ReMix:EarthBound "Red Blue Sanctuary" 5:38

By Binster

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Sanctuary Guardian", "Welcome to Your Sanctuary"

Primary Game: EarthBound (Nintendo , 1994, SNES), music by Hirokazu Tanaka, Hiroshi Kanazu, Keiichi Suzuki, Toshiyuki Ueno

Posted 2005-12-18, evaluated by the judges panel


So, let's cover some other news before moving on to Binster's delicious + nutritious Earthbound groove. Both Jill and myself have had anime remixes posted recently over at animeremix.org; speaking for myself, my Wolf's Rain remix is probably the best vocal track I've put together to date, and Jill's Fruits Basket piece is similar to Prayer, but more layered and elaborate, showing strong development at aspects of mixing other than vocals (which she was already amazing at) - check 'em both out if you've got some time. As sort of a "where are they now", I also thought it was interesting to see mutagene releasing a number of free VST effects, and McVaffe doing some pretty impressive photography. Cool.

I was actually going to post this mix directly, but didn't have enough time to compare against the source material before heading out to Vegas last month, so the panel got the gig. JigginJonT has recently come on board to try his hand at the whole judging scene, and had this to say:

"I'm not particularly wild about how this feels like two different remixes put back to back, but I'd say there's enough stylistic similarities between the two sections to provide some continuity. I actually kind of like the click leading up to the start of the track, reminds me of the transition between "Airbag" and "Paranoid Android" off OK Computer. Production is slick, and though as the other judges pointed out, there's less interpretation going on in the sanctuary garden section, the overall presentation of this ReMix puts it over the bar. Groovin'"

Binster certainly has a way of creating distinct, striking electronic textures - there's all sorts of effects and layers at work here, over top a relatively straightforward groove anchored by phat bassline. Phat bassline is important, and Binster has phat bassline, so that's a good thing. The first half is darker, more of a funk/jam, with the second half having a poppier, synth candy, major-key vibe. Most of the third minute is used to layer effect upon effect into a cacophony that builds and then washes away in the transition to mellower remains. Some of the vocoded effects towards the end, while tasteful and pretty slick, are mixed a little loud, and spike a bit too much treble into things at times. Larry writes:

"Cool stuff with the SFX starting at 4:30 that later revealed itself to be saying "Welcome to your sanctuary" when finally exposed at 5:13. Very intelligent stuff. Arrangement (treated as a whole) and production are solid. Nice contrast between the two sections as well."

Binster continues to show off a seemingly endless plethora of sonic variety in his work, and contributes yet another arrangement that smartly showcases this strength and pays an excellent homage to the source songs.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Ruki
on 2014-06-20 20:21:25

This remix will always have a special place in my cold, icy heart.

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urdailywater
on 2013-02-25 18:13:41

Great mix here - it sounds like it belongs right in the game. I know it's a small part of the song, but I especially like the small section around :56. It's super trippy and fun sounding.

Nice harmonics going on throughout the piece. The second half also fits well, and I thought had a really nice dreamy feeling soundscape. The overall beat and bass is super good too.

The vocals are a bit piercing, but it's not a problem for too long. Nice ending, by the way! I like it when songs end the way yours did.

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Drachefly
on 2013-01-22 18:21:44

This is one of my favorites.

Starts simple and sweet, nostalgic.

1:14 added a nice bit of complexity...

then 1:24... !

Through 1:40 you get a takeover and wonder what's going on...

2:02 the original chords pierce through and you notice how much it evolved to get to 1:30

And then... I get the chills.

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binster
on 2012-12-22 15:54:26

Good lord Polo, that's a thorough and delightful assessment of my remix :) Your description of it as a storytelling mix is very pleasing - and as for the piercing vocals at the end, yup, I can only apologise about my wayward mastering approaches as a nipper.

I give your review two thumbs up!

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Polo
on 2012-12-19 19:29:47

Despite the intro sounding relatively subdued, the vibe packs a feeling of "this is not going to be an easy or straightforward battle." Places like 1:06 and 1:15 sound neat the way the lead plays the first source tune in a higher/more liberal key. Then, after the reverse cymbal at 1:20-1:22, the soundscape encompasses an increasingly chaotic whirlwind battle of PSI powers. For some reason, the background "voices" at 2:18/2:19 make me imagine a schoolyard bully scene, like the victim's having something stolen or is saying something to the effect of "knock it off!"

Sweet transition to the afterglow - it's like the Guardian has faded into nothingness in a major way AND the Sanctuary it's guarded can finally show itself in its full glory. (That, of course, is detailed in the emerging bounty of more sound effects and synths.)

Not sure what to feel about that "welcome to your sanctuary" sample. I do like how, when it makes its entrance, it livens up the beat like the other synths, and from a narrative viewpoint, its prominence at the end is like Ness becoming fully conscious of the sanctuary's message following a boss fight. But when it's exposed, it sounds unevenly piercing when it pronounces "sanctuary" from the distortion or whatever that's still coating it. I guess I kind of expect it to sound more humanized.

