ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Tears of Contention'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Bladiator, The Orichalcon
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Depths of the Night', 'Out of Phase'
- Posted: 2006-01-12, evaluated by the judges
TO writes:
"All right. This piece was initially Bladiator's idea. He came to me one day and asked if I was interested in making a Chrono Trigger remix of "At the bottom of night". I liked the piece, so I told him it was worth a shot. He seemed to have quite a few ideas in mind and we went to work coinciding our styles and working out a format. After what took about 5 months, we finally finished it to our liking.
Starting off with some reverbed piano, leading in to the Bozzy Drumset from Stylus, with Squidfont strings making the backing. When we build up, there's some nylon guitar strumming in there, low-end bassline and Atmosphere strings. The midsection is a combination of the squidfont strings, atmosphere strings and a squidfont Cello, before heading back into a final drum and piano section. Closing out with Bladiator's piano and the strings accompanying. Finishing on F Major was Karl's idea, and I think it worked out quite well."
Having quite recently collabed on Jade Spawn, these two clearly have a good thing going on (platonically). Karl's shimmering piano, with a cavernous, melodramatic reverb, is enshrouded in an appropriate environment of acoustic drums, bass, and strings. Lee does a great job of keeping the drums interesting, and ventures outside of straightforward acoustic territory with some layering work that starts around 1'48" and makes the beat a bit meatier. Piano remains the centerpiece throughout the mix, but doesn't overpower the background, so the two can play off one another without it sounding like a piano mix that just 'happens' to have an accompaniment. There's some excellent interpretation and chord work; some peculiar intonation at 3'43" for a second, but all in all I like the willingness to walk the progression, and the major key, pastorale happiness of the ending is a nice twist relative to the more turbulent body of the work. Oji McJudges:
"Good piano stuffs immediately starting things off; nice atmosphere, very engaging. :43 brings in the TO beats to drive things along. Good stuff at 1:07 with the quick reference to "Out of Phase". If it had stopped with that, I wouldn't have recognized that as an influence but later on it was confirmed.
I think the percussion could have gelled a bit more tightly with the piano work, but overall the piece was clicking and the synergy was there. There's irony involved in that you both had stuff rejected recently, but subsequently team up for this new age gold. Man, this is groove-biasing me with the groovaliciousness. McDonalds, I'm lovin' it."
We love to see you smile. It's worth noting that Jesse had some concerns about simplicity and Jon regarding dynamics, but I think Karl's chord work and interpretation, paired with Lee's appropriate, unobstrusive but never bland accompaniment have resulted in a pretty easy-to-like arrangement and a solid piece overall.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Excellent nostalgic feel to this one, and a lot of layering that
subtly builds up the piece. Great piano comping and the beats and
background fit together well. I almost wish some of the drums did
some fills that matched the rhythm of some of the piano parts, but
even as-is, it's excellent work.
I didn't actually totally hear the source until near the end, because the feel was so strong. It's pretty obvious throughout, just shows how into this one I got.
Recommended!
- OA on June 10, 2008
I didn't actually totally hear the source until near the end, because the feel was so strong. It's pretty obvious throughout, just shows how into this one I got.
Recommended!
- OA on June 10, 2008
Kudos to the two of you.
I mean, first off, as a pianist, I gotta hand it to you Bladiator, your technique is flawless, and the expression is so goddamn touching, and the way you swoop across the keyboadr at 1:42 is... I simply can't find a word for it. Divine maybe ?
But this piece of auditive sweetness wouldn't be what it is without TO's arranging the drums and bass around it and giving this beautiful body a solid skeleton and strong yet graceful muscles blends harmoniously.
Hope to hear more from you two.
You revived my willingness to start ReMixing myself, hoping to one day attain something close to what you guys do.
Oh, and Jared Hudson is also one fine musician (totally off topic, just love the guy's work), be sure to check out his stuff, well worth it !
Keep working your magic together guys !
- Darth Mamdouh on April 4, 2007
I mean, first off, as a pianist, I gotta hand it to you Bladiator, your technique is flawless, and the expression is so goddamn touching, and the way you swoop across the keyboadr at 1:42 is... I simply can't find a word for it. Divine maybe ?
