ReMix: ICO 'Save Me (OCR Edit)'

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Yes, SGX just had a collaboration mix posted that he worked on with FFMusic Dj (Shining Force 3 for those with poor short-term memories), but while that was directly posted this came up through our judges panel. Coma introduced me to ICO, which I'd heard only good things about, around a week ago, and it's quite a cool game. Essentially, the logical 3D extension of classic adventure/puzzle games like Out of this World or Heart of Darkness into the new era, with a lighting engine that's quite beautiful. Nice, conducive timing that I just played the game for the first time with our first mix of the very minimal soundtrack appearing - this covers the save game music (where you sit on the very uncomfortable-looking stone couch and what not), as the mix title cleverly refers to. This is good trance, dressed up to the 9's in all manners of DSP trickery, layered synth work, and a good ear for the overall balance of the bass, midrange, and upper register. The ReMixer provides some info: "I used some voice samples from the game again like I did with More Than A Weapon. As with Panzer Dragoon, ICO uses a made up language (actually, two different ones, I believe). So I pretty much don't know what any of the samples I used mean. They just sounded cool. Though the last Yorda sample I used is from the end of the game when the good old screen with "~fin~" comes up." - from what I could discern, one of the languages is actually Japanese, or at least had some common shreds that I could recognize from watching anime. It's impressive what SGX does with this very inconspicuous piece of BGM - I wouldn't have thought it sustainable without a degree of monotony, but this mix clocks in at 6'38" and doesn't feel too long. Beatdrop in particular liked this one: "Ahhh... videogame music transformed into ultimately soothing dream trance. This is really good. Everything mixes together, and even though some of the synth textures aren't entirely original, that's bound to happen a LOT, so I can't hold that against this remix. Nice transition at about 2:50 with some nifty log percussion, a neat little breakdown, and some nice flanged synth work. FX are used quite thoughtfully, and nothing is too drenched in reverb or EQed improperly. The dynamics are wonderful, too." - if you like well-constructed trance, this is a must-have, even if you haven't played the game. If you like adventure/puzzle games, and have a PS2, you definitely owe it to pick ICO up, though, as I plan to - you can get it pretty cheap at most stores nowadays. Pleasing, quality electronica from some fresh source material that gets inventive with a minimal piece of BGM, showing a lot of creativity - recommended.

― djpretzel