ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Duel of the Blades'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VII (Sony, 1997, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Kevin Penkin
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Liberi Fatali', 'One-Winged Angel'
- Posted: 2012-07-03, evaluated by the judges
More orchestral? You're darn tootin' - newcomer Kevin Penkin (www.kevinpenkin.com) writes:
"I have heard many different arrangements of One Winged Angel and have experienced the work in many different recorded and live forms. I have realised that most of the versions I had listened to had 1 thing in common, the structure. The instrumentation might change or something might get put in the middle of the work, but to my knowledge there hasn't been a complete rework of OWA outside of Crisis Core. This is what I wanted to change if I was actually going to try and arrange the tune. While writing the opening section I kept on thinking "Liberi Fatali would work great here" and eventually came into the piece."
For my money, tefnek really deconstructed OWA pretty drastically with his classic 'The End,' but that was a different ballgame/genre. For Kevin's take, think "epic orchestral mashup of two epic themes from FF's 7 & 8" and you've more or less got the idea; solid production initially but then as the piece grows in complexity there's some superb detail work on runs & some especially graceful solo winds towards the end. It's clear the ReMixer had a specific idea with regards to the arrangement, and it's also clear he was able to implement that idea very effectively; OA writes:
"This is a really intelligently arranged orchestral mashup, with the themes fitting together very well. The sequencing and samples are pretty good, with the flute solo being very fluid. I think this is really well done; great concept and solid execution."
Deia adds:
"I think the arrangement here is stellar, and the way the two themes are incorporated really works very well together. I like the subtle changes of melody, and the obvious structural changes really add something to the piece."
Really excellent debut from Kevin, who takes on a titanic track and manages to incorporate another standout Uematsu classic in an arrangement that frames both themes in a new light. Coherent, articulate, and powerful, this mix definitely has me looking forward to hearing more!
Discussion: Latest 12 comments/reviews; view the - Seraph on August 14, 2012
The sequencing maybe sounded.. both a little off-rhythm and mechanical at the same time. It's well above the bar for my tastes though. The piano and harp runs at the end were the parts where the mechanical feel hurt the track most, the wind-down at the end was the weakest part of the track overall. I also felt it wasn't as well written as the previous sections (though the mechanical feel might have contributed to this perception). It was still all right though, and I enjoyed the overall structure of the piece, the longish wind-down included.
Good stuff all in all!
--Eino
- evktalo on July 24, 2012
One question (not a gripe, but an observation): I noticed that in the horn section starting at around 2:00, and again in the piano section near the end, you repeat the "Estuans interius" line from OWA, but never conclude with the ubiquitous "SE-PHI-ROTH!" Am I correct in guessing that the omission was intentional? a means of breaking from the OWA-remix norm?
- genius11433 on July 15, 2012
- DimeTower on July 11, 2012
- Slemkatt on July 10, 2012
- auronapern on July 4, 2012
- Toxiceye on July 4, 2012
Great job and I hope to hear more from you!
- Bahamut on July 3, 2012
Honestly this reminds me more of Castlevania Lords of Shadow in somepots than FF. But I don't really see that as a bad thing.
- BONKERS on July 3, 2012