But this piece of auditive sweetness wouldn't be what it is without TO's arranging the drums and bass around it and giving this beautiful body a solid skeleton and strong yet graceful muscles blends harmoniously.
Hope to hear more from you two.
You revived my willingness to start ReMixing myself, hoping to one day attain something close to what you guys do.
Oh, and Jared Hudson is also one fine musician (totally off topic, just love the guy's work), be sure to check out his stuff, well worth it !
Keep working your magic together guys !
- Darth Mamdouh on April 4, 2007
This song took skill to make no doubt, but it's not my cup of tea,
iono something seems to be out of place...is it the pace? I'm not a
remixer so i don't know..
But in any case, keep up the remixing ;)
- HoboKa on March 29, 2007
But in any case, keep up the remixing ;)
- HoboKa on March 29, 2007
The mix does have a tendancy to bleed together, but I enjoy it
regardless. It has a very improv feel to it, in a good way.
- DragonFireKai on March 21, 2007
- DragonFireKai on March 21, 2007
It's very pretty and all new-agey n stuff. There just isn't enough
spectral variation or dynamic contrast. I have a pretty decent
stereo and everything still kinda mushed together. Some more
panning would have been nice too.
- meccaneer on April 3, 2006
- meccaneer on April 3, 2006
As a big fan of the Crono Cross and Crono Trigger soundtracks,
(Quite possibly IMO one of the BEST soundtracks for a PS series),
this gave me the tingly spine goosebumps listening to it. I think
you did an excelent job of conveying the origional emotion of the
song into the remix, and gave it a sad, yet energetic life of it's
own.
- Boogie Pop Nightmare on March 10, 2006
- Boogie Pop Nightmare on March 10, 2006
Thanks for the reviews, guys. We're really happy with how the piece
turned out.
As far as sheet music goes, I can say without a doubt that it will never exist. All I did was just play the song over and over til I knew the chord changes by heart and then improvised on the theme. I probably couldn't even replicate the recording that I've made. Sorry. :(
But on the upside, the song is cool.
- bladiator on February 8, 2006
As far as sheet music goes, I can say without a doubt that it will never exist. All I did was just play the song over and over til I knew the chord changes by heart and then improvised on the theme. I probably couldn't even replicate the recording that I've made. Sorry. :(
But on the upside, the song is cool.
- bladiator on February 8, 2006
Wow... Just, dang.
This is my first post on OCRemix ever, and I'm glad I'm posing about this particular remix. This thing is great. When I first downloaded it, I expected this remix to be kind of like the other "At the Bottom of the Night" remixes, but somehow, this one was different than the others. It was different, yet at the same time recognizable to be a remix.
Words can't really adequately express what I felt when I heard this. Actually, I'm listening to this particular remix right now for about the fiftieth or so time. It's a great remix to a great song. You have my respect.
By the way, I don't know if this sort of thing is requested a lot, or if I'm even requesting this in the right section, but I don't suppose the people who are responsible for making this remix would have piano sheet music for this that they could upload, do they? If they do, I'd really appreciate it if anyone could direct me to where I could find it. I already know how to play the original to an extent, and I'd love to be able to play this piece as well. Thanks for the opportunity for me to listen to this.
Awesome.
- chinakid on January 28, 2006
This is my first post on OCRemix ever, and I'm glad I'm posing about this particular remix. This thing is great. When I first downloaded it, I expected this remix to be kind of like the other "At the Bottom of the Night" remixes, but somehow, this one was different than the others. It was different, yet at the same time recognizable to be a remix.
Words can't really adequately express what I felt when I heard this. Actually, I'm listening to this particular remix right now for about the fiftieth or so time. It's a great remix to a great song. You have my respect.
By the way, I don't know if this sort of thing is requested a lot, or if I'm even requesting this in the right section, but I don't suppose the people who are responsible for making this remix would have piano sheet music for this that they could upload, do they? If they do, I'd really appreciate it if anyone could direct me to where I could find it. I already know how to play the original to an extent, and I'd love to be able to play this piece as well. Thanks for the opportunity for me to listen to this.
