Ken Hisuag

For this week's feature, I am dedicating a post to Theme of Eastern Story. It's placement in the musical chronology is arguable, but it seems fitting to address it between the two major eras of the series. For those who don't know, the familiar arpeggios that serve as the main theme for the series was first featured as the logo jingle for ZUN Soft (precursor to Team Shanghai Alice):

Later Zun would incorporate the motif into the extra stage theme of the first Seihou game (the extra stage being a reference to his games). But it wasn't until the Untouched Scores collection that he would dedicate a proper arrangement to the theme, putting a name to the motif and establishing its place in the series. I initially set out to get remixes for each of these three uses, but I had no luck finding anything for the original logo jingle (which is fair), so instead y'all get two Eastern Story arrangements.

Snow Evarose - A Shrine Maiden's Pride
An arrangement with energy and impact, coupled with a sense of awe; that describes many remixes of the track I've found, with a similar quantity switching out "energy" for "serenity." Nonetheless, I appreciated this one's more daring take on instrumentation and the bit of twist in the interlude.

Kani Sasimi - Ephemeral Light of the East
I feel like there was a drop in quality in the uploading, but I can't always trust myself on that. I didn't find a lost of arrangements for Silk Road Alice that fit the tone I wanted; this was fairly close, and original enough to stand out from all the MIDI covers.

fromadistance - Life That's Scarce a Hundred Years
Here's that "serenity" I mentioned. What could be more fitting than Oriental folk orchestra?

At this, the conclusion of this series of Legend of Zelda features, I was left to decide between the remaining titles for a worthy contributor and fitting ending. I've already covered Breath of the Wild, and some soundtracks like Majora's Mask are too closely connected with other entries. I had it narrowed down to two, with no particular leaning one way or the other. I eventually chose Twilight Princess over Skyward Sword; I had little to no familiarity with either title, but figured it was better to favor the earlier release.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is considered a notably darker game compared to other entries, and is commonly contrasted to Wind Waker in tone and aesthetic (for a variety of reasons). Much of the music in the game seems to reflect this, being more somber and often favoring lower tones; some pieces utilize unique instrumentation blends to accomplish intimidating atmospheres. However, the soundtrack is extensive, and has a surprising degree of variety; in between the area and event themes, there are a multitude of mini-game and comedic tracks that somehow avoid contrasting too sharply with the rest of the game. This has resulted in my selection of featured tracks being significantly more difficult than usual. Under different circumstances, I might have divided this into two separate features; as it is, this is will be the largest single feature I've done thus far.

Consider the above as the feature proper, and these as "bonus tracks," as it were; they represent the other extremes this soundtrack occasionally reaches, while maintaining a level of quality consistent with the whole:

This is an off-schedule post to appreciate a category of Touhou music that, though falling under the identifier of the thread, doesn't get as much recognition in it; that of original compositions in the Zunish style. I used to use tournaments as a time to feature these discoveries, but that ceased to be reasonable. I happened upon this thread dedicated to the subject on Maidens of Kaleidoscope, and it reminded me that I haven't featured anything of the sort for a while. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to do so more often in the future.

http://shrinemaiden.com/index.php?topic=98.0

ZuikakuP - BorderLand
Given the original was a concept theme for stage five, I appreciate the tone of this arrangement for fitting so well with the ascetic of first-appearance Yuuka.

Cone - Magic Shop of Raspberry
Being one of my favorite PC-98 tracks, I was looking for something special for this piece. The baseline and intro tend to define the piece, and this did a nice job balancing them against the melody to give it emphasis.

SeriouSecond - Closed Dimension
I had hoped for something a bit more hard hitting for an ending, but nothing satisfactory turned up. This arrangement is a bit long, and I worry it may drag for some listeners, but I found I didn't mind it personally.

With that, I have successfully featured a remix or arrangement for every musical piece from the PC-98 era of the Touhou Project. It has taken me almost exactly one year. I realize now that I don't know what percentage of Touhou music that actually is; maybe I'll calculate that for next week.

After the LoZ trifecta of soundtracks, it becomes difficult to choose which entries to highlight. I determined to feature Link’s Awakening, because I knew it was well liked by some musicians I respect, and because it was apparently popular enough to get a thorough remake.

This was a GameBoy release, and as such its soundtrack is entirely quad-channel 8-bit. I’ve heard this utilized with stunning complexity, but find older soundtracks don’t often accomplish those levels. The redeeming quality of said soundtracks tends to be their powerful melodies, which transcend their presentation and endure into nostalgia. In theory, Link’s Awakening is such a soundtrack; however, it’s worth noting the attempts at altering the sounds to differentiate between different instruments.

