Rexy

Got to have to say that it's cool to already do something for one of Danny Baranowsky's scores, especially considering his presence in OCR in years gone past. As for the track itself, the blending together of both the Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy sources was seen to be just genius all around, and really captures a firm example of how credit should be given towards the composer - making sure to acknowledge the work at hand while still being able to capture that similar emotive quality that the composer gave in. I've understood the difficulty of trying to write a melody originally in a different time signature into something more standardised, and in this form it actually transitioned to the point that the source material could've easily been 4/4 to begin with. With all the dedication you've given towards Baranowsky's role and vice verca (something I can admit I saw a great deal of on Twitter over the months), I can say that you managed to do a great justice to his work. It's definitely a keeper from me

Nekofrog, it's not too late; if there's anyone you're interested in working with, make contact. It is however too late to hope for the best, so you got to get out there and find someone; NOT relying on someone finding you.

Okay, after trying to play around with those untaken tracks, I can say I am more likely to have a concrete idea working with "Weird Counterpoint". I'll do my best for the deadline, though I'd be out of town for three days this week due to a family wedding, but I will try my best

From what I saw in the IRC on the announcement day, Sixto and OA are too busy to take part. But we can definitely still do with some union amongst those interested to join but not in teams

Is this your first time taking part in a Megaman-themed competition, Nekofrog? Don't worry, it's my first time too; sometimes for fresh blood in regards to these gatherings, it's hard to get started on the right foot. And leaving posts in the thread can be seen as a risk to people completely whizzing them over. There's two things I can suggest - look for people that you get on extremely well with, and ask them if they would like to take part with you (which seems to be the case for a good majority of these team formations). Or you can do what Sir Nuts suggested and contact some people who took part in the past and see if they're interested. If my team wasn't full I could've taken you on board since I see you on IRC a lot, but I really hope that you'll end up somewhere in the end.

Whee, birthdays! To one of the most influential mixers towards OCR's direction (whom liked calling people 'fags' over the years from what I saw) - To one of OCR's most recognisable Frenchies - And to someone that I unfortunately don't know very well but traced down the saltiest and brightest cake I can find: Make it a good one, all three of you

Try his Twitter page. I see him being more active there than the forums, so it might be the best shot you've got if you want to get him involved somehow.

Hearing it as the last track featured in the trailer, I'm glad to see that this effort from both Will and Stevo made the mix flood! Writing-wise, Will definitely DOES rock here; say what you like about drum sample issues, but the way of writing with those definitely helped bring the track to life and showed emphasis that late 80s synth rock approach to it. The theme even was picked apart and worked well in regards to the progression, and Stevo's solo (which I'm guessing is around 1:30 in?) also added that much of a sugar-rush for the notation heavy. Even the synth work was really highlighted over; I honestly believe that that kind of empahsis is Will's main strength, and while more understated than in some of his previous works the way they used definitely provided a good lift towards the track's direction. Mind, on first listens to this one, I kind of had a little issue with the guitar recording and them sounding a little too low-mid dependant, but as the track managed to get on it was soon balanced out by the sharp synth work and I got to say it lifted the track quite well. Another issue I had here though was more due to length; there were so many ideas being presented throughought the track, and yet when it was feeling ready to come towards one last rush through the C/D sections of the theme at least, it then chose to end the same way it began. So it kind of felt like a weak way to finalise it if you ask me, unfortunately. Alas, synth rock definitely isn't an easy thing to produce, and with a source as crazily detailed as the Vs theme, it was made even more difficult in regards to pacing. I'm going to have to say though that while I ultimately wasn't quite as crazy over this one as some of the other tracks on the album, what they did was really moulded it into a firm and melodic experience from start to finish. Will, I suggest you keep living up to your name and keep working with this genre should the opportunity arise again; the details are there, but with it leaving the listener hanging for more, you've really got to up that ball game (no pun intended). I know you can do it

Nice shameless self-promotion, Katie. Anyway... I admit, in my early days at OCR I was a HUGE Protricity fangirl, and even now I still hold high regards towards his influence on the site. So to see him write something on Around the World may not have been much of a surprise due to his involvment in Tales, but it was definitely worthwhile to see him return here again. What I appreciate about his style the most is that for many of his ideas they tend to go by a rhapsodic nature, capturing several different essences at once while going through. "Dodge Mahal" is no different, with its starting from typical Prot affair in regards to the varied drum writing and synth/guitar use (props there Stevo for your contrubitions!), before going towards some creative variations on the theme in steadily more downbeat styles and capturing more of the Indian wilderness soundscape. In particular when going later and later into the track, bustatunez's flute performance throughout - though a little dry in parts but may be more of a nitpick - really lifts up this progression tenfold, with some very expressive work throughout that further brings the atmosphere to life. Excellent stuff. In a way though, the flow could also be seen as a double-edged sword. While it does indeed fit Walan's original creative decision in a highly-polished way, one may not help but think that most of the energy towards the track were emphasized near the beginning, therefore somehow starting to lose its punch as the writing became increasingly steady. I do however understand that there were difficulties in writing the track, and for any artist it may be seen as a huge burden just to get out there and finish it. But I am glad in the end that you did (mostly under Katie's persuasion), because as it stood I saw it as one of the best team themes on the album. Nice work from all four of you

