ReMix: Final Fantasy X 'Lake in Ontario?'
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- Game: Final Fantasy X (Square, 2001, PS2)
- ReMixer(s): ilp0
- Composer(s): Junya Nakano, Masashi Hamauzu, Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Silence Before the Storm', 'Victory'
- Posted: 2007-03-08, evaluated by the judges
Lake in Ontario? I suppose so... Is that a yes or no question, or is it really more philosophical? In some way, aren't we all... lakes in Ontario? When you boil it all down? Perhaps not. Regardless, this cryptic query is the namesake of Ilari Nieminen's latest ReMix, a satisfying jam from the halls of FFX. We've had some judge birthdays recently, with Jill turning a landmark 21 on Sunday and apparently throwing down a couple at a local pub ,and Larry bumpin' the big 25 today. Pretty soon he'll be old and curmudgeonly like myself, using a walker to perambulate around the neighborhood and complaining about young kids and their loud rock music. Sadly, he still likes professional wrestling, illustrating the profound truth that age is seldom a guarantor of wisdom or taste. Nevertheless, we'll cut him a break since it's the big B and give him some air time. Larry said:
"I just turned 25, and I like to watch sweaty men in costumes touch each other enthusiastically..."
Sorry, wrong quote. Here we go:
"ilp0, man. I like his style. The arrangement was conservative, but I loved the time signature change, and the instrumentation gave an upbeat and personalized take with a classic rock style."
Our other birthday girl, pixietricks, opines:
"Psychedelic... Kinda makes me wanna whip out a lighter and sway it in the air. This track would sound awesome with some live crowd SFX! But it sounds awesome anyway; I have no real complaints. Panning was a little wide, and the guitars were sorta dry as Vig pointed out, but I'm also listening under headphones right now due to external circumstances, so that probably enhances whatever flaws are there. I thought the transition into the Fanfare theme at 2:54 was really cool, actually. I guess it's just a matter of taste. Nice work! ^-^"
ilp0 has a style; he knows what he's doing, he's really the only one doing it right now, and it works, and man, that's a great trifecta to be rockin'. If you dug his previous stuff, you'll dig this, and since it's his first Squaresoft piece, perhaps he'll pick up some previously unacquainted but much-deserved fans. Good stuff from Ilari, and b-day props to Jill and Larry.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the cloudkitt;421548 wrote:
Does anyone actually know why it's called Lake in Ontario?
The very first thing I thought of when I heard this was the Foreigner songs Cold As Ice and Blue Morning. Kind of clever, if that's what he was going for.
- Pale Dim on November 10, 2011
What a MONSTER remix! I really liked "Silence Before the Storm" on
the OST and then to find a remix that I like even more? Fantastic.
I really did not like the fanfare at the end at all... but who
cares? Still love it.
- co298 on March 22, 2010
- co298 on March 22, 2010
Nice way to brighten up the place. Lots of kinetic energy and
lively jazz sounds going towards something that isn't as jazzy as
one might expect. It's an interesting mix with its own identity and
agenda, and I respect that.
The live sound has been captured brilliantly, and while the fairly large shift in tone from the original makes this sound a little quirky, it nonetheless works at holding interest and fitting the melody.
The late inclusion of a mellowed battle theme is just icing on a nicely made, cool sounding jazz-rock treatment, of which I think is an overly somber series of soundtracks. I always welcome a little illumination into the sounds of Final Fantasy.
- Marmiduke on October 5, 2009
The live sound has been captured brilliantly, and while the fairly large shift in tone from the original makes this sound a little quirky, it nonetheless works at holding interest and fitting the melody.
The late inclusion of a mellowed battle theme is just icing on a nicely made, cool sounding jazz-rock treatment, of which I think is an overly somber series of soundtracks. I always welcome a little illumination into the sounds of Final Fantasy.
- Marmiduke on October 5, 2009
Mark down another victory for ilp0! Great production style that's
clean but still powerful (and dare I say almost a bit too high on
the rms?). The arrangement here is great, and the instruments and
panning are perfect. Good changes, rhythmic shifts, and all that
goodness. The flow is smooth, and the middle section is a nice
breath of fresh air, complete with piano runs.
Extra points for the cute ending that switches up the victory theme. Classy. :-)
Good stuff, sir.
- OA on March 17, 2009
Extra points for the cute ending that switches up the victory theme. Classy. :-)
Good stuff, sir.
- OA on March 17, 2009
This mix has a terrific style. Everything is really well put
together and flows nicely. I love the transitions and guitar tone.