That aside, I think it may also be one of those OSTs better to experience through the game, because I’ve had a difficult time appreciating it without. Too many of the motifs sound like other melodies I’ve heard elsewhere, sometimes implying leitmotif but other times simply being atmospheric patterns the composers have used in past projects. Figuring out what counts as s unique motif or otherwise has been rather confusing. Nonetheless, I’m sure there’s something to it; my brief look into the remake’s soundtrack impressed me, and made we wonder about the significance of instrumentation being dependent upon the strength of melody. A query for another day, perhaps.

JerryStuffRo - Lotus Road (TD Arrange)
Technically part of a Paradise of Boundaries project, but it's been a while and these last few themes of the era have been surprisingly difficult to find arrangements for (with a notable exception). Plus, it's not often I find a serious take on TD's spirit world gimmick.

Wanwan - Tri-pilot
This was the exception; Dreamy Pilot is a lot more popular than I thought. Wanwan tends to favor Zunish (understandably; he's among the best), but a more jazz focused arrangement like this isn't too surprising, given his style.

Matmax14 - Incomplete Plot
The occasional clock effect in the background has a nice effect. Otherwise, there isn't much to say about this one.

16: Pola - Eternal Hades
The past returns to haunt me.

On 1/25/2023 at 10:57 PM, Ken Hisuag said:

Another arrangement came to my mind while listening to this; a similarly intentioned piece that was almost part of the ill-fated "halloween" remix tournament, by the artist Pola. Unlike MA.S ATTACK's track, this had a lot more activity and discordance in it, making it difficult to identify the source piece and escalating the underlying dread to genuine discomfort. Between the two remixes, I can confidently say I prefer the current tournament's feature.

While the wording hasn't aged well, the sentiment hasn't changed. This piece accomplishes a thoroughly disturbing atmosphere, as intended. I may respect it, even appreciate it, but I do not enjoy it.

Regrets. 3/10

17: ShinRa-Bansho - Fairy Song
A welcome shift.

ShinRa-Bansho's standard of quality goes before them, as does the varied nature of their arrangements. This is a tamer mood than I usually hear from them, which goes along with the more serene progression utilized. The music depicts an epic journey in all its stages, from the instigation to the setting out, the unmet desires and their associated conflicts, their eventually resolutions and the realization of new horizons. Ironically, I can't make much of the lyrics either in consistency or otherwise. Regardless, a thoroughly enjoyable listen (instrumentation is excellent, too).

A good sort of different from ShinRa-Banso. 8.5/10

18: GET IN THE RING - ⑨melodies
My favorite circle!

Speaking of uncharacteristic styles, I did not expect such a serene song from GET IN THE RING. The masterful medley technique, on the other hand, was eagerly anticipated; this circle is on par with DJ the S for constructing full pieces from outsourced motifs. I was in no way disappointed. The song itself is also worth looking up, imo; it fits the music, and is rather sweet. It's interesting to rate this next to Fairy Song, since the two pieces appeal to me in similar but slightly different ways.

I haven't yet heard a GITR song I didn't love. 8.5/10

can y'all tell I'm rushed?

23 hours ago, _.Mevs said:

Bossa Nova

I didn't know Bossa Nova originated in Brazil; now I'm wondering about the origins of other genres.

I'm a big fan of Irish folk, but I'm not sure if that fits the criteria of this thread (i.e. can I post Irish if I'm not Irish?), so I'll keep it minimal here.

It's St. Patrick's Day! Annual Irish folk incoming!

I considered posting over on Mev's new music thread, but I'm not sure of the technical qualifications, so I've saved one for that and kept the rest here.

There were three specific games in the LoZ series I wanted to prioritize this month. The first two were foundational entries which established iconic motifs for future installments, and I was previously familiar with some of what they contained. The third is Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; though not quite as influential in comparison, this soundtrack is nonetheless a highlight of the series. The same spirit of adventure is present, with the advancement of technology enabling a more full sound without losing the charm of its limitations. While leitmotifs were hardly new to the series, they'd begun to take on a fresh aspect at this point; compositions were unique, but included references to past themes to invoke nostalgia and establish an internal consistency. It's difficult for me to tell how prevalent this style was in previous titles post-Ocarina (it was not present in Majora's Mask), but it has certainly been the standard for the series ever since.

