ReMix: Xenogears 'A Momentary Emotion'
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- Game: Xenogears (Square, 1998, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Kaijin
- Composer(s): Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Aspiration'
- Posted: 2004-05-23, evaluated by djpretzel
Next up we've got a lovely Xenogears ReMix for you, from Kaijin in his "touching ballad mode" that he's quite adept at. Introing with piano, electric piano, strings, and a beautiful wind lead, percussion kicks in and the main melody enters. This has a very acoustic, intimate feel to it, builds well, and is reminiscent of his other work in the polished, melody-centric ballad arena. Oboe joins in for a well-executed duet with some call-and-answer (underused technique in my opinion and works especially well in this genre), and though this is a rather short piece at just under three minutes, it's a pleasant diversion and illustrates all the things the ReMixer is excellent at doing - establishing a strong melodic presence, expanding on that, and putting together an arrangement that is emotional first and foremost. I like the picture-perfect ending sans drums and the pastorale, floating pace the piece has. Good stuff from Kaijin, who's contributed a very strong selection of flowing, emotive arrangements over the years.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Quite a soft mix based on a really beautiful melody. You can't
really go wrong with a gentle track like this. As far as I can
tell, it's primary objective seems to have been enriching the sound
of the original and focusing a little, which I'm cool with. Though
the arrangement takes no bold steps, I actually think it does
enough behind the scenes to satisfy me. Of course, more fleshing
out of the theme would have been welcome, but to be honest I didn't
see the lack thereof to be a squandered opportunity.
It definitely struggles to be remarkable and there's nothing drastically impressive here, but its still very pretty with some attentive production, which has to stand for something.
- Marmiduke on August 2, 2010
It definitely struggles to be remarkable and there's nothing drastically impressive here, but its still very pretty with some attentive production, which has to stand for something.
- Marmiduke on August 2, 2010
This is such a sweet little mix, almost saccharinely so. Very
nostalgic, like the theme of reminiscing of the happy times spent
with a lost loved one as opposed to the remorse of the loved one
being lost, if that made any sense. Still it's not bad and worth
checking out.
- 42 on December 4, 2009
- 42 on December 4, 2009
Beautiful production. Especially considering that this remixed was
created nearly 3 years ago. The arrangement is there, but it does
pretty much stick with the original source.
True, the samples are lacking, but I was reading on Kaijin's site about the possibility of him remastering this track. That would be great.
This piece, no matter how old, is still beautiful. That ballad style that Kaijin is best known for is probably my favorite 'genre' of remix. The emotions that this piece creates are absolutely amazing.
Definitely worth a download to add to your remix collection.
I don't think Kaijin is around anymore, but he will always have produced songs that have changed the way I view videogame music.
Good job bro. 3 years later and it's still kickin'.
- Degree on April 2, 2007
True, the samples are lacking, but I was reading on Kaijin's site about the possibility of him remastering this track. That would be great.
This piece, no matter how old, is still beautiful. That ballad style that Kaijin is best known for is probably my favorite 'genre' of remix. The emotions that this piece creates are absolutely amazing.
Definitely worth a download to add to your remix collection.
I don't think Kaijin is around anymore, but he will always have produced songs that have changed the way I view videogame music.
Good job bro. 3 years later and it's still kickin'.
- Degree on April 2, 2007
A pretty close interpretation of the source, but as it was
mentioned earlier, after hearing something of this quality, it's
really hard to go back to the original. I like this even better
than the vocal arrangement in the original soundtrack.
The piano reminds me a bit of Dale North, but the rest of the elements make it really your own. Regardless, this is fantastic work. Highly recommended.
- OA on December 26, 2006
The piano reminds me a bit of Dale North, but the rest of the elements make it really your own. Regardless, this is fantastic work. Highly recommended.
- OA on December 26, 2006
I thought I'd already submitted my thoughts on this remix, but I
looked and realized it must have slipped my mind.
I love the down-home feel of this remix, I think it really fits in well with the mood of the piece. After listening to this, the original sounds sooo tinny and weak. Excellent job here!
I only wish you'd kept in the part around 1:20 in the original where the violins harmonize for a bit. I really liked that part, but I understand as much as a remix is primarily an arrangement of the original track, it has to combine it with different ideas and bring something new to the table. And of course that means cutting parts out as much as adding new material in.
Keep 'em coming Kaijin!
- CasualT on September 11, 2004
I love the down-home feel of this remix, I think it really fits in well with the mood of the piece. After listening to this, the original sounds sooo tinny and weak. Excellent job here!
I only wish you'd kept in the part around 1:20 in the original where the violins harmonize for a bit. I really liked that part, but I understand as much as a remix is primarily an arrangement of the original track, it has to combine it with different ideas and bring something new to the table. And of course that means cutting parts out as much as adding new material in.
Keep 'em coming Kaijin!
- CasualT on September 11, 2004
[i]Emotion[/i] of Xenogears is a sweet song in itself (one of my
favorites even), but this remix of it is even more incredible. It's
more laid back than the original as I recall, but the slower pace
makes it seem all the better.
