ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Son of Chaos'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VII (Sony, 1997, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Xaleph
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Shinra Company'
- Posted: 2008-05-18, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on Final Fantasy VII: Voices of the Lifestream
It's been awhile since our last Voices of the Lifestream ReMix, and now seems like a good time. This one's from Xaleph, who's last mix was part of the comeback flood we did back in late 2007; at the time when he put this 'Shinra' ReMix together, he hadn't had anything on OCR for quite awhile. Hence project director Andrew Aversa writes:
"One of my goals with VotL was to get old-school ReMixers on board to contribute, especially those who hadn't been posted to the site in several years. Xaleph (formally DJ Carbunk1e) was one of the people on that list, and while I was very excited when he signed on, when I finally got his finished track I was REALLY happy. I always thought the Shinra theme was one of the best selections from the FFVII soundtrack in terms of its mood and ambiance, and this ReMix just really brings out those qualities while simultaneously converting it into a new genre entirely - "downtempo psytrance", I think?
Anyway, it's awesome no matter what you call it, and if you listen to tefnek's "motor crazycycle" right after this it not only makes sense in terms of the game timeline, but they flow really well too."
Downtempo psytrance indeed; I confess that I wouldn't REALLY be able to identify psytrance with 100% certainty even if it came up and bit me in whatever parts psytrance would bite, but I can hear the trance elements, and things are certainly deliberate. It's interesting to hear some of the staple kick drum and synth bass trance patches employed in a slower, more open context. You've got spooky lo-fi sweeping pads, piano, filtered choral elements, the afforementioned trance kick along with an assortment of additional tasteful electronic percussion and, of course, synths aplenty. Actually, given the attention to detail on the drums and the rather ambient nature of the piece, it sounds not unlike modern film soundtrack work. "Soundtrack" isn't really a musical genre - it's more of a context/medium - but perhaps that'd nevertheless be the most likely mental categorization some would make. It also sounds like good "tactical espionage action" music, but perhaps I've just got MGS4 on the brain. Excellent work from Xaleph; I definitely agree with Andy that with this track he brought something both different and valuable to the overall project. Check it out, and (dead horse? beaten!) be sure to check out Final Fantasy VII: Voices of the Lifestream if for some reason you haven't yet.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the I enjoyed this track enormously... except I cringed every time I heard that sound - I'm gonna call it a kick drum...
At 1:57 the kick drum takes a back seat but still feels like it's still violating me...
If that kick drum was different I'd put this song on my permanent play list, but as it stands... I'll pass
Well worth a listen, some great things happening :grin: but beware of the kick drum of doom
- cheema201 on July 10, 2012
- Anti-Syne on December 17, 2011
- Dubanubiel on November 20, 2009
But anyway, this piece is really cool, very dark, and yet still gives the feel of an evil, planet-killing, cash-mongering company's HQ building.
Very nice.
- sefirosu on May 2, 2009
The feel of this is great, it moves slowly but with a purpose, and it's not plodding at all. A very difficult balance pulled off expertly here. I love how the cymbal crashes don't really hit as much as explode into particles. Fantastic effect and very well used.
The original theme was pretty good to begin with, but this takes it to such a new level, the comparison is simply ridiculous.
A++ material
- OA on September 2, 2008
It's songs like this that remind me of why I fell in love with Final Fantasy VII in the first place.
- Motari Riseth on June 2, 2008
- DragonAvenger on May 21, 2008
- avaris on May 20, 2008
- Hyperion5182 on May 20, 2008
- Liontamer on May 19, 2008
[ Here I wrote something that was basically identical to what AnSo wrote so just read his comment above. :) ]
- Torzelan on May 19, 2008
Great production, superb mood and nice use of synths.
All in all, a keeper.
- anosou on May 19, 2008
