Dj Mokram

A bit late, but happy +1 Iggy Troopa!

When I think about all these things I wish I had time to do, like enter this round, and the one before it, and the one before it... I missed Killer Instinct and FFVI last time, and now Art of Fighting is on the menu. Must... find... t.i.m.e... system overheating

3 months till the cutoff, and yet Battle 2 remains unclaimed.

DISC ONE Review ~ part II 15 - Beneath: Allright, so first off the Nightmare Battle is my favorite tune from the game. It was very upbeat and entrancing, appropriately making you feel you were facing your worst nightmares. Well, if this album was the soundtrack to the next gen remake of the game, you could look forward to stain your undies while this remix plays in the background. Lashmush came back from the otherside with a single, powerful feeling that will engulf you and leave you an empty shell: FEAR. As the song unfold and the tension rises, you start feeling the weight of the drums bellow you, while the ominous piano hits, as if it was shattering glass at times. The song give birth to the uneasy sensation of being followed by something you cannot identify, feeling it as it gets closer, before suddenly vanishing. And amidst the overwhelming darkness, something seems vaguely familiar...that's probably because it's your own shadow. Way to play with the listeners psyche by having them face their own demons and reflect about their own fears. Fantastic and unexpected take on the source. Very atmospheric/cinematic and definitely as sinister and haunting as one true nightmare can be. 16 - The Feather's Reflection: The Eagle Tower was a simple tune that succeeded in building the right atmosphere slowly and consistently. Now, nearly 20 years later, an artist armed solely with a piano and her boundnless creativity, capitalizes on the formula to make sure that this tower rises to reach new highs. After subtle and clever cameos from other iconic tunes, the arrangement slowly moves on to the main event, and eventually ends up growing into an entity with a life and a story of its own to tell. One that you need to sit down and listen to carefully if you don't wanna miss the important details. What set this piece apart, is how Rexy succeeds in drawing you in, and keeping you interested through the whole piece, making you experience a rich panel of emotions in the process. You might get lost wandering in the tower, but you'll certainly emerge from this song anew, and with a feeling of fulfillment. It's a piece that adresses the very heart of man, with simple and utmost sincerity. In a word: majestic. 17 - Voices of the Deep: I've longed to listen to this arrangement ever since I first heard the tidbit included in the trailer for the album. The remix opens with an appropriately aquatic soundscape that brings you one step closer to the ocean floor. It has a unique atmosphere coupled with a gentle pacing that makes you feel as if things are progressively slowing down and entering a suspended animation for the duration of the song. The interpretation is seemingly liberal but follows a straight path containing a few cool DnB/trip-hop excursions. I love how Prophetik managed to recreate the feeling of behing underwater, with careful attention to sound design, making you feel as disoriented as one human can be while not in its natural environnment. It's a very moody, downtempo take on Catfish's Maw, which has this incredible propriety to calm one down. I've found this piece particularly helpful to focus/do some deep thinking. If your mind is a little fuzzy at the end of the day, but you still need to solve a few problems, listening to this one might very well do the trick. It sure did for me. 18 - The Vision of the Windfish: This arrangement, much like the Windfish itself, is a beast. Be ready to take on the musical quest of your life with the talented Sound Test. It's a great blend of orchestral and electronica, which slowly becomes more complex and diversified as the song progresses. The remix subsequently features some more ecclectic moments borowing from genres such as jazzfusion or straight ballad. Everything is well composed and well integrated into the package. At some point, you might even start hearing some words too. Do not be afraid, for it isn't a side-effect of listening to the album. The artist simply decided to venture into storytelling midway, which thankfully, was to great effect. This piece has something very organic to it, that you see evolving gradually and becoming this huge creation. You might have to take a few steps back, and give it a few listens before all the pieces start coming together. But once you do, you'll come to one realization: what you've just listened to was definitely different, and for the most part awesome. Props to Sound Test for being able to create such a massive yet cohesive tribute song. Despite seeming very confusing and fragmented at first, everything makes perfect sense in the end, exactly like the story of the game. 19 - House of Frogs: The arrangement starts off with a short guitar riff that sounds great, but for some reason seems to have been added on top of an existing song. It kinda tricked me into thinking that the track was going to begin one way, but then faded unexpectedly. No biggie, just a little surprised is all. After that, things get pretty serious as Brad is back in business with the firm intention to bring some tears to your eyes. Upon hearing the breathtakingly beautiful sax performance, you're guaranteed to feel chill run through your spine. As the song goes on, things start getting progressively more intense, and the piece becomes truly moving. And when the saxophone is later joined by Fishy's guitar, you're in for a treat as the soaring duet takes care of any last doubt anyone could have concerning the ability of this album to make you feel real emotions. Both artists deliver here a jawdropping conclusion to this Link's Awakening tribute, leaving a mark not only in your ears but also in your heart. CONCLUSION: Threshold of a Dream is a carefully crafted tribute, made possible by the continued effort and dedication of artists coming from all over the world. It's a very cohesive album, that manages to be extensively varied despite the genre-specific requirment of the project. A plethora of different emotions are conveyed through an ecclectic display of talent, resulting in songs that you do not simply listen to, but can feel as well. A memorable experience for anyone with an open mind and a love for music. review of Disc Two coming up early 20XX...

