ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Time Management'
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- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): E-Bison
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Chrono Trigger'
- Posted: 2003-06-25, evaluated by the judges
Newcomer E-Bison offers up a four-on-the-floor techno arrangement from Chrono Trigger that involves some poetic license but also incorporates some other unique elements. The ReMixer explains, "I had fun doing this track. Not only is the CT main theme on of my personal favourites, but I got to try out my minidisk and sample 6 different clocks! Also, I included some game samples as transitional material. The voice samples used are from the Original Astral Projection hypnosis tapes (sampled frequently by AstralProjection the Group), as well as some crazy self help tapes." - there you have it, six different clocks. No one can accuse him of clock sample monotony :) Actually, the way these clock loops form a layered rhythm is rather cool, and judges unanimously noted that synths, pads, bass, etc. are all high-quality. The bassline is interesting in that it sits on the root initially then opts not to change with the chord progression, and it also sometimes skips an offbeat or does a little rhythmic variation in transition between bars - nice touch. Using the whole "time management" concept, with the samples and what not, is stylistically interesting and cohesive, and rather clever. The mixing, layering, stereo imaging, and programming on some of the underlying synth riffs are all impressive. In the end, I think the mix could have been a minute or two under its 6'32" running time, or instead used some of that time for a solo or more dramatic breakdown that really shook things up a bit. While largely positive, judges had some comments about the "extra notes" that E-Bison's added to Mitsuda's original, but I had no reservations there myself and they seemed entirely intentional and informed. Israfel writes: "Really fantastic work in my opinion. It manages to stay interesting, add original ideas and pull off these ideas in a convincing way - all the things a good mix should do. This is one of the very few times I can actually say I *enjoyed* a 4-on-the-floor type dance track, and as such, gotta go with a yes" - and I'd tend to agree; techno is a very explored, "done" genre, and most of us know essentially what to expect from a average to above-average techno game arrangement these days. It takes a couple touches here and there to raise eyebrows or get some new angles workin', and E-Bison pulls that off with a combination of nuance programming, conceptually themed samples, and... six different clock samples. Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Combination of solid production and constantly evolving arrangement really makes this song shine out. Creative use of voice clips here too - another thing I normally don't care for, but pulled off great here. Only bummer to me is the low bitrate due to the length of the mix. I'd really love to hear a higher-quality version.
Overall, well done, this is one song on OCR that's aged extremely well. Looking forward to more of your stuff *cough* xenogears project *cough
EDIT:
Baato. Honda;555644 wrote: This is one outstanding mix. I love the beginning with the clock and the self help tape message. I would like to know what the tape says though. First time I heard, I fell in love with it.
Self help lyrics as best I can hear them:
We all know that time is limited
That a day's worth has to be accomplished in the same finite 24 hours that we have
Some of us do it
Most do some of it
Some others procrastinate
And some never get around to it
Those that get things done and do them well know the right way
And that's time management
- Nutritious on July 4, 2009
- Baato. Honda on June 8, 2009
To pack it all into a little rectangle of words,
Excellent song concept,
Excellent song title,
Excellent mixing,
Excellent excellence!
I would have to give massive humungous props to the "clock solo" at 3:04 to 3:32. That heavy kick and slamming clock beat was simply one of the most amazing combinations of sounds I have ever heard.
Vocals are beautifully done and are actually quite inspiring in some senses.
E-Bison be rockin' the house!
- Duokun on April 7, 2009
- superjoe30 on April 2, 2009
- Manablast on March 22, 2008
Unfortunately I seem to have lost my uncut 8min+ version of this piece - does anyone have it?
- Akuen on May 11, 2007
- TaVeRnErO_RuDd on November 23, 2006
The song itself is genius. It is without a doubt my #1 favorite track on the entire site. It takes the main melody and adds a personal spin on it without making it completely unrecognizeable. I really don't know exactly why I like it so much, but I end up playing it all the time because it's so awesome. 8 minutes of pure bliss. Basically, I agree with everything paperCrane said a few posts up, and then some. As with AboveTheDust, I too love the "dot matrix printer" effect, and the part that features nothing but that sound is actually one of my favorite segments of the song.
