ReMix: Pac-Man 'Glass Cage'

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Avant-garde, post-modern, contemporary... Pac-Man? Seriously, someone could set Israfel's latest mix, a very slick, atmospheric, highly original arrangement of the Pac-Man theme, to an interpretive dance or performance art piece and it'd totally work. Highly conceptual stuff from Mr. Dover:

"This is a minimalist take on the main Pac-man theme, you know, that short 5 second diddy that plays in the arcade version. The idea of the piece is that the theme would repeat throughout the whole mix in one form or another- and that the theme would gradually become more recognizable as the music progressed. I thought of it like a TV getting a progressively clearer reception (incidently, a TV is one of the things that 'Glass Cage' refers to).

Sure it's a bit creepy and you might think that that doesn't really fit the "feel" of pacman; but c'mon, a guy trapped in a maze while being chased by ghosts, sounds pretty freaky to me."

To me, it's the perfect vision of what Pac-Man would sound like if his brief life story were analyzed, deconstructed, and made into an hour long exploratory performance art piece with choreography by Twyla Tharp. What drives a spherical yellow man to wander around, trapped in the machinations of his own maze-like patterns? What meaning does he derive from his conspicuous consumption, a clear critique on capitalism? And will he ever reconcile with the ghosts of his past lives, which still haunt him as terrible, blue, metaphorical manifestations? Questions Namco doubtless pondered at the time. Honestly, even though I'm an English major and love the arts, I do find post-modernism and deconstruction a bit silly at times. However, even when it is, the music that it gets set to is usually excellent, and this mix is no exception. It really reminds me of some of the Blue Man group tunes, largely because of the strong chromatic percussion presence and layered, metrical reuse of motifs. The ever-flamboyant Wingless, who himself needs to be deconstructed some time by a willing class of post-grads, writes:

"I'm always impressed with artists who can mold something out of nothing. I myself was contemplating doing the Pac Man theme, but in a sort of death-defying maximilist style. But enough about you, let's talk about me.

Isra always has a keen ear for nuance, emotion, and dynamic-landscaping. I especially enjoyed the different "movements" of the piece, from the opening crawl through the insane asylum where Pac Man has been kept all these years, to the deep spiral of his spider-woven thoughts, deep deep down into that twisted heart that bleeds obsidian tears into a well of irredeemable sorrow.

Daring. Deft. Dood."

How triune. This does have to be one of the very best examples of taking an extremely short but immediately identifiable game theme and arranging it into something mature, developing, and atmospheric. I'd use the term "academic" to describe it, but that sounds rather stale and lifeless, and that's not the case here; "intelligent" would be better word choice. Might not be for everyone, but as a would-be composer I respect the heck out of it, and I think almost anyone could both recognize the source material and appreciate the highly imaginative and musically effective way it's been utilized.

― djpretzel

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

Ooooooh (though not to be proceeded by "ahhhh").
This one is real creepy. Eerie. Disturbing. Haunting. And simple.
I'd actually like to hear this mix played live... some parts might have to be a little tailored, but I think if I were in a packed concert hall and the lights went out and that marimba started playing, I'd soil myself (well, I might soil myself even before the marimba starts :/).

- SoulinEther on December 29, 2008

How very creepy. It's like your watching a Pacman horrormovie where he shares his inner thoughts. He's walking the lonely corridor. He's following a track of cheese pieces, mostly to try to still his never-ending hunger he got when he was trapped inside this cursed maze. He continues to walk. And arrives at a fork. Will he take the left? Or the right?
Pearls of sweat begins to roll down his circular body, confused as much as you can be. He takes the left, NO, the right, NO again, he takes the left.
He feels the prescense of something else. His company has so far only been his thoughts, the weird cheeseballs and the monumental walls surrounding him. He continues his walk, only to realize that he's followed by a green quilt! He quickly starts running, but the green chaser comes closer. He races through the empty halls only to find more cheese but also new forks in the road, and somehow the creepy habitants behind him manages to gather in their pursuit of our round hero. He starts to grow weak, and the haunting but yet colored creatures draws closer.
He starts to lose faith, but then he sees one lonely cheeseball at the far end of the corridor. Why it's there he doesn't know, but he wants to find out before this weirdos surrounds him and puts him at the bottom of the high score list. His heart beats drums fast like it's been drinking several mugs of coffee, and when he finally reaches it, everything fades away, and a big glowing sign descends from he roof. It says ”Stage Clear”.
At least what I think of when I hears this, the marimba israfel has chosen sounds almost exactly like if your drumming on glass bowls, and it really contributes to the title. The strings makes a fenomenal work to enhance the fear this remix gives off, never thought that Pacman could be changed into something like this. Excellent work Israfel, excellent indeed. :D

