ReMix: Teen Agent 'Lingering Lust'
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- Game: Teen Agent (Union Logic, 1995, DOS)
- ReMixer(s): Brandon Strader
- Composer(s): Radek Szamrej
- Song(s): 'Lovers'
- Posted: 2010-11-22, evaluated by the judges
- Album: Featured on Teen Agent: The Root of All Evil
The third and final debut track from The Root of All Evil, this ReMix highlights Brandon's versatility. Starting off sounding like it might be a completely orchestral piece, acoustic guitars soon enter, along with subtle, folksy percussion. The layered guitars blend VERY well due to careful attention to panning, and this is again a mix that I'd be comfortable putting on an xmas or Thanksgiving playlist. Brandon writes:
"'Lovers' was always one of my favorite themes, and the song can loop infinitely and still be enjoyable. I used minimal orchestra elements to add depth and also to more smoothly follow Vampire Hunter Dan's brilliant song that precedes this one. I wasn't planning for percussion, but ultimately chose to put some sparse ethnic percussion along with live tambourine that I recorded here. The orchestra is QLSO. I really love that oboe sound. There's no bass guitar which I tried to write as cello instead. The acoustic guitars follow the source pretty well, though obviously the chorus interprets the source in a way that is appropriate for acoustic guitar. There's a little solo section right before the end which was a bit of a liberty, but I felt it was needed as a "release" before the ending of the song. Recorded into Cubase 5 with a MXL 991 microphone and a monster cable!"
Judges passed this unanimously, so again congrats to Brandon for pulling together both the overall album and some individual tracks that really shine. This is one of them, blending the acoustic intimacy you'd get from a Pot Hocket arrangement with very tasetful, unobtrusive percussion and orchestral supporting elements that blend rather sublimely; Larry writes:
"A great addition to The Root of All Evil, and hopefully an indication that Brandon's internalizing the level of source usage & interpretation needed to get a sub passed. Very relaxing. Put it on for your lady. Don't tell her what the title is."
Nice. While not every track on the album is as polished as these three mixes, the overall effort presents a heartfelt & diverse tribute to the game's surprising score. Great work from Brandon & company on Teen Agent: The Root of All Evil! Please help up spread the word & seed the torrent!
Discussion: Latest 14 comments/reviews; view the - Crulex on September 24, 2012
The strings pattern, kind of being reminiscent of Village, does indeed make a good transition from Vampire Hunter Dan's track covering the same theme. And as the source came in, it manages to form its familiarity and kept itself with this lovely lush minimalist charm. The strings were greatly expressed, Brandon's soloing skills managed to work within this more peaceful setting, and even the live percussion - though kind of dated now in comparison to later works - were well timed and added to this more relaxed 'outdoor stroll' feel we have going. Very pretty stuff.
One thing I believed might've needed some added clarity was the separation between the lead guitar and the countermelody guitar; it's as if they were both trying to fight for the same frequency space, so it would've helped to have equalised them both in opposite directions to give them some added separation. But I know his production skills have been improving a lot, and I hope to see him keep pushing himself as time goes on.
For now, another sign that you did great with the Teen Agent album, and let's hope that you keep up the epic diversity in other submissions too :D
- Rexy on January 15, 2012
DragonAvenger;735570 wrote: Definitely my favorite track of the album, except for the name XD.
Despite the strings being a little mechanical, I think this had a nice flow, and was overall a cute song to listen to.
What's wrong with the name? :-P
I'll agree with you that the strings in the opening didn't give me very high hopes for the song, but Brandon really seems to know his way around an acoustic guitar. The performance on the harmonizing guitars really make this track shine. I gotta agree with everyone else, this is one of the best tracks on The Root of All Evil and Brandon should definitely take a hint and do more mixes in this style ;-)
Congrats on your first solo mixpost!
- Emunator on December 9, 2010
- Bahamut on December 6, 2010
- EmpyClaw on December 5, 2010
- MechaFone on December 5, 2010
Despite the strings being a little mechanical, I think this had a nice flow, and was overall a cute song to listen to.
- DragonAvenger on December 5, 2010
I really like what Brandon has done with this, and it just shows the amazing effort he put into The Root of All Evil.
- 42 on December 4, 2010
- Geneson on November 22, 2010
- Chernabogue on November 22, 2010
Nice work! :nicework:
- OA on November 22, 2010
- BlackPanther on November 22, 2010
