E01 Rising Blue Lightning-X Edition-/Rose of Solemn/Lightning Star/Pro BMX Simulator

Let's get the bracket started! Please choose your favorite track!

Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: 057 - Dwelling of Duels - Rose of Solemn
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: 063 - OCRemix - Lightning Star
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: 066 - Kwed - Pro BMX Simulator
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: 102 Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-

I favoured these two tracks:
066 - Kwed - Pro BMX Simulator
102 Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-
They have a fresh electronic sound about them that brings about some nice timbre. The other two tracks are the kind of metal/rock ones that comes with this heavy, smothering sound which tends to wear me out. Not always the case, but here it is.

"Lightning Star" is pretty classic OCR fare, but the production quality was a little too rough; wouldn't be surprised if some of it was intentional, but then again wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't. Good stuff, would have preferred something more developed.

Something was felt off with the production on the intro for "Pro BMX Simulator", sounding like it was too far away. I thought the drums were actually pretty weak, along with most of the textures feeling too sparse and underdeveloped. Not seeing how something like the 1:44 section could be described as a "fresh electronic sound". Sounded half-assed to me. Infy's got a ways to go in terms of learning more and developing more sophisticated, polish tracks. I liked the vocal sampling, but the instrumentation and processing was on the weak side.

"Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-" was a lot more creative and polished with its material, so even though there were some genre staples in there in terms of the backing instrumentation and some synth choices, this was a lot more creative and deserving of praise for the genre. Not mind blowing, but I was definitely feeling it on a groove bias level. If the track had more going for it than those beautiful sitar-like runs, I'd give it the point, because I was definitely feeling that.

"Rose of Solemn" is pretty nice. Some sick stuff from Ashane, well developed and a good source choice. The drumkit could have fit a bit better, but everything was solid overall. He's only gotten better since 2005. Gotta give it the point.

: 057 - Dwelling of Duels - Rose of Solemn
: 102 Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-
: 063 - OCRemix - Lightning Star
: 066 - Kwed - Pro BMX Simulator

It's probably bad if the best part of a track is the vocal sampling. The vocal clips in Pro BMX Simulator aren't bad and are used well, but the rest of the mix is so blah. Nothing of note.

I wanted to like Lightning Star more, especially since it's an arrangement of my favorite track from Sonic 1, but the whole thing just feels too messy, especially the first half. Gets better in the second half, but not by enough.

Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition- is decent, although nothing really special save for those sitar arps that Liontamer mentioned. Pretty solid overall.

Rose of Solemn might last a bit too long, but it's well developed over eight minutes, building nicely. Maybe a bit too repetitive as well, but there's enough interpretation in the phrases to make it fine. Most solid of the four tracks here.

The Dwelling of Duels stuff, while I could imagine might not be suited to tastes across the board, has been nothing but amazing. It's almost unfair.

Nom bias all the way here, otherwise, Rose of Solemn would be a no brainer.

057 Rose of Solemn
It seems that Hiroki Kikuta has been fertile territory for remixers, a fact that brings a smile to my face. This particular arrangement is technically impressive but drags a bit; it would be far better at half the length.

063 Lightning Star
I can see what everyone was talking about; the guitar part feels really messy and sloppy in this track, and it doesn't do the rather average remix any favors.

066 Pro BMX Simulator
The vocal sample here was actually quite good, though I'm at a loss to explain why. It helps elevate a rather mundane track to just short of enjoyable.

102 Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-
A nice dance mix with some interesting sitar(?) parts and ascending/descending figures.

I think I'd listen to Rising Blue again, though Pro BMX is closer than I would have originally thought.

Dwelling of Duels - Rose of Solemn
Interesting SoM mix, although I never liked the original song.

OCRemix - Lightning Star
Disorganized! The two halves of the song would classify this as a changer song, although a poorly done one, especially with the change in energy level which is usually a risky bet for changer songs.

Kwed - Pro BMX Simulator
Sucker for bass :3 I like the usage of the voice sample.

Rising Blue Lightning -X Edition-
Sucker for quarter beat bass and standard dance.


Pro BMX and X Edition are pretty much on par for me.