ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Tree Hopper'

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Chrono Trigger

Newcomer Detuned Logic, aka Mike Feinstein, writes:

"I've always loved Chrono Trigger; its soundtrack sparked my love for remixing in general. This track in particular really moved me, and I noticed that the percussion swayed towards nonexistent with a bit of light rhythm. I decided to use similar "light" sounding percussion to keep the airy feel for the most of the Mix, but it is much more present with focus on mids and highs. The original's best qualities are its melody and atmosphere, so I emphasized those as much as I could; I dare say this is not a "conventional" ReMix, but then again, variety is the spice of life. Enjoy!"

Mr. Pollard ReMixed this theme back in 2001, but it hasn't gotten much love since, especially compared to the rest of the OST. Mike's got a mellow sound going on, with a lead that's panned hard left AND right, for a wide stereo berth, soaring over choral pads and a very electronic, syncopated bed of drums. There's a hip-hoppish quality to some of the rhythms, and then in the third minute things actually get a little jazzy, with guitar and more acoustic drums employed. There's a strong short flange/phaser effect applied to many elements, contrasting with the cleaner bits for a dreamlike but still coherent atmosphere. Vinnie writes:

"I like the entrancing mood you designed here out of so many ambient, floating elements. The lead is pretty much your anchor in this song and it held down the melody end of it nicely. The song does sound like loops on top of loops, but the layering was intelligent, it never sounded wrong or bad to me. In total, it's a very interesting production paired with a tweaked Chrono Trigger melody that works beautifully."

Because things stay rather calm, swimming in an ocean of phaseriffic pads, the piece works better as background, chillout material. I still feel like Mike broke things down enough and varied it up so that it's compelling when intently focused on as well, though. Particularly with the layered drums and syncopation, it kept me guessing and did something new with CT source material, so kudos there. Solid, unique debut piece that applies equal parts style and substance to some of the less-traveled territory from Chrono Trigger - good stuff!

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Very relaxed piece. As was said before, the drumwork really lends some momentum to the song, but it does so without detracting from the overall laid-back atmosphere.
Though I do wish the piano would've gotten more time in the spotlight.

- Martin Penwald on October 16, 2009
Love the remix.

Just wondering if anyone else thinks some of it sounds like Phantasy Star Online? I don't know the Chrono Trigger soundtrack at all so I wouldn't know how similar they are.

Edit: This is in no way a bad thing. I love PSO. It has consumed many hours of my life. That's why I know the tune so well.

- Miyakan on October 5, 2009
Detuned Logic;598859 wrote: Thank you all for the compliments and criticisms. I'm glad most of you enjoyed it, and to those who didn't due to lead choices, I'm sorry, and I understand exactly where you're coming from. Looking back, I would have changed the second lead (guitar) to something else, but I feel the main lead held the song together; without a powerful sound like that, this would have been a pure ambient piece with little energy; that just wasn't what I made this mix to be :/
Once again, thank you all for your comments.
I suppose what this comes down to is a difference in preferences then. I personally have no problem with low-energy ambient pieces. I'm personally unconvinced that a strong flute or violin couldn't have held this together, but I'm not the mixer here. In the end, it's a matter of taste.

- Proven Paradox on October 3, 2009
Nice soundscape - the drums give a lot of much-needed momentum to an otherwise-chill song. I really do love ambient songs with a fluid, moving drumline like the one you've got going here :-)
Your choice of lead wasn't the strongest point of the song, but I didn't find it particularly offensive either. It contributed to the mood that you'd established, so in that sense I think you were pretty successful. This song helps me relax, and I'd imagine that's exactly what you intended to do with this song, so good work!

- Emunator on October 1, 2009
Thank you all for the compliments and criticisms. I'm glad most of you enjoyed it, and to those who didn't due to lead choices, I'm sorry, and I understand exactly where you're coming from. Looking back, I would have changed the second lead (guitar) to something else, but I feel the main lead held the song together; without a powerful sound like that, this would have been a pure ambient piece with little energy; that just wasn't what I made this mix to be :/
Once again, thank you all for your comments.

