ReMix: Mega Man 9 'Pitched in Suspense'

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Mega Man 9: Back in BlueMega Man 9

Back to Back in Blue - up next we've got none other than bLiNd, aka Jordan Aguirre, with some hard-hitting electronica. The way the undulating, elastic bassline here slowly ascends & descends in pitch is completely sick, and the technique is extended later in the mix as synth motifs osillate slowly over the rock-solid beat and vocal perc. fx, with delayed synth stabs, sci-fi whirlygigs, atmospheric doodads, etc. all creating an expansive, electrified tension. Listen to the DSP/reverb modulation around 1'25", where it grows outwards then gets tucked right back in & tightens up at 1'31" - great example of playing with ambience to achieve a build. I'm not as sure on the key change @ 2'02", but the source is relatively sparse so this was definitely one way to extract a bit more duration out of it.

While both arrangement and production are both up to Jordan's high standards, ultimately this is a mix that employs a specific effect, and employs it well, and that's what makes it memorable and persuasive. The gradually rising & falling pitch of the bass (and later some of the accompanying synths) not only delivers on & explains the title, it creates this uneasy, massive ebb & flow that sounds like the slow-motion doppler effect of a passing star cruiser. I'm sure it's been done before, somewhere, in other electronica tracks, but this is the first time I've heard it in a mix, and Jordan's skill in making it a legitimate focal point and not just a gimmick is what carries the track. Airtight, intense, unsettling work from bLiNd!

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 10 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
I acknowledged this on a Follow Friday segment via my Twitter page upon the project's release; the original itself was nothing more than a simple repetitive cutscene cue, and to see bLiNd do THIS much with the source was what blew my mind a heck of a lot.
So to see it in a more elaborate stance, the programming variety towards the synths, from some subtle sidechaining on the bass and electronic percussion, the occasional master gate work in favor of some subtle ambience throughout various transitions, some envelope work towards the bass that gives the feel of a dubstep wobble without not actually being a dubstep bass, and some downright ridiculous gliding on the wet-to-dry melodic synth at 3:45 among other examples that I probably can't pinpoint right now have again shown bLiNd's strengths in the fields of production. And with most of the attention paid towards that simple progression and building upon it, we can say that he had a clear artistic vision towards handling the source material, and for Back In Blue, it can be seen as a huge surprise entry.
I have to admit though, the ending to me felt a bit weak with deciding to just bring down the melodic progression to what appears to be the start of a third riff that apparently never happened. But that can be the only real issue that I have with a track as mind-boggling as this, and if he's able to handle these shorter source tracks with that kind of feel, goodness knows how he'd handle other similar ones.
Again, nice going bLiNd, and we're hoping for more of you in 2012! :D

- Rexy on December 16, 2011
A bit unnerving, but in a good way. I don't think I've ever heard vocal clicks percussion like that before, and it was pretty interesting. The bassline and sci-fi sounds were pretty cool and the entire ReMix had a great energy to it coming off those solid beats. Wasn't a fan of the sudden ending, but overall, pretty tight ReMix.

- Crulex on December 8, 2011
Jordan brings us some solid electro house to the arena here. Can't say this mix would make you doubt his prowess at all :) .

- Bahamut on December 7, 2011
Is anyone here really that surprised? I mean, it's bLiNd. (Jordan to the newbs) He's a bad ass from back in the day and one of my top five here at OCR. (or any other remix site)
Keep em' coming man. And I'll download them!

- LostChronos on September 18, 2011
duuuuude.... it's always hard to find the right words to give props to remixes like this. but this pretty much sums it up nicely:
Devils_Flare;808203 wrote: bLiNd is my Hero!! >;D thought i should point that out here ;P The work he does is just so Bloody amazing.. N freaking Fantastic!! being a fan of his sort of work/music/skills I get chills

man. don't know if it's intentional but i'm getting images of a rave scene at a club while listening to this and all the clicks and pops and gasps are from people popping open a few drinks, slamming their glasses on the table in sync to the beat, and saying "ah! that was good."

- Damashii!! on September 15, 2011
Ahem.. This is the first time posting anything On Oc ReMix... bLiNd is my Hero!! >;D thought i should point that out here ;P The work he does is just so Bloody amazing.. N freaking Fantastic!! ( among other artist) being a fan of his sort of work/music/skills I get chills.. everything time I read/hear/listen to a new project he is working on.. lol.. I sound like a stalker.. I aint.. HONESTLY i'm not.. xD well I get a lil carried away at times.. ^__^ Haha PERFECT!! Mega Man shall n always will be my ALL TIME FAV GAMING EVER!! SO what if they made.. alot.. I still love em all! N shall never get tired of em!! well.. I can't wait to see ur next Remix! mEgA mAn Back n blue.. AWESOME!! <;D

- Devils_Flare on September 15, 2011
:o ! I want your sound-design chops. Amazing.
I made the mistake of listening to the first half at a low volume.
Don't be an ectogemia.

- ectogemia on September 11, 2011
Sick tune, :-D. I'm a fan of everything bLiNd does, and this track is no exception.

- John Revoredo on September 8, 2011
Holy shit dude, ever since I heard this on your myspace page I've been waiting for this to be released. This is some awesome work for sure!!

- BlackPanther on September 8, 2011
What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

- djpretzel on September 7, 2011