ReMix:Phantasy Star Online "Lobby Static" 2:02

By Quinn Fox

Arranging the music of one song...

"Day dawns"

Primary Game: Phantasy Star Online (Sega , 2000, DC), music by Fumie Kumatani, Hideaki Kobayashi

Posted 2002-07-03, evaluated by djpretzel


Though this is his first ReMix posted here on OCR, Quinn Fox has been mixing game music for awhile now - do check out his site and the other great stuff he has to offer, including several originals. Our first piece from Phantasy Star Online (can you believe it's being ported to the Gamecube? I'm all for cross-platform friendliness but something about Phantasy Star on a Nintendo console gives me the oogies something fierce), this is a short take on the lobby music, breakbeat style, with extensive audio mutations. Layering evolving synth textures on top of breakbeats that are themselves layered, panned, filtered, and otherwise tinkered with, the piece has a very spacious feel to it, never really establishing a central motif but instead acting as a sonic changeling, morphing several times in an ambient beat-sleepwalk, then fading out. I won't over-exaggerate - there is a melody, a bassline, clearly distinguishable musical passages, etc., but Quinn has phased them in and out and surrounded them with clouds of clustered pads and very organic rhythms such that the whole piece sort of breathes - exhales. Very impressionistic, unique, and definitely recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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tweex
on 2009-10-16 11:05:19

Short and sweet, bottom line. Very chilled mix in a strange way. The kick is very subtle and might use a boost, but I know this is Quinn's first addition to OCR. It still has a cool lush sound to it that I heartily enjoy. The drums getting a little repetitive, but the filtering helps a bit. Cool synth choices that give it an OCR retro feel. Since the piece is short, there's not much more to say but good job!

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OA
on 2008-02-12 12:13:52

Short!

But decent, despite it's length. The grooves are strong with this one, and though things sound somewhat lofi due to the effects used, it's still an enjoyable track. The bass is pushed super far back though and it makes things a bit on the weak side.

Basically I think this would be a lot stronger if it was cleaned up, the bass was increased, and maybe some additional sections were added. The source is a good track, but as is, the mix is good but not great.

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Liontamer
on 2007-10-05 15:36:49

Ah man, I remember this one vividly. This was around mid-2002 when I finally listened to all of the ReMixes available. At the time, this was newly posted, and when I checked it out, I found a new favorite ReMixer.

In retrospect with Quinn's style, probably heavy on some looooopz, but Quinn's the best at making any drumloop fit well in the bigger picture and not seeming slapped on. He really crafts the rest of the arrangement well, and there was nothing else like it on OCR.

A brief ReMix, but it definitely got me interested in not only Quinn's work, but also the Phantasy Star Online soundtracks in general. And THAT is what a successful arrangement can do. Old-school hotness. Remember to kick Rob for his evil leadoff review.

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mecca
on 2005-05-04 06:17:40

This WORKS. It's rare that a composer can find an alternative style (break beat in this case) and make it mix so perfectly, well done :) Get working on your next PSO mix!

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jordex
on 2005-05-03 21:03:42

heh I've been longing for a PSO mix but I can't even tell what song this is. I can faintly here the Lobby theme in some parts but I guess that's good enough for me. The rest is all sweet fuzzy noise which I highly enjoyed! Quinn goes a bit too far on changing around melodies but this is still a great song if you're not familiar with PSO music

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Jabberbox
on 2004-12-05 23:11:13

it rarely got bold or soft... just kinda in the mddle... it can be awkward at times...

however, it is still good

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Quinn X5
on 2004-09-09 19:33:03

Thanks to all who have checked this out.... it's an older tune, but I'm glad to see that it holds up moderately well. This mix was a blast to do about three years ago, and I guess I'm still slightly proud of it...

Anyway, thanks again!

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KnockKnock
on 2004-09-09 05:47:34

Brilliant.

This song uses colours I've never heard before, and achieves eternity in under three minutes. It defies 'music' and reaches cosmological proportions. It is not music of this Earth, but of some distant inhabited planet resembling the scapes of Dali, only with flying cars or something.

The percussion track is a little over the top in terms of manipulation, but that's quite alright given how magical (in the mycological sense) this mix is.

Ethereal and preternatural.

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Kiyobi
on 2004-07-15 18:11:29

maybe it's just me, but this song is much quieter than the other OCR's i have on my list.

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Ledneh
on 2004-02-20 01:26:01

Well, it's not quite a Slashdotting, but it's definitely something. ;)

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Dhsu
on 2004-02-18 20:27:40

PA'd!!!

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Agentflit
on 2004-02-18 17:25:55

Oh, wow. This song should see a lot more traffic, since it was just linked to from the front page of Penny Arcade.

Been on my playlist for a long time.

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Odon
on 2003-10-03 00:04:01

I dunno. I pretty much thought this was good, if a bit soft...

If they'd used this in teh lobby on that game, I think it wouldave been an improvement.

^_^

Kudos.

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Fyrewave
on 2002-09-06 11:42:58

forgot to install the bass. Gave my sub a much needed break but not my ears. A little more range on both ends could be useful too. good melody tho, came from good material.

Not too fond of this mix. :cry:

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Paix Vraie
on 2002-07-13 01:55:30

:? Well done...

Well, being a huge PSO fan I am very bias, but I would like to express that I think the mix is excellent. I like it because there is a hidden deeper level that you have to listen closely to, and it gives me a certain feeling. It's kind of like listening to someone whisper. Though it's not the greatest remix I obviously liked it. The problem is, it is too short. It should have broken out into something more later in the mix. That would have been sweet, but it's still dece. :wink:

My Rating 3.5/5 Short, but sweet. Being a PSO fan, thanks for the coverage, more please!

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Phantasy Star Online (Sega , 2000, DC)
Music by Fumie Kumatani,Hideaki Kobayashi
Songs:
"Day dawns"

Tags (4)


Genre:
Ambient
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electronic,Synth
Additional:
Time > Duration: Short

File Information


Name:
Phantasy_Star_Online_Lobby_Static_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
1,791,884 bytes
MD5:
9dfadcdf30a0445f3a5ecf27fe17684d
Bitrate:
112Kbps
Duration:
2:02

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