ReMix: Final Fantasy VIII 'The Lost Horizon'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VIII (Square, 1999, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): destructo
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi
- Song(s): 'Blue Fields'
- Posted: 2004-04-28, evaluated by djpretzel
My apologies to Chris Webb, aka destructo - his mix's title seems to have had an unintended subliminal effect on me as it got lost in the shuffle for a bit. Without further ado, this mellow ambient-synth-jazz hybrid reworking of "blue fields" from Final Fantasy 8 intros with what I could have sworn was NI Absynth but is apparently a Maelstrom patch in Reason. The very first seconds might suggest a strict electronica track, but the mellow, reclining jazz feel that comes in, with a nice brush set, warm, dark piano, upright acoustic bass, dynamic strings and percussion, takes things in a less expected but welcome direction. The declining triplets at 1'08" and other such touches are what take the already rock solid instrumentation and mixing and add arrangement polish and that lil' bit o' sumthin', and in general the piece is very clear, coherent, and reticent. I think the last minute could have been better spent on having an additional solo voice do some more substantive melodic work, instead of putting emphasis on the pads, but I dig the ritardando ending that leaves a mysterious footprint and sense of closure at the same time. All in all, a very worthwhile effort that doesn't trip up anywhere and while not taking an amazing number of risks presents a distant, lush soundscape that's informed by a jazz structure. Promising first submission well worth exploring.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the If I were to choose one piece of music to listen to for the rest of
my life, it would be this one.
I love it completely.
- Nantalith on September 4, 2010
I love it completely.
- Nantalith on September 4, 2010
I have an Indian flute in the back of my room, and a whole host of
Oriental instruments and types of things like that. I love flutes
and such like it were back then, show casing the calm and quite
lives of country folk. Whilst the piano changes the entire pace of
this song I do like when it fades into the drawn out emotional
sections.
When the piano finally does come back with the quick notes at 2:20ish. You feel doused in a world not of your own while you listen to this piece. Needless to say, that's why we all listen to music like this, yes?
8.75/10.00
(I'm not qualified to judge [U]your work[/U], this is how much -i- Enjoyed this song.)
- [Lyrics] Serotriptomine on February 23, 2010
When the piano finally does come back with the quick notes at 2:20ish. You feel doused in a world not of your own while you listen to this piece. Needless to say, that's why we all listen to music like this, yes?
8.75/10.00
(I'm not qualified to judge [U]your work[/U], this is how much -i- Enjoyed this song.)
- [Lyrics] Serotriptomine on February 23, 2010
I like how the strings gradually increase and decrease in volume,
leaving the piano in the background in various states of loudness.
It's a subtle, unassuming effect that really made the intro for me
:-)
The piano writing is smart and the rest of the instruments, while they're not high-quality powerhouse samples, get the job done. Later in the mix the arpeggios start reminding me of "Frame of Mind," which I'm pretty sure destructo was part of. I can definitely feel the similarities between those tracks.
I feel like pointing out, though, that the piano writing seems almost identical to the arranged version on the official FFVIII piano album. I don't know if it was intentionally the same or not, but I actually did a double take to make sure I wasn't listening to the official arranged version by accident :?
- Emunator on December 3, 2009
The piano writing is smart and the rest of the instruments, while they're not high-quality powerhouse samples, get the job done. Later in the mix the arpeggios start reminding me of "Frame of Mind," which I'm pretty sure destructo was part of. I can definitely feel the similarities between those tracks.
I feel like pointing out, though, that the piano writing seems almost identical to the arranged version on the official FFVIII piano album. I don't know if it was intentionally the same or not, but I actually did a double take to make sure I wasn't listening to the official arranged version by accident :?
- Emunator on December 3, 2009
I remember this opening well, and I know i've had this track on my
playlist for years, but I never would have guessed FF8 without
reading it. The opening starts out lush, but that little panflute
sample isn't really pulling it's weight. The piano also seems a
little thin, but the mood set by the subtle pad and strings combo
is great, really serene.
Not a perfect mix, but very enjoyable and charming. I really like this one. :-)
- OA on December 2, 2009
Not a perfect mix, but very enjoyable and charming. I really like this one. :-)
- OA on December 2, 2009
THis is so beautiful!
I remembered my times going through the fields of FF8, riding the train, lookin for chocobos....wow....such a sweet melody that makes you reminisce all those good times....
Thank you..!