- Detuned Logic on September 30, 2009
Tree Hopper on the front page, finally finally finally finally finally!! Good lord, this must have been submitted nearly a year ago! Up until today, this was my favorite "WIP that hasn't been posted yet," thankfully now I am happy to see that it has gotten to the front page where it deserves to be.
To be honest, I'd forgotten about it a little, although I still have 5 WIPs of it sitting in my WIPs folder, posted back when Detuned Logic was Frozenspace (yes I remember these kinds of things). To DT, I just wanted to say I'm super happy to see this made the cut, I remember commenting several times in the WIP thread saying how awesome I thought this was and well, here we are, I feel like I was here from the beginning on this one!
I've been exposed to this mix for so long now thanks to the WIPs that I'm not sure how much of a review I can give it. I liked the early WIPs, I liked the late WIPs, I like the completed work. It has a very dreamy, ethereal quality to it that still makes me think of the forest, just in a very blurred, floating, bright-colors-on-black kind of way.
Congratulations on getting this posted, what's next? :lol:
Not to derail a thread of awesomeness, but for the people who can't get enough Secret of the Forest, there are at least 2 other superb mixes of it that I know of that are not on OCR, one being po!'s from SquareDance, and another being Mustin's new one from CHRONOTORIOUS, check em out if you can.

- ZealPath on September 30, 2009
I've been a loyal follower of the OC-movement since the very beginning, but have never thought of registering before this very moment. After hearing this ReMix, I simply had to send my regards to the composer. Just seeing "The Secret of the Forest" in the song description made me all warm inside - it's definitely one of the most underrated songs of its generation and contains such rich, mellow yet hopeful natural ambiance - it's truly a little masterpiece. Seeing someone attempt to ReMix this again is simply wonderful in itself.
And then, to the actual result.
Which is absolutely amazing. So dreamy, highly personal yet deeply faithful to the original. Having looped it five times since downloading it twenty minutes ago, I can easily say this is among the finest I've heard in terms of this site. And over the years, I've heard -it all-. Such delicacy, mood - ah; simply everything about it.
Great work, Detuned Logic. Hope to hear more and similarly emotive work from you.
And to Pretzel and the rest of OC staff and members; thanks for many, many years of musical memories. I'm dead serious; this site has been like a home.
Thank you.

- Eyre on September 29, 2009
This remix...FTW!!
I love the quiet, environmental (right term? hell I don't know!) feel of the opening. It builds up nice and has a combination of serene and disturbed atmosphere.
The lead sounds fantastic and I think the drums are really unique in this piece. They bounce in and out and give the track a nice push every once and again while maintaining a nice overall beat.
The step down at 2:26 was a nice transition into the piano section. Very smooth. The piano section sounds very mysterious and beautiful. 3:23 to 3:48 HIGHLY reminds me of the Forest level theme in Phantasy Star Online Episodes I & II, and I LOVE that it does.
3:52 and beyond is just absolutely gorgeous. It sounds much more powerful even though it didn't change horribly much from the "first half" of the song. Love the bouncy water effects and the growing drum beat. I like how the end is like a reverse of the beginning.
This song almost feels like it's trying to record one's trek through an epic, mysterious forest. It sure feels like that to me.
Lots of power without actually being loud and crudely crunchy...it's quite the opposite actually.
Props to you sir!

- Igami on September 29, 2009
The source track was often a topic of discussion with a good friend of mine, so it's good to see that this remix does it some justice! Great work here, and I'm sure the forest's secret will be discussed again!

- Shhteve on September 29, 2009
A+ must listen. If you're a fan of "Secret of the Forest" then you will fall in love with this one.

It's like a DJ getting hit by hip hop and classical. Very impressive :nicework: :nicework: :nicework:

- ChaosPlayer on September 29, 2009
First... i'm happy to discover that i could now "preview" a song... that was a great new plus on OC website ;)
This remix is well done... as if not recognize this theme... but not so played Chrono Trigger... so i'll be back when i'll play it more !

- cyb0rgjeff on September 29, 2009
DOOD! I remember this one from the WIP. friggn sweet....

- burnham909 on September 28, 2009
Un-freaking-believable. I've never even played the game and I'm getting nostalgia... The attention to detail is stunning, and I love how complex you've made it without detracting at all from the music's meaning. Instead, the layers accent the music rather than distract.
Gorgeous work - thank you so much for all the effort you put into this piece because it really shows. Keep making music!

- windkirby on September 28, 2009
The first minute of the mix doesn't do much for me (personal preference... really), but overall I would say that I enjoyed the mix :) . I'm glad people are remixing some of the less "popular" tracks from the game. I'll certainly keep it around on my playlist :) . Nice work!

- jintoreedwine on September 28, 2009
Loved it dude! Totally sublime.

- avaris on September 28, 2009

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