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Musical Discoveries in Touhou Fandom

OneQuart - Cheat Against the Impossible Danmaku
I'm having a harder time finding fresh artists of late, but I'd rather be extra sure than miss out on a new discovery. The instrumentation on this is a bit harsh, but it's integrated well into the arrangement. Not sure what Cirno has to do with anything, though.


Pesot.jp/ - Midnight Spell Card
So it's a zunish remix, but from one of the bigger names in the genre, so I think it's viable. Plus it's an opportunity for me to draw attention to the fandom's more intricate music projects.


Rambat/Lambert - Flight of the Romanticist
By sound quality, this may seem a lesser presentation for this feature; but I'd argue the arrangement itself is exemplary! I may be biased toward the motifs (I really appreciate "Romantic Escape Flight"), but even so the degree to which the artist played with the piece's progression while preserving the general form is spectacular to me.
 
Phroneris - "Eternal Short-Lived Reign" NES arrange
I admittedly didn't look very long for this one; sometimes the charm of a simple retro chiptune remix is enough :). I also passed up a similar arrangement for an earlier Seija-associated piece, so in a way this was making up for that.


iceerules - Heart-Stirring Urban Legends
No way around it, the reverb on this production is far too much. But underneath the echo, there's an excellent orchestral arrangement, and this was by far the best remix I could find on the piece.


U2 Akiyama - Gensokyo Mystery Discovery V2
Quite the oddity, here. While it isn't unusual for Akiyama to remix his own work, they're usually in an official context, whereas this ostensibly unique take on his own composition (which admittedly isn't that distinct from the original) seems unattached from the franchise's productions. As I struggled to find anything else for the theme, might as take the opportunity to catalogue this.
 
ScubDomino - An Everyday Life with Balls (Impossible Piano)
We return to the territory of obscure Touhou themes with very little fandom attention, thus forcing me to settle for things like this. Not that this is an unpleasant listen, but I can't help but be disappointed at the lack of options.


Mahotoa Tofu Shop - Occult a la carte
Out of all the Akiyama compositions from this entry, this was the one I had the most confidence in finding representation for, and I'm happy to find that confidence justified. I'd say the man's style was suited for electro-swing; I wonder what his own take on the genre would be like?


Usami Kagen - Forms of Manifested Folklore
I preferred this artist's take on "Everyday Life," but there was an alternative option for that and none for this. Kagen actually popped up for all three of these, and I suspect the channel's going to be a failsafe for some future tracks, given the obscurity they seem to be condemned to.
 
Unusual feature today, in as much as I don't actually have most of what I'm offering. But each in its time . . .

[Touhou Puppet Play] - Seven-Orb Collection Showdown
Technically, I can't even confirm this is from Touhou Puppet Play, but it certainly looks about right. The mix isn't too bad, if lacking in creativity. It's a shame this is the best I could find, by which I mean I literally couldn't find anything else aside from a MIDI transposition. I'd argue this is among Akiyama's best compositions, yet it's apparently been left largely unexplored.


Yuuhei Satellite - Into the Wind-Guided Future
Iffy translation aside . . . This is marked as a crossfade, but it'd be more accurately described as a preview of a single track. As far as I can find, the only instance of release for this arrangement is no longer accessible; so while I can confirm through this video that the remix does exist, I'm unsure whether I can actually get at it. Why do these things have to be so complicated sometimes?


Unchiku Company - Fair Scramble
Bad to worse. I became aware of this arrangement through an actual crossfade on NicoVideo, and set out to track down the related album. From what I can tell, someone definitely has it; remix archivist Kappashiro posted a couple tracks therefrom on Youtube, but not these did not include the one I'm after. I'm determined to count it for the purposes of this project, but the best I can do is post the three most relevant links: the initial crossfade, the official album page, and a Kappashiro video that indirectly confirms existance. Turns out I can do better.


Not sure if this is the kind of thing @vanyk would consider "lost media," but I'll ping it just in case it's of interest.
 
