ReMix: Super Metroid 'In Your Prime'
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- Game: Super Metroid (Nintendo, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Big Giant Circles
- Composer(s): Kenji Yamamoto (I), Minako Hamano
- Song(s): 'Brinstar - Red Soil Wetland Area', 'Title'
- Posted: 2009-03-22, evaluated by djpretzel
Aight then, we last saw Jimmy Circles back in December with an alt cut from our work on HDR; this latest mix is another from Reserve Tank - VARIAtions, the get-well SM album for bLiNd. Speaking of Jordan, I just recently uploaded some badass footage of his badass DJ-set at badass M7; this was the maiden voyage of OCR's official HD camcorder, my Canon Vixia HF100, and I think it turned out pretty sweet (cameraman props go to Oji; I was sadly fast asleep). Here's Jimmy's blurb off the album site:
"'In Your Prime' was actually something I started sometime in 2006. I decided that I wanted to do a Brinstar Red remix, despite the fact that it's probably the most reached-for tune from the OST. I wanted to make it a bit more progressive, starting out with more of a chill groove, but then progressing into something harder, with a bit more of a dance vibe. For whatever reason, I set it down and never really picked it back up until I found out that Jordan was having health issues and this "Get Well" project was instigated. Well, Jordan is one of the best trance artists I know, and despite the fact that I didn't really know him personally, he seems like an all-around super nice guy. So what better motivation than to finish the remix in the spirit of his recovery? Especially to morph it into a style that he's very well known and highly praised for. Thus, "In Your Prime" was completed. It's also worth noting the influence that "Torvus Clockwork" had on the mix--the two primary things I integrated from that piece are the Bassoon, and the overlapping Brinstar and Metroid Prime title music. So this mix is definitely a tribute all around, if you think about it. It's a tribute to Darkesword, who's taken the time to coordinate this great and thoughtful project, and it's a tribute to one of the most talented musicians in the OCR community. Jordan, keep on doing your thing, bro. Hope to see you back "In Your Prime" soon!"
And - happy endings - Jordan did get better and, if his recent music is any indication, is most certainly in his prime. And so's Jimmy... this is absolutely one of the best pieces I've heard from him yet, and I'm blown away by the sheer quantity of programming, modulation, textures, patterns, and STUFF he's packaged into a single piece of music. Many electronica tracks that extend past the five minute marker end up involving some repetition, to varying degrees of being problematic, but this humdinger's six minutes long, and Big Giant spends the entire time upping the ante and bringing his A game. That's 'A' for awesome, aggressive, amplified, and arse-kicking, to name a few. This is a classic theme, and it's definitely been covered up one side and down the other, but I can't remember an arrangement that throws this many elements at it... if certain mixes are minimalist (and I think that's a helpful label), then this one's definitely maximalist.
If I gave y'all a play-by-play I'd be here all night; it's gonna have to be highlights, I'm afeard. One of the things I find most impressive about this mix is the way it handles tempo, alternating between half and full in ways that are seamless and sometimes have you thinking it's one when it's the other. It's one thing for me to say this - I've said it on at least a couple electronica pieces in the past - but it's another thing to listen and really focus & appreciate the way Jimmy's implemented the changeups. My absolute favorite is the pulsing, offbeat bass at 3'00"... the tempo still sorta feels halved, and this bass patch entering in feels misplaced - temporarily - until Jimmy brings the four-on-the-floor kick in at 3'11", and the combination of the two makes complete and utter sense. Bravo on that one; I grinned.
Bottom line, this is an awesome electronica take on a classic theme, BGC upped his already quality game a couple levels and delivered something that's both enjoyable but also bears repeated listening, and you should grab it this instant, then donate $100 to OC ReMix. Alright, maybe not the second bit - not gonna stop you, Google ads are in the crapper - but DEFINITELY the first part: Jimmy's outdone himself.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Catharsis on March 10, 2010
Really good work, BGC! :-)
- Emunator on December 3, 2009
- Conan on November 9, 2009
To quote Marmiduke,
Marmiduke;574040 wrote: God, this source. You could play it with samples of people vomiting and it would sound amazing.I think the source wouldn't have sounded near as good, but this one... even with that going on, I'd still pay to hear this. The part at 1:30 was a very, very, very nice touch. I loved that part of it. This one gets a straight 10 from me - I can't find any problems with it. It only gets better with multiple listening-to's. Personally, I think the source had nothing on this mix!
AG! How could I possibly forget that landmark stop at 4:31?!? That right there made my day. It fits perfectly, and goes with the rest of the piece. The ending also fit perfectly - no interruption of flow, no discordant sounds, nothing that does not perfectly match the rest of this piece. Personally, even while I'm writing this critique, I'm having a hard time not saying the same things Marmiduke did - he pretty much covered everything that is good in this song. If you are not completely deaf (and possibly even then, watching others dance to this), DOWNLOAD THIS. IT WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS YOU EVER MAKE. 10/10!
- Red_Link on September 15, 2009
This does pretty much everything a fan of the original sources would want. It gives a loud treatment, it gives a quiet treatment. It plays the main melody alone, and it plays it with various other intertwined Metroid cameos. At parts it sounds connected to the games, with the choir pads being very Metroid-esque. And at other times it sounds quite removed from that universe and more nightclub centred. I guess my point is: everyone should be at least a little satisfied with what BGC has on offer here.
I really enjoy eventful music, and this mix is just that. It also helps that the source is seemingly impossible to screw up, but I'm glad there are people out there constantly thinking of new ways to improve it.
- Marmiduke on July 31, 2009
This mix is transporting.
Love your work, Jimmy.
- Villainelle on June 18, 2009
I can't even say anything. Just well done.
- windkirby on May 26, 2009
- Ryo242 on May 13, 2009
- yosefu on April 12, 2009
- Bozlifyme on April 11, 2009
- metalsnakejuice on April 10, 2009
The arrangement of the source is wonderful, and the flow the remix has to it is amazing. From the slow and brooding start to the pumping, energetic finale, the songs takes the listener for a ride where he's never bored.
Great song.
- Martin Penwald on April 8, 2009
Thanks everyone for the kind comments!
- big giant circles on April 1, 2009
I am looking forward to your next release to be sure.
- Battousai on March 31, 2009
