ReMix: Front Mission 'Infinite Natalie'

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Imagine all the Natalie you could possibly handle, and multiply that times a hundred, and you still wouldn't have Shnabubula's latest ReMix, at least in name. The ReMixer has had some very interesting, unorthodox submissions to date, and is prolific as well as multi-influenced, having now ReMixed FF9, Guardian Legend, Evermore, and this, our first Front Mission post. The ReMixer writes:

"This mix is a medley of "Force Stall" and "Natalie" from front mission. Both of these songs were written by Noriko Matsueda and not Yoko Shimomura. "Force Stall" (the song at the beginning and end of this mix) is the reason I started to really get into Matsueda and I have now listened to basically everything she's ever done..... so I'd just like to ask that if the remix happens to make it onto the site it should only say Noriko Matsueda in the original composer section (normally no matter who wrote the actual song being remixed all composers involved in the game are usually listed)."

Despite this request, it is currently and for the foreseeable future a "limitation" of our database that ALL composers for a given game be listed. However, I think the desire here was to make it clear that the pieces covered by this mix were composed specifically by Noriko Matsueda, and that the ReMixer is a big fan of Noriko Matsueda and wanted to emphasize that fact. Perhaps by repeatedly emboldening Noriko Matsueda's full name, I can simulate the requested effect of giving specific credit to Noriko Matsueda. Worth a try, at least. Now, if you felt like the ReMixer's most recent FF9 effort was a little too 'out there', this should be more accessible, at least to fans of orchestral. Judge Oji accurately, in my estimation, suggests that this would be right at home on a Front Mission arranged album. It's an essentially percussionless (timpani rarely, for accentuation) piece that strongly relies on ensemble woodwinds and a deliberate, nested chord progession to achieve a contemporary, evolving symphonic mood. In some of the intonation and style, this reminds me a bit of Israfel's work, and he had good things to say in judging the piece:

"Excellent orchestration and your use of counterpoint and harmony shows a great deal of maturity. Those wondering why I keep harping on about form in some of my other comments would do well to listen to this mix- there are a limited number of musical ideas here and each is fully developed to give the piece a very satisfying and "complete" feel. Great all the way through and the section from 4:15 to the end in particular is very well done, in my opinion. Fantastic work."

It's rare to hear a mix that so exposes solo clarinet, flute, bassoon, and oboe, and the ReMixer pulls it off with quite lovely dynamics and, as Israfel mentions, counterpoint. There's also a fanfare trumpet that reminds me of Yuzo's Actraiser title screen tunage. I think it's fair to call this a more mature orchestral composition, as while it's not immediately catchy or bombastic in the way classic John Williams-type pieces are, it's quite intricately structured. Larry points out that some of the winds do get a bit "shrill" at times, which Ari echoed by indicating certain parts were at times too loud, and I'd say this is the single biggest nitpick I could throw Shnabubula's way. Other than that, though, it's a very refined, rich arrangement of some more esoteric Squaresoft territory. And did I mention that both pieces covered happened to be by Noriko Matsueda?? Good stuff from the versatile but consistently provocative Shnabubula.

― djpretzel