Shishimai Brothers - When the Whirlwind Blows
No idea what "Tsuji / 辻" translates properly to. I had almost given up on finding a unique arrangement for Winds of Time when I found this track, so it was very much appreciated.

saiyoucho - Moonsoul
There's a bit of chord alteration in this arrangement; not enough to re-write the piece, but enough to adjust the tone in a way that works exceptionally well with the instrumentation.

Gauche - Phantasmagoria
I didn't look very long for this one, the irony being too good to pass up. If you know you know; if you don't, the video's description will tell you.

@OkuuFallout The video link didn't stick.

Honestly, this is the ideal approach to an online forum. If you feel obligated to be involved, you can't enjoy it comfortably, nor can you be fully authentic. Better to have the self-assurance that your input is appreciated, but not required (and it is appreciated, btw). I hope this place continues to be an enjoyable and entertaining part of your life, whatever its changes. Shalom!

No LoZ game has quite reached the level of acclaim and esteem of The Ocarina of Time. Still considered among the greatest video games ever made, it has continued to be a foundational influence for the medium as a whole. It's soundtrack is similarly iconic, featuring a wide variety of styles that work surprisingly well with the N64 sound; while the more notable motifs receive frequent reuse, I'd argue there's little significant improvement to be had in the overall presentation. While many of the game's pieces are well known, the soundtrack is surprisingly large (for an older game), and there are still a few rare gems in its tracklist; it's well worth the perusal if one is willing to take the time.

ti - Hakurei Shrine Grounds
A not-quite-chiptune arrangement with a surprising degree of personality to it.

Fuyuki Seana - atmosphere
I'm hoping this doesn't sound too compressed; it's a good arrangement, but the mixing could have been better (to be fair, it's an old track, and the artist seems to have improved since).

mixtuti sakuramochi - Youkai-Sealing Finale
The filter effect on this keeps me waiting for the drop, but it doesn't. That combined with the ending makes this a most unusually styled remix, but in a way I appreciate the uniqueness.

Because of the way in which I got into VGM, many of the more iconic soundtracks remain unfamiliar to me beyond their most famous tracks. In an attempt to remedy this, I hope to occasionally dedicate a month of features to a specific series, giving me the incentive to check out the more infamous titles. I've already done this with Super Mario; this month, I'd like to familiarize myself further with The Legend of Zelda.

To start off, I've chosen A Link to the Past as being one of the more iconic entries. By my understanding, several series-staple motifs were introduced in this game, and it continues to be referenced as among the best in the series. Personally, I tend to struggle with the SNES sound; sometimes it works (Chrono Trigger comes to mind), but sometimes it sounds like the composers wanted an orchestra and weren't willing to adjust. This isn't quite that bad, but I suspect it could have been better. Fortunately, there are many strong melodies to make the soundtrack a memorable experience anyway.

Considering my major hobbies revolve around listening to [a lot of] music, the subject of choosing headphones is an important one to me. Nonetheless, I'm a relatively simple person when it comes to such commodities; I only ask that it "sounds alright" and "doesn't break." Overtime I've become more picky, but not enough so [yet] to research much into the technical aspects. That may change very soon; depends on my finances, and the ever-declining stability of the world.

My current headphones are an over-ear wireless set that I only got because I'd been gifted a gift card to a place I avoided shopping at and wanted headphones that had something sturdier than thin plastic in their frame (these are the headphones). My previous pair had cracked, and I was hoping for something that would resist cracking. These has a nice leather-like covering on them, and I hoped that would mean something. To be fair, they held up longer than any of my previous headphones, and even now the covering holds them together in spite of internal damage (which has not effected the audio quality, btw).

For whenever I get my next set (assuming I get the chance), I'd like something similarly double-stabilized; I don't expect it to prevent damage, but it may at least mitigate long term effects. Otherwise, I've considered choosing something with noise-cancelling; there's a lot of activity around me on a regular basis, and if it works (I have no prior experience with it) it could be convenient. I tried getting a pair of wireless earbuds (band can't break if there isn't one, eh?), but the sound quality was such a downgrade from what I was used to that I had to return them.

I'll have to look into that DankPods channel; I may learn something helpful to my inquires.

I feel the need to clarify a potentially misleadingly vague word in my recent statements, that being "experiential." By this I was referring to experiences only relevant second-hand to the subject, not experiences directly with the subject itself; my intent was to contrast this with first-hand understanding of the subject, implying these as proper "evidences." My point was that a majority of the aversion toward modern Japanese artwork is based on experiences associated to it, but not directly with it. Ironically, few of those with negative opinions based on associated experiences will have actually experienced the subject directly. Again, this is not yet a critique of the conclusion; I'm merely pointing out the inconsistency in the common justification thereof.

