ReMix:ActRaiser "Thy Followers" 4:31

By Russell Cox

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Birth of Humans", "Northwall"

Primary Game: ActRaiser (Enix , 1991, SNES), music by Yuzo Koshiro

Posted 2002-08-23, evaluated by djpretzel


Just one mix tonight, as I'm fading out earlier than usual and will soon need to go lateral, but it's a good one. Actraiser's soundtrack is chock full o' sweets, but this theme and Fillmore are two of the standouts that come immediately to mind. The latter has been funkdafied by moi and technofied by McVaffe, but the former I actually covered a loooonnngggg time ago with a really weird, urban mix that I don't quite remember how I made or what compelled me to do so in such a fashion. Russell Cox, resident Finale-user and maestro of the symphonic mix action gives us a more conventional, classical take on Yuzo's tunage, incorporating additional themes as well into a well-roasted blend that is certainly closer to the original(s) in tone. Of note are the high-quality trombones and trumpets - difficult to do these in solo or ensemble fashion in even a half-believable fashion, but they're pretty smooth here. Epic horns, delicate pizzicato - the usual suspects make their appearances, and Mr. Cox takes his usual risks with cadenza segues and silent spaces that flow into new tangents. Though his craft is improving, Russell's maintained a pretty consistent (and impressive) style, and as long as his orchestral arrangements remain on par, I wouldn't mind hearing dozens of pieces in this vein. This symphonic mix is no exception, and comes recommended as well. One important note - it's late and I don't have time to double-check, but it appears that there's some clipping / static at the very end of this file, around 4'20" - if anyone can verify and if this indeed true, perhaps Russell can send me a fixed version. Might just be my audio card. Usually would check with the artist instead of posting - I'm tired :)

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Drakenwolf
on 2014-04-07 02:35:27

There are no words to describe how much I love the horns and strings in this ReMix. Excellent placement of symphonic instruments here and I could tell Russell put a lot of effort into making this an awesome ReMix. The transition into the second half was questionable to me at first, but I felt it was nicely done after a simple argument with... myself.

I give this ReMix a 9/10.

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Proven Paradox
on 2009-12-06 19:42:18

This seems like two very short remixes slammed together, and both are harmed by the force needed to get them to gel. I felt the Birth of the People section was boring and lacked direction. Meanwhile, the Northwall section is absolutely stunning. There's no real unifying force between them to justify making them a single track (other than perhaps a lack of length, which I don't think is adequate justification for the fusion here). The transition between them felt very clunky and jarring to me. In the end this one probably isn't going to stay in my playlist because the first half just doesn't do it for me. I really like the Northwall segment, but it's dragged down by the first half.

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madmallard
on 2009-07-07 03:25:18

Too bad we haven't heard from Cox in so long, but the winds tell me he's

popped back up recently? Pity I'm no pianist...

I really like his influences. "Lilt" is the adjective that comes to mind when listening to his pieces.

This is a great synthetic symphonic mix. I like 'supa clean' mixes like this that really go after the original work in a faithful way. The flute sample did get a little baked right at the end like some folks have already said, but considering this submission is nearing 9 years old at this point, and its the only negative thing I can come up with, I say download this.

And those comparing it to Symphonic Sweet, which is live rendition CD coming up on 20 years old...I don't think a comparison to it is necessary to enjoy this by itself.

..but what do I know.

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Dj Mokram
on 2009-03-18 19:28:11

This one brings back fond memories...

I love the progression, and the transition between the differents parts of the song.

The swells are quite good, and even though it doesn't sound as good as the symphonic suite

(we're talking Yuzo Koshiro Kaoru Wada, have mercy!), this is a wonderful hommage to the original.

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OA
on 2009-03-18 12:30:25

A step up from a straight medley, but still has some flair to it; unfortunately, while this is a really nice mix, it sounds too similar to the symphonic suite official arrangement, and my mental comparisons to an actual orchestra, even to really good and well used samples are unfair.

Check it out for sure though.

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Palpable
on 2008-10-02 17:25:23

Yeah, very nice piece. I get Birth of the People stuck in my head from time to time but it never occurred to me to check out remixes of it. This definitely does it justice, with some small but nifty alterations to the classic source. Good articulations, and the Northwall theme is handled pretty well too.

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uthlu
on 2008-06-22 14:58:14

A very nice orchestral piece! You get a feeling of grandeur from the first half, and the second half is very light and quite, almost like it's waiting for something, or perhaps like something waking up. I quite like it.

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DragonFireKai
on 2007-04-30 23:59:40

Excellent orchestral piece. Well worth the download.

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watkinzez
on 2005-09-19 04:09:51

This is what you'd call the traditional way to arrange the original source tune, that is, compared to Lord PROTEKTOR. I personally preferred the first half of the mix, being more melodic, or at least a little more up beat (the words 'up beat' in an orchestral song review, go me). The song overall just works well. One of my favourites from Mr Cox.

EDIT- Dammit, I just listened again and I had never noticed the flaw at the ending. It's cool when you don't notice flaws, because you can enjoy the work in question better. Oh well, still a decent piece.

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Txai
on 2005-04-27 16:15:40

Wow, pretty cool stuff! As djpretzel said, trombones and trumpets of great quality. This song is really sweet and beautiful. The flute in the end is a bit awful. But I enjoy this ReMix at all. Lovely.

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PotatoeCS
on 2004-03-14 20:14:38

this music is awesomE ! ^__^

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Lunevalkyrave
on 2004-01-29 22:53:05

Now this is different....and by different I mean special, and by special I mean...special. Naw, anyways Im impressed to say the least, when I heard this I thought it was going to be one of those typical songs that I download, you know the mediocre ones. But I was slaped in the face with a classical tune that swept me of the floor, then started to use me as a mop for the floor, and before you know it I was enveloped in a town where everyone was happy, and this song was playing....or at least I think thats what happened. Anyways I give my first Kudos Bar to Russell Cox today!!!!

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Durinthal
on 2003-12-15 16:33:09

A classical windfall here for those that like orchestral music, with some minor clipping problems preventing it from rising to perfection. Nothing really unexpected here, just a great-sounding symphony: brass are particularly strong, and there's even a fairly prevalent harp in the second half.

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gideon1776
on 2003-10-23 12:43:21

This is an awesome rendition of the original. You truly know what you're doing. Anyway about the clip at the end. I found that if you use the wav hammer on soundforge you can omit the clipping and none of the rest of the sound is disturbed. Outside of that it was very good indeed. :D

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The Berserk Fury
on 2003-07-10 04:38:04
Chrono Trigger - The Sealed Door (Arranged)

Especially McVaffe's remix. \m/

WOW This is something that you would find on a orchrested actraier soundtrack.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
ActRaiser (Enix , 1991, SNES)
Music by Yuzo Koshiro
Songs:
"Birth of Humans"
"Northwall"

Tags (10)


Genre:
Symphonic
Mood:
Epic,Solemn
Instrumentation:
Brass,Chromatic Percussion,Flute,French Horn,Harp,Strings,Woodwinds
Additional:

File Information


Name:
ActRaiser_Thy_Followers_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,508,959 bytes
MD5:
627a65a141c22ac759271e08012a938d
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
4:31

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