Once again, great job, and awesome track. Truly a track that will be on my playlist for years to come.
- dantheman on November 22, 2006
For legal reasons we opted to not to record any of them in the studio. On our last album we got the rights to a Duran Duran track and it was a big pain. I can't imagine how crazy it would be to secure the rights to the Tetris theme or something else like it.
Has anybody on here ever tried to get performance rights for this stuff? Recording rights?
E-Bison
www.tentoomany.com
- E-Bison on October 10, 2006
E-Bison wrote: I'm still composing and producing a lot. Nothing that would do well on the OCR boards, even if it sometimes is related to videogames.
The Album is called "Multiplyer Madness" One look at this picture and you'll see why we got our name and where we got our title.
If Ten Too Many did an actual video game music arrangement, I'm pretty sure it'd go over well, Eliot.
As for this original stuff inspired by a love for games, I'd post a link to it in Works: Other forum and see if anyone bites. No need to be pessimistic about it. I listened to "Princess Mario" off TTM's MySpace, and it's a well put together track. I loved "Mullet Man" in particular.
- Liontamer on October 10, 2006
I came back because I produced a Videogame Themed Ska album with my Band www.tentoomany.com
I thought you guys would get a kick out of the concept art as well as the subject matter.
You can check out "Princess Mario" at our Myspace:
www.myspace.com/tentoomany
A track about a guy who falls in love with princess Toadstool.
There is another Epic Ska anthem for nerds, all about MMOs Link Here Check it out. If you've ever been told you play too many games, this one is for you.
http://tentoomany.googlepages.com/Ten_Too_Many_-_Digital_World.mp3
I'm still composing and producing a lot. Nothing that would do well on the OCR boards, even if it sometimes is related to videogames.
The Album is called "Multiplyer Madness" One look at this picture and you'll see why we got our name and where we got our title.
[img]http://www.tentoomany.com/pictures/photoshoot/photoshoot1.jpg[/img]
- E-Bison on October 9, 2006
The clocks and time management clips really ground this mix with the source game (it's all about time, after all) and the ethereal/other-worldly quality of the mix is enhanced nicely by the astral projection clip.
The clock sample beats are a real cool effect and tie the piece together very well.
The samples sound great and make this mix a wonderful trance-fest. A longer mix (perhaps live?) would be great for coding. This mix is by no means boring, though, with its samples and effects moving throughout the piece in the ways of the truly great trance mixes.
The samples from the game are also a very nice touch, reminding me of the hours I spent in high school, sitting in front of my friend's SNES, playing through all of the endings in this great game.
Did I mention that I love this mix? :-)
- paperCrane on October 9, 2006
UkeKitsune wrote: Yes, yes, yes! Very well done. It's nice to hear a high energy CT mix, especially one that's done so well, with marvelous game and voice samples. Bravo.Actually I think so too, thats probally what hooked me into the song at first, but since my favorite song of CT was Chrono Trigger, I have to admit that this is a really good rendition of this song, so yea Kudos to you E-Bison!
And am I the only one that's reminded of Back to the Future by the clocks at the beginning?
- Darkmetamorphasis on December 1, 2005
Groovy trance mix dude, and the clocks really did melt together, especially at the end where it ends with the same clock rhytm as the beginning, the remix starts over again and you dont even know it. Smart. 8)
But as for the rest of it, I don´t really know if I like it or not, although this is a time [b]management[/b], I didn´t really like that newsreader voice. But this song had all it all that the other trance remixes on this site has, so this ain´t bad, those who like trance, listen to it and you´re stuck.
By the way, I thought I had heard that clock around 4:04 before, and now I know: It´s from the beginning of the game.
I will keep an eye out for your FF1 stuff.
Nice work Bison.
- Bummerdude on September 27, 2005
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