Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished "Solid Center" 4:35

Who am I to post two PC-88 ReMixes back to back? Well, when it comes to an available pair of PC-8801 arrangements, we may never "See You Again", so we're not passing up this chance. :-) Following timaeus's latest Snatcher feature is WhoAmI? with his happy hardcore version of Ys, kindled by the ReMixer's desire to revisit a nostalgic style:

"My goal for this remix was to create something inspired by 90s happy hardcore music, which was a favorite back in my teens.

For the overall structure, I wanted contrasting sections, starting off harder and darker before transitioning to a more uplifting midsection.

The source track begins with some catchy major chords, which I molded into a sinister rave stab. To fill out the track, I added another stab that bounces nicely off the first one, and a galloping bassline. And, of course, genre-typical drums.

The next two sections are all about upbeat pianos and sweet synth choirs. My friend Fataloror helped me create the choir patch. She provided a bunch of breathy vocal recordings that were perfect for achieving that retro choir sound that I love.

I didn't have a plan for the final section, but I did want to include a droning acid line somewhere and found that the chord progression there lent itself perfectly to that.

As usual, it was a ton of fun to work on and I learned many new things, including:
1. Volume automation is important and something I need to practice.
2. Time-stretched samples can become cool transition effects.

Hope you like it!"

Though he's an electronic musician in his own right (not to mention a WhoAmI? fan), I wouldn't have pegged judge prophetik music as someone who could get down with this genre, yet he hung with the happiest of the hardcore:

"opens with fast hats and some quick backing stabs. we get some bass at 0:11 and the beat at 0:22, and it sounds great as expected (i had to check, i forgot about his post back in 2023!). the opening section of the original in minor makes for a surprisingly sinister lead bit. there's a big build before the main melody hits at 0:57. this is a break section, and then we get it again in as part of a bigger section right after. i can hear the volume automation there to make the melody pop through and it works great =)

another break at 1:52, this time keys-driven with the B theme as the focus. i know this is a common sound but i like how bright these keys are to cut through. another big build and we get the existing chord line under those keys. [...] overall this is a nice palate-cleanser section. there's some jamming on the chord progression and the C theme for a bit until we get to the last big break at 3:02.

we get the spurs at 3:26 for the last big band section, and the C theme is the star here - again, surprisingly dark with this chord progression. the acid line you talked about really is nice to keep it moving in here. [...]

this is what it says on the label - fast, intense, with a surprising amount of adaptation contained in the chord progression and how the track is broken up. excellent work."

Indeed, WhoAmI?'s got all the trappings of a track in this style, successfully pulling together a speedy tempo, breakbeats, a piano line, and spacey synths (with a light assist from Fataloror). Fellow judge Hemophiliac likened this one to the style of another oldschool OC ReMixer, saying "This one feels like a throwback to early 2000s OCR trance/dance music such as artists like FFmusic Dj. That's rad." Rad AND ready for your next rave, WhoAmI? brings it again with yet another successful retro revisit of upbeat EDM, this time transforming Ys with ease! ;-)