- LadyReemz86 on July 16, 2009
I remembered my times going through the fields of FF8, riding the train, lookin for chocobos....wow....such a sweet melody that makes you reminisce all those good times....
Thank you..!
- LadyReemz86 on July 16, 2009
This is a gentle but by no means second-rate exploration of a theme
that proves that you don't need ballsy, big sounds to pull off an
adequate mix. It is a little quiet for my tastes, but volume be
damned, there's plenty of good here.
The woodwind is pretty and lends it an Eastern vibe, while the piano is especially resonant. Everything sounds great throughout and flows between ambient transitions seamlessly.
It's definately a little mix, but it still has all the variation and arrangement ideas you'd want to hear in a full, orchestral rendition.
Good to see music that isn't afraid to be small on the site.
- Marmiduke on July 2, 2009
The woodwind is pretty and lends it an Eastern vibe, while the piano is especially resonant. Everything sounds great throughout and flows between ambient transitions seamlessly.
It's definately a little mix, but it still has all the variation and arrangement ideas you'd want to hear in a full, orchestral rendition.
Good to see music that isn't afraid to be small on the site.
- Marmiduke on July 2, 2009
I've been playing through this game again recently and I find this
ReMix to be one of the best pieces so far. Wonderful, mellow feel
to the whole thing. LOVE IT!
- Hy Bound on December 2, 2008
- Hy Bound on December 2, 2008
Pretty good.
I thought I was listening to the .hack series soundtrack for a second.
- kwansoo87 on June 6, 2008
I thought I was listening to the .hack series soundtrack for a second.
- kwansoo87 on June 6, 2008
I far prefer this to the original track. The original track was
boring. Bland and blah... This gives mix fills the piece where the
original was empty.
In all honesty this should have been in the game instead...
- KogeJoe on January 24, 2007
In all honesty this should have been in the game instead...
- KogeJoe on January 24, 2007
Definitely a good remix. There's definitely an asian feel to the
whole thing, but it's not overwhelmingly obvious. The gentle
percussion keeps the whole mix moving, and blends perfectly with
the rest. The background violin gives the melody a solid base to
sit on, as well.
But, the part of this mix that really strikes me is the piano line. The warm, dark tone . . . I just love it.
Overall, this mix is a great one to listen to. The underplayed Asian tone definitely gives the mix a unique, distant feel. But at the same time, it feels so familiar. It's very accessible. Anyone can sit down and listen to it, and enjoy it.
Very subtle. Very relaxing. Very nice.
- hylian90 on October 28, 2005
But, the part of this mix that really strikes me is the piano line. The warm, dark tone . . . I just love it.
Overall, this mix is a great one to listen to. The underplayed Asian tone definitely gives the mix a unique, distant feel. But at the same time, it feels so familiar. It's very accessible. Anyone can sit down and listen to it, and enjoy it.
Very subtle. Very relaxing. Very nice.
- hylian90 on October 28, 2005
This has some sort of asian touch to it, may be because of "A
hooray in the Eastern Horizon" and this is Lost Horizon, but that
marimba around halfway, that chinese flute, and those beautiful
strings, made it real foreign sounding, classical style, resulting
in a one calm mix. For being named as destructo, this mix surely
shows that what´s the inside that counts. Or maybe not, who knows?
All I knows is that this is a great mix, and I asking everybuddy
else to downoad it and enjoy.
- Bummerdude on October 28, 2005
- Bummerdude on October 28, 2005
loved it. ^^ perfectly emphasizes my mood today. *plays it again
just cause*
beautifully done, like the calm.
- pixlz on May 24, 2004
beautifully done, like the calm.
- pixlz on May 24, 2004
I have to admit that this remix is what finally encouraged me to
stop lurking and join the forums. I really want to congratulate
destructo on creating a superb remix that even my brother likes,
although he's heard it many times by now :)
The style of the piece is beautiful, incorperating all the aspects of the original while adapting to a lovely new style. I now feel content to sneer on the original :x . The subtle changes throughout the piece take away the monotony of the original, and the interactions between the instruments work very well :)
Again, well done . 10 thumbs up:)
- sivvus on May 11, 2004
The style of the piece is beautiful, incorperating all the aspects of the original while adapting to a lovely new style. I now feel content to sneer on the original :x . The subtle changes throughout the piece take away the monotony of the original, and the interactions between the instruments work very well :)
Again, well done . 10 thumbs up:)
- sivvus on May 11, 2004