13: EastNewSound - cardiac sound
Familiar material.

Even though I've not heard this arrangement before, the style and structure are the same as plenty of other pieces I have heard. Similar to the case of Beautiful Diver at the beginning of the tournament, I'm finding it difficult to recognize something unique to this piece, something that differentiates it from other similar pieces in a way that allows me to identify with it. I don't normally struggle with this, and I have a suspicion I would have an easier time if I was more familiar with the technical aspects of this form of composition, the way I am with some other genres. Perhaps someone who already appreciates the genre for something unique to it is able to appreciate those elements in individual pieces? I'm not sure, and regardless I feel guilty for being unable to relate more strongly to the arrangement. There have been too many features in past tournaments that I didn't understand at the time, and came to appreciate more later; I'd rather express appreciation now when it's relevant, but I can't find anything to focus on (I'm not even sure I can identify the source motifs).

For now, the piece is just "alright;" no more, no less. 7/10

14: MA.S ATTACK - Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's "Kappa"
"Last time, on Touhou Ambience . . ."

Where the previous MA.S ATTACK remix was edging the line of "ambient music," I'd say this falls more on the other side. While there may be tonal elements present, the track is lacking anything that could be properly called a "melody;" there is no progression, and no specific emotion instilled. There is strong atmosphere, and this is what carries the "piece" through its duration. As such, I would hesitate to call this a remix, or even music at all, in favor of terms more closely descriptive of the production; "soundscape" comes to mind.

That being said, I rather enjoyed it. It may have been association with the artwork, but there was an impression of underwater exploration, as of an old shipwreck or cave; sounds are muted as though filtered through the water, and movement is slow but smooth. There's something soothing in these sorts of sounds; I've experienced similar things with a collection of "Hollow Knight ambiences" on Youtube (which also happen to sound very similar). So despite not considering this "music," I still appreciate it.

True ambience, but . . . 7.3/10

15: Noah - Capital City of Flowers in the Sky
Flamenco rock!?

Well, not really, but the comparison is there. This is exactly the hybrid style I love so much, capturing the intensity of symphonic metal while contrasting it with the serene quality of more traditional instruments. Granted, the hybrid part is more of a buildup into the quantitatively larger symphonic section, but it's strong enough to stand out, and strengthens the progression of the piece perfectly. Speaking of which, the progression of this arrangement is amazing! Each section builds upon the previous, increasing the stakes of the piece all the way to the end without any drops, keeping the same high energy throughout. I couldn't ask for more.

Spectacular! 10/10

Alright, I've put this off long enough.

The first thing to do is examine the question to ensure proper comprehension (of course). "Why the general hate for anime/modern Japanese pop art & culture?" "Hate" is a strong word, denoting a strongly negative emotion of intense spite and disgust toward something. It isn't usually used that way anymore, at least here in America (I can't speak for any other cultures, but my experience here is of people who think very little about the words they use beyond what might get them in trouble, and sometimes not even that). Nonetheless, it's worth clarifying a distinction between an active malice toward modern Japanese art (henceforth MJA, referring to anime and manga), and a more passive distaste or aversion toward it. I understand hatred to be a passionate emotion, actively driven to express itself toward its target (not necessarily all at once); comparatively, I find most examples of negative expression toward MJA are reactionary, i.e. in response to a specific situation. Most people are content to avoid interacting or acknowledging MJA, and encouraging others to do the same; they may be vehement in their expression, but not usually fanatical enough for me to consider it "hatred." I will proceed with this understanding in mind, thus altering the question as follows: "Why the general aversion for modern Japanese art?"

The major presupposition of the inquiry is that there is a general aversion to MJA ("general" being a widespread normalization). While I don't disagree with this presupposition, it's good practice to be critical of all presuppositions, thereby preemptively encountering potential objections. This was the main reason I didn't respond to this topic for so long; I wanted to observe negative stigma of MJA in action, and attempt to gauge how common it really was. The loudest/most visible aspect of a situation tends to be more extreme, and thus not necessarily an accurate representation thereof (as we've discussed previously); I wanted to avoid assuming the stigma without in some way experiencing or otherwise reaffirming it. As expressed in the above paragraph, the results of my observations was to conclude a lack of intensive negativity as opposed to a more passive (though often convicted) aversion.