- Bummerdude on January 7, 2006

This mix reminded me of Metroid music, from the more recent games, with its choir samples and atmospheric strings and percussion surrounding a vague background tune.
This is background music at its finest; it's like the subtle and changing lighting, the perfect acoustics, and moody backdrop of a play that laughs at the actors in the spotlight that believe they're the reason the audience is enthralled.
Excellent work. :D

- joltmans on September 28, 2005

3 seconds of silence? Could that be a John Cage reference? The first thing I thought of upon seeing the name was him and the aforementioned Philip Glass. Heh.
Uh, I don't really have experience on commenting on music, but I liked it. Par for the course for Israfel's stuff, it seems.

- Creepy on September 21, 2005

I'm thinking of Magneto in X-Men ,imprisoned in a cage made of clear plastic. Close enough.
As for the song .. i liked it 8)
8/10

- RimFrost the Tourianist on September 19, 2005

I'm glad to see this on ocr for a number of reasons, which have all already been mentioned here.
Brooding stuff, Israfel.

- metaphist on September 19, 2005

Finally, some inovation.

- Shael Riley on September 18, 2005

Reminds _me_ of Steve Reich, particularly Tehillim... looping percussion hit by vocals and strings, although without the repeated phase shifts. I just love the backing provided by the perc, providing the solid base for all the other voices to chime in.
I give it an A/A+ :D

- LightFantastic on September 18, 2005

Genius, pure genius. can we have a remix of the cut scene tune next? :)

- HylianLink on September 18, 2005

It's simply incredible was this ReMix creates out of the minimalistic pacman tune.
That dark and creepy atmosphere is amazing.
Really like the choir and strings a lot.
This might not fit the typical Pacman feel but this is way beyond Pacman.
:nicework:

Somehow it reminds me of the soundtrack of the pc game American Mc Gee's Alice.
please excuse my worse english

- InitiAteScan on September 17, 2005

Why the heck has this piece taken so long to make OCR? I've had this saved as a WIP on my hardrive for ages now...almost a year and a half I'm thinking. I don't hear any changes at all, but maybe that's why I still like this. I remember listening to this when I was thirteen...(fifteen now..) Why did this wonderful piece take so long to make it? Israfel, I love this piece of music, keep 'em coming. It takes so much skill to turn that little ditty from way back when into something great like this.

- nodspaw51 on September 17, 2005

Am I supposed to be annoyed that it builds for the full time, but there's this one tiny part that it still leaves out?
Because, if I am, it's perfect.
And if I'm not, that's a little annoying, but other than that I think it's perfect.
I see the point about the strings, but I think they were the correct choice for this mood.

- Upthorn on September 17, 2005

I first heard this long ago, and have liked it since. (And the newly added seconds of silence at the end really add to its minimalistic feel—you can't get much more minimalistic than that, I suppose…) I remember having the file sent to me and listening to it without paying attention to the source material. I commented that it sounded strikingly similar to the PAC-MAN theme. Of course I was then informed that perhaps that was because it's a PAC-MAN remix. I guess that goes to show that Israfel stayed true to the source material while still offering a new flavor to things.
I'd agree that it drags on a bit, but on the other hand that's kind of inherent in this genre of music—and part of the point. Though the string sound leaves something to be desired, the marimba sample is really great. Overall, I think the tune is a very creative and well-done take on what is ironically challenging source material.

- Poga on September 17, 2005

Infinitys_End wrote: Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.

I truly laughed out loud(lol) when I read that. But seriously, Isarfel, this is an excellent mix. I'm just jealous I never thought of it. Still, you've inspired me. Perhaps there will be some more minimalist remixes of video games in the near future.

- ubernym on September 17, 2005

Infinitys_End wrote: Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.
Definitely a fan of Philip Glass.

:lol:
Yep. This was actually written right after watching Glass' "Einstein on the Beach."
Glad some of you guys enjoyed this. It is rather old, and in hindsight there are quite a few things I wish I had done differently, but still, on the whole I think it worked out okay. Incidently, this and Greater Alchemic will almost certainly be the only older remixes that I submit. But you still may see some new mixes from me every once in awhile.
Thanks for the comments! :P

- Israfel on September 16, 2005

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