Crafty storytelling mix nonetheless.

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binster
on 2012-01-31 07:26:10
Glad to read at abandonedsheep.com that Mr. Binster is still making awesome music - I just wish he'd make some remixes for us back here once in a while!! :D

I sneaked a little remix out at the tail end of last year - it's on the Wild Arms remix album.

http://armed.ocremix.org/

It's track 2 on disc 2, if you fancy a listen :D

Cheers for the continued support! I should really do another remix...

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WesternZypher
on 2012-01-29 19:21:07

Glad to read at abandonedsheep.com that Mr. Binster is still making awesome music - I just wish he'd make some remixes for us back here once in a while!! :D

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meecrofilm
on 2010-07-09 23:28:10

This just came on shuffle. I felt obligated to come on here and post how much I really dig everything about it. Great work!

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Marmiduke
on 2010-02-13 08:34:18

I have no idea why, but even after listening to it and relistening to it, I always find it utterly unpredictable. It's several delightful discoveries every time. It might be the fact that it so smoothly progresses from source track to source track, or that there is an ebb and flow mechanic in how many sound effects bombard the music. Whatever it is, I'm a massive fan of it. It's not a building mix, rather a mix that does its own thing when it wants to. It's a bizarre rhythm to get into as a listener, but one that is by no means offputting.

Subtle in some ways, unsubtle in others. A pretty curious mix in terms of sound and structure, but a ridiculously entertaining one too.

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OA
on 2009-01-09 14:26:16

Completely nuts, going from overwhelmingly packed to beautiful in a span of a few moments. The themes used are really good, quirky but endearing, and the remix really makes them unique, and is very strong overall.

This isn't a mix everyone will love, but it is one that everyone should give a chance to. Give it a listen and see how you feel. I thought it was really good.

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Dunther
on 2008-05-23 07:43:47

A masterpiece, one of my favourite remixes on OCR.

I used it for a video self-portrait for a school project: http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=0KdysuqqiWA

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Zekian
on 2006-01-05 06:36:38

Much like the Lightning Star remix for Sonic the Hedgehog, I love the first part, and feel like the second part is good, but not quite to my tastes. Despite this, the overall package is great, especially considering I wasn't crazy about the Guardian Theme in the first place.

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juggalojaf
on 2005-12-29 11:32:31

This is a great Earthbound remix! This is my favorite game to hear remixes from, and half of the many I'm heard have been excellent, and this is definitely up there. It's not as melody driven as I prefer in my music, personally, and that's why it didn't get a perfect score. But it is the bomb, and I've just burnt it to a cd to jam in the car and on my trip to Shreeveport today.

PS: Go Gamecocks, stomp Missouri!

EDIT: Huh... I just realized my subject for my review, "8.5/10," isn't anywhere on the dang post. Well, I give this piece a 8.5 out of 10, for the record. Yes, as I said, the bomb and whatnot.

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NeOmega
on 2005-12-21 20:01:42

Wow.

The first time I heard this, I was about to write it off within the first minute, luckily I was busy. I remember hearing the ending and thinking... Huh? Did I just like that? Was that the same song?

This reminds me of two other tracks I find similar in make-up:

Howard Drossins "lava reach" remix

and

BLiNd's Mario Paint 'BLindisDahBomB'

All three start, to be honest, fairly annoying, but end being exceptionally good. This is a yin/yang contrast to the dozens of remixes I find that have an awesome intro, and then sputter into banality.

This track, and the other two I mention, start terribly in my opinion, but then somehow turn into a great piece. ANd by the third or fourth listen, I think... just one more play...

..especially this one, which I just discovered after the 4th listen, does have voices for the schizophrenic at the end... :D

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Heyjohnny
on 2005-12-20 20:04:30

To tell you the truth I'm usually not a big fan of these really technoey songs.....but this is an exception. I love what you've done with the Earthbound songs, and even where it gets a little loud an obnoxious, you were only capturing the feel of Earthbound more. The end is pretty good, and I like all of the strange instruments you have playing in the background. The way you kept throwing in tiny clips of different Earthbound songs is great, and your ability to remix is insane. Rats off to Ya.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
EarthBound (Nintendo , 1994, SNES)
Music by Hirokazu Tanaka,Hiroshi Kanazu,Keiichi Suzuki,Toshiyuki Ueno
Songs:
"Sanctuary Guardian"
"Welcome to Your Sanctuary"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electronic,Synth
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Original

File Information


Name:
EarthBound_Red_Blue_Sanctuary_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,850,337 bytes
MD5:
5ad5532a2eb5fd6bd3a11d8a781fc7aa
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
5:38

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