DISC ONE Review ~ part I 01 - Full Moon Cello: The album starts off with this beautiful and very cinematic piece from Theophany. An appropriate use of the bells swiftly conveys the feeling of loneliness. The strings carry the main melody with eloquence, and the underlying emotion is adequatly chaneled through the cello. The percussion elements, in conjunction with the smooth bassline, hit the mark and keep things linked and in motion throughout the entire piece. Clever use of the trademark 'secret' jingle in the second half of the song, which adds an extra layer of suspense and mystery, making for a pretty diversified listening experience. 02 - Lucidic: A peaceful and mesmerizing piece, sporting a unique sound design and an intricate composition that shows a lot of though went into its creation. Featuring an assortment of pleasant sounding synthetizers, a sweet rhodes piano, some subtle atmospheric pads and a variety of effects, the arrangement slowly manages to develop a dreamworld of its own. Drums are also an important part of the equation, and through carefuly crafted groove, tight sequencing and precise timings, Benjamin Briggs successfully set the stage for this tribute album to link's most surreal adventure. 03 - Threshold of a Dream: If there is a song defining this project and encapsulating its message, it's without the shadow of a doubt this collab between Prophetik and Level99. Threshold of a Dream is probably the most moving interpretation of the main theme from the Legend of Zelda that I've ever heard. Not only it is a magnificent tribute to one of the most iconic melody in the history of gaming, it's also a superb acoustic performance sure to captivate listeners and capture their imagination. A tearbringing, yet truly heartwarming piece, likely set to become a monument of nostalgia among remix enthusiasts and zelda fans alike. 04 - Oceanfront View: A short yet quite enjoyable piano arrangement from Iggy Koopa, with a distinctive touch of romantism to it. As the piece progresses, it triggers a gradual (and monochrome) recollection of fond memories from interacting with all the wacky NPCs/support characters who made this trip to Koholint so lively and memorable. A song that slowly but surely brings a little smile on your face, similar to the one you get while remembering good times spent in the company of old friends. 05 - Animal Counterpoint: One cannot possibly grab the whole meaning behind a painter's masterpiece in one glance. I believe that Brad's Animal Counterpoint is one such piece. It is possible to miss the point of this song entirely, if you only listen to it superficially, or wait for the source to be rolled in verbatim. You just have to let it develops and maturate, give the time to all the pieces to come together, let your ears and mind get used to the taste, like a good wine. It's a very reflective song, one that require patience, like the many trials of life that leave an indelebile mark in your memory afterwards. A very unorthodox and truly unique gem, which is also one of the most innovative and audacious work that I've had the chance to listen to since joining the VGremix community. 06 - the Wind Outside: With such a dramatic and sinister source (and stage), one would think that things couldn't get much shadier. Well, think again, as Ten19 manages to delve even deeper into the dark reaches of the human subconcious with his arrangement. It's slowly building a tense atmosphere, successively adding then substracting elements, making you feel uneasy and lost (much like when you're in the Egg). Everything seems the same but is in fact slightly different when you pay attention. It's an interesting creative process that forces you, as a listener, to find new waypoints as the mix devellops, because it's as if the whole aural floor, ceiling and walls are constantly switching places. The arrangement has a survival horror flair to it, and it's definitely thrilling to be able to explore yet another emotional venue. A dark and moody piece that is certain to leave you unsettled. 07 - Eviglio Insperatus: In a quasi Akira Yamaoka-esque melodic-ambient style, this latin named arrangement of Dream Shrine by The Joker is taking us for yet another ride down the memory lane. With its soothing piano and angelic pads, the song begins by painting a heavenly sky filled with giant clouds and dreams. But before long, the track switches abruptly through a tortured scream to an alternate/darker soundscape, evoking the nightmare that, unavoidably, awaits Link at the end of his quest. Meanwhile, the industrial drums are slowly growing restless and their core sound is evolving along with the flow of events and emotions, much like the "Arm Mimics" inside the shrine, mirroring your every move. The fractured nature of this piece and its omnipresent allusion to duality, imo marks the frontier between the world of dreams and the reality to which our hylian hero must return. A strongly symbolic song, which should resonate with the ambivalence present in each and every person. 08 - Climb my Mountain, this High: One of the most revered source in the entire soundtrack subsequently comes with skyhigh expectations. But as true as no mountain is too high for Link to climb, Mr Ben Briggs (previously known as chtonic) is here to prove that no bar is set high enough to stop him. This arrangement is a fusion of multiple genres that stylishly and seamlessly blend technicality with art the same way you can take several small gold pieces and blend them into, say... one big solid gold bar. This song will bang you on the head with the thunder drum, throw you with one heart left from the top of Mt Tammaranch, catch you on the way down with a grappling hook, then toss you back into the sea while the Wise Owl and everyone in Mabe village call you THIEF! I invite all personel to cease their current activity and succumb to the insidious groovy infection therein. Please quickly get atop Mt Briggs to witness for yourself this thing called artistic maturity. 