ReMix:Chrono Trigger "Cosmic Whispers" 5:01

By DrumUltimA

Arranging the music of one song...

"Secret of the Forest"

Primary Game: Chrono Trigger (Square , 1995, SNES), music by Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda

Posted 2014-12-11, evaluated by djpretzel


2014 isn't over just quite yet, but so far this year we've initiated the OCRI catalog line of independent arrangement albums, beginning with Audio Engineering: A Tribute to Cid, we've KICKED SOME SHELL by partnering with KNGI & Dwelling of Duels to release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shell Shocked, we've released our FIRST album from the Mario series with the long-awaited Super Mario 64: Portrait of a Plumber, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy with Legacy, we've launched a Patreon campaign to take the site further (we appreciate your support!), and we've created OverClocked Records as a separate entity to sell game soundtracks, arrange albums, and original music from the community!

Where DID we find the time? I still don't even know... we've now posted 247 ReMixes this year, and it's no accident that for the last several years, that number has consistently increased. I have been very intentionally trying to improve our workflow, and while there is still MUCH to be done, at least that one specific number has been moving in the right direction: upwards.

As a late-breaking addition, The A.V. Club (associated with The Onion) JUST published a feature TODAY: "The staff and artists of OverClocked ReMix make us a list of their favorite video game-inspired songs" - thanks to Matt Gerardi for making us think & collecting a meaningfully diverse list of arrangements from the 3000+ mixes on the site!

Our 15th and final flood mix comes from DrumUltimA, who sends us a jazzy solo vibraphone arrangement from a little game called Chrono Trigger, for the SNES. Perhaps you've heard of it. As a side note, if you've been keeping track, every single one of these fifteen flood mixes was from a different game system/platform!! Kudos again to Larry Oji for making that happen; mind = blown. Doug writes:

"Hi, guys! Been a while since I've submitted anything, but I thought I would try to re-instigate my activity by submitting an improvisation I recorded a little while ago. Hopefully, it's not too liberal for you all! This was part of a three-track set that my jazz trio (Department of Jazz) was working on called Triggernometry, which is also where the name came from. ;) Hope you enjoy!"

I do enjoy. So does Palpable:

"Doug's pieces are always incredibly distinctive, so it's a treat when he gives us something new. Here he's narrowed his focus to solo vibraphone; a jazzy, wistful take on "Secret of the Forest" that is still as stunning as his pieces with fuller instrumentation. The first half of the song follows the original melody closely, but there are some interesting note choices sprinkled in, some of them even a little bitter, that hint the song isn't going to be played straight. At the start of the second half, Doug takes us on some beautiful runs and original writing that sound completely unforced. Of course, the piece is well-performed too, the delicate staccato playing at 2:16 standing out as a highlight. Hope Doug keeps sending us those good vibes."

Punderful. So Doug may punch me in the face for saying this, but I've got this thing where almost any solo vibraphone music reminds me of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It's MY problem, but you know what? It's not really a problem, because I loved that show. That man had the most colorful assortment of immaculate sweaters the world has ever seen. Basically, I have an instant positive connotation with solo vibraphone stuff that's in a mellow and/or jazzy style, so this is like DOUBLE NOSTALGIA for me. It's nice to see solo instrumental submissions from instruments other than piano; Pot Hocket comes to mind, representing classical guitar, but in general the ivories dominate that landscape. Vinnie's right in that Doug's musical mind is quite unpredictable - you never know what to expect - but this feels like an arrangement that was quite natural for him, and just kind of flowed; something purer & closer to his musical nerve, perhaps. He knows this instrument so well that it's like a part of him.... a dougaphone... or a vibradoug, perhaps... and I think that comes through in this arrangement/performance. It also virtually guarantees that this arrangement, of a relatively popular & oft-mixed theme, will be uniquely his. I could walk you through the highlights, but in this case it's really one long highlight, i.e. a performance that exists as a singularity to be experienced. Great stuff.

We hope you enjoyed these fifteen ReMixes celebrating fifteen years of OverClocked ReMix. A huge thanks to Larry for putting it together, for ALL of the artists featured, and to ALL of you who have made this site & community what it is and have kept it going for so long!!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 9 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Necrox
on 2015-12-04 16:43:27

GREAT arrangement of this tune. Every section has its place and the playing is excellent too. Just beautiful.

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Chernabogue
on 2015-12-02 16:22:23

This is beautiful. The arrangement is lovely, especially considering it's vibraphone-only. I love how you can hear Doug breathing while recording this, it adds a very natural feeling to the track. It's a very relaxing remix, with just the right amount of post-FX to improve what's already sounding excellent. Doug, please more! :)

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Crulex
on 2015-01-09 11:47:08

I'm really digging the smooth jazzy atmosphere behind the music of this ReMix, and hearing it off multiple percussion points is pretty cool. Might be my speakers or ears, but the vibraphone sounded a bit sharp at times, especially on the higher notes, but other than that little thing, quite the classy mix. I quite like this.

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OverClocked PodCast
on 2015-01-06 23:08:04

You know, I just can't get into the vibraphone. Perhaps that empty cling is part of its beauty, but the instrument-- when played alone-- always sounds hollow to me. That said, I can hear the chilled out intricacies here and totally appreciate them. Well done! :)

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DimeTower
on 2014-12-17 01:25:16

Boy, what a unique take. The staccato section really does catch your ear, but I actually enjoyed getting lost in the flowing (yet distinct hits) of the vibraphone. I feel that working within one instrument really allows some writing/playing talent to come to the forefront, and this mix has it in spades - what a joy to listen to the purity of this track, considering it takes the well-known source and gives it all kinds of character and interesting direction. Impressive!!

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Magnum Octopus
on 2014-12-12 12:51:43

That glissando at the very beginning was the perfect intro to a beautiful arrangement. Palpable mentioned the staccato section already, but that's just one example of the attention to detail on this track.

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CyberSkull
on 2014-12-12 10:13:36

Nice, fairly mellow version. I like the original, but at the same time I can't listen to it. I don't like the high notes in "Secret of the Forest" or "Yearnings of the Wind".

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Black_Doom
on 2014-12-11 15:15:48

This is the 3rd arrangement of Secret of the forest is this year... And the final mix of 2013 is a Secret of the Forest mix too. And every of those mixes has its own style: dubstep, chiptune + cello, ambient/orchstral and now we have another interpretation of the source tune. And you know what? Doug is awesome. His percussion skills are insane, so I was prepared for something smooth, jazzy and I got it. He created terrific atmosphere with his glassy vibes. A bit mysterious, a bit gloomy, a bit bright. Great as always.

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Liontamer
on 2014-12-11 00:50:52

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Chrono Trigger (Square , 1995, SNES)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu,Noriko Matsueda,Yasunori Mitsuda
Songs:
"Secret of the Forest"

Tags (5)


Genre:
Jazz
Mood:
Mellow
Instrumentation:
Vibraphone
Additional:
Production > Live Instruments
Production > Live Recording

File Information


Name:
Chrono_Trigger_Cosmic_Whispers_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
7,322,833 bytes
MD5:
368bdcd352d542e92ccebac8a9c4f122
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
5:01

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