ReMix:Xenogears "When the Smoke Clears" 4:19

By Geoffrey Taucer

Arranging the music of one song...

"Unstealable Jewel"

Primary Game: Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1), music by Yasunori Mitsuda

Posted 2009-10-19, evaluated by djpretzel


The second I heard (and understood) the concept behind Humans + Gears, I wondered whether Taucer would be doing something for the Humans half. I heard someone complain once that describing music as 'organic' is pretentious or silly or what not, but I disagree... when something is humanized, emotional, and performed with soul, I think calling it 'organic' - especially to disambiguate from quantized, sequenced electronica - is completely appropriate. Furthermore, in this instance, it literally makes sense, given the album's dichotomy between homo sapiens and mechs. Point being, Jeremy's JUST the artist you want contributing to the organic side of the equation, and he's put together an intimate, emotional arrangement of 'The Treasure Which Cannot Be Stolen' - project director Avaris writes:

"There really isn't much to say about this mix. It's breathtaking and thought provoking. I am honoured to say the least that Taucer made this mix and has waited patiently for it to be released. This mix encapsulates one of our main goals behind the project. And that was to make emotional mix that people could feel connected to. I'll stop talking because Jeremy's words describe his mix far better than mine ever could."

And what are those words, exactly? The artist writes:

"This mix is a very emotional one for me, and I think the story behind it is worth telling. As most (if not all) of you know, I coach gymnastics. It's far more than a job to me; the gym is my home, the kids I coach are my family. Back in October of '06, a hazmat plant next door to the gym exploded, and much of the town was blanketed in toxic fumes. For three terrifying days, I had no way of knowing if my kids were ok, and no way of contacting them to find out. That weekend, my girls had a competition at another gym. At that point, most of them had been forced to evacuate their homes, and didn't know when they'd be able to go back. That meet was the first I saw of them after the explosion, and I think seeing them all there made me more relieved than I'd ever been about anything in my life. The fact that, in spite of all that had happened, they still showed up, still came together, and on top of it all performed beautifully, made me more proud of them than I can ever describe. Their perseverance and dedication in spite of the explosion were absolutely inspiring. I started on this track when I got home from that meet. It was awhile later before I actually got to recording it or posting it anywhere, but it has still been driven by that original inspiration all the way. This song is dedicated to my kids, whom I love more than anything."

I'm gonna shut up now because honestly, that's one of the most moving stories behind a mix that I've ever heard, and the music matches & mirrors the emotion. Superlative.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2014-03-20 02:21:29
For those interested, I've tabbed out the first 2:15 of it, before the percussion and flute come in. After that it becomes hard to hear the guitar, though it sounds like it just repeats the first part over and over with some variations. Probably not perfect, but it sounds kinda right.
    
D|-------------0-----------|-------------0h2p0---------|-------------0-----------|---------0---12-------| x2
A|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0-----------0-------|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0---0-12-------|
G|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----------0---|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0------------------|
D|---0-----0-----------0---|---0-----0-----------0---0-|---0-----0-----------0---|---0--------------------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0----------------------|

D|-0-----------------0-----|-------------0h2p0-----0h2-|-4-----5-----2-----4-----|-0-------0---12---------| x2
A|-------0-----4---0-------|-0-----0-----------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-------0---0-12-----0---|
G|-----2-----0-----------0-|-----0-----0---------------|---------------0-----0---|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0-----0-----------0-----|---0-----0---------------|---0--------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0------------------------|

D|-0-------0-----------0---|-2---0---2---4-------0---|-7-----5-----0-----2-----|---------0---12---------|
A|-----4-------0---4-------|-----------------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-------|-0-----0---0-12-----0---|
G|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------0-|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0--------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-5-----------------------|-0-----------------------|-5------------------------|

D|-0-------0-----------0---|-2---0---2---4-------0---|-7-----5-----0-----5-----|-2-----------7---------|
A|-----4-------0---4-------|-----------------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-------|-------0---0-7-----2---|
G|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------0-|-----0---0---------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0-------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-0-----------------------|
D|-0-----------4-----------|-5-----------0-----------|-5-----------------------|-------------------------|

D|-----0-------2-------4---|-----------------------------|---------0---2-------4---|-0-------0---12---------|
A|---------0-------0-------|-2-----0h2p0-----0-----0-----|-----0-----------0-----0-|-------0---0-12-----0---|
G|-------------------------|-----0-------0-------0-------|-------------------------|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----------0---0---------|---0---0---0---0---0-----|---0--------------0-------|
A|-2-----------------------|-------------------------5-4-|-2-----------------------|--------------------------|
D|-------------4-----------|-5---------------0-----------|-------------4-----------|-5------------------------|

