ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Forever Until Tomorrow'

 prev   list all   next 

Download MP3
5,983,864 bytes, 5:34, 143kbps

The return of Star Salzman? At the very least, another refined, epic, magnum opus, complete with original lyrics and vocals... because you wouldn't have it any other way. Somewhat coincidentally, I was randomly posting some shizz on SS's facebook account right around the time he was putting the finishing touches on this, his first mix in over a year. He writes:

"It’s (big surprise) a Chrono Trigger mix of the 1000AD theme. I tried to give it a hybrid early-70’s progressive rock treatment coupled with slightly analog synths and a rockin' guitar solo by my friend Paul Baxter (if this gets posted, he needs some credit)."

The genre of choice in this instance isn't my particular favorite; I'd chalk it more in the alt rock category, with progressive tendencies, which means it's a little less poppy/catchy than some of the mixer's previous efforts. But that's just me, and I've got a sweet tooth for strong, indelible melodic hooks, a strict diet of which will surely lead to musical cavities... bottom line is that, while you might not find yourself humming the chorus like with Robot or Dreams, it's still a Salzman, which is all you should need to know. I specifically love the wonderful attention paid to the bassline - an electric that sounds fretless at times - with the rapid articulations and variance the part is endowed with throughout. It's the type of detail that Star consistently gets right and which consistently give his arrangements not only polish but incredible depth. You've also got his appropriate and emotive vocals and lyrics that intelligently play with the motif of time: "I hope you don't mind temporal anomalies. / The speed of light's a limit we can break now". Very cool; nice corresponding mix title, too, for that matter. Mr. Salzman's mixes represent a variety of styles and influences, which this piece continues the tradition of, but all of them share an attention to detail that lends them a singular signature style. While the phrase "It's a Salzman!" (tm) might sound like a cheap ad campaign of some sort, it really has come to convey a set of expectations - invariably met - about a piece's production, composition, originality, and depth. This one fires on all such cylinders, and belongs amongst its peerless peers with the rest of Star's work. Great stuff.

― djpretzel

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

Woah. This actually made me toss a tear. I usually don't like "fan-made" vocals. :shock:

- jelloegg on May 8, 2009

I can't believe I haven't posted to this mix yet. Les sigh...
This mix is very near and dear to me, but for more than just its quality.
See when it got posted I was sent on a business trip (alone) to an obscenely hot tropical country, and being from Northern Canada I had no idea how to handle it. It ended up I got really sick and wanted to go home because I was convinced I would die (dehydration + tropical environs + no hospital or view of civilization for a long ways + being a wuss), and ended up spending a lot of time in bed listening to my ipod. This mix came on and I just put it on repeat and rocked out, and having that little piece of familiar (ok just posted but it was still english) awesomeness really helped me out. I think it was just that calming soundfield and hopeful overtone that really clicked, and to this day every time I hear this song come up I just pause and remember.
Ok that was sappy, but true. Just thought I would share.

- Master_Yoshi on February 20, 2009

Star Salzman is easily one of the best vocalists on this site, perhaps the best. I love the raw emotion in this song, but what I love best is the constant vascillation between weight and weightlessness. Dare I say it, it feels as if you are a grain of sand in an hourglass that's being turned end-to-end. At times you feel suspended in air, sort of like when you're on a roller-coaster just about to plummet 40 feet. And at other times, you feel compressed, as if gravity has twice its normal pull. It's quite a ride, and quite a mix of genres and timbres wrapped up in one song. It's not for the faint of heart or perhaps a musical purist, but I love it.

- Arwen on October 9, 2008

You would think I'd be sick of this song after listening to it so many times (often repetitively). Nope!
I'm sure everyone before me has praised it to bits. Ditto.
Rock on Mr. Salzman, rock on.

- glasfen on September 24, 2008

...I want to write an intelligent comment on the musical-theory aspects of this song, but the sheer levels of epic win have paralyzed my ability to analyze musical awesomeness and comment on it, so you're all just going to have to settle with another "omfg thiz song r0xx0rd my b0xx0rz!11"
This is an absolutely wonderful remix that really brings a new light to what I previously thought was an overused source track that could never go anywhere else (How absolutely dead-wrong I was!).
Fantastic job, and easily an instant favorite.

- CobaltDelta on September 24, 2008

Incredible lyrics, sung with the right edge of anger/frustration that would be anyone's reaction on having to re-learn the laws of time and space. The music is very good... there's a couple of points where it seems that there's too much going on, but that's a personal taste issue.
Quite excellent. :-)

- Mockingbird on March 10, 2008

Wonderful production qualities. The bassline in particular is ecstatic. The lyrics are painfully cheesey, though. (It worked for Singing Robot, but for this song it's a little harder to enjoy the kitsch effect.) The piano parts at the beginning and the end are also really great - so clear and clean, masterfully layered composition on top of the well-known melody.
Despite the general quality of the singing itself, though - which is standard Salzman superb quality - I think I'd still prefer an instrumental version, so that lines about the water "spinning backwards" wouldn't distract from appreciating the superb instrumentation.

