ReMix: Guilty Gear X2 'Destroy Movements'

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... and we're back! Much has happened since we last posted anything: our Otakon panel rocked out for a second year, I met Mr. North and many others for the first time, discovered the 1 liter long island at Houlihan's, beat Larry yet again in Third Strike (before getting absolutely stomped by someone who, unlike us, actually knew how to play), we discussed all sorts of plans for future convention panels, I met and chatted with the personable and very down-to-earth Piano Squall, I introduced Andy and Larry to the fantastical world of Melty Blood: Act Cadenza, and we spoke and ate with the excellent and very old skool gentlemen from Mad-Gear. And that's just Otakon... yesterday I turned 28 (thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone), and my beautiful, wonderful, amazing girlfriend got me a PS3, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and other goodies as well. It was more like xmas than any birthday I've previously experienced. Suffice it to say that I'm a happy dude.

If you've recently discovered OCR as a result of our panel or promotional fliers distributed at Otakon, this'll be the first new mix posted since your initial visit - welcome! I mentioned to some at the con that our first mix from the Guilty Gear series was on its way, and indeed, newcomer CHIPP Damage is here to deliver. I've been playing, and loving, Accent Core recently, but before AC and the series more recent incarnations, there was GGX2. When I think GG music, I think metal, so it's interesting to see our first mix take the high-octane shredding the series is famous for and put together an energetic orchestral arrangement, complete with harpsichord. Actually, it's more than just a token element - harpsichord features heavily in most of the composition, adding a very Gothic feel that can't help but channel some Castlevanian vibes. The "movements" bit in the title isn't misleading, either: Jahan segues VERY adeptly from section to section, and the piece covers a formidable array of tempos and tones in its 4'26". The ReMixer writes:

"This is my second resubmission of the my remix of the song Writhe in Pain from Guilty Gear. It's a collaboration this time. Arrangement by me, CHIPP Damage and production by George James. Despite Liontamer's encouraging words about me having what it takes to get this mix on the site, I totally didn't know what else I could do to make the sound quality any better than it was. In fact, I must have a messed up ear for this kind of thing because I was thinking that those were the coolest sounding horns ever. But then ALL of the judges said, "The horns have got to go." Hahaha. Anyway, this is my last hope. After getting help from George James, who has a remix or two on the site, if it still doesn't make it, then I may have to accept the fact that I wasn't cut out for remixing. We'll see what happens. Sorry that I don't have the source material for you and please forgive any Sv3...Whatever-they-were-called ID mislabels. I cannot understand those things. Hahaha. If this DOES make it in, then I hope I can become a more active member in the OC community. I'll be watchin'."

Good thing the collaboration with James George helped the production enough to persuade the judges panel; a final volume tweak was all that was needed to put things in order. The arrangement does employ a good variety of instruments in difficult, exposed contexts, so sample quality was more essential than it might have been otherwise, making the collaboration key. Hopefully Jahan picked up some pointers for future mixes, because from an arrangement perspective he's doing amazing, intricate work already. The staccato brass bits in particular are the type of compositional touch that's effective from a pure arrangement perspective, but requires pretty decent samples to avoid sounding like a misplaced salsa band. There were tons of GG cosplayers at Otakon, and the game is known to have a loyal following, so I'm guessing many have been waiting for a GG ReMix of some kind for a good while now. CHIPP and James deliver with something that is very mature, developed, and multifaceted, taming the original's metal roots into a domesticated but still surly musical beast. Heaven or Hell! Duel 1! LET'S ROCK!!

― djpretzel