ReMix: Final Fantasy IX 'Hunter's Community Chest'

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Final Fantasy IX

Wow... I'm in Delaware. Drove down Thursday night for the Rehoboth Film Festival this weekend - nothing like going 15mph over, looking out for state troopers, blasting The Ken Song, driving past the stinky chicken farms on the backroads of slower, lower Delaware. Attended an interesting if brief presentation on film scoring and saw the dramatically-revised director's cut of Donnie Darko. Good stuff. I'm writing this review remotely, so typing and listening circumstances are less-than-ideal, but I wanted to get Shnabubula's VERY different, unique, distinct - hell, let's just say it: downright weird ReMix posted this weekend. Mr. bubula has done some very unusual things to the FF9 OST - dark, sordid things, no doubt prohibited by arcane laws in the red state of your choice. Judge Dan B. was this mix's biggest advocate, and his glowing review was both eloquent and bordering on evangelism for this very challenging piece, so I'll give him his piece:

"The very beginning synthwork is a subdued wah'ed line that very adeptly transmogrifies into the Hunter's melody. Once that rockin' main melody kicks in, some very abstract yet perfectly-suited ep chords back it up. I'm drooling over these chords. Great work. The mix then takes a surprising turn and plays through a minimal iteration of the main theme, before delving into a polyrhthmic drum feature that exhibits advanced knowledge of the drum kit. Then, the crazy bass synth launches into an atonal, chaotic run that smoothly transitions to a chilled out, jazzy section. The chordwork here is nothing short of beautiful. The utilization of the modified original melody with the new chord structure makes it seem fresh yet at the same time familiar. Suddenly, it plunges into a mean, minor-keyed motif. Very good use of key change to advance the song along. Following this section, sheer chaos erupts. I'm not sure how keen I am on some of these rhythmic discomboblations, but it generally works well enough to segue into the conclusion."

The judges panel acknowledged what the mixer is doing, here, but at the same time expressed some concern as to how the general OCR public would react; let this be a clear, distinct warning: this mix is sonically rather avant garde, NOT for those looking for genre-satisfaction. The ReMixer puts a lot of emphasis on texture, processing, and what ends up sounding like wavesequencing, as popularized by Korg's Wavestation synth - rapid succession of timbres, one after the other. Panning is generally meandering, percussion is EQ'd to intentionally lack oomph, and the whole composition is genuinely different on the instrumentation scene. If someone were to make music for nanomachines, this is what one might envision - tiny bites of sound, insect-like in their scope and precision, forming a larger composite whole. The end result is NOT what I'd call "easy" to listen to, but it does involve craft, arrangement, and interpretation, and the style is at once confident and boldly anti-gratification. Odd; read the panel's discussion for more information, listen with an open mind, and appreciate the details.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
It's taken me a lot of time to appreciate this on (including hearing the original in-game), and it's still not my favourites. I think the sound quality issue discussed extensively in the judging thread really brings this down for me. Well, I'll keep listening, perhaps it will start to shine for me too.
--Eino

- evktalo on February 14, 2009
I could swear the first few seconds were very boring and then it became a strange mess. I was about to turn it off, but then my mother called me to feed the dogs. So, while feeding the dogs, I listened to this conundrum, that actually made me come back and start it again.
The feel is so abstract you can't really see where it's going. The Hunter's Chance melody rings in every now and then, adding in some familiarity, then everything is back into chaos. It's an organized chaos, but I was surprised in this one really. I think my favorite part has to be the key change it gives it a synth-jazz-funk feel and this lasts for quite a while until it delves back into another key change into the melody.
Like natto, this song really does have an acquired taste, but it is phenomenal, nonetheless.

- GameboyKnight on November 26, 2008
I remember first hearing this and thinking it was something I could appreciate musically, but not something I would be listening to years later. Well, I'm still bumping it to this day, and I practically rock out to all the crazy rhythms and tempo changes. This piece practically changed my whole perspective on music, and that is no hyperbole my friend.

