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Musical Discoveries in Touhou Fandom

WKG Tupper Records - The Place of Numerous Voices
I usually struggle with "True Administrator," because I perceive its parts as lacking sufficient transition between each other. I have similar issues with "Nuclear Fusion," but have found several remixes that remedy it for me, so I often look out for "True Administrator" arrangements with alternative structure. At the same time, I want something that preserves or even accentuates the pieces elegantly powerful tone. This particular remix isn't quite what I have in mind, but was the best ratio of dynamic quality and presentation that I came across in my searches for this feature; I would have preferred stronger incorporation of the main melody, but the tone is there.


Xenoglossy - Youkai Festival Shrine Road
The original's strongest quality is its ominous tone, and at first I was worried this arrangement wouldn't retain that. To be sure the intent is a completely different direction, but I appreciate the nods to the source being seamlessly fitted into the progression. Otherwise this is just a really good remix with great instrumentation and creative arrangement!


Shironekobeat - Futatsuiwa from Sado
May not be the best idea to go with two folk-adjacent remixes in such proximity, but I couldn't pass this one up. "Futatsuiwa from Sado" works so well with folk components, especially when complimented by addition instrumentation. This is a comparatively light arrangement to what I've heard in the past, but it still delivers on the original's direct presentation, giving the perception of intensity without needed to go overboard with the performance.
 
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Angelicca / necoworks - Wish You Were Here
The artist really nailed the mood of an ending theme for this remix. It starts out subdued and reflective, then builds up into something celebratory but resolute. IMO this is one of the more impressive finds I've had through this endeavor.


PURE-POLLUTION - Desire Dream
Not to be confused with "Desire Drive;" the two do share a primary motif, but they are officially separate tracks. I thought it'd be difficult to find a distinct remix of this piece that wasn't at least partially tied to its more prominent predecessor, but I actually found quite a few. I might have preferred something more experimental to further differentiate it, but ultimately this is a high-quality arrangement with a fitting tone for the source material.


Route-R - Satellite TORIFUNE
Not the sound I would have anticipated from a "Satellite TORIFUNE" arrangement, but it's surprisingly fitting as the intended theme of a space station. Mayhap the melody being more clear in this remix can make it more evident while listening to the original?
 
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CnoD - Sporadic Three Minutes
"Trojan Asteroid Jungle" is an especially jazzy arrangement from ZUN, so obviously I went for a energetic rock arrangement! In all seriousness though, when the original piece accomplishes its style so well, often the remixes going in completely different directions are preferable for a more creative take on the motifs.


Ittsu– - Space Shrine "TORIFUNE"
I was stuck by the contrast of tone this arrangement had to most of what I was finding for the previous piece. It seemed somehow fitting.


Tengu Corp - Yabai Barrier
While quite distant from the genres I usually favor, this similarly contrasted wonderfully with the previous two features. There's also a thematic consistency to the story behind these tracks, but that isn't technically as relevant.
 
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TOGAKISAN - Unopened Gensokyo
Open to more accurate translations of the title. The soundfonts are a bit rough on this one, but the arrangement makes up for it with originality. It seems to me that attempts at "classical" style remixes often end up like this, for better or worse. This circle has done other experimental arrangements of this sort, so I get the impression that's their gimmick.


Makita Step - I tried arranging "Green Sanatorium" from Izanagi Materials in 4 parts with MC-101
Probably not the intended title, but it is the given label. I've considered performances from this artist several times in the past, but usually found something else I wanted to prioritize. Well, this time I'm committing. Zunish arrangements are sometimes too close to the original, but in this case the prioritization of melody over original's style ironically makes it stand out.


kayou - Attracted (RETAKE)
"Zenkou Temple" is really about the percussion, and surprisingly few of the arrangements I found respected that. I would never have expected a vocaloid to be what met my expectations, but here we are! Unfortunately projects of this sort are almost impossible to find translated lyrics for, so I'm out for that.
 
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ATELIER ATMOS / at the mercy of sounds - Agartha Wind
This isn't a new discovery for me, but I haven't featured the artist before, so it's just as well this came up in the searches. ATMOS has done some great folk adjacent arrangements, but remain a more obscure circle. The style is probably as fitting as could be asked for this piece!


INMG Sound - Izanagi Object
I presumed there wouldn't be too many high energy arrangements going through this album, but then I found this piece, and found it especially ideal for the contrast. As eurobeat goes this isn't trying anything too experimental, but it has some good variety in its instrumentation, which does well to reinforce its progression (as it should be).


efs - Return to the Old Town
Contrary to the previous piece, I fully expected a variety of vocal performances for this one, and was subsequently surprised to find the selection limited (granted I wasn't looking at any artists I'm already familiar with, so my presumptions may yet be accurate). I almost passed this one over simply because I had difficulty believing the circle's title was really "efs," but a bit of research clarified the authenticity of the citation. Still think it's a strange name, but the arrangement holds up regardless.
 
