ReMix: Final Fantasy VI 'Searching the Woods'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Olarin
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'The Mystic Forest'
- Posted: 2008-09-06, evaluated by the judges
Interesting mix from newcomer Olarin, aka Bradley Mellen, which was an entry to SquareSound's Uematsu competition that our own Larry Oji judged and which zircon won with his 'Dirt Devil' entry way back when. It's sort of contemporary classical...ish... or at least close enough to coincide with our recently conducted interview of composer Patrick Zimmerli, who works in said genre and scored a single PC game back in 1997 - we wanted to juxtapose veteran Tim Wright's interview with a composer who was, like so many, only very briefly involved in game scoring. As far as we know it's the only interview he's done with regards to the game he scored, so it's also an exclusive of sorts, besides being a good read. Check it out, and check out his original stuff on his site. Back to the mix, though, Bradley writes:
"I've been meaning to put together a submission to OCRemix for a long time; recent purchase of a brand new iMac with Logic Studio made it much easier to make recordings, and the recent SquareSound competition gave me an arbitrary deadline to go ahead and get something together for.
Everything in the arrangement was recorded by myself on double bass, violoncello, and guitar."
Mr. Oji, judging the same piece a second time, writes:
"As I mentioned, some parts of the performance felt a little too loose; the harmonization from :40-:44 (and 1:33-1:36 in the background) fell a bit flat IMO. Some moments in the comping felt odd, but everything resolved well. Overall, pretty solid. My score didn't necessarily belie that (the competition was fierce), but this was one of the standouts of a packed contest. Hopefully the other Js feel this is good enough as well. Certainly hope we hear more from you, Bradley!"
Judges were a mixed bag on this one, citing loose timing and tuning on the performance and unbalanced EQing on the production. I personally had less of a problem with the timing (I agree with zyko that it adds a cafe-style intimacy) and the EQ, but the tuning did bug me the first couple times through. If you listen to it at low volumes or from another room, the issue is exacerbated, but either way I think the charm and character of the overall piece wouldn't have been compromised by some tighter tuning. I can't talk too much, though, since I can't play a single instrument as well as Bradley can play three. Arrangement is hot, and the soloing on bass is especially atmospheric, channeling an almost maudlin, Tom Waits' attic type of setting. As of right now it's been raining for almost a day, non-stop, and this type of moody, intimate instrumental is appropriate for the overcast, nesting-instinct weather. zyko does loose timing and similar atmospheres quite well himself, so his words seem especially relevant:
"i don't have as much a problem with the timing as a couple of the other judges. like anso pointed out, the timing forces the piece into the audience's personal space... it is very intimate... very cafe-like and i'm all about that.
the orchestration is certainly fantastic. i've long been a huge fan of acoustic guitars, upright basses and cellos as a unit... i think so much can be accomplished and expressed with it. the arrangement is solid, too... it effectively visits the theme, builds upon it with variation then heads into a solo section and then ends with a culmination of sorts."
This is definitely something different and unique on OCR, and in spite of some issues succeeds in creating a peculiar atmosphere and developing a solid arrangement of the well-known FF6 source.
Discussion: Latest 12 comments/reviews; view the I really like the instrumentation and their collective sound, even while it is not super hifi. I like the double bass solo tremendously. The violincello has some lovely little supportive figures during the solo. Hmm.. is this a virtual quartet, or did you restrict yourself like that?
I didn't keep this when it was posted, but now I definitely will!
--Eino
- evktalo on November 3, 2008
Enough has been said about that, so lets focus on the strong points.
This is a very personalized and intimate sounding mix, where it sounds like you guys set up in my back yard for a somewhat informal jazz concert.
Great solos, and though the performances are really loose, I think it works overall, and it's something nice and unique for OCR.
- OA on September 15, 2008
Zyko is totally right about the cafe comment.
I can dig it.
- Arek the Absolute on September 10, 2008
I can deal with the performance issues and tuning, BUT what I really can't deal with is the recording and post-processing. The cello barely sounds like a cello. It almost has a violin quality; too much high-end, and where's all the low-end (yes I know it was in a higher range)? There is also about 300x too much reverb on everything. I'm not sure what your recording was made with, but you could stand some better recording techniques or better equipment, or both.
The quality of the music is fantastic in general but the recording quality is just a real let down. Also, very short and the ending is "meh".
I don't mean to be harsh, but to me, this sounds like a "WIP, version 0.5". As in, you've got a great arrangement started and here's a super-rough demo to show a friend. Now you need to extend, polish, and then do a great performance with some great recording equipment. I wish you were near me, I'd offer to record it myself.
- Corran on September 9, 2008
- maniacodepressif on September 9, 2008
First the complaints. I think the EQing really is an issue. There is a bit of 'hiss' going on, so I can't really listen to it at loud volumes or it becomes very noticeable. Also, the length bothers me a bit. For being such a jazzy, and intimate piece, it ends far too soon. Something a little longer, maybe touching the four-minute mark would help it resolve a little more for me, but it just feels like it ends when it's just getting really groovy.
But I love the feel of the track. This would not feel out of place while listening to the Waking Life OST or Coltrane. It is very jazzy and very stylish and the overall atmosphere really pulls me in. The loose timing compliments the atmosphere, and I personally love that in songs. Same with loose tuning. It honestly just sounds like there are a lot of blues notes in there, not quite being as high or as low as they're 'supposed' to go, which is another very common jazz/blues technique. To me, that's what really gives this piece its character.
Overall, it's a nice mix, and a welcome addition to my FFVI mixes and my jazz collection. =)
- Millman on September 9, 2008
-Derek-
- derako on September 7, 2008
- finn on September 6, 2008
I'm not sure if I like the processing. I feel like the piece is supposed to be set in a small cafe, but the performance is in a huge hall. I think that's personal opinion, though.
The timing doesn't bother me, but the intonation does. It's off enough that it draws my attention to it, distracting me. If that were fixed the mix would be golden.
Also, as a side note, I don't think the Judges Decision thread is visible. It's telling me I don't have access to view.
- DragonAvenger on September 6, 2008
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