Midgar Mix - The Music From TeamFourStar's FF7 Machinabridged

[Jason Tandro]

Here's the full album stream. Apparently TFS actually did all the music themselves, I first thought it was a collection of fan remixes / OCRemix. Not gonna lie, I'm probably gonna buy this album. Edit: Full review of the album coming after I've had a chance to listen to it but I will say so far the main theme is fantastic but I have a soft spot for the funky remix of Barret's theme.

Arrangement/Production – Cliff “AinTunez” Weinstien
Mastering – Dj CUTMAN
Original – Nobuo Uematsu

iTunes – http://apple.co/23NFOok
Amazon – http://amzn.to/26jb8dm
Google Play – http://bit.ly/1YKvt5V
Spotify – http://spoti.fi/1NF9VBM
Loudr.fm – http://bit.ly/1VNHCst

Shinra’s most wanted - http://sharkrobot.com/products/shinra...

Tracks
1. Intro (Feat. TheLivingTombstone) – 0:00
2. Bombing Mission (Feat. Steven “Sarifus” Kelly) – 1:50
3. Let the Battles Begin! – 4:19
4. Barret’s Theme – 6:54
5. Under the Rotting Pizza – 9:36
6. Tifa’s Theme (Feat. EpicGameMusic) – 13:01
7. Fight on! – 15:53
8. Shinra, Inc. – 19:21
9. Mako Reactor – 23:17
10. Infiltrating Shinra – 26:38
11. Lurking in the Darkness – 28:50
12. Don of the Slums – 32:26
13. Turks’ Theme – 34:24
14. The Oppressed – 36:46
15. Red XIII’s Theme – 39:25
16. Aerith’s Theme – 41:35
17. Victory Fanfare – 43:25

 

[Tennyo]

Wow, this is actually quite excellent. I love these remixes.

 

[RedFFWolf]

Yeah, I have to say I was a little uncertain when I began listening to the first track, but some of the others really turned that around for me - then I listened to the first one again, and I appreciate it now.

 

[Jason Tandro]

So Full Review Time:


1. Intro (Feat. TheLivingTombstone) – 0:00

I like the scifi-ish feel to this song. It's definitely not what you are expecting when you listen to the original tune but I feel that works to its advantage. It captures the melody of the original while being its own thing.

2. Bombing Mission (Feat. Steven “Sarifus” Kelly) – 1:50

This seems to be an attempt to stay true to the original while remastering the brass and percussion. It sounds particularly good when it hits the bridge after the first minute, though it is a touch jarring in some places.

3. Let the Battles Begin! – 4:19

Another pretty faithful remastering, though again it's jarring early on.

4. Barret’s Theme – 6:54

THIS MAH JAM RIGHT HERE. Seriously there is nothing that I don't love about this funky remix of Barret's theme. It seems to take a lot of orchestration cues from the FFXIII-2 track Serendipity in how each part phases right into each other. It's very fluid and has a really smooth sound to it.

5. Under the Rotting Pizza – 9:36

This remastering actually turned out really good. It perfectly captures the feel of the midi track which is damned hard to do while still being a remastering because some of the midi sounds don't appear in nature, lol. I really really like this one.

6. Tifa’s Theme (Feat. EpicGameMusic) – 13:01

The orchestration here was more of a story decision - Tifa kind of plays a minor antagonist in the parody series (maybe TFS are Cleriths?) and so they kind of "Bowser"'d her theme. The guitar part actually sounds pretty good though - kinda reminds me of the Rurouni Kenshin soundtrack.

7. Fight on! – 15:53

This one starts as a pretty good remastering but it kind of falls apart before the loop. They got a little bit too inventive and the piano went all over the place and imho it doesn't sound too good. Overall the piece is fine though.

8. Shinra, Inc. – 19:21

This Shinra remix is actually very very solid. They add a lot of harshness and menace to an already menacing track. The choir in particular sounds great and blends well with the track. The percussion can be a touch overbearing at times, particularly the main martial beat which damn near drowns out everything else, but it still sounds great.

9. Mako Reactor – 23:17

This may be my favorite remastering of the bunch - of the ones that remaind faithful to the original track - The choir and the guitar add this amazingly beautiful and hopeless feel to an already intimidating track. The way it picks up after the opening few guitar strains with the percussion picking up is just incredible.

10. Infiltrating Shinra – 26:38

This one is actually so similar to the original it barely counts as a remastering. For a while I had trouble telling the two apart until the percussion kicked in. It has a very clean sound though and fans of the original will be happy.

11. Lurking in the Darkness – 28:50

This one went in an odd place. It kind of has the slight off-key sound of like the Silent Hill soundtrack or The Great Gubal Library theme from Heavensward: FFXIV. It's still faithful to the original but with an extra bit of creepy from the piano work.

12. Don of the Slums – 32:26

This remix turns out great, carrying all the boisterousness of the original but kicking it up a notch with the proper instruments, tuba and flute command the piece with an entire woodwind and string ensemble providing the meat of this piece. It's got all the skeeviness and soul you'd expect from Corneo.

13. Turks’ Theme – 34:24

A good remastering, but again so similar to the original there's not much to say. As is sort of the theme with all these tracks they kick the percussion up to 11 but that's about it.

14. The Oppressed – 36:46

This one sounds amazing, with the jazz piano and woodwinds and strings taking turn at the melody in a sort of "challenge and response". This just really turned out pleasing to the ear.

15. Red XIII’s Theme – 39:25

I mean it's not bad by itself, but it doesn't feel like Red XIII's theme. The only way this is Red XIII's theme is if he was in a Donkey Kong game.

16. Aerith’s Theme – 41:35

True to the original and still heart-breaking. I guess they knew not to tinker with this one too much.

17. Victory Fanfare – 43:25

It's pretty good for 30 seconds.

 

[SeaDragon]

I really appreciate some tracks ..but this Barret theme! stuck in my head all day.