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You guys know who Stack is, no introductions needed. Now look at this cool arrangement I found of Sariel's theme from her. Honestly I was suprised to see a PC-98 song get a lyrical cover, not to mention one from HRTP.


Spoiler






 
Little Matchstick - Kitchen Music
Accurate translation or not, the performance stands upon its own merits. I don't usually go in for this sort of "adaptation," but this is a bit more tastefully creative than the usual. It's also [kinda] thematic; a silly party trick type gimmick for the proceeding carnival!
"Youtube does not allow embedding for this video"
Huh? Why? Ugh, alright I guess.


UnknownEX1 - A Popular Location
I was blessed to find this at all. This is a refreshingly dynamic arrangement for a piano solo, especially given the obscurity of such tracks. As y'all will see shortly, I have reason to appreciate anything I find for certain pieces, and this goes beyond what I'd usually expect.


Missing Tracks:
{U2 Akiyama - An Unpopular Location}
{U2 Akiyama - Today's Front-Page Headline}
I note the tracks I can't make good on for the sake of future reference, but also to highlight their availability for the uniquely ambitious fandom musician. That being said, I couldn't reasonably expect to find anything for "Unpopular Location," given it's nearly indistinguishable from its ironically titled counterpart.

Esme - Futatsuiwa from Gensokyo
I almost despaired on this one, as the source is understandably overshadowed by its preeminent "Sado" variant. Finding obscure remixes from obscure artists is exactly why I committed to this gimmick, so there's a certain satisfaction in such discoveries as this.
 
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The following post is adapted from a 2/22/25 feature, which was lost in the site migration. I can't claim to remember what I initially said, but at least I remembered the arrangements.

Changing up the order a bit, mostly 'cause the album listing breaks things up a bit weirdly to facilitate the disc division.

Missing Tracks
{U2 Akiyama - Performer Selection}

Stas Gavrik - An Unused Location (Ambient Ver.)
This is not the first time Stas Gavrik has supplied the sole arrangement of a track, so credit where credit is due.


AMONG THE GLOOM - Twilight Hour
As stated in the description, this arrangement seemed intended to be a lead-in to the album's next track, which was a death metal remix of "The Lost Emotion." I felt that the transition was distinct enough from the rest of the track to safely cut, leaving behind a decently creative adaptation of its own piece.


Girls Logic Observatory - Hollow Masquerade
I'm actually more sure of the translation now than I was at initial posting. This arrangement may be quite different from what would be expected of the source material, but such adaptations are often the more memorable anyway (provided you can still tell the source underneath).
 
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I'm still working on repairing posts in the various threads, but I've technically had the pieces for the next feature here for over a month now. For the purpose of being able to claim having finished the first modern era before the thread's fifth anniversary, I might as well go ahead with it.

[composer for Touhou Genso Wanderer] - Looking Up at the Clouds at Dawn
Accreditation is hard to come by for some of these projects, which might be more of a localization issue, but it's hard to say from here. I'm glad to have found something for this piece at all, considering its obscurity.


58JPY Sesame Piano - Officially-Sanctioned Twilight Newspaper
There's also an O-Life Japan arrangement available, but I decided to favor the obscure (do check that out if you're interested, though). I will continue to advocate for the viability of these lesser compositions in the franchise, especially considering what I've heard some people do with them from time to time.


Missing Tracks:
{U2 Akiyama - Last Word Unleashed}
That does it for 13.5; however, as I've gone back through the thread, I discovered I'd somehow skipped "Decoration Battle" from Touhou 4 in my sequence. Rather than wait till the end, I figure I'll get it out of the way ASAP.

LunarComet - Decoration Battle
This would have been readily available when I was supposed to feature it, so I really have no idea what my excuse should be.
 
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Perhaps a bit out of line, but I'd like to refresh an older discovery that carried a bit of ambiguity with it. I found a remix of "Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country" that lacked proper metadata, which lead me to question whether the arrangement had been sourced from elsewhere or not; comments on the video did not help. Returning to the feature, I find the remix has since been utilized in a MAD, thus gaining increased visibility. I had hoped to find better citation from the MAD, but found it was equally lacking. The only thing I have to go on is a single comment on the initial video inquiring after "Hiratake;" after a bit of research, I presume this is referencing the leading member of the circle Afterglow, who also has connections to <echo> PROJECT and various other circles. I pursued this line for quite a while, but with no success. Without being able to verify, I can't assume the connection. It probably shouldn't bug me so much, but it's a really good arrangement, and I'd rather know who's responsible for it.


