ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Jethro and Vash at the Fair'
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- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): djpretzel
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Guardia's Millenial Fair'
- Posted: 2003-08-23, evaluated by djpretzel
This ReMix is sorta special to me: it's the last mix I'll make in my house here in Reston, Virginia. I moved here about two years ago, it was my first house, and I made some good bucks on the sale (yay for dramatic drops in interest rates!!) - I'll be moving out this Tuesday but am dismantling my studio here tomorrow. I was actually gonna dismantle it a week ago, but wanted to dedicate a mix to the house. Yes, this seems a bit silly (and is), but it was my first house, and a large portion of OCR's database and current design was developed whilst living in it. At any rate, I'm moving to a bigger and better place, but setting everything back up is gonna take some serious time, so this might be it for awhile. I love the Guardia Millennial Fair theme, it's quite a catchy core melody, instant melodic gratification from Mr. Mitsuda. I was listening to bits and pieces of the Trigun anime OST a month ago, and I was digging the western-themed acoustic and electric rock. The acoustic stuff, in particular, struck me as something that would work well with this piece. In addition to a strong mid-western theme, I decided to throw in some prog-rock/blues flavors, vaguely reminiscent of the band Jethro Tull. The result is a conglomeration of influences, titled appropriately, that takes about 70% of the original piece and adds quite a bit onto that, with phrase extensions, rhythmic alterations, new harmony and counter-melody, and a vortech supercharger (scratch that last bit, got confused with the wish list for my Mustang). If you'll forgive the Peter-and-the-Wolf explanation, Vash is the lead acoustic guitar and "Jethro" (note that the band has not actually had a member named that) is the alto flute, and they take turns and at one point do a fun call-and-answer routine. This is all GigaStudio except for a VSTi bass and Yamaha Motif drums. It was actually recorded in 6/4 time @ 209bpm in Cubase, don't ask me why ^^ Musically, it turned out much as I'd hoped; there's some emphasis inversions that play with the time signature and transitions I wanted to include but wasn't sure I could in time, but things worked out in the end. At any rate, this wasn't by request and though I know there's a lot of CT fans out there, I basically did this one for me, to remember my first house and the two years spent here. Hope you dig it, nonetheless.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Tecnalex on September 17, 2006
- JustTito on November 17, 2005
This is freakin amazing. Maybe it's personal taste, but this song just rubs me in all the right ways. This ties Stray Donkey Strut for my favorite DJP mix. The guy is freakin incredible. I love the way the instruments mesh and how the individual parts play off of each other. It's all genius. 10/10
- King Matt I on September 26, 2005
MaGi_TekK wrote: Yo Dj Pretzel, what the $@%^ ? I've come to expect more from you, but for the last 3 or 4 remixes you've totally failed to deliver. This song was absolute crap, there was nothing original or entertaining about it. The remixing was decent quality but so what? You used to be so good, but now you're barely on par with most of the remixers on this site. This song pales in comparison to starblast's recent chrono trigger robo remix. Sorry but this is just worthless remix garbage.
I tried to see it out of your direction, but it ain´t true. The original was good, but it was a whole lotta MIDIS and small synths that made funny and happy noises. That feeling is still here, that I can say he didn´t change, but he has changed all of those SNES-music-instruments into some real good acoustic guitars along with a flute that gives the feeling of carneval that has once returned to the good´ol west where it belongs and will belong. If this mix represents his house, then it had to be some sort of royal castle, because this remix was great.
- Bummerdude on September 25, 2005
- Ruby Moon on July 25, 2005
****cries and balls over the shut down of CTRP****
ok, where was I....Yes, great remix and I just love that flute you've got in their, and the gentle beat of that bongo or whatever that small hand beaten drum is. Good stuff!
- Heyjohnny on July 19, 2005
Pretty awesome. I always found the tune at the fair catchy in the game. Light, playful, and just perfectly fit both the atmosphere and time period the festival was taking place in. Any version of this appeals to me. More specifically to your remix, I really liked the way the sounds of the guitar and flute mixed together as they worked together, both in unison and in harmony. It's always pleasant when someone combines the sounds of two very different instruments into something that just works. The dynamic contrast was also great, especially around the large "break" before the last reprise of the theme. It was a nice shift when the percussion cut out, leaving a calm, less rhythmic, waltzy-type section.
A lot of the little counterpoint stuff going on was quite intriguing as well--the accordian was especially noticable when the melody cut out for one phrase, which stayed in the background since it blended so well with the melody. The echo variation where you followed a flute riff with a nearly identical guitar riff was pretty clever, as well. The melody itself also appeared meticulously variated. Lovin' the rhythmic figures in that, especially the second part of it.
More about the percussion though--and this is probably just attributed to the samples used, and sort of just a personal thing--somehow, the snare drum didn't quite work for me. I think it kind of felt a little more like a sailor's march--green was made bluer, Ireland to Scotland, and all that. Not a huge different, but somehow felt a little to hard to me. Perhaps a tap on the side of the snare with the stick as opposed to a snare-on hit? Not in all sections, though. At the end, right after the break, that snare was perfect. Maybe it's just the repeating nature of it. Also, in the soft, percussion-less section, somehow my mind was serching for a straight 3/4 waltz, as opposed to the 3/4--6/8 feel the rest of the song. It was almost there, save the little tinny cymbal.
VERY nice, though. Sorry if I wasn't much help so much as a hindrance, since it's hard to be specific without audio in front.
- Schmancy on July 15, 2005
Its very festive, we have the music, all we need now are fireworks and dancers!
Awesome guitar work and great percussion
I can just see myself at some festival having tons of fun
Great remix DJP!
- jordex on March 25, 2005
This piece rocks the socks, Pretzel - I'd like to hear more like it.
- SpaceDrake on March 25, 2005
Good news!
The guittar strings sounds very real. I guess it was made with a real acoustic guittar. If the intention was make the music sounds "real", you got it. Amazing! The arrangement (mainly the little beat on the guittar) is great. An OCR Grammy for sure.It's not a question of taste. There was criativity, feeling and sensibility on making the new arrangement. Sounds really beautiful.
Bad News!
I can't belive that some guys didn´t like this mix...
- DJ Magotrox Brazil on March 25, 2005
- esden9 on October 26, 2004
