ReMix:Chrono Cross "Cruisin' (Live Edit)" 3:17

HIP TO BE SQUARE MIXFLOOD!! Our second batch of five mixes are all from amazing Square games from days of yore. Square Enix is a company that is synonymous with VGM; no one really needs to make a case for their significance to the medium, but if you stop and think about it, it really is astounding for one third-party developer to have made such a profound and lasting impact. For the next couple weeks, we're promoting Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call™ - if you've got a 3DS and you love Final Fantasy music, it's basically a no-brainer, and I'll be grabbing it myself since I didn't catch the first one. As for the flood, we've got Chrono Cross + Radical Dreamers, Chrono Trigger, FFX, Xenogears, and MORE Chrono Trigger. Suffice it to say that you're in for a huge, square-shaped treat, with a great variety of musical styles arranging some of the best VGM ever written! We start things off with Herr Hakštok, who actually has TWO mixes featured in this flood of five, the first being a live-ish rock jam, complete with faux audience:

"I'm long overdue with this one. :)

"I submitted the original to this somewhere in the summer of 2011 and already resubmitted it once. Somewhere around March this year, I had the idea of re-doing the track with live instruments, so I recorded some guitars and bass and I liked the way it sounded. I added some audience noises for fun - I haven't seen that done in other OCR songs, so I hope it's okay. xD I also replaced the lead synth with an accordion, because the accordion is the most awesome instrument ever. Credits for the audience samples go to users makosan and acclivity from http://freesound.org."

Of course, instrumental hipsters know that BANDONEON is at least twice as cool as accordion ;) Regardless of your feelings on applying crowd outro/intros, which some might see as the musical equivalent of sitcom laugh tracks (I take no issue), this is a super-fun & pumped take on the source, point-perfect for takin' a summertime cruise in a convertible. I used to have a convertible, but then I became a dad, and I sold it because it wasn't practical. But you know what? I'm okay with that because NOW I'VE GOT THIS MIX, which is almost the exact same thing, except I don't have to pay personal property taxes on this mix, and it's not a cop magnet. Thank you, Ivan! Relative to previous versions, OA writes:

"The vibe is good, the transitions between themes remains solid, and the opening is a lot nicer. I think the filtered arpeggio was pushed a touch hard but still sounds good, and overall the sounds felt good to me. The crowd noise was just on the edge of being too much, but as is, added a bit, as did the plugging in noises at the beginning."

DarkeSword adds:

"There's a looseness to the timing in the performance here that I really dig. It's really gives the piece a very organic feel. Really upbeat, fun arrangement. The combination of both sources is seamless and really works so well. I love Le Tresor Interdit so kudos on working that into the track. Feel like this would be a great song for OCU to adapt, honestly."

Great job blending the themes and in general just putting together an upbeat, somewhat relaxed track that still has a driving beat & plenty of energy. Accordion definitely gives this a different feel, slightly more indie/alt I guess, and I think that particular change gave the piece more character & made it more memorable - good call. Great stuff from Hakštok, who we'll be seeing again shortly, and a great way to kick things off!