:00:59

Xenogears is one of my top 3 favorite games, which includes other systems. The soundtrack to the game is one of the best I've ever heard, so I was glad to get this track from OCR.

This remix takes me back, as I played this game quite a while ago. 'TheLostCitOfShevat' is a standout, on a par with Xenogears' own music and I wouldn't doubt that you'd make it big if you ever got into writing original music for games. This track in particular conveys the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the story of Xenogears. I felt I was transported, put right down in the middle of that world.

A spot-on, exemplary job, Gray Lightning. You have made me a fan of your work and I will be watching for your future mixes.

Kudos,

Aetherwalker

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elman
on 2003-05-29 16:58:53

8.5/10- I heard the original remix back when it was posted at VGMIX ( :cry: ), and I have to say, this version is INFINITELY better than the first. The beat still kinda throws me off, but the intro is fantastic the song's more complete. Good job.

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Omniverse
on 2003-05-24 12:15:24

This song is well-produced and definitely captures the emotion of the original piece. The drumwork is also really interesting. I really like the pads used here, they seem to flow into your head so smoothly and carry you along. A great mix.

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Psycrow
on 2003-05-21 14:56:33

Good stuff gray. You pretty much coulda mixed these two together Maybe someday you'll find more similar songs and do a big new-age megamix or something.

I *think* I heard these both on VGmix (could be wrong), but I remember having at least one in my playlist for a long time Very good to listen to in the background when you don't want anything too heavy distracting ya. Keep these coming :)

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Quinn X5
on 2003-05-21 01:29:47

Summons some really great memories.

I played Xenogears around the time it was released, and it still remains my favorite RPG on the console. I played it during a....hectic time of my life, and for that reason, it's embedded in my memory in a way that many other games aren't....only Lunar : Eternal Blue (SCD) stands higher in that regard....

As such, it's a great RPG for a rainy day, and this music is as well....appropriate since it's been raining like madness here in Indy for the last few weeks. There's an undeniable sad, blue theme to the song which lies under a subtle yet massive 'field', so to speak.

I remember this music better than I thought, from memory, and this remix helps. THIS is the kind of drama a GrayLightning mix should create; not that of other diatribes in sister forums. This is an individual that without question has improved dramatically in the last year, and if the pace keeps, we can expect some very nice things from Gray in the next year or two.

This remix might be a tie as my favorite GL mix, with Dexoris Winter, but it evokes memories that the previous didn't, so it makes the mix a little more.....bright. :)

So in other words, I love the mix, I'll never delete it if I can help it, and the song choice is superb. Keep at it!

~Quinn

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mv
on 2003-05-14 21:24:09

something different and refreshing for OCR thanks to graylightning :)

very soothing xenogears remix, nice instrumentation (some lovely patches in there) and a very keen sense of setting up the ambience. i particularly like that odd synth bass used loudly in spots to back up the builups. the second half of the mix is particularly enjoyable when more instruments interact with each other.

my only gripes would once again be the percussion samples used, but that's because i prefer abstract sounds and beats when dealing with ambient, and a few spots in the first half that could have used more substance. those don't stop this mix from being very enjoyable though, and thus i definitely recommend it! :)

thumbs up! now go make more! ;)

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Rapyer2986
on 2003-05-14 18:28:27

This was my favorite song of the Xenogears track and I wasn't expecting it to sound so DAMN good! I had to replay it twice, since some parts sounded to be quite off tempo. I got through it and feel in love. It's sound is just as relaxing and ambient as the original, and it's a completely refreshingly different arrangement. Extra nice submission! OCR needed this one!

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k-wix
on 2003-05-14 00:08:04

It's an excellent mix, I'm just glad OCR put it up. Great work Gray. I would give you a big review, but.. you already know I like it. good stuff.

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SnappleMan
on 2003-05-12 22:38:43

I dig, indeed.

And because I'm a lazy bastard, I too will copy and paste :

Man, I don't know why, but so far all the mixes I heard done by you kick ass. This one is no exception.

I love the instrumentation, very well balanced and mellow. It's a really smooth flowing track, it looped twice over before I realised it was repeating.

The varying velocity layers add a very natural sound to it (especially the drums).

Overall, this is a great song, remixed into another great song.

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GrayLightning
on 2003-05-12 19:49:19
...OCR needs this kind of stuff every once in a while.

More than that, if I can do anything about it. ^_^

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Joe Redifer
on 2003-05-12 04:15:35

I haven't decided yet as to what I think about this. The tune remixed is my favorite tune from Xenogears. Sometimes the melody seems out of sync with the tempo for some reason. Maybe I am just too used to the original song, as this is quite a departure. I'll give it more listens, though.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1)
Music by Yasunori Mitsuda
Songs:
"The Wind Calls to Shevat in the Blue Sky"

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File Information


Name:
Xenogears_The_Lost_City_of_Shevat_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,218,600 bytes
MD5:
32726cc8d8b3b05d5c7c6c8d65ecbc7b
Bitrate:
128Kbps
Duration:
4:18

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