- Geneson on October 27, 2008
Probably the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I'm so glad someone understands the progressive avant-gard style of music! :D
Less Ashamed Of Self;40429 wrote: I don't know the piece but Shabablubahabwhateveryournameis... Nice, freaking mint.
It's a very very technical piece, instantly a favourite of mine, gorgeous, catchy, and fun.
I look forward to memorizing it as I did other thick IDM greats like Aphex Twin's 54 Cymru Beats or Squarepusher's Boneville Occident.
10/10, possibley my all-time favourite though I need to hear it a lot more.

And yeah. Word.

- Another Soundscape on April 22, 2007
While I never commented, I've loved this song ever since I downloaded it on release, left it in a folder, burnt it to CD with my latest songs, and found it through study listening. What's this? This is [b]awesome[/b].
I think it's safe to say that Sam is my favourite remixer, and this piece is up there as his very best. Several listenings are in order, but once the song is engrained in your mind, putting Hunter's Community Chest on is bliss.

- watkinzez on September 30, 2006
well, it was nearly rejected on the basis of sound quality. it's true, the samples are really crummy, and the arrangement would work with better ones. but it wouldn't be as charming.
on a purely logical basis, this song reminds me more than any of his other remixes of his original work (because it originally was, apparently) so i'd think i'd like it the most (i love his non-remix stuff more than any of his remixes)...but i got sorta bored of it.

- spineshark on August 7, 2006
wow, i just read the judges decision thread for this one--how can this not be instantly accepted? I think this is one of shnabubula's best works, and one of the best works on the site. I feel like Shnabubula's compositions teeter on the line between genius and insanity :D
I guess then again, it really took me a few good listens in the car to realize how incredible this is...
but seriously this is ridiculous

- DrumUltimA on July 24, 2006
This was certainly interesting. Liked it too. Though, I could totally imagine 2:49 be the start of a new dynamic with a very fast beat and transition into climax. That would've been nicer I think.

- LongeBane on July 18, 2006
Little known fact; Shnabubula's music is outlawed in three countries as an excessively addictive substance. Okay, not quite, but the latter half stands. One can't help but praise a remix that takes something like Hunter's Chance and makes it so... so... funky? I don't have a word readied for this, so I'll just say "The sound of awesome colliding."

- Keiseth on April 22, 2006
Shnabubula's music owns me. Everytime I hear a Shna tune my head just rattles around on my neck uncontrollably. If only I could bear his children... er, nevermind.
Song's kickin', by the way.

- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on January 30, 2006
Its beat is pretty good, sounds like it's just... everywhere.
8.5/10

- SakakiAzu on January 28, 2006
I can really agree that this one is greatly remixed, but if I think it´s great, I think I need some time for this one. Different remixes ARE great, but this one didn´t quite got somewhere I think. Nice groovy beats and synths, some hi-hats, it´s good, but I´ll need some time.

- Bummerdude on November 2, 2005
Man I swear the time signatures in this song are instruments unto themselves. I'm in awe of the skill with which they were stiched together. To pull off a piece like this requires a great deal of foresight, creativty and heaps of control over your musical visions for the final product. This one has earned it's spot as one of my favorite remixes out there. Amazing work Samuel.

- Harmony on May 13, 2005
...Mother of God...
It's like...a smooth tasty milkshake...full of hidden razor blades and needles. In a good way.
It's so differant...and cool. I love how it's just familiar, and yet it's sharpness challanges your senses...or...your ears...hopefully oyu know what I mean.
This is a great tune, yet very unique, and very much not for everyone. If you love the avent-garde, probably strongly love in this case, it's a great song, otherwise it may just come out as electronica puree.
I loved it, after the first time...even I had to aquire the taste. But it's so delicious.
Hard-core 9/10
~Lord Syruss Khalai

- Lord_Syruss_Khalai on March 23, 2005
Less Ashamed Of Self wrote:
I look forward to memorizing it as I did other thick IDM greats like Aphex Twin's 54 Cymru Beats or Squarepusher's Boneville Occident.

Still memorizing it. :D What a gem. I want to choreograph something to it.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on February 24, 2005

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