- mDuo13 on December 10, 2007

Holy freakin' crap. Mr Salzman has always been one of the male singers I've admired on this site, but this particular production blows my mind. I love the classical introduction, it sets the pace of the song. And I love the heavy percussion mid-way. This song gets me going and keeps me going on days when I have to hussle, and it's just a great listen for any time of the day, all day, forever until tomorrow.

- MechaFone on December 8, 2007

Inspiring in just about every way.
To pick one thing to comment on, the vocal production is really nice. I'm digging the clean recordings, very subtle but effective harmonies, uber-even dynamics (I wonder what compressors were used and where they were applied in the FX chain), creative and not overbearing or obvious use of pitch-modification, and the fact that the mid-heavy vocals gives them a synthetic quality that blends beautifully with the other instruments (a rich vocal track with warm lows and bright highs would have killed it imo).
If anyone ever sees me driving down the highway screaming at the top of my lungs with the windows rolled up, there's a good chance I'll be singing along to one of these parts:
[LIST]
[*]The wrong way...the wrong way...THE WRONG WAY!
[*]Then I awake...at the end of time. Time and space are friends of mine. Someone let me out of here!
[*]And the hourglass is working upside down!
[/LIST]
Nice.

- Harmony on November 2, 2007

Nice piano in there!! I loved the guitar! Just one thing though!! PLEASE get me a non vocal version. For several reasons:

1. The singer is good, but not trained. Not trying to judge as I would have trouble with this one as well!

2. It would make a great remix for me to sing to!!!

3. The guitar, piano, drums totally ROCK!! They'd be cool by themselves.

4. Lyrics could use some polishing, but there are definitely some GREAT sections.

Very memorable mix though!! I will TOTALLY listen to this one often. Despite my complaints, the pros outweigh the cons!!!

- DarkClark on November 2, 2007

I'm positively in love with this song. My iPod Shuffle can't seem to get past it. I just can't do it. It ends and I go right back to the beginning. I have to listen to this song. It has such a grip on me that it gives me chills. The piano, the bass, the drums, the vocals... Egads, the vocals! EXQUISITE. And the lyrics are fantastic. Lastly, the length of the song makes me happy because quite frankly I honestly want this song to last forever!

- Alimah Kali on October 31, 2007

Just heard this for the first time today (I listen to the first 1500 locally, don't usually download the new tracks) and instantly fell in love with it. Excellent vocals, sweet bass line, and overall an excellent remix. Definitely added to my favorites list.

- dantheman on August 15, 2007

ever since my obsession with the Chrono trigger OST begun, I have been waiting for *this* remix..

- MojoHamster on July 7, 2007

I can't believe how great this is. I admit I was a bit put off when I read what the source was but the song just obliterated that feeling before the vocals even began. It just elicits such powerful emotions(from me anyways). Although I think in this case, as I did with Pillars of Salt, the vocals add so much to the piece despite how indifferent I am about the actual lyrics. Giant props to the vocalist.

- Feyhd on June 6, 2007

Martin Penwald;273033 wrote: The vocal work is simply amazing; some of the best stuff I've ever heard on OCR.

Seconded. That was incredible! Keep up the good work!

- FusionSamus on June 5, 2007

Download MP3

• Size: 5,983,864 bytes
• MD5 Checksum: 93919acb748d386bb28a3aa499fc147f

• Download from iiens.net
• Download from Aplus
• Download from Dreamhost
• Download from ocrmirror.org

Help us save bandwidth - using our torrents saves us bandwidth and lets you download multiple mixes as a single download. Use the tracker below and scroll for more information, or visit http://bt.ocremix.org directly, and please don't forget to help us seed!!

Chiptunes, as well as sample-based formats like RSN/SPC for the SNES, allow you to replay the original soundtracks to many of your favorite games. The resources below will help you get started downloading and listening to chiptunes.

Download Chrono Trigger Chiptune

• HTTP - Aplus Mirror
• HTTP - Dreamhost Mirror

Winamp + Chipamp = Nostalgia

Play chiptunes in 40+ formats with the free Chipamp Plugin Bundle, available at www.chipamp.org. The combination of Winamp and Chipamp is one of the easiest ways to get up and running, playing chiptunes and other game audio formats in no time at all.

Download Chipamp today, and don't worry about tracking down the right plugin - we did the work for you.