- ForumChibi on August 2, 2004
- ForumChibi on August 2, 2004
The intro reminds me of the town music in Zelda 2. Did the original
Xenogears song also do this? Is it just me hearing this, I swear
I'm taking crazy pills! Obey my dog! Ok, Zoolander references
aside... I like it.
- Nobbynob Littlun on June 25, 2004
- Nobbynob Littlun on June 25, 2004
I'm a huge fan of Kaijin's style, and this one was definitely up
among his best. Brilliant, beautiful, perfect. Not much else to
say.
- Geoffrey Taucer on May 25, 2004
- Geoffrey Taucer on May 25, 2004
The beginning caught me a little off guard. I think some kind of
fade - in or more gradual intro would be nice.
Anyway, the instrument selection here is good and the piano is nicely done as always. My big problem would be the mixing: I know there's always a sound these types of mix like to achieve, but there really doesn't need to be this much reverb applied. The lower frequencies like the bass and the electronic piano tend to bleed over everything else. And it's a real shame because the flute and oboe are both done pretty nicely but need to be brought out so badly. The strings also tend to get lost in the shuffle - the sample is just generally not appropriate because it attacks too gradually, but it also should be a higher frequency and maybe making two tracks and panning them to each side at about 50% would make it a little richer and enhance the melody.
As for the arrangement, I am not familiar with the original, but my assumption (which may or may not be correct) is that this is a pretty close interpretation of it. That's not always bad, and I do think if it were mixed a little better and the dynamics were made a little clearer, it would really help the mix sonically - making it sound less like it's slogging through the original and more like a natural progression.
- ella guro on May 24, 2004
Anyway, the instrument selection here is good and the piano is nicely done as always. My big problem would be the mixing: I know there's always a sound these types of mix like to achieve, but there really doesn't need to be this much reverb applied. The lower frequencies like the bass and the electronic piano tend to bleed over everything else. And it's a real shame because the flute and oboe are both done pretty nicely but need to be brought out so badly. The strings also tend to get lost in the shuffle - the sample is just generally not appropriate because it attacks too gradually, but it also should be a higher frequency and maybe making two tracks and panning them to each side at about 50% would make it a little richer and enhance the melody.
As for the arrangement, I am not familiar with the original, but my assumption (which may or may not be correct) is that this is a pretty close interpretation of it. That's not always bad, and I do think if it were mixed a little better and the dynamics were made a little clearer, it would really help the mix sonically - making it sound less like it's slogging through the original and more like a natural progression.
- ella guro on May 24, 2004
Not a comment on the skill itself, just my subjective opinion. This
sounds [i]very[/i] much like background music you'd hear in a
modern church, and having to hear it every week, every year of my
childhood, when I'm [i]busting[/i] to go home and do something
remotely fun, it doesn't sit comfortably in my ears. I really
didn't like that church music.
I figure bad opinions aren't shunned away heh. Oh how I hate the drums lol, how damn annoying stupid church music let me out of here!!!! I feel like those churchy drumbeats are so fake, so slow motion and tacked in, genre-wide.
Nothing seems to be actually wrong with this mix. It just drives me insane.
- Defend on May 24, 2004
I figure bad opinions aren't shunned away heh. Oh how I hate the drums lol, how damn annoying stupid church music let me out of here!!!! I feel like those churchy drumbeats are so fake, so slow motion and tacked in, genre-wide.
Nothing seems to be actually wrong with this mix. It just drives me insane.
- Defend on May 24, 2004
This is a lot better than a your other stuff made recently. While
the arrangement is lacking during most of the song, the beginning
and end are well done. Of course, what makes this piece so good is
the excellent production. The instrument choices are all very
pleasing, but the guitar/drum rythym is rather monotonous
throughouut the song. Overall, this is a nice-sounding rendition of
a classic song.
- Kaleb.G on May 23, 2004
- Kaleb.G on May 23, 2004
Kaijin, never will you cease to make good remix's You always pick
the best songs, and remix them nice. Bravo :!:
- Sandman53 on May 23, 2004
- Sandman53 on May 23, 2004
God, this is why I love Kaijin. And This is why I love Xenogears.
With such a vast range of excellent music to mix, Gears really
brings out some great, emotion driven mixes.
Kaijin has not failed me yet. His mixes are smooth like Billy Dee Williams and ice cool like a nice can of Colt 45. A nice chill song for anyone's playlist.
- Navi on May 23, 2004
Kaijin has not failed me yet. His mixes are smooth like Billy Dee Williams and ice cool like a nice can of Colt 45. A nice chill song for anyone's playlist.
- Navi on May 23, 2004
Chris McGee wrote: FIRST POST ON THE SECOND MIX OF OCR4! :P
Wow, this is gorgeous. I haven't heard the original, better check that out. :D
Ugh. Please stop doing that first post garbage.
Anyway, really sweet mix here Kaijin. Really sounds nice; smooth and happy, just as music should be. :P
Perhaps a bit too straightforward in arrangement though. Nice werk over all. ^_^
- DarkeSword on May 23, 2004
Wow, this is gorgeous. I haven't heard the original, better check
that out. :D
- Chris McGee on May 23, 2004
- Chris McGee on May 23, 2004