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Ken Hisuag said:
Not sure if this is the kind of thing @vanyk would consider "lost media," but I'll ping it just in case it's of interest.
Click to expand...
These are not lost media.
The original of the first track is from 深秘的楽曲集　宇佐見菫子と秘密の部室 and the name of it is 七玉蒐集ショウダウン (and yes you can listen to it there).
The second track is from PIXIV FANBOX Limited Disc vol.34.
You can find the third album in TLMC as "2016.12.29 [UCEX-0024] Folkloro de Ihatov [C91]".
I hope this will help you.
 
vanyk said:
These are not lost media.
Click to expand...
Noted; I shall accordingly adapt my comprehension of the concept. What I meant was that, as far as I could trace things, there is no way for me to access the full form of the two latter tracks. The Yuuhei Satellite album seems to have been an exclusive release through a platform that is no longer supporting it, and I couldn't find an alternative provider. As for the Unchiku Company piece: I've never looked into the TLMC, as I know nothing of torrents and their functionality, but mayhaps this will motivate me to finally learn about them.

EDIT: So funny thing; I just tried searching the UC album title without any qualifiers on a whim, and it turned out it's available through the Khinsider database. Can't imagine what it's doing there, but that at least makes my task easier.
 
Ken Hisuag said:
What I meant was that, as far as I could trace things, there is no way for me to access the full form of the two latter tracks.
Click to expand...
You understand it correctly.

Ken Hisuag said:
The Yuuhei Satellite album seems to have been an exclusive release through a platform that is no longer supporting it, and I couldn't find an alternative provider.
Click to expand...
Oh, from this side it can be considered as lost media.
Ken Hisuag said:
I've never looked into the TLMC, as I know nothing of torrents and their functionality, but mayhaps this will motivate me to finally learn about them.
Click to expand...
There are several TLMC. You can find one variant on Doujin Style, which don't require torrents.
 
Usami Kagen - The Value is Unrealized
I said we'd likely see this name again. To be fair, I prefer there to be existent coverage, even if the quality thereof is somewhat lacking, and it's at least a step above a MIDI recreation.

Neho (amina-amina) - Bell of the Antipodes
A little better, with the live performance contributing a bit of personality. Still, this is my favorite track from this entry, and I'm rather disappointed I couldn't find anything else for it.

Usami Kagen - Believe in Possibilities
The irony; same motif even. But I'm inclined to consider this arrangement a bit better than the preceding one for some reason.

So far we've managed to avoid leaving anything unfeatured, which is an improvement from previous Tasofro entries. Perhaps we make it all the way through this once?
 
Ken Hisuag said:
So far we've managed to avoid leaving anything unfeatured, which is an improvement from previous Tasofro entries. Perhaps we make it all the way through this once?
Click to expand...
Hello. I don't know if you checked these sites, I am sending this information just in case. You can use THBWiki and https://cd.thwiki.cc/for finding arranges for the songs you liked.
For the first one there are also 東方ピアノ楽譜2, ショボいアレンジ集3 album.
For the second one there are also 協奏符「栄華物語」, ショボいアレンジ集3, Dual Circulation Ⅲ 如夢似幻, Furnace.
For the third one there is also 東方ピアノ楽譜2.
There is also https://touhou.arrangement-chronicle.com/ but it has only info for the second one (because one this one had arranges on CD albums):
touhou.arrangement-chronicle.com

原曲別 - 対蹠地の鐘

東方編曲録とは、東方アレンジのデータベースサイトです。原曲、イベント、サークル、アルバム、ボーカリスト、編曲者、作詞者から東方アレンジの曲情報を検索することができます。
touhou.arrangement-chronicle.com touhou.arrangement-chronicle.com
 
Roharuel - Bamboo Forest in Flames
I was worried this would be a rough one, due to its later iteration being the much more popular, but I managed to turn up a couple explicitly cited to the original. I favored this one for being fairly straightforward while still being distinct; when the time comes to do "Neo", I can emphasize other qualities in my selection.

Usami Kagen - Those Who Know the Truth
Yeah, didn't have as much luck with this one. But I can't be too bothered, especially since I'm unlikely to have such a helpful fallback for 15.5.

tentyuu - Justice
As might be expected, ZUN's compositions get more attention. The original has a rather tumultuous intro, but hidden behind it are some excellent motifs. I chose an arrangement that toned down the powerful delivery for a more balanced presentation, in hopes of emphasizing those strengths.
 
