ReMix: EarthBound 'The Great Blizzard of '9X'
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- Game: EarthBound (Nintendo, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): halc
- Composer(s): Hirokazu Tanaka, Hiroshi Kanazu, Keiichi Suzuki, Toshiyuki Ueno
- Song(s): 'Snowman'
- Posted: 2011-12-25, evaluated by djpretzel
Happy holidays!! While most of us probably aren't getting a White Christmas (at least here in DC, no snow in sight), that's not a problem, since we've got our first Earthbound ReMix in OVER TWO YEARS (how'd that happen?) courtesy halc, and it brings its own blizzard of chiptuney goodness:
"This is a track I made several years ago (while I was playing through the game), but never submitted. Ben told me recently that I most definitely should have, so I took another pass at the mixing/mastering and I'm pretty happy with the way it sounds now. :) I wanted to make this mix as 'overtly chippy' as possible (pretty much everything is tweakbench's peach and triforce, along with a few soundfonts), but with a ton of processing. Took some inspiration from ella guro's (formerly Adhesive_Boy) epic mix of the same theme, so there's a few shoutouts in the mix. :D"
There's something special & unique about EarthBound's soundtrack, and it can be hard to put your finger on, but both mixes of this wintry theme capture it in their own way. I'm glad Drew revisited this piece for a few reasons - first and foremost, it's an excellent, layered, chipper arrangement that's "overtly chippy" as he says but still achieves a full, rich sound w/ the processing he's applied, but also, DAMN, we really needed an EarthBound mix; two years is just too long! Last but not least, the timing works out well, as we can provide some sugary virtual chiptune snow RIGHT on time for Christmas. Not quite the same thing, but it won't cause frostbite or car accidents, plus you can (kinda) dance to it, so there's that.
Here's hoping all celebrating today give & receive everything desired, and most importantly enjoy the time with family or friends!
Discussion: Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the Just to focus on the different layers makes for a splendid listen. ^_^ And the multiple layers creates an image of waves of white fluffy Ninten-snow c:
- Fun on March 23, 2013
For some reason, the part around 1:10 gives me a FF7 vibe, probably due to the synth used.
The long silence at the end of the track bothers me a bit, though, especially when this song is part of a playlist.
- Martin Penwald on April 12, 2012
- Crulex on December 31, 2011
- halc on December 27, 2011
- ryankeeton on December 26, 2011
- WesternZypher on December 26, 2011
Okay, it's a must-listen for HUMANITY. There.
- Mirby on December 26, 2011
- ectogemia on December 26, 2011
So it starts out very different from the source with the rhythm part providing a different set of chords, before going into a more faithful adaptation of the source. And for the second go-around at around 1:30 it does start playing with a lot more melodic ideas that show his ways of improvisation. Even the ending felt gentle with the slightly thinner texture (made up for with some incredible stereo shifting work) going into the second phase of the melody, and the filtering out at 2:54 was neat too; a very subtle way to end the track and I dig it.
Though, this track's guilty of having too much silence at the end - 10 seconds at that. I admit, I'm guilty of this too on one of my own subs, but it might be a fishy oversight for the casual listener.
So in terms of halc arrangements, he had definitely stepped up arrangement-wise since this one, but it managed to stand the test of time well with the way the simple chiptune synths were handled and processed as they are. A very appropriate Christmas submission, so way to go :)
- Rexy on December 25, 2011
- Nonamer on December 25, 2011
- urdailywater on December 25, 2011
