ReMix:Chrono Trigger "Cosmic Whispers" 5:01

2014 isn't over just quite yet, but so far this year we've initiated the OCRI catalog line of independent arrangement albums, beginning with Audio Engineering: A Tribute to Cid, we've KICKED SOME SHELL by partnering with KNGI & Dwelling of Duels to release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shell Shocked, we've released our FIRST album from the Mario series with the long-awaited Super Mario 64: Portrait of a Plumber, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy with Legacy, we've launched a Patreon campaign to take the site further (we appreciate your support!), and we've created OverClocked Records as a separate entity to sell game soundtracks, arrange albums, and original music from the community!

Where DID we find the time? I still don't even know... we've now posted 247 ReMixes this year, and it's no accident that for the last several years, that number has consistently increased. I have been very intentionally trying to improve our workflow, and while there is still MUCH to be done, at least that one specific number has been moving in the right direction: upwards.

As a late-breaking addition, The A.V. Club (associated with The Onion) JUST published a feature TODAY: "The staff and artists of OverClocked ReMix make us a list of their favorite video game-inspired songs" - thanks to Matt Gerardi for making us think & collecting a meaningfully diverse list of arrangements from the 3000+ mixes on the site!

Our 15th and final flood mix comes from DrumUltimA, who sends us a jazzy solo vibraphone arrangement from a little game called Chrono Trigger, for the SNES. Perhaps you've heard of it. As a side note, if you've been keeping track, every single one of these fifteen flood mixes was from a different game system/platform!! Kudos again to Larry Oji for making that happen; mind = blown. Doug writes:

"Hi, guys! Been a while since I've submitted anything, but I thought I would try to re-instigate my activity by submitting an improvisation I recorded a little while ago. Hopefully, it's not too liberal for you all! This was part of a three-track set that my jazz trio (Department of Jazz) was working on called Triggernometry, which is also where the name came from. ;) Hope you enjoy!"

I do enjoy. So does Palpable:

"Doug's pieces are always incredibly distinctive, so it's a treat when he gives us something new. Here he's narrowed his focus to solo vibraphone; a jazzy, wistful take on "Secret of the Forest" that is still as stunning as his pieces with fuller instrumentation. The first half of the song follows the original melody closely, but there are some interesting note choices sprinkled in, some of them even a little bitter, that hint the song isn't going to be played straight. At the start of the second half, Doug takes us on some beautiful runs and original writing that sound completely unforced. Of course, the piece is well-performed too, the delicate staccato playing at 2:16 standing out as a highlight. Hope Doug keeps sending us those good vibes."

Punderful. So Doug may punch me in the face for saying this, but I've got this thing where almost any solo vibraphone music reminds me of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It's MY problem, but you know what? It's not really a problem, because I loved that show. That man had the most colorful assortment of immaculate sweaters the world has ever seen. Basically, I have an instant positive connotation with solo vibraphone stuff that's in a mellow and/or jazzy style, so this is like DOUBLE NOSTALGIA for me. It's nice to see solo instrumental submissions from instruments other than piano; Pot Hocket comes to mind, representing classical guitar, but in general the ivories dominate that landscape. Vinnie's right in that Doug's musical mind is quite unpredictable - you never know what to expect - but this feels like an arrangement that was quite natural for him, and just kind of flowed; something purer & closer to his musical nerve, perhaps. He knows this instrument so well that it's like a part of him.... a dougaphone... or a vibradoug, perhaps... and I think that comes through in this arrangement/performance. It also virtually guarantees that this arrangement, of a relatively popular & oft-mixed theme, will be uniquely his. I could walk you through the highlights, but in this case it's really one long highlight, i.e. a performance that exists as a singularity to be experienced. Great stuff.

We hope you enjoyed these fifteen ReMixes celebrating fifteen years of OverClocked ReMix. A huge thanks to Larry for putting it together, for ALL of the artists featured, and to ALL of you who have made this site & community what it is and have kept it going for so long!!