As extra, the related MAD:
 
Yoiyami - Peaceful Life Spring
Perhaps not the most exciting arrangement to open with after a hiatus, but it shouldn't necessarily have to be. Yoiyami is a talented hand at Zunish, but apparently has remixed into other genres as well. Touhou 14 is often harsher in sound compared to other entries, so in a way a softer style serves as ironic contrast.


Keiichi Sugiyama - Mist Lake (Dandy Dungeon)
I'm presuming the source game's composer as responsible for this specific track, though I've not direct confirmation thereof. This one strikes me as notably odd; why this piece, and why this style for it? However, I must acknowledge it as singularly memorable, if not in the most ideal manner.


Alex Yin - Mermaid in Aquarium
I had to get at least one really good arrangement for this post, and this is it! The instrumentation and expert layering elevates an already excellent performance, with just a few extra touches of post-production to seal the deal. I honestly couldn't ask for better!
 
Cement Touhou - Object-Junction
This has a really long build-up, so bear with it for a bit. Initially it reminds me of an episode recap theme, but then it picks up the pace ever so slightly and just becomes its own thing. Despite my failure to pin down the underlying idea, it remains an entertainingly chill listen with some decent rhythm. (I have no idea what's going on with the visuals, though).


Saku - Dullahan Under the Willows
For a character that was relatively obscure for some time, Sekibanki gets quite the variety of arrangements. This one struck the balance I wanted between heavy and steady, while clearly preserving the motifs and getting some light elements of progression into them. The style did end up making the next track more difficult to decide on, but so be it.


Tsukio Furiten - Abominable Full Moon
I'm inclined to think this one is too similar to the previous piece, making it less than ideal for my purposes, but there are a variety of distinct and creative elements that should hopefully distinguish it. "Bamboo Forest of the Full Moon" has some amazing motifs, but IMO gets held back a bit by the heavy tone ZUN was utilizing for 14. Hopefully some of the higher potential of the piece is made evident here.
 
Part 1:
Raven VI - Full Moon
Avoiding the big-name circles may have been ill-advised on this particular piece. I was determined to find something that focused on the actual melody, while still preserving the tone of the original. Well, I failed; everything I found either compromised on the tone or was too committed to the generic lead-in which so hampered my appreciation of the original for so long. I finally came across this one, and while I still would have preferred something a bit heavier in genre, it at least approaches my desired intensity and properly preserves the primary motifs.


Seventh Heaven MAXION - Reversal Order
I was more successful in satisfying my expectations with this one; the melody is preserved, while the tone and progression is adapted in an engaging manner (not to mention the professional quality of the performance). A piece with a name like "Magical Storm" ought to have some turbulent excitement to it, no? Granted that this doesn't do much to expand upon the source material, but I've already ensured this will be compensated for.


Hiryu Kaoku - gemini
Less concerned with the tone for this one, so I went for contrast instead! I maintain that ZUN was too heavy-handed with his new instruments for the earlier compositions of T14, with the first four boss themes suffering the most from it. More toned-down arrangements can help pull out the better qualities hidden within.
 
Part 2:
With such specific expectations for the previous post, I inevitably came across alternative options that were perfectly viable in their own right, but didn't fit what I was going for. I felt bad for discounting them, though, and eventually decided to double up and thereby ensure I wouldn't forget to post them later (as I have done in the past).

PsykhedelicMandala - Shadow of the Moon
This is arguably a more fully formed arrangement than the one I went with, but ultimately too subdued for my intentions. Additionally, I can't help but be concerned over the posting circumstances; I try to avoid mis-citing, and an authentic remix channel with only six subscribers is a bit unusual. Could be completely above-board, though, and if so I hope the artist in question gets more attention for the skills evident here.


Moonlight Magic - I can't dream...
Now here's a uniquely creative arrangement! The sharp constrast between instrumentation and tone is emphasized through the progression, and while it isn't the sort of thing I typically enjoy, I can still respect the execution. So if my initial choice doesn't appeal to some, hopefully this will intrigue them sufficiently instead.


Billy Qvarnström - Illusionary Joururi
Aspects of this arrangement seem a bit too close to the original for my liking, at least initially; but there's some imaginative twists to the performance that elevate it back up to an impressive endeavor. Ultimately I wanted something that emphasized the main motifs better, but between all the alternative options this was the closest to being my primary pick instead.
(also some bonus Cirno at the end :)
 
SHI - Beyond
I had in mind something a bit more intense, but I do appreciate a good acoustic arrangement. This is one of those pieces with a paradoxical familiarity for me; I don't recall hearing many remixes of it, but nor do I think I've listened to the original very often, so I must have encountered it more than I thought. Alternatively, it could just have a very memorable motif.