Do you think the thread would benefit from having a list of applicants otherwise not in teams? I'm sure it may help a lot of us that still don't have partners/a stable lineup yet. As for me, I have 2 offers so far, but neither of them want to work with each other. So I guess I'm going to struggle in regards to putting a team together. :/ (and before anyone asks about the 5am post, I can't sleep o.O)

While I'm here, I've worked out a list. First of all, a bit of lulz from discussing the whole thing with Shariq and Will 2 weeks ago: Although, I'm feeling a little better now so that's out of the question. Anyway, my five from highest priority downwards: 1 - Plant Man [MM6] 2 - Magma Man [MM9] 3 - Top Man [MM3] 4 - Wood Man [MM2] 5 - Guts Man [MM1]

I'm up for it! I'll have my robot master list sent through, and if anyone's interested in collabing with me, give me a knock

Silly Wes must've forgotten his coffee this morning In regards to the listening party, I shall be there; though are you sure the Arecibo chatroom would handle a high volume of people? Even during the previous few episodes of NGI it had its clunky moments, which might draw room for concern. Whatever happens, it's going to be ballsy!

Let's also wish Sir Nuts a happy birthday as well - one of the old pioneers in trance must be lucky to have his birthday shared with one of OCR's more abstract performers. So have a good one to the pair of you!

It's a long time coming Kyle/Alan! Glad to see you gentlemen got the project out of the door after all those years

Yeah, when I first heard it through headphones the day after Brandon did the mixdown, my first thought was "is the compression going to form as a new flaw for the track?", but after several listens I managed to get used to it. Given that the judges didn't bring this up in the re-vote, I'm not really sure if it's a big deal as such. I do however acknowledge that this irk is probably going to split people. But at the end of the day we both had fun working on it over the past year or so, and we will be sure to keep learning from the experiences we run into

Welcome back Sir Nuts! Given your contributions to the various Mega Man competitions in the past, it's obvious that the Concrete Man EP wouldn't really be the same without you. The 80s italo-disco direction was actually pretty neat, which shows your strengths in regards to adapting to various different fields of electronica rather than the regular trance. Strangely I wasn't quite feeling the writing the first time around as I felt it seemed a bit clashy, with most of the key points of disonnance residing with the parts with the hard-right-panned synth from around 1:20 onwards, not to mention the weak ending with the brief drum solo, but you soon made for it with a lot of care and detail taken to the genre and some of the crazy controller work closer to the end. I couldn't really say I was as crazy about this one as some of the other forum dwellers were, but in regards to your recent posts this is definitely a return to form and we hope that you'll keep sending stuff more regularly. I know you got the capacity, Nuts

If any tracks were to be auto-posted as a result of the Concrete Man EP, I'm glad it was Flexstyle's. He's certainly been coming a long way since his PRC participation back when I was hosting it, and his contributions towards the site have shown his progression a great deal. Course, given that it was merely made over a couple of days does indeed show the mix's more conservative nature, but he managed to make up for it with a hugely polished production package that has been really catered strongly on that field. It's a safe direction, but it's one that managed to come up strongly as one of the best tracks on the album sheerly due to all the attention paid towards all the attention paid towards the genre adaptation. Be sure to keep contributing to the site Flexstyle; I am proud of your progression

Looking at the OP - "I actually don't know who he is..." Okay, admit it; which of you guys got the gender wrong?

Cue me in for Donkey Kong Land! And I'm pretty sure my involvment in four of OCR's projects in the past year has what you need to show my capacity

One day Kyle, I may throw in a guitarist to a future project with your involvement. Hey, I have the capacity to write such wankery at least.

I've just realised something with the track order; this is loosely based on the stage order in the original Japanese version, isn't it?

That was one funny trailer for sure! Nice work José; did he also do the speaker's voice as well or was that someone else? But yeah, gogo release soon-ish!

Wait a sec; you're meant to offer the cake *to* the birthday boy, NOT the other way round? Alas, have a great time for all of us - to one of the growing faces within the remixing community, and to one mean glockenspiel user to boot! (will be coming in a mix pretty soon, I hope )