ReMix: Tales of Phantasia 'Emotions Lost in Time'

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Just one mix tonight, but it's an epic one. I know we've been slow lately - there are a couple good reasons for that, and even if the posting hasn't been frequent the judges panel has been doing quite a bit of reviewing. Hopefully we can get back in full(er) swing sometime soon, but mixes like these have great replay value and, for me at least, are the type that make a lasting impact. GLL brings us some very melodramatic trance on a grand scale, with an extended intro that takes over two minutes just to get to the trance part - some judges thought the intro weaker on the whole and preferred the mix once it got kickin', but Protricity was vice versa; for my money, I'll admit I wasn't paying as much attention until the beat dropped, but the intro is relaxing and exploratory and sets the melody up for the detuned trancefest it's about to receive in an understated, ambient weather effects-drenched fashion. The string patch used isn't fantabulous, but it's good enough to not be prohibitive of this portion getting an essentially different musical interpretation across. Then the trance chords filter in and it's time for four-on-the-floor action before you know it. There's some original piano counter-melody to join in with the sugar-pop perfect theme that does a lot to compensate for the repetition of the primary refrain, and GLL has a good feel for what works and what doesn't when it comes to longer trance mixes and making the requisite additive and subtractive decisions to keep the flow going but not have things sound like a glorified loop. The ending reprises the original tone, but not - thank you, Mr. Lee Lewis - with the same ambient storm fx, which would have been a little trite for my taste and musically questionable. Whilst this ReMix is a little simplistic and more could have been done in certain areas - drum variations, additional counter harmony, what have you - it succeeds on a basic, emotional level, so complexity might very well have compromised that to an extent. At any rate, this melody works well with the genre, and GLL works well with the genre, so you've got an enjoyable, accessible ToP ReMix that does what it needs to and fills its six minutes with some good stuff.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Wow, this is a case of a mix that really uses the full 7 minutes it fills to great effect. The intro was excellent, and the track gradually builds; very effective transition, and it's handled expertly. Overall good stuff, I think the kick could have been a little punchier, but I had a great time listening to this one, and that's what matters. :-)

- OA on May 5, 2010
:nicework:
I love the storm as intro.
It really sets this piece as melancholy, reflective, and wistful.
Then it gets trancy and beat-ful.
Very groovalicious. :<

- 42 on March 7, 2009
This is a great piece, it's really packed with emotion and power. Nice work.

- Lucentas on March 7, 2009
I have to say that I really really love this song, its extremely powerful whether you played the game or not. Whether the beginning is too long I really dont have an opinion, its great but then I can listen to COTMM's Ruined World repeatedly and its a 6 minute long soundscape.
I really do enjoy the "techno" in the middle, but then I really dont like most techno so whether this is technically impressive or not it doesn't really matter to me, it sounds great and I am actually happy that it doesn't follow some stupid formula to sound like every other techno/trance piece ever created, which is the problem with that genre anyway. The fact that the song has parts where it breaks up into piano is its strength and some of the best Techno/Trance tracks on this site have non techno/trance elements to them in my humble opinion.
GLL great piece one im going to be listening to for even years from now, thank you for that.

- Catullus on February 1, 2008
I personally felt really overwhelmed by this ReMix. In a good way, I felt it growing up around me, making me feel a little down with the start and build up, then I just kinda drifted away with it. When the Trance part starts crashing, then you realize that all the time (three minutes!?) you heard that soft melody is just to prepare you to get up and listen to a smooth cloud of emotions that keep on the nostalgic and sad theme but pushing you to get up and move up.

I'm not saying it's the best I've heard, but it certainly ranks up there on the manipulation part. It's amazing how this piece moves you through it all. 9/10 and it doesn't gets a 10 due to a few technical errors, and the fact that unless you really feel the music, the start will seems like forever for you.

I, for one, love it.

- Lord Zero on February 19, 2007
So far, my favourite remix heard on Overclocked, tied with Zebesian Midnight from Vigilante (different styles, so can't make a choice)
I love trance, and furthermore, I love the original track too, and of all the trance remixes I've heard here, this song has the best build-up ; the synth line progressively releasing the low-cut filter starting at 2:44 is so good !!!!!!!!!
Of course, we can criticize the "microsoft thunder" sample, or the volume of the rain. Of course, global sound quality is not perfect, but it's good enough for me to not care about it. The structure is very well organised, and there are enough layers to feel immersed. In the end, melody is the greatest force, otherwise how would have we been able to appreciate and remember more than 15 years later songs like the ones in Journey to Silius, Castlevania 1, or Captain Tsubasa 3 with such rotten sounds ? In my opinion, perfect sound quality has always only been an added bonus.
Go on GLL, hope to hear new remixes from you soon !

- SideCut on January 2, 2007
Fragment The Famous here. So... well... the whole idea of a slow start and a build-up isn't really unique. At all. Infact it's been in music for centuries. But I think you made the slow build-up last way to long. It wasn't 'till pretty much half way that it actually reached the release. I think the techno part is kind of... cliche. It's not much different then any other techno beat. This isn't that well done. I think you could have done better.
7 out of 10

- Fraggy on September 12, 2006
This remix is really smooth. It starts out all slow and quiet, and gradually steps out into a sort of rave party track. It's really unique in my opinion.

- BIGSTEVE on September 12, 2006
My cousin was the one who introduced me to the techno genre. While I like this particular mix, something about it could use a change. I feel like somewhere near the mid point of the song it could use a change up. Perhaps change over the choice of sounds. Don't know what it is, but it feels like it needs to evolve more for the genre being presented. However GLL has always turned out quality work. It's good, just not my favorite from him.

- Frictional Antidote on September 12, 2006
Wow! It just blew me out of my mind! I loved this remix so much. Definitely my favourite. The trance part is so awesome. Totally representative of an awesome game.Awesomely remixed.

- marational on January 17, 2006
A little melancholy here and there is good for you.
Some very powerful techno/trance beats follows a looong and sweet piano and string section. This old remix still stands up strong and brave today.
+1 to that 8)

- RimFrost the Tourianist on October 25, 2005
The way this piece behaves... I love it.
(The techno part is like. wow! (Not in the World of Warcraft way))
I love the way this song "glides" over from slow emotional music, to the more trance-like part
Only one bad thing. my listening skills seem to stop after 4.5 minutes or something, as i dont remember anything from that time to the end, maybe it gets too repetive.
Im not really into deep-analyzing this song.
After all, it a great tune worth a listen.

- Sibelius on September 12, 2005
Heh. I had no clue this was a trance mix until the intro ended. I love how it starts out with the sad stormy undertone, breaks into the main trance part while retaining the feel of theme. Also, at the end, instead of just trailing off or breaking off, it slows back down to finish off the song with an ending. A great work all around.

- razor's edge on April 30, 2005
What a great remix. I loved it the first time I heard it. Sure, the opening is a little drawn out, but once it gets down to the happy hardcoreness it's one of the most enjoyable remixes I've heard. It's a shame I've never played the game...I'd probably enjoy this song even more.

- Petara on April 27, 2005
Although I enjoy the soft soothing parts of remixes, I think the beginning of this remix is just so simple, it comes close to boring. But I definitely go for the techno section of this remix. It's been on my favorites list for some time now.

- Syko 2 on April 27, 2005