09 - Spare Key: Key Cavern is notorious for two things: lots of keys and crazy ominous arpeggios! ;D In his arrangement, Sound Test explores this in great detail as he expands on the oppressing feeling that you may run out of spare key at anytime and meet an horrible fate... The direction makes this interpretation way crazier than the source, and the overall tone is also definitely more menacing. The low piano in its craze is joined by some mad bass drums, ethnic percussions and a couple of random (and at time dissonant) sounds clips that are sure to give you the creeps. You never know what to expect in the next couple of measures, and this feeling of being chased by the music rather than chasing it (by actively listening) is possibly one of the cooler concept I've experienced. This piece has an undeniable experimental side to it that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. 10 - Fierce Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ~ T.o.a.D. brigade: ... So, I have one really important question here: who the fuck let this noob ruin my childhood?! Brad, I want my rupees back. All of them! xD 11 - Liftin' Them Pots: Bottle Groto is, I believe, a variation on the dungeon theme from ALTTP, mixed with the regular LA cave music, which makes for a somehow bland source. But boy oh boy: Artem Bank here sure knows how to raise the bets and turn odds in his favor. While the track starts up relatively slow and dark, fear not, for as soon as you hear the sweet sound of the fender, greatness is about to be bestowed upon your ears. And sure enough, that bluegrass rickenbacker style guitar comes from nowhere to kick you in the nut and get you to respect its authoritah! This totally unexpected twist gives the arrangement a kind of rebellious feel that would almost make Link look like a cool kid... if he wasn't totally tripping about some whalefish with wings hidden in a giant ostrich egg that he have to wake up using the Kontakt 4 library. ;D This right here is the most badass Bottle Grotto has ever sounded. Loved this trash, 'down in the mud' take on the source. Very visceral and masterfully crafted arrangement. 12 - Facies Templum: Here's a great exemple of how to add emotion to a fairly straightforward source. The original Face Shrine was a dark tune containing a subtle reference to the dungeon theme from the first Legend of Zelda, which was constructed in a static way that followed a very mechanical pattern. This arrangement shifts the focus to a much more natural and unpredictable approach, with beautiful piano phrases, peaceful strings and brass section support, and some unforgettable solos, making the best of Prophetik's instrument of choice: the saxophone. While the song retains an underlying moody atmosphere, it now possesses this touch of melancholy and uniqueness brought forward through the effort in humanizing and harmonizing all th element of this small orchestra. It's a moving and very personal piece that blossoms at an even pace, shining by its simple beauty, and bringing along just the right dose of nostalgia to let your mind wander while watching the raindrops rolling down the window. 13 - Sköldpaddsklippan: This arrangement is well suited to evoke the dream aspect of the game, with its airy synths and blurry strings forming a suitably foggy soundscape. A nice round bass comes in to sweeten the deal, while the fastpaced drums accompany the listener through its oniric voyage. The piano break coming near the end is a real treat and adds a nice layer of emotion, grounding the piece in the earth rather than letting it roam in the sky. And this is made even more appreciable by the fact that the song had been eluding reality many times, creating this emotional void by staying above the tree line. The date at which the remix was produced might, at first, give the impression that it would have had a hard time fitting in with more recent addition to the project. But to the credit of both Dafydd and Prophetik, this is surprisingly not the case here. This arrangement, much like the game, has proudly stood the test of time to see the light of the day once again. 14 - Sunrise in Mabe: Mabe Village is yet another iconic tune that has a lot to live up to. Xenon Odyssey, continuing the work of fellow pianist and remixer Dhsu, delivers an hommage worthy of every Links Awakening fan's praise. The piece has a nice and distinctive jazz flavor that fits the theme like a powerbracelet, and that I personally find very compelling. For a little over four minutes, you will drown in a whirlpool of nostalgic memories. From the moment you had this long talk with Marin (and probably didn't realize you were playing the first portable dating simulator), to the time you thought Bow wow was going to eat you for lunch, and even that time when you walked toward the shop with the firm intention of getting a bow...despite having only 38 rupees in your pocket. It will all come back to you as the arrangement takes you through a day in Mabe. A peaceful and evocative interpretation, that will have you feel like you were there, watching the sun rises over Koholint while listening to the echoing sounds of the ocean nearby. Best served on a cold day with a nice cup of cofee to reminisce about the fourth time you saved the world.