Awesome.
- chinakid on January 28, 2006
This mix of chrono trigger is beautiful.The paino and the
percussion and strings worked so well together that it almost makes
me want to believe it is the work of the original artist's
unreleased tracks or tracks that was supposed to be published in
the elusive arranged album.
If the composers of Chrono Trigger heard what fans had done to their works,they will have no doubt that they (the fans) have produced AND captured the true essence and feeling of the game.And what gamers have felt when they (heard) played the game many many years ago.
To the remixers of Chrono Trigger,I sincerely thank you guys,from the bottom of my heard,for letting me grace through your works and let me remember how I felt when I played the game so many years ago. I hope you guys will get the recognition you so very deserve.And introduce this "baby" of yours to the world.
- frostmore on January 26, 2006
If the composers of Chrono Trigger heard what fans had done to their works,they will have no doubt that they (the fans) have produced AND captured the true essence and feeling of the game.And what gamers have felt when they (heard) played the game many many years ago.
To the remixers of Chrono Trigger,I sincerely thank you guys,from the bottom of my heard,for letting me grace through your works and let me remember how I felt when I played the game so many years ago. I hope you guys will get the recognition you so very deserve.And introduce this "baby" of yours to the world.
- frostmore on January 26, 2006
I normally don't post reviews, but I have to say I'm becoming
addicted to Bladiator and also his joint effort remixes with
TO.
I simply can't get enough. This is very similair to Clairvoyan Elegy (as stated before), but that's not a bad thing at all. Very well done and enjoyable track.
- Aamean on January 15, 2006
I simply can't get enough. This is very similair to Clairvoyan Elegy (as stated before), but that's not a bad thing at all. Very well done and enjoyable track.
- Aamean on January 15, 2006
Ach! It's brilliant! Such a good song, remixed so well! I thank you
for staying so close to the original, and not letting the drum
track dominate. You've sped it up, but it still makes my heart
ache. Good good sound, and some fine playing. 5/5
- Zipp on January 13, 2006
- Zipp on January 13, 2006
The mix of the melody is awesome, very smooth but with emotion.
Combined with drums it makes a very nice combination. Nice job.
- DragonAvenger on January 13, 2006
- DragonAvenger on January 13, 2006
the mix between "at the bottom fo the night" and "out of phase" was
ingenious in my opinion *thumbs up*
- cubber on January 13, 2006
- cubber on January 13, 2006
Yes, more piano remixes, can't get nuff of them. I didn't know what
song the remix was from, I has a hard time with names, but as soon
as I recognized it, I knew this would be a beautiful
arrangement.
It began as I said, beautiful. Jus one piano at the scene, playing the beginning tunes to the melody. No complaints there, sounds to be a good type of piano. Then later, came the drums. I thought it began abruptly, although I had read pretzel's review that there was drums in this piece, it all just started to quickly with the drums and cymbals at the same time with strings. It looses after a couple of seconds, but it just bothered me. The strings may have sound too loud since I couldn't hear much of the lower piano keys, but this was a fine and excellent played session. Great work guys!
- Bummerdude on January 13, 2006
It began as I said, beautiful. Jus one piano at the scene, playing the beginning tunes to the melody. No complaints there, sounds to be a good type of piano. Then later, came the drums. I thought it began abruptly, although I had read pretzel's review that there was drums in this piece, it all just started to quickly with the drums and cymbals at the same time with strings. It looses after a couple of seconds, but it just bothered me. The strings may have sound too loud since I couldn't hear much of the lower piano keys, but this was a fine and excellent played session. Great work guys!
- Bummerdude on January 13, 2006
Content Policy
(Submission
Agreement and Terms of Use)
Page generated Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:34:24 -0500 in 0.0415 seconds
All compositions, arrangements, images, and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Original content is
copyright OverClocked ReMix, LLC. For information on RSS and JavaScript news feeds, linking to us, etc. please refer to resources for webmasters. Please refer to the Info section of
the site and the FAQ available there for information about the site's
history, features, and policies. Contact David W. Lloyd (djpretzel), webmaster, with
feedback or questions not answered there.