Eraser - Or I'll dance for you?
Viable options were plentiful, but not many stood out to me in some special way. Ultimately I remember this theme most for it's inverted composition, but I wouldn't necessarily want an arranger to stifle their creative process in trying to preserve that aspect of the piece. Ultimately I favored this remix for the competence showing through its amateurish charm.


Paradarx - The Exaggerated Castle Keep (DS Style Remix)
The distinctions between "Exaggerated Castle Keep" and "Little Princess" are practically inconsequential to my perception, in as much as they consist almost exclusively of presentation intricacies, and thus have little to no impact on arrangement preferences. There are a handful of remixes out there that claim to be specifically sourced from the former composition, but I've yet to find one that I could have said as much for without voluntary citation. It isn't really a big deal, but it does complicate my present endeavors a bit.
 
Bonus Feature: There was one "Reverse Ideology" remix that did stand out, but I didn't want to use it for the feature proper because it was from an artist I've featured previously. But considering the excellent execution of the concept, I figure I'll still share it, at least to illustrate the point a bit better.
SharKur - Turnabout "Reverse Hierarchy"
 
Quite a shame that the Sound Online Touhou arrangements aren't up in streaming services, and tracking them down on Youtube can be quite a pain (especially when you have 12+ Y.O videos with quite...subpar quality, let's say that)
Anyways, if i had to choose albums from them, i'd choose Trois Bleu, NOSTALGIA and Hydrangea, though i should really listen to more...
(oh yeah, heads up for Trois Bleu, do get both Trois Noir from Alstroemeria Records and Trois Rouge from ALiCE'S EMOTiON, the three were bundled up in a nice lil join collab between the three circles, very neat stuff i tell ya)
 
Ama Vohzen - Take a look
For one of the most straightforwardly climactic themes in the series, I of course sought out an intense but formal arrangement under the usual criteria, and eventually came to this one. I wasn't sure of it at first, but the more I've listened to it the more its grown on me; the motifs are preserved, but reorganized into a cinematic progression, which is about as fitting for them as one could ask for. Sidenote: I chose to go with the artist name instead of the circle for this one, due to lacking returns on reverse-searching; since the whole point is to be able to trace back the source, this seemed the better method of citation in this particular case.


AdamKadmon - Mist ~A Bewitching Splendid Song~
I anticipated a less recognizable arrangement for this entry, but while I did find such options, I found this to be the preferable pick for its preservation of the original's progression. The vocal element provides for sufficient distinction, but even without it I suspect the performance would have recognizable merit for its adaptation.


Musikey - Primordial Beat
Perhaps this will seem a bit anticlimactic in presentation, but I was determinedly committed to emphasizing the percussion value of this piece in my choice. Remixes of Raiko's theme too often neglect this central aspect thereof, much to my frustration; while this particular arrangement is relatively brief, it is at least respectful of that, and complements them with a variety of mixed elements, including oriental folk, orchestral, and even light rock.
 
Bonus Feature: I'm not intending to make this a consistent thing, but I couldn't resist including this "Primordial Beat" arrangement given it happened to fall under the same criteria of the previous week's extra, specifically being from a relatively recently featured artist and more closely fulfilling my idealized conceptions of adaptation for the piece in question.
fractrick - Thunder Savage
 
I've also accidentally found an album that i've taken quite the liking to: "Violet Lotus Requiem" by Pizuya's Cell (here's the touhou wiki link if you want to)
It's some metal album, and...
  1. I really love that cover, something about seeing a touhou character just laying down, listening to some music via a CD system ticks something in my brain, maybe it's that modernity clash, i dunno lmao.
  2. The songs are bangers; "A Light In A Darkened ESOTERIA" while short, is amazing, "H,S,T,N" is the same but longer, and "Giddiness" is a surprising break from all the chaos, you just vibe to it.
I'll try and give Pizuya a shot, i'm always down for more music.
 
Rough week of pieces this time around.

takora-men - Magic of The Gavel
For the third iteration of the motif, I wasn't expecting to find much. This is a decent recreation, even if it doesn't go far beyond instrumentation.


Aruneko - Mysterious, Mysterious Tools
While I appreciate the utilization of the same motif for both the menu and credits themes, it does result in some inconvenience in attempting to source arrangements for both separately. I managed to find a few, though, and this one in particular was from someone I haven't featured before. It's relatively short, but still a fair performance.


namapann - Raise the Signal Fire of Cheating!!
This one has given me trouble for all the wrong reasons. First off there was another remix I was initially excited about from A.SAKA, but it's unfortunately out of my reach. I then settled on this one, but had several problems getting it formatted, and then for some reason the upload defaulted to a 'short' (I presume because of the image I went with being vertical). I can't be bothered to wrestle with this right now, but maybe I'll try and fix it later. For all that, this is probably the best arrangement in this week's feature.
 
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