Fixed for ya. Nah, no need to thank me. Just send me that finnish visa you promised already, so I can finally be legit around here. ;D SD3 - Songs of: "are you a finnish enough dude to be on the project?"

Congrats on the redesign man, it's super neat and very enjoyable to navigate. Way to end the 'year of the Zircon' with a bang. So far I've encountered only one minor bug that can probably be fixed in 1 second. When you go to the tutorials page through the header menu (http://zirconmusic.com/tutorials/), the link to the text guides leads nowhere. However, using the drop down menu and going straight to 'text tutorials' works perfectly. I believe the issue is that, on the main page, the link is: http://zirconmusic.com/tutorials/guides/ instead of: http://zirconmusic.com/tutorials/text/. Hope this help.

Well, I found out the hard way that per regulations, recruitment threads are used for the sole purpose of recruiting (i.e. no deadlines/announcements/etc). But no worries: we're still going strong here, and I assure you that progress is being made. Only, it's more 'behind the scenes' than before now. So stay tuned, cause there's no way I'll give this one up before it's completed.

Happy OverClocked BirthDay!

Wow, haven't checked this in a while, and suddenly it's coming out today! Just gonna post this in here before thread gets locked and becomes history: Brad is the man. Kudos to him for having the guts, the vision, and the patience to see this through. Thanks for helping me make it through my first project evar! This album has been a long time coming, so congrats to the LA project team on the release.

Has the show been moved to Arecibo yet?

I'm pretty sure Will already has the same level of decision-making power on this project, plus he might be equally busy with uni work right now. Juan had a string of badluck with his computer recently, so he may need some time to get back up and running before he can resume his duties. Last time I checked, he was determined to get this album done, so just give the man a break. After all, he's not a Bionic ...none of us are.

Apparently, my wip vanished into thin air during the thread switch.

I think he's also behind schedule at his goal to be the yougest project director on OCR. So Nabeel, where have you hidden that Metroid Prime project again? Nevertheless, great birthday to you DarkeDagger.

(from the Vanquish original soundtrack)

Making 8-bit Megaman games won't eat all their budget at once either. Unfortunately (or not, depends), Capcom (much like Konami) has never been about taking risks, but about making sequels (and easy profit - Street Fighter 2 anyone?). They took a few chances last year, and it ended badly. So we better brace ourselves for Resident Evil 9, Street Fighter VII and of course Megaman 22. Just saying.

I was under the impression that it was Masashi Hamauzu who scored FFXIII. Though ME2 did beat Squeenix in the RPG category, and that's no small achievment.

Working in a company for so long may have wore him down a bit. Plus, Inafune has been executive-producing pretty much everything at Capcom since forever. Unfortunately, the commercial flops of both BC2009 and Dark Void must have hit his good name pretty hard. And strangely enough, he wasn't credited in Resident Evil 5. But considering the recent success of (Super)Street Fighter IV and Dead Rising 2, things were looking pretty bright. Also, is it just me or the guy still looked quite happy a few months ago when he introduced Megaman Universe? But anyway, he's proly gonna follow the exemple of his buddy Shinji Mikami and eventually end up creating new franchises with new characters and stories. Though he'll forever be remembered as 'the father of Rockman'.

Missed this by a few hours. Hope you had a great time though. In our hearts, you'll always be the sagacious wiseman from the north, keeping watch over the wip boards. ...that is, when you're not busy defending OCR from a spambot invasion of course! Happy birthday to you, oh venerable Rozo the Crimson!

Thanks Jaybell, I'm glad to hear that. Good to know you're still around too. It's been a long time coming, but I think you'll enjoy our answer to your request. Got em' and responded. EDIT: The following tracks are still open: Send me an audition via PM if you want to claim a track.

And so do I. Too bad I'll have to wait till the album release to hear it. Definitely a highlight of this project for me.

(from Ace Combat Join Assault soundtrack)

Yay for Master System! Had the original MS1, with the cool schematics on the top and the gamecard port. Back then, it was a pretty popular system in Europe. There was almost one kid with a SMS for every 2 kids with a NES. Also, no pause button on the controllers. People actually had to get up, walk across the room and reach the pause button on top of the system! I remember playing games like Golden Axe Warrior, Castle of Illusion, Alex Kid, Wonderboy in Monsterland, Hang On, Asterix, Fantasy Zone and Phantasy Star. I'd like to point out that Sonic 1 and 2 were pretty awesome on that system. Though my all time favorite remains Wonderboy III - The Dragon's Trap, which also has one of my favorite 8bit-era soudtrack.

This movie needs moar quantize! Luckily, Rob Schneider was just appointed to play Jooj Cat.