ReMix: Mass Effect 'Nova Siberia'
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- Game: Mass Effect (Microsoft, 2007, XB360)
- ReMixer(s): Big Giant Circles
- Composer(s): David Kates, Jack Wall, Richard Jacques, Sam Hulick
- Song(s): 'Noveria'
- Posted: 2010-05-20, evaluated by djpretzel
Ladies and gentlemen, after a good chunk of time that was indeed worth the wait, I'm proud to announce that we've published our community interview with the Mass Effect 2 composers, from Wall of Sound!
It's worth noting that while some of the artists involved in the ME2 soundtrack have done individual interviews, this is the first time they've been interviewed as a team - which is how they worked, after all, under the leadership of the mighty Jack Wall. Of course, we already shared the news that the judges' own Jimmy Hinson, aka Big Giant Circles, worked on said team, but we also tried something a bit different: for this interview, we solicited questions from the community, which we then selected, edited (just a tad!) for consistency, and presented to the men responsible for the soundtrack to one of the biggest sequels of the decade. So do read the interview - it's filled to the brim w/ compositional insight, background details about the team's collaborative process, ALIEN SEX, and the story of how one of OCR's own got involved in a truly epic project.
On top of THAT, we've got not one but TWO mixes from the first AND second game in the series, neither of which have been mixed before. With a multi-composer interview and a one-two ReMix combo punch, I think it's safe to say that today Mass Effect has taken over OverClocked ReMix. Up first is BGC himself, mixing the first game:
"A lot of people have asked me how I got to work on Mass Effect 2. It's sort of a long story and it's told in the interview that corresponds with the posting of this remix, also hosted on OC ReMix, so definitely give it a read if you want to know the full deal. But to summarize, Jack mentioned he'd enjoy some remixes from his work on Mass Effect 1 and I sent him this remix a few days afterwards. He loved it so much, he called me to ask if he could submit it to BioWare to see what they thought, thus beginning a pretty cool relationship with Jack that ultimately led to me becoming a part of his Wall of Sound team."
"OC ReMix Lands Some Random Punk Scoring Gig for A-list Major Video Game Soundtrack"?? That's a headline I can fall in love with. Of course, Jimmy is far from random, and has a well-earned reputation as probably the nicest guy in the community. His ego-to-talent ratio is downright incredible, too, since he's got mad skills and is constantly upping his game - and his sample library. Jimmy's far too full of music and kindness and ridiculously bad jokes to ever be full of himself, and I'm thrilled this opportunity came his way.
Of course, that's all truly great... but what about the mix? Jimmy introduces OCR to the world of Mass Effect with style, executing an atmospheric & cinematic arrangement that blends myriad synths with a rock beat, embellished by cross-panned electro stutter hats, while also working in some orchestral components. This mix sounds BIG - fills up my headphones and paints a picture of an interstellar ecosystem, bustling with activity. With a name like "Big Giant Circles," you can't make no small tiny rectangular music, you gotta bring it, and Mr. Hinson does.
This mix isn't huge in the "catchy melody" department - there's definitely melodic & harmonic "goings-on," but the real star is the aural habitat engineered through layers upon layers of ingredients. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, perhaps, but even the sum itself is pretty impressive when there's this many addends. Making all of that work is what takes the skills, otherwise you've got a meaningless stew. Chef Jimmy blends with care, and instead we've got a great Mass Effect mix from one of the Mass Effect 2 composers. Awesome stuff!
PS. - As a side note, Jimmy's been contributing to the Wall of Sound Twitter - be sure to follow it for even more WoS info!
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Crulex on August 23, 2012
- Koriantor on December 12, 2011
- Hy Bound on June 5, 2010
Bahamut;683300 wrote: mindtrip
Perfect word for this. Nice, heavy atmosphere; sounds like something you'd hear in a movie while the camera is wandering through some debauched club where everything moves in slo-mo.
Personally, I was actually surprised to hear how much BGC got out of the rather ambient source. Nice work.
- Martin Penwald on June 4, 2010
First thing I noticed, besides how calming it started, was the unique use of drum delay-panning. I have to say I love it. On top of that, you've meshed the synthetic noises with what sounds like sampled live strings (at some points it sounds like you traded them in for a really crisp high-boosted string synth). Fantastic soundscape throughout, with top notch production. The whole song is just smooth and awesome. It just feels a tad too short. It's easily loopable as a song, so I will definitely be putting it on repeat, but I really hoped for another section or two.
Great stuff. Need more.
Now.
- Level 99 on June 1, 2010
This track is fitting though, as it's a different yet similarly framed as an atmospheric track to be listened to in the background. It adds some more interpretive mechanical instrumentation, strings, and synth action that stretches & warps the music into the mindtrip it is.
Nice work! :nicework:
- Bahamut on May 31, 2010
So if a remix like this gets you on the composer team, maybe we should all remix recent american/european games from now on? ;)
- Rozovian on May 28, 2010
On the subject of melodic content, had I included "more melody" it would have all been 100% original, as there really wasn't one [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWW-hJbzhSU"]in the original Noveria track[/URL] :)
- big giant circles on May 26, 2010
TenchuX;679816 wrote: Absolutely loved it. I'm a massive fan of the original ME soundtrack (2nd one too). Very full, and it retains that winter feel.
I agree with everything here. It's funny, "winter feel" sounds like such an abstract concept, but it seems so universally identifiable. This song has it (as does the original Noveria). Sonic 3 Ice Cap zone has it. Secret of Mana A Wish (ice forest theme) has it.
Dunno what the point is, just very tight remix that keeps the spirit well. When it sounds good enough, it doesn't need a soxrox melody.
- Pander on May 26, 2010
- OA on May 25, 2010
- Zombie on May 23, 2010
- bloodeyezack on May 22, 2010
- Palpable on May 20, 2010
The original song was one I actually didn't pay attention to in the first game, and went into a reverie listening to it in the sequel- on the radio in the captain's cabin. It's just so haunting. This does it absolute justice.
- Grawr on May 20, 2010
