ReMix: Blaster Master 'Into The Earth'

Download MP3
5,959,403 bytes, 4:58, 160kbps

• Trade-in your Games or Anime DVDs!
• OC ReMix Shirts & Merch
• Games:
  • DS | GBA | GC | PS2 | WII | XBOX | 360
  • Imports & Pre-owned
• Anime:
  • DVDs & Merchandise

Nines, aka Ian Williams, was the victim of an unfortunate series of events wherein an individual calling himself "Ayrez" submitted Nines' ReMixes as if they were his own. Thankfully, all was sorted out, but if you come across any of the pieces attributed to Nines on this site on P2P, etc. and the ID3v2 tags are outdated, please correct them before sharing with others so the right guy gets the credit. Adding to his three other impressive mixes, this is the first mix Nines has submitted on his own behalf. It's more laid back, an extended synth groove with cavernous reverb (goes with the title, eh?), creepy atmospheric percussion, an FMish harp, VERY funky rubberband bass (listen closely to the pitch bends - yummy in the tummy), and a delicate flute/pipe instrument that lends an organic element. "Melody" is more impressionistic here and not necessarily the focus - as with most ambient & new age, which I'd classify this as, the emphasis is on establishing sort of a soundscape, ephemeral, spacious, distant yet intimate, and a whole bunch of other cliched adjectives as well :) However, so much new age music out there is formulaic to the point of being laughable - the old "sit on a chord for a minute, let it evolve, then for variety throw in maybe one other chord" school of new age composition - that the genre is often dismissed. Cheesy as it may sound, I actually think Yanni's done a lot to give new age a better reputation by actually doing some legit composition. The other way "intelligent" (i.e. non auto-pilot) new age can work is if there's sonic variety, and the piece not only evolves but mutates, and I think Nines has done that here. There's some very interesting percussion, a filtered synth pattern that again involves some cool pitch-bend work, and an overall sense of movement and travel + descent that work well with the Blaster Master environment. Recommended.

― djpretzel