I've got nothing but excellent things to say about this. So good!
- richter on October 8, 2008
- richter on October 8, 2008
A fantastic mix, among my favorites, it's a ton of fun and I'm
often whistling it. Which is further impressive because I never
really took any notice of the original while playing FFX. Well
done.
Does anyone actually know why it's called Lake in Ontario?
- cloudkitt on June 28, 2008
Does anyone actually know why it's called Lake in Ontario?
- cloudkitt on June 28, 2008
Everything Another Soundscape said. Love the whole feel to this
piece, and it's also one of my favorites on the site.
Am I the only one that really likes the name "Lake in Ontario?" ("What? There's a lake in Ontario? Since when?")
- chenjesu on May 31, 2008
Am I the only one that really likes the name "Lake in Ontario?" ("What? There's a lake in Ontario? Since when?")
- chenjesu on May 31, 2008
..I didn't review this?
This is one of my favorites on OCR actually. Ilari is both an amazing instrumentalist and superb arranger. His style is quite unique, using elements from older progressive rock and coupling with a distinct live jazz setup. This arrangement is wonderful, the melody is kept pretty much intact but the general feel is completely altered. The different riffs complement eachother in a great way, playing with the polyrhythmic structure of the original song. Did I mention I love the choice of instruments? Great!
The mixing is, in my humble opinion, amazing. Everything sounds organic and "live". While it might not be the perfect mixing if you look at how the modern record sounds it's certainly very unique, enjoyable and almost vintage. Reminds me of a lot of old recordings with bands like Zeppelin where they used some unorthodox mixing with great success.
Everyone should listen to this. It's a great piece all around and brings some very unique style to OCR. ilp0 man, MAJOR props.
- anosou on January 14, 2008
This is one of my favorites on OCR actually. Ilari is both an amazing instrumentalist and superb arranger. His style is quite unique, using elements from older progressive rock and coupling with a distinct live jazz setup. This arrangement is wonderful, the melody is kept pretty much intact but the general feel is completely altered. The different riffs complement eachother in a great way, playing with the polyrhythmic structure of the original song. Did I mention I love the choice of instruments? Great!
The mixing is, in my humble opinion, amazing. Everything sounds organic and "live". While it might not be the perfect mixing if you look at how the modern record sounds it's certainly very unique, enjoyable and almost vintage. Reminds me of a lot of old recordings with bands like Zeppelin where they used some unorthodox mixing with great success.
Everyone should listen to this. It's a great piece all around and brings some very unique style to OCR. ilp0 man, MAJOR props.
- anosou on January 14, 2008
I don't really know what to say about this one. It's got a great
feel. I just get happy listening to it. Feels like a cool sunny day
in the city. I also totally agree with pixietricks (quoted on the
main page of this track) about the outro. The fanfare really brings
it back to Final Fantasy. Well done!
- twitch2021 on January 14, 2008
- twitch2021 on January 14, 2008
This is awesome, and I decided that before I even finished
listening to the whole song. Well done.:lol:
- Alexis on March 31, 2007
- Alexis on March 31, 2007
I love this remix - amazing work. it's got a new-jazz/pat
methany/bela fleck/joe cocker (who isn't really a jazz musician)
kind of feel. Of all of the instruments, I really love the way
you've mixed the vibes and guitars; the vibes just give this
awesome shimmer to your guitar sound.
Amazing groove, pulse, note placement - very delicious. Also, your patches are amazing... unless of course, this is all live, which would explain your awesome sounds, especially your drums.
(sorry for all the jazz talk, just got back from the Brandon Jazz Festival, which is only a 4 hour drive from the Ontario border... but like, 20 hours from Lake Ontario, lol)
Keep up the amazing work!
- siven7 on March 18, 2007
Amazing groove, pulse, note placement - very delicious. Also, your patches are amazing... unless of course, this is all live, which would explain your awesome sounds, especially your drums.
(sorry for all the jazz talk, just got back from the Brandon Jazz Festival, which is only a 4 hour drive from the Ontario border... but like, 20 hours from Lake Ontario, lol)
Keep up the amazing work!
- siven7 on March 18, 2007
Neato. This reminds me of the remixes Yasunori Matsuda did of the
Chrono Trigger music, and is exactly the sort of thing OCR is made
for.
- Nobbynob Littlun on March 18, 2007
- Nobbynob Littlun on March 18, 2007
this is one pretty sweet song, I like it, it's creative. More mixes
like this pls ocr :)
- underthesun on March 14, 2007
- underthesun on March 14, 2007
