ReMix: Ecco the Dolphin 'Eternal Abyss'
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- Game: Ecco the Dolphin (Sega, 1993, SCD)
- ReMixer(s): GrayLightning
- Composer(s): Spencer N. Nilsen
- Song(s): 'After the Storm'
- Posted: 2004-10-31, evaluated by djpretzel
Happy Halloween! If time permits, we'll have a more Halloween-themed mix for you, but I think you'll enjoy judge GrayLightning's take on this piece off the Sega CD version of Ecco's soundtrack. The ReMixer writes:
"I've been doing mostly cinematic/orchestral mixes lately so I wanted to go back to my new age/ethnic roots on this one. I heard this midi from vgmusic and completely fell in love with the piece and thought I would want to mix it, yet keep Spencer Nilsen's new age style. The source material is fairly short so I was able to do quite a bit of expansion here. New chord progressions, new chords, slight melodic variations, rhythmic and tempo changes as well. There's a lot of effects processing and fx here too. Hope you enjoy. :)"
This is actually still a little more structured and orchestral than most of GL's new age mixes from days of yore, and has sort of an Asian/epic vibe to it; feels like good anime OST material, something with ninjas, samurai, chakra, sacrifice, etc. The more serious scenes from Kenshin, Naruto, Champloo, Ninja Scroll, that sort of thing. Heavy choral work, flute lead, the bells that he's so fond of (if there were ever a 'Bells Anonymous' for ReMixers addicted to bell patches, he'd be first in line), dramatic orchestral percussion, and later horn and pizzicato strings to add to the variety of ensemble legato strings already being used. Very deliberate tempo, like a solemn march. There's very soft hand percussion panned hard left and right that initially I thought MIGHT have been an artifact or glitch in the samples Gray was using, but I verified with him it's just mixed low and panned hard, but rhythmic and intentional. There's some really cool syncopation with the strings at times, with counter-rhythms swirling around in a spidery web of arpeggiating patterns. Striking and hypnotizing work from Mr. Lightning.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - metalsnakejuice on May 16, 2009
There are a lot of great touches in this that really give it a nautical feel.
Nice new-agey base to build on, and lots of tinkling bells.
It has a processional feel, and a distinct sense of determination, which is somewhat rare for my experience in the genre, but it works really nicely.
The choir adds a bit of melancholy, and then the pizzicato strings up the drama quotient.
This is a great mix and has a lot of mood to it. I'm unfamiliar with the source, but when it's presented like this, it's appealing to everyone, nostalgia or not. Excellent work.
- OA on March 31, 2009
Can't really say I'm digging the drums though, but still this is a great mix.
Very cinematic, majestic, full of abstract alien wonder like deep see exploration and seeing all the bizarre forms of life down there.
Definitely worth checking out.
- 42 on January 20, 2009
The bells, strings, wind chimes, flute, percussions, and pizzicato strings really stand out and all come together quite beautifully throughout the song.
This mix is 'epically hypnotic' OR 'hypnotically epic' - are those even Words?? Bah, doesn't matter! See what I mean, Music so good it has you making up phrases! ;)
- Homo Pocket on June 19, 2005
excellent song to listen to 2 calm your nerves.
_________________
"...go to the hunting department of Wal*Mart and ask for antidepressants..."
- greenyoshieggz on January 4, 2005
- Nizidramanii'yt on November 11, 2004
The first thing that struck me about this piece is how the timing is cleverly teased. The whole piece is in straight four, but much of the piece is presented in such a way that a non-attentive listener won't realize where the downbeat lies. Specifically, the bass root note -- often a queue for the beginning of a measure -- often isn't brought in until the second beat. The point of this? It creates a dreamy unmetered feel without losing form, and retains the listener's attention by throwing them something subtly different than they're expecting.
The second most standout quality is that the mix sounds [i]huge[/i]. The effect is accomplished with surprisingly little reverb on the main instruments -- Gray does things the right way by relying instead on good panning and subtle ambient effects to create a sense of depth. The result is a mix that sounds vast, but retains clarity.
Also, although this is new age music, it's definately not "relaxation" music. It seems a bit low-key on the surface, but the emotional build, while subtle, is nevertheless quite intense.
I can offer nothing substantial in the way of criticism; GrayLightning really has this style down pat.
Great work as always :)
- Fray on November 10, 2004
I particularly love the way the dissonances are handled in this mix. Long drawn out suspensions (for instance the choir at 2:05) that beg for resolution until... at last the tension is concluded. Despite the preponderance of sustained notes, the piece gives the feeling of a constant forward momentum- of a seemingly calm river that hides a powerful undercurrent.
Beautiful work.
- Israfel on November 8, 2004
Gray Lightning’s latest remix, a self proclaimed return to “new age/ethnic” style music after his recent endeavourers into more cinematic styles, is an excellent example of how one can take a small amount of source material and turn it into a four minute long epic piece that is chock full of Gray’s touch. While this may not be his best mix, it definitely works as an excellent remix with
We open up with chimes and waves, a soothing ambient opening with bells, which, as DJP stated, have become Gray’s staple instrument. The strings are emotional and work well to compliment the mood of the mix.
As the song continues, the bells continue to repeat their melody and we are introduced to a filtered choir that has an ethereal feel to it. The drums are subdued during this part, and along with the piano that plays segments of chords as well as the waves that resurface, create a moody ambience that builds up to the next section.
At 3:00, we shift gears to the finale. The strings pick up the pace and we have an increase in percussive activity. The song ends and we have closure, with the waves that brought us on our journey, bringing us to the end.
While this mix may not have a lot of energy until the last minute, its beauty is in the emotions it creates. DJ Pretzel described it as hypnotizing, and I doubt I could come up with a better word than that. Excellent stuff from teh Lightning that is Gray.
~Mythril
- myf on November 7, 2004
Gray goes back to his new age roots with this remix of "After the Storm," borrowing some tricks from his orchestral remixes like [i]Armageddon[/i] and [i]Journey to Remlia[/i]. :wink: Probably my favorite mix of his; good shizz.
-DCT
- DCT on November 3, 2004
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