D|-----0-------2-------4---|-----------------------------|-------------0-----4-----|-2-----------7------|
A|---------0-------0-------|-2-----0h2p0-----0-----0-----|-----0---4-------0-----0-|-------0---0-7------|
G|-------------------------|-----0-------0-------0-------|-------------------------|-----2----------------|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----------0---0---------|---0---0---0---0-----0---|---0-----0------------|
A|-2-----------------------|-------------------------5-4-|-2-------0---------------|-0--------------------|
D|-------------4-----------|-5---------------0-----------|-------------5-----------|----------------------|

D|-------------0-----------|-------------0h2p0---------|-------------0-----------|---------0---12-------| x2
A|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0-----------0-------|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0---0-12-------|
G|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----------0---|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0------------------|
D|---0-----0-----------0---|---0-----0-----------0---0-|---0-----0-----------0---|---0--------------------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0----------------------|

Awesome!

The guitar in the second part is pretty much the same as the first half, but minus the melody and plus the bass line (ie the guitar copies the bottom note on the piano). In this recording, I didn't play both the melody and the bass at the same time, but it's certainly doable.

avatar
Schmendrick
on 2013-09-08 08:44:36

For those interested, I've tabbed out the first 2:15 of it, before the percussion and flute come in. After that it becomes hard to hear the guitar, though it sounds like it just repeats the first part over and over with some variations. Probably not perfect, but it sounds kinda right.


D|-------------0-----------|-------------0h2p0---------|-------------0-----------|---------0---12-------| x2
A|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0-----------0-------|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0---0-12-------|
G|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----------0---|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0------------------|
D|---0-----0-----------0---|---0-----0-----------0---0-|---0-----0-----------0---|---0--------------------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0----------------------|

D|-0-----------------0-----|-------------0h2p0-----0h2-|-4-----5-----2-----4-----|-0-------0---12---------| x2
A|-------0-----4---0-------|-0-----0-----------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-------0---0-12-----0---|
G|-----2-----0-----------0-|-----0-----0---------------|---------------0-----0---|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0-----0-----------0-----|---0-----0---------------|---0--------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0------------------------|

D|-0-------0-----------0---|-2---0---2---4-------0---|-7-----5-----0-----2-----|---------0---12---------|
A|-----4-------0---4-------|-----------------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-------|-0-----0---0-12-----0---|
G|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------0-|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0--------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-5-----------------------|-0-----------------------|-5------------------------|

D|-0-------0-----------0---|-2---0---2---4-------0---|-7-----5-----0-----5-----|-2-----------7---------|
A|-----4-------0---4-------|-----------------0-------|-----0-----0-----0-------|-------0---0-7-----2---|
G|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------0-|-----0---0---------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0-----0---|---0-------------0-------|
A|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-0-----------------------|
D|-0-----------4-----------|-5-----------0-----------|-5-----------------------|-------------------------|

D|-----0-------2-------4---|-----------------------------|---------0---2-------4---|-0-------0---12---------|
A|---------0-------0-------|-2-----0h2p0-----0-----0-----|-----0-----------0-----0-|-------0---0-12-----0---|
G|-------------------------|-----0-------0-------0-------|-------------------------|-----0--------------0---0-|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----------0---0---------|---0---0---0---0---0-----|---0--------------0-------|
A|-2-----------------------|-------------------------5-4-|-2-----------------------|--------------------------|
D|-------------4-----------|-5---------------0-----------|-------------4-----------|-5------------------------|

D|-----0-------2-------4---|-----------------------------|-------------0-----4-----|-2-----------7------|
A|---------0-------0-------|-2-----0h2p0-----0-----0-----|-----0---4-------0-----0-|-------0---0-7------|
G|-------------------------|-----0-------0-------0-------|-------------------------|-----2----------------|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0-|---0-----------0---0---------|---0---0---0---0-----0---|---0-----0------------|
A|-2-----------------------|-------------------------5-4-|-2-------0---------------|-0--------------------|
D|-------------4-----------|-5---------------0-----------|-------------5-----------|----------------------|

D|-------------0-----------|-------------0h2p0---------|-------------0-----------|---------0---12-------| x2
A|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0-----------0-------|-------0-------0---0-----|-------0---0-12-------|
G|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----------0---|-----2-----0-----0-----0-|-----0------------------|
D|---0-----0-----------0---|---0-----0-----------0---0-|---0-----0-----------0---|---0--------------------|
A|-------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
D|-0-----------------------|-0-------------------------|-0-----------------------|-0----------------------|
avatar
Asterai
on 2012-04-11 23:50:12

Possibly the most feel-good melody I have ever heard. I'm normally resistant to feel-good melodies, but this one ignores armor.

