ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'A Foray into the Eastern Horizons'

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Game: Final Fantasy VII (Sony, 1997, PS1)
ReMixer(s): mv
Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
Song(s): 'Schala's Theme', 'Wutai'
Posted: 2004-08-06, evaluated by djpretzel

Very cool stuff from the uber-slick mv that mixes the Wutai theme from FF7 with the perhaps more familiar and certainly more ubiquitous Schala from CT and ends up with something altogether original and striking. The ReMixer explains:

"this mix was started one morning and finished late afternoon, on the same day. i wanted to remix both of those themes for a long time, but since schala's theme had already been remixed so much, i decided - when i was halfway done with this mix - to throw it in. the obvious style is ethnic/asian, not really conformist but not a western cliche of it either (i hope). some said that it reminded them of "the last samurai"'s soundtrack by hans zimmer (which i didn't hear) but some of the inspiration for this partly came from the "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" soundtrack."

You could probably liken it with either soundtrack; as for Western cliches, I actually think this style is in itself more a hodepodge of traditional Asian instruments with a more Western structure, but it's used in non-Hollywood Asian films, etc. all the time so I don't think it's fair to call it cliched or "faux ethnic" because it's a legit amalgamation of influences that's sort of evolved as motion picture soundtracks have evolved, on either side of the Pacific Ocean. Production is stellar, and the articulations on each and every instrument used are all very believable. Contrary to the belief of some, it's not enough to just have high-quality samples, especially when it comes to instruments where articulation and context is everything, if one wants an arrangement that is dramatic and effective. The ReMixer has to have some idea of how each instrument is used in a given context, and that's where mv shines, on this mix in particular. From the deep, meditative percussion to the various plucked, bowed, and blown traditional instruments displayed here, it's a virtual smorgasbord of exotic timbres, all implemented with care. Definitely not the type of mix where it sounds like someone just "decided" to use a given patch to add that "ethnic" vibe, but where instead each addition and part was given due diligence. Great dramatic sounds and also an effective merging of the two themes - with something as conspicuous as Schala, I was a little worried that I'd reach a certain point in the mix and it would just kinda shout "SCHALA NOW!!" but the transition was graceful and appropriate. Striking is the adjective that I think best describes the mix, which would be in good company amongst the best of Asian-themed film scores. Excellent.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

I love the sound. It's a little scratchy, which contributes to a sort of an intimate feel. Kind of a chamber music/acoustic session thing. The low strings and some other stuff do sound larger, but do not detract from the mood. I really liked the shift midway in tempo and mood and enjoyed the free/floating rhythm of the piece in general.
--Eino

- evktalo on July 24, 2012

When listening to the original Schala's Theme, I can't help but wonder about the drum beat and how it can be remixed. After hearing this high quality remix, it's clear to me that there is a good resemblance to an asian style throughout Schala's Theme. I would love to hear the incorporation of "People of the North Pole" from Final Fantasy X and Schala's Theme, and this remix has come the closest to doing that.

- Executor on May 24, 2011

This is going to be one of those tracks that I put on my "Time to crash" list. I'm not sure I could properly distinguish between what would actualy be considered a 'sample' (whatever that is, I'm no compositional expert) but that's beside the point. I felt very strong emotion from this mix and was very pleased with it's fluidity. BTW, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fits this very well.

- FallenOne on February 5, 2010

The 6:30 gets a little lengthy, but as a mood piece this definitely does the job. I liked the serne flow and the different layers of ethnic instruments. The transitions were decent, and I wasn't as bothered as some by the inclusion of Schala.
Overall a pretty decent mix. :-)

- OA on January 26, 2010

good choice of instruments, production is pretty good for its time, i really like your interpretation on this and i would never expect schala's theme to work so well with wutai's theme,
overall i would give this 8.5/10
goddd i miss these kinds of mixes...

- Ascendancy on March 17, 2009

This song is just simply amazing. I'm at a lack of words at describing how beautiful and natural this song is. Well done!!!!!!!!

- Nario on July 18, 2008

I_Love_OCR_ReMixes wrote: And DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff, I like that Schala's theme there, it really compliments the overall 'feel' of this Wutai mix. :D

Don't get me wrong, I love Schala's theme; the song change was just a bit unsettling to me. I think they'd be better off is two seperate mixes is all.

- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on March 12, 2006

this mix is so AWESOME! and it sounds really authentic to the Eastern culture. :D
And DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff, I like that Schala's theme there, it really compliments the overall 'feel' of this Wutai mix. :D
wow Time Chill, Sensual Ippon and this?? god damn mv is a rare talent.

- I_Love_OC_ReMixes on March 12, 2006

Great remix. Very well put together. True to the original without feeling forced. Good attention to details with the string plucking in the background. This isn't one of my favorite remixes of all time but that's probably got to do with the fact that the original tune was not one of my favorite themes in FF7 more than it has to do with the actual remix at all. I can't really think of any real critisms except that it's not on my all time favorite list.
Very solid 4/5 sporks, perhaps even as high as a 4.5/5

- zpeterz63 on March 5, 2006

This mix is really great and I enjoy all of mv's pieces but, for some reason or another, the song transition bothers me. It blends together so well and then, all the sudden, the accompaniment for Schala's theme changes instruments at 3:14. Why does this bug me so? I don't know... I guess it just sounds like, "If you couldn't tell this was a mix of two seperate songs before, [i]now[/i] you'll be able to tell."
Don't get me wrong, the song is absolutely beautiful aside from that. That part just makes me cringe for a good 5-10 seconds.

- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on January 10, 2006

Relaxing.

- Red Light District on January 10, 2006

I thought this was really well done. The whole melody went smoothly and the transition to Schala's theme fused with Wutai really really good! Normally I'd hear problems with songs like this, but I dont have any complaints about it!

- Darkmetamorphasis on January 10, 2006

This is clearly an impovement of the original, and the idea to use it together with Schala´s theme was super.
Arigato mv.

- Bummer on September 20, 2005

Very touching work. I felt extremely moved from 2:10+ on the metric change, it really grabbed me there.
What I really liked about it and what strucked me as kinda strange is that although the harmonic changes aren't new (I-VII-VI-VII-I in minor) they didn't sound old. I think this freshness is further enlarged by the instrumentation...and lest we forget 6/8.
The articulation is marvelous and most of the lines sounded felt.
Very inspiring.

- 3rdeye on May 20, 2005

That's a cool restaurant story. Reminds me of one not as cool, so I won't tell it. Lets just say it had sushi and and the perfect beginning to a great evening.
I can't believe I forgot to post here and say how much I really like this one, I enjoy it every time I hear it, and I must have aready listened to it 200 times.

- NeOmega on May 15, 2005