ReMix:Sonic CD "Running to the Beat" 4:36

Last but not least we've got yet another newcomer, Arceace (Ben Clifton), with a funky, bass-centered electronic arrangement of the US version of the 'Special Stage' music:

"This track initially started out as a little experiment with a couple of drum patterns. I used the main bass from the original and played it along with the drums. To my surprise, they went together perfectly, and the rest of the song happened naturally.

My very first experience with OCR was when I discovered the album Project Chaos. I was amazed at the quality of each song, and some of my favorite remixes have come from that album. Ever since then, I've always wanted to be a part of an album project for OCR, and I am extremely excited that the day has finally come. When I saw that Matt (SuperiorX) was looking to start the project, I was more than happy to volunteer.

This has been a very rewarding experience for me in many ways. I am very proud that I was able to be a part of this project, and I can't wait to hear the final product."

Nice shout out to Project Chaos - great album, and so glad that it motivated Ben to contribute! He's submitted mixes to the site previously, and you'll be seeing (& hearing) more of him in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime this mix has a heavy downbeat that starts off simple but layers in some complexity as it moves along. I initially thought it was going to be a more aggressive affair, but instead the emphasis is more on sustained chords & tones that seem to linger in midair for impossible durations, even as the underlying beat + bass continues pumping away. I LOVE the syncopation & breakdown towards the end, where things get truly jiggy and the promise of the initial setup is completely fulfilled. Album director SuperiorX writes:

"Ben's (Arceace) version of the "Special Stage" US source really grew on me the more and more I listened to it. It's a somewhat minimalist track with some lengthy buildups, but I just love how that driving bass just brings you right into the track. The lighter synth leads play off the bass parts perfectly and create an interesting soundscape. There are some well-timed breaks and percussion patterns throughout as well, which really helps keep the song moving forward. I really liked the fuzzy synth parts at the end that play on the backbeat of every other measure too - they have a killer sound. The whole track gives me this 90s house/techno vibe that I think fits both the source and the album well!"

Very slick, and distinct from other electronic arrangements on the album, too. The emphasis on the low-end doesn't come at the expense of melodic development, and what starts off as minimalist kind of expands outwards into a pretty elaborate & unmitigated jam by the time it's all over. Great debut from Arceace that bodes will for future ReMixes we'll be posting!

This concludes our ten mix flood that, while epic & striking & funky & furious in and of itself, is only about a quarter of the overall album that is Temporal Duality. SuperiorX & Phonetic Hero have done an amazing job, in a relatively short amount of time, pulling together talent from OCR & elsewhere to create something very special: an album that truly does justice to both incarnations of Sonic CD's music. Both soundtracks were fantastic, the game was a VGM milestone, I've always been a huge fan, and I'm proud & honored to have contributed to Temporal Duality and to be publishing it on OCR. This is an album that HAD to happen at some point, sure, but there was no guarantee it was going to be this great, offer this much variety & flavor, and come from the heart. All of that turned out to be the case, and I applaud everyone involved for making that happen. Please help us spread the word - we really DO need your assistance getting the news out!! - and for those of you in the US of A, have a Happy Thanksgiving!! We hope that we've given EVERYONE something to be thankful for - enjoy Sonic CD: Temporal Duality!!