Releska - Whispers
There were other options, surprisingly, but I wanted to take the opportunity to feature Releska; most of what I find from the legendary translator is medleys. An oboe solo wasn't on my agenda, but if anything that makes it even more intriguing.

Mapole - Last Occultism ~ Esotericist of the Present World
I deliberated on this one for quite a bit; I'd initially presumed to settle on a more intense arrangement, but this one appealed to me, and I ultimately found it fit better with the other tracks in this feature. I'm sure there will be other opportunities to showcase more upbeat takes.

IRON ATTACK! - Never Ending Gloomy Violet Dreams
I've vanyk to thank for this one, as it was the resources shared thereby that enabled me to track down this arrangement. With this, the post is established as an escalating feature of low-energy performances, which while not my usual methodology is yet not unwelcome. Very unusual for IRON ATTACK though . . .
 
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windbell - The Arcane is Revealed (preview version)
As the background music to a fan-trailer or something, there is some presumption concerning the "preview" perspective of this remix, and I couldn't find any evidence of a fuller version. But for all that, it's an excellent arrangement, and if anything the mysterious origins lend to its intrigue (even if it is rather short).

Pizuya's Cell - The Space Shrine Maiden Appears
For a bit of contrast, plus I've put off including Pizuya's Cell in this project for long enough. This is the epitome of what a piano solo can be; more than a mere transcription, capturing a tone no other solo instrument is capable of.

Uma - Green Field
I think this strikes a good middle ground between the other two, neither low nor high energy (though probably more the latter), and with a more "happy" sound.
 
ti - The Rabbit Has Landed
Didn't spend too much time on this one; I can't remember if I've featured ti before, and the alias is too short to check for, so since the opportunity has arisen I have taken advantage of it. This is an appropriately fun and cutesy arrangement with just a touch of urgency to ground it; couldn't really ask for better than that!

EpreTroll II - The Lake Reflects the Cleansed Moonlight
Another capitalization upon circumstance, in as much as I'm used to finding this performer focusing on more popular tracks, so I wanted to lock in appreciation for this change of pace. The piece lends itself well, and there's a reference or two scattered in their as well.

eque ikurumi - Fancy Funk'in Pumpkin~eve~
Didn't expect to find a hidden gem sort like this, but I couldn't be happier about it, plus it blends excellently with the other pieces this round! Pity I'm a month early for the irony, but on the other hand better that than late. :)
 
Twitter Tohobu - The Mysterious Shrine Maiden Flying Through Space
Please pay no mind to the audio blip at the beginning; it's more than likely an upload error. The performance has been posted live elsewhere, but due to audio quality I opted for this recording instead. Nonetheless, it's nice to know such a performance took place.

Kyu - Eternal Spring Dream
I wasn't sure about this one (less indication of uploader involvement than I'd like), but the balance between intense beat and serene backing is exactly the sort of sound I wanted for this piece, so I've decided to risk it.

AhiruMochi - The Frozen Eternal Capital
I wasn't necessarily seeking out a "cold" sound for this one, but having found a few I figure it works out alright. There's a bit of distortion to this one, but not enough to dissuade me from sharing it.


BTW I'll be AFK all of next week, so no features for that time.
 
ONSEN PROJECT - Wheel of Fortune
Quite happy with this one, as it faithfully yet distinctly adapts the motifs into a thematically appropriate song (and I even find the chorus "catchy," a rarity for me).

Cafe de Matsubara (Matsuba) - Twinkle Star Piece
The slight discord is genius, tinging the cheerfully presented arrangement with the barest hint of foreboding; not enough to reorient the tone, but just enough to contextualize it.

Akio Fukaya - Pierrot of the Star-Spangled Banner
I'm not as satisfied with this one; I imagined something more chaotic and explosive, but nothing came up in my initial searchings, and I figured the other two were exceptional enough to disengage early on it. It's still a fine remix, just not exactly what I'd expected.
 
Holly I - The Sea that has Swallowed Up the Home Planet
Translation is iffy, but it's without question different from the original title, and the indications seem consistent, so I'm committing. I love the original track, and appreciate many of the arrangement I've heard for it, but there's usually a degree of restraint therein to keep the piece from sounding too different (possibly to avoid straying into "Pure Furies" similarities). This remix may not be the most professional in post-production, but I felt it did an exemplary job of being creative with the arrangement while staying true to the piece's strengths.