In my top three from OC Remix. Download it now.

avatar
Crulex
on 2012-04-11 12:52:23

Amzing guitar melody here. Very beautiful and peaceful, but in an active way rather than a chill way. Love the acoustic human feel of this, which goes really well with the idea of the album. The woodwinds that join in, simple gorgeous. Gotta agree that this is one of, if not, the best track off the album.

avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2010-03-23 14:01:06
Thanks. Hopefully I can get a YouTube performance vid of it up soon (along with the chords for those who wish to learn it, if you don't mind).

btw, hope you're healing well. You were in the hospital, right?

Fine with me; send me a link (or post it here) when you do!

And yes, I was in the hospital for ankle surgery, but I seem to be doing fine so far.

avatar
a_d
on 2010-03-23 03:19:23
Actually, I got one of the chords wrong (that fourth one should be 5x0000 instead of 4x0000. Editing now

Thanks. Hopefully I can get a YouTube performance vid of it up soon (along with the chords for those who wish to learn it, if you don't mind).

btw, hope you're healing well. You were in the hospital, right?

avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2010-03-22 12:14:44
You're awesome, dude! Thanks a ton!

Actually, I got one of the chords wrong (that fourth one should be 5x0000 instead of 4x0000. Editing now

avatar
a_d
on 2010-02-17 22:32:52

You're awesome, dude! Thanks a ton!

avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2010-02-16 14:48:07

Here are the chords (remember, it's in DADGAD tuning)

0x0200

0x0000

(repeat x 6)

000200

5x0000

(repeat x 2)

000200

4x0000

5x0000

000200

5x0000

x02202

x24x00

4x0x00

5x0x00

000200

x24x00

4x0x00

5x0000

x24x00

4x0x00

5x0x00

000200

x24x00

5x0000

x02202

The fingering is all really simple, played finger style, and the lead is played on the bottom two strings.

It gets a little more complicated the second time through, where the guitar plays the bass notes as well, but I don't have the guitar playing the lead in that section (though it is doable).

avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2010-01-16 23:04:56
:puppyeyes: Could you please, please, please provide a tab of this for the listeners who are guitar players?

Perhaps eventually, though it's actually quite striaghtforward.

avatar
a_d
on 2010-01-16 21:21:55
Missed this earlier.

I actually did this mix before "Destined for Greatness;" in fact, the reason I ended up doing "Destined for Greatness" in DADGAD tuning was because my guitar was already tuned that way from working on this track.

:puppyeyes: Could you please, please, please provide a tab of this for the listeners who are guitar players?

avatar
sefirosu
on 2009-12-11 11:31:49

The song is very beautiful and the story, touching. I listened to the song first, it brought a tear to my eye, then I read the story behind it and just... wow.

Well done, sir!

avatar
relyanCe
on 2009-10-26 13:52:30

Finally downloaded the album last night and started to give it regular straight run-through, until I got to this song of course. I kept it on repeat from 1am to 3!! The emotions expressed in this song are very powerful.

Hats off to Jeremy for giving us this exceptional piece of music.

avatar
Geoffrey Taucer
on 2009-10-24 21:53:33
That's an Irish Whistle... I think that's what you're talking about, anyway :-P

I really have no words for this mix other than what I posted in the album review thread. Absolutely stellar and the story behind the mix only makes it better. This takes a lot of the ideas from "Destined for Greatness"'s first sections and puts them center stage for a mix that's emotionally engaging and very personal.

Missed this earlier.

I actually did this mix before "Destined for Greatness;" in fact, the reason I ended up doing "Destined for Greatness" in DADGAD tuning was because my guitar was already tuned that way from working on this track.

avatar
metalsnakejuice
on 2009-10-23 06:55:36

I have to admit this really is my favorite track on the album. This really tells a story, i can not stop listening to this.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Xenogears (Square , 1998, PS1)
Music by Yasunori Mitsuda
Songs:
"Unstealable Jewel"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Folk
Mood:
Mellow
Instrumentation:
Acoustic,Acoustic Guitar,Woodwinds
Additional:
Production > Live Recording

File Information


Name:
Xenogears_When_the_Smoke_Clears_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,815,989 bytes
MD5:
0ff9559e1553d0e8796ac0f4a2ed5fee
Bitrate:
207Kbps
Duration:
4:19

 

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