Interestingly, this stigma usually lacks conscious justification; those who express aversion to MJA do not often provide explanation for it, even when prompted to do so. This leads me to presume an experiential, rather than evidential, explanation, meaning that the stigma is likely born of association rather than essential nature. This would line up well with the general consensus of this thread: there is a general aversion to modern Japanese art because it is associated with other potentially distasteful things (the thread has specifically focused on sexual content, though consideration has been given to a few other subjects). This may be sufficient answer to the question, but leaves open speculation concerning the justifiably of the association; I intent to address this as well.

Kinukawa Tamaki - Mystic Dream
My insistence on transcribing artist names into something I can read is not always practical (nor always reasonable), but it helps me remember artists I otherwise would have forgotten.

GUNFIRE - PEACEFUL ROMANCER
Not quite what I expected to choose for this piece, but the slightly hybridized style of eurobeat from an unfamiliar circle name caught my attention. Just as well; while there were plenty of other options, most of the best ones were from circles I've already used (some more than once).

Madeleine - Soul's Resting Place
I know I've used this artist before, but it's been quite a while, and I liked the idea of having an oriental folk remix for this track; it fits quite nicely, and contrasts the other two features as well.

I never expected to bring this soundtrack up again (and to be fair it's been quite a while), but a recent arrangement album reminded me of the previously released orchestral soundtrack for Rabi-Ribi. I still regret being aware of this game in the first place, yet it's music has remained one of those "hidden gems" of a soundtrack for me over the years, to the extent that I could (and perhaps eventually will) easily do another feature for it. But for now, I will instead feature some of the orchestral remixes done for an anniversary celebration a while back. The transitioning of instrumentation is surprisingly creative, and while I'm occasionally undecided concerning the viability of certain tracks, it's overall quite the accomplishment. They did not arrange the entire soundtrack, and some of the choices made in that regard confuse me (Rabi Rabi Park was already mostly orchestral?), but they covered most of the important ones anyhow.

nnrihito - Shinto Shrine 1
I'm assuming the uploader is the artist, since there's no indication of alternate source. This and the next piece were difficult to find, especially considering their unassuming titles. Song names got generally more interesting post-PC-98, so I'm hoping this won't be a problem for much longer.

namapanko - End
The artist also arranged Shinto Shrine, but I considered this arrangement to be more interesting. The "stuttering" at the beginning is intentional; I initially thought my headphones were glitching out, but I respect the creative effect.

Demetori - Eternal Paradise ~ Heart of the Sunrise
The timing of this track's release could not have been better. It's a very unusual style for Demetori (at least the Demetori I'm familiar with), but it's executed with the same degree of quality one would expect. I think it pairs well with the Shinto Shrine remix, too; both have the energy of an ending theme, but with the contrasting moods complimented by the differing instrumentation.

Before Tunic, I was most familiar with Lifeformed through the Dustforce OST. The soundtrack is made up of relatively short, simple tracks with chill tones and encouraging melodies, showcasing the artist's propensity for serene airy synth. This is my preferred sound for background music while doing a task, as it's active enough to be effective but light enough to not distract.

Valentine's Day is my personally second most important holiday of the year, right behind Resurrection Day. Originally in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman bishop and martyr known for his commitment to performing marriage ceremonies in the face of opposition, the day has more or less become meaningless in popular culture. A holiday, a holy-day, a day set apart for remembrance, is only useful so long as there is something worth celebrating. It is a day of emphasis, for there is no authenticity in celebrating something that does not apply at other times (if you only give thanks on Thanksgiving, you aren't really thankful). For me, this day is an opportunity to reflect on love--what it is, where it comes from, and the ways I am blessed with it in my life. I'm short on time, or I would leave the text of 1 John 4:7-11 as reference.

I've yet to have the beginnings of a romantic relationship; I esteem the concept too much to risk being flippant. What I do have is six younger siblings and two loving parents; I am very close with my family, and so I use this holiday for the purpose of celebrating that familial love that I've been blessed with. Not everyone is blessed in this way; some are blessed with friendship, others may be limited to memories of past expressions of love that are no longer present. But even in worst case scenario when someone hasn't personally experienced love, there yet exists the ultimate love of God from which all other forms of love proceed, which is applicable to everyone. So while my celebration may not be as large or spectacular as that for Christmas (traditions die hard), internally I consider this to be the more important concept, and take joy in the opportunity to reflect upon it with other people.