ReMix: Xenogears 'When the Smoke Clears'
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- Game: Xenogears (Square, 1998, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Geoffrey Taucer
- Composer(s): Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Unstealable Jewel'
- Posted: 2009-10-19, evaluated by djpretzel
- Album: Featured on Humans + Gears: Xenogears ReMixed
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.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the In my top three from OC Remix. Download it now.
- Asterai on April 11, 2012
- Crulex on April 11, 2012
a_d;658318 wrote: 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.
- Geoffrey Taucer on March 23, 2010
Geoffrey Taucer;657949 wrote: 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?
- a_d on March 23, 2010
a_d;647009 wrote: 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
- Geoffrey Taucer on March 22, 2010
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).
- Geoffrey Taucer on February 16, 2010
a_d;634275 wrote: :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.
- Geoffrey Taucer on January 16, 2010
Geoffrey Taucer;606953 wrote: 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?
- a_d on January 16, 2010
Well done, sir!
- sefirosu on December 11, 2009
Hats off to Jeremy for giving us this exceptional piece of music.
- relyanCe on October 26, 2009
Emunator;605065 wrote: 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.
- Geoffrey Taucer on October 24, 2009
- metalsnakejuice on October 23, 2009
ziwtra;606292 wrote: Easily my favorite track from the album.
The urge to let the world hear this track kept me going past the finish line with all the various parts of this project.
I.... wow.
Comming from you, I take this as very high praise indeed.
- Geoffrey Taucer on October 22, 2009
The urge to let the world hear this track kept me going past the finish line with all the various parts of this project.
- ziwtra on October 22, 2009