Sieudiver - Inhuman
I hold "Pure Furies" to be among the great masterpieces of ZUN's work, and I was determined to settle on an arrangement that satisfied my lofty standards for the piece. With this in mind, I pulled this from my reserve collection of "tournament worthy" performances (that is, remixes that impressed or intrigued me enough to save for special occasion). While I found and had other excellent tracks available, nothing quite eclipses this one in my mind; no drawn-out build up, no stumble in the pacing, no overbearing monotany of unvaried tone.

Mirror of ES - A World of Nightmares Never Seen Before [Kirakira Remix]
I somehow feel this piece ought to invoke equally strong feelings of foreboding and heroic intention, but I've yet to find a remix that accomplishes such impressions to my satisfaction. Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction; an ominious tone is portrayed by the subtlety of the instrumentation, while the heavy backing bolsters the piece's energy and progression.
 
Makura - My Favorite Shirt
I'm not particularly fond of "Pandemonic Planet," though I have encountered remixes thereof that I've appreciated very much (see RT6.1.3). It's a chaotic piece by default, and many arrangements lean into that; I much prefer something that highlights the motifs for their own sake. This isn't exactly an example of that, but it at least escapes the dark tones I'm perpetually running into elsewhere (where did such an idea come from, though?).

Tinker JunKtion - Moonlight Night
Had to dig a bit for this, but I'd say it was worth while. This sort of synth is exceptionally suited to sound evocative of "space," and it's fitting to have such an arrangement toward the end of our LoLK coverage.

Awayuki - The Shrine Maiden Returns from Space
I can't be sure of the translation, as it comes out very similar to the pieces original title, even though its certainly different characters. Otherwise, there isn't too much to say for this one; I appreciate the instrumentation, and I think it sound more like an ending than the original.
 
Curly Hamilton - Hifu in Wonderland
Not a new name to this project, but it's been a while (close to two years), and considering there's an album's worth of options from this name alone I figured I owed them the recognition. Of those options, this was the most distinct take, referring both to contrasting the original and the other remixes I settled on. If it's not quite to your liking, though, consider checking out some of the others.

Tato - Dr. Latency's Sleepless Eyes
The database testifies to a variety of existent options, but I wasn't able to get ahold of any aside from the big-name circles; I figured something else must be out there, and I managed to dig this up (this was actually my second choice, but I preferred to utilize the responsible artist for the following arrangement).

Applice - Waiting on the Setting Sun
Based upon the other track I almost went with from this circle, I suspect this is as unusual a style for them as it is in general to find. Either way, I couldn't pass it up (and there were significantly less viable options available for this piece anyway).
 
LSD - Bakeneko
I suspect this is the kind of choice that would become polarizing in different contexts, but at this point I'd be remiss not to share such unusual finds when I come across them. Plenty of vocal arrangements can be compared to anime OPs, but in this case there's something of an ED to the performance, and I'm kinda here for it.

Futo-kun! - Taboo Membrane Wall
My chiptune preferences are far more energetic than this, but I can still respect the care that went into the arrangement. This will also be the clearest motif rendition this feature, so there's that.

No Name Poem / Yakawa Noname - Rainy Morning Preparations
I thought for sure "Old Adam Bar" would be relatively easy, but for whatever reason my searching failed to turn up much that wasn't from artists I'm already most familiar with. Then I found this, and figured I couldn't ask for anything more unique.
 
Licorice Lab - HAZAMA
Odd name perhaps, and certainly an unusual direction to take such a piece as the original, but the resulting performance stands on its own merits. I wouldn't call this lo-fi, but it has the same sort of listening experience.

stixel - Outsider Cocktail
I kinda want to keep looking on this one, but initial turn-up was rather sparse, and leastways I can appreciate the subtle instrumentation alterations from the original that help smooth out the presentation of the melody.

Tokiko Tatsunagi - Madman's Tavern of the Dream World
Two zunish arrangements in a row is somewhat poor form of me, but when this popped up in my searchings I saw it as an opportunity to bring up one of my favorite fangame soundtracks in the fandom, and I couldn't pass that up.
 
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