ReMix: EarthBound 'Dreaming on Distant Shores'

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We haven't had an Earthbound mix since last year, and so Rellik sends us at an opportune time a techno mix that starts with an extended, floaty intro that features distant, swirling, delayed synth atop broken/static fx with faint solo cello and choir leading to a beatdrop (of the non-Dain variety) at 1'27". Honestly, for the first several repetitions of the initial beat, I was actually reminded of my own Socket ReMix from not so long ago - some similarities in progression, rhythm, structure. Nothing overwhelming or even where you could cite anything definite, just my impression. Good techno trance development proceeds further, up until guitar takes over a more defined melody and the piece becomes a little more linear. I actually almost ended up going to the same high school Rellik goes to, way back in like 1994 or something - the DC/Metro area is home to several familiar faces on and around OCR, and it's cool to see people relatively local submitting stuff. The ReMixer writes:

"New mix here, and look, it's electronica again. It's called "Dreaming on Distant Shores", and it's from a song called "A Flash of Memory" from EarthBound. It's sort of... I guess you could call it contemplative trance? With some ambient elements. The whole mix is sort of centered on sound and immersion. Not my favorite type of style, but very fun to make, and fun to listen to! Thanks for checking it out."

At over six minutes, Rellik does the "responsible trance" gig adeptly, keeping things interesting all the way with breaks, and turning the last minutes into a more introspective, melodic affair. The pianoish timbre that accompanies the lovely acoustic guitar for this ending portion is a bit piercing and perhaps a little loud, but it only sticks out because the guitar is so warm and mellow. There's some rather unique percussion, a nasty (in a good way) escalating analogue patch at 3'07" that's followed by some mangled (ditto) breakbeat work, and subtractive and additive policies are well-implemented and do a lot to keep the piece moving forward. You could basically break it into three pieces - the extended, very immersive ambient intro, the quintessentially danceable trance portion that makes up the meat of the mix, and the more melodic outro that retains elements of techno but goes in a more lyrical direction. All three pieces make sense together though, and this is certainly gonna sit well for near-dehydrated Earthbound fans, especially if they're into electronica. Good stuffs.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

More than 3 years later I'm still pretty passionate about the following:
1. I love this song
2. It has no business being on this website (and should be removed)
:)

- richter on February 28, 2008

Ok, first of all, let me just say that hands down this remix is spectacular, and totally deserves to be on the 100.
Second of all, that said, I'm sure that I'm wrong, but where the heck is the Earthbound music? I've replayed the game like 5 times, but quite frankly, I don't notice anything in this remix from it.
Heh, well, that kinda proves that I love this remix though, doesn't it?

- Superrpgman on March 11, 2007

I was going through the torrent file trying to see if there were any interesting songs and found this beauty! What a find it was! Have had it on repeat for at least the last half hour just letting it take me away.
Very excellent work, well worth any and all attention it gets.

- Master_Yoshi on January 1, 2007

I've heard this song more than 300 times and it never gets old. It's just so calming, so beautiful, and still so captivating. It is definitely one of my top 3 favorite songs on the site now and I've heard at least 500 of them. Thank you, Rellik, for this wonderful song. I am so glad this was one of the first songs I downloaded from ocremix.
Very highly recommended, although for me it took a couple playthroughs to look past the static into the dream that it brings. 10/10

- diamondfalcon on September 25, 2006

EVERY single time I listen to this I just go into this pleasure-trance.
I'm doing it again.

- Red Shadow on May 28, 2006

I feel this wonderful remix is actually quite fast and intricate most of the time. Hearing people claim that it's "slow" and "ambient" is the exact opposite of how I listen to it. Must be a different mindset.
Doesn't get much more intense than this rich track. Lovely.

- Gamelore on May 25, 2006

Very trancelike, very calming. As a huge fan of slow, comforting Electronica, I highly enjoy this song. Truly a great remix by Rellik.

- Fiendofthenorth on February 28, 2006

It reminds me a Rez hidden track...

- Hell Pé on February 25, 2006

I've listened to every song on OCR, and this is definitely one of my favorites. This is also one of the songs, on a short list of about a dozen, that have ever made me cry.
Simply put, this song is beautiful. With its haunting introduction, its comforting electronica beat, and its saddening celo; this song covers so much ground that it has always remained interesting to me.
Rellik, I do certainly hope that you will make many more songs along the lines of this one, as it has been richly entertaining to listen to.
-Austin Spafford

- DarkFrog on February 3, 2006

Even with the bevy of new earthbound tracks, this is still the best. Masterful work, Rellik.

- irriadin on November 6, 2005

Nice drums on a sweet echoed synth... this sounds like trip-hop to me, even if there are some trance like parts. Works great on 3D sound.

- Selios on September 16, 2005

Why am I not able to find this song on the RSN? What is it called on that?
Anyhow, great song! I can dig it. Very comforting.

- Arek the Absolute on July 24, 2005

Still one of my favourite pieces on this site, and probably my favourite Rellik piece that I've heard so far. Its worth it to get the Original extended version (Rellik had it as a WIP at some point), its about a minute longer and for me is much more immersive.

- PostNoBills on July 24, 2005

I can hear the similarities in various Earthbound songs within this beautiful piece, although I haven't quite finished the game yet :oops: , but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a completely awesome and well put together piece.
I understand that most remixes are very time consuming, and therefore I show my respect to all you remixers out there. I would be remixing right now if I had the correct equipment......and I'm getting there, but until then I 'll enjoy beautiful masterpieces that inspire me to make something incredible, such as this one.

- Heyjohnny on June 20, 2005

It's the theme that plays after Ness records a melody onto the Sound Stone. For instance, there's a theme that plays when you enter a "Your Sanctuary" location, then there's a melody and a vision, and then "A Flash Of Memory" plays.

- Lucid Faia on June 18, 2005

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