It is finally here. Yesterday (as of
this writing), OCReMix's latest album finally went live. For those
who had supported the Kickstarter, this was the shining moment. For
several long months, we waited for the end result wondering if it
would be as grand as their promo showcased. While some were patient,
others were hesitant, thinking the album was going to flop, seeing
how long it took to produce.
Of Balance and Ruin is a large album
coming in at 74 songs and to celebrate its release I will be
reviewing each disk this week with Disk 4 and 5 on Friday.
Final Fantasy VI as you know is my
favourite Final Fantasy. Although I was introduced to the series with
Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI was the one I most enjoy. The
characters are wonderfully varied, the colours are far more muted
then the previous two SNES games and the Story is one of the darkest
in the series. When i was younger and before we had internet in our
place, I never understood half the things that were said or alluded
to. Of course growing up I began to understand what all the lines
meant and things that went over my head as a child.
So how is the album you may ask? It is
an incredible album with a great mix of remixes. Some go along the
lines of trance and dubstep, some are more of a classic rock variant
while other tracks are more akin to a classical piano sound.
Easily the best song on the first disk
of Balance and Ruin would have to be A Fistful of Nickels, the
arrangement of Shadow's Theme. The team behind the track did a
fantastic job making this song feel as if it was off the soundtrack
to a spaghetti western. Coupled Ms Aversa's vocals, A Fistful of
Nickels is truly the best song on the disk.
What makes this song the best on the
disk (in my opinion) is that they turned Shadow's original theme into
a song that The Man with No Name would use for his own theme. When I
hear this track, I visualize Shadow standing out side some Sheriff’s
office in a small town in the old west. His faithful hound at his
side with a cigarrette clenched in his teeth looking at a wanted
poster of some would be rustler. In other words, a Fistful of Nickels
turns Shadow into John Marston from Red Dead Redemption.
Disk 1 of the album is a great start to
the album. If you are not a fan Spahgetti Westerns, then Jeff Ball
and Laura Intravia's trance/dubstep re-imagining of Locke's Theme
might suit your style. Failing that you could listen to Mustin's
jazzy take on the Mines of Narche. Even the pickiest fan will find
something they like.
There are many great songs on the first
disk and I enjoy them all. However it is Fistful of Nickels that
might be the track that is remembered for this disk which is a shame
because the other 16 songs are just as good.
If you are an OCReMix or a Final
Fantasy fan, then you probably already this album. Nonetheless if you
are interested, you an visit the site here to download the awesome album
Tomorrow I tackle Disk 2 of this
epic 5 disk odyssey. What tracks will I encounter tomorrow.
This is Daimo Mac and I am lost in the
music.
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