Title: Ur-Quan - Now and Forever Remix Pack: 3 - The Ur-Quan Hierarchy Track #: 1 Length: 2:56 Remixed by: Espen Gätzschmann and Tore Aune Fjellstad Original written by: Erol Otus Remix of: UR-QUAN.MOD Comments: This was probably the hardest theme to remix in this entire project. The original was very orchestral, which is hard to do properly with synths and software, and it's one of the most central themes in the entire game. We ended up ditching two different remixes before we got to this one, and we're really happy about how it turned out. It moves the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za away from the imperial sound of the original theme, into a remix that sounds scarier, more ominous, and in it's own way, more powerful. It really needs to be heard along with the Ur-Quans' opening dialogue in the game in order to be appreciated fully. DOWNLOAD (4145k)

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Starlit
August 25th, 2014 - 02:07:39

I just wish that the main melody strings were raised several dB higher! (And the scratches tweaked a little quieter.) It's a shame that such an awesome melody gets a bit lost in the awesome accompaniment, which is most evident when the Ur-Quan are speaking in game.

Mixing aside, great work appealing to the spirit of the Kzer-Za!



Aneninen
May 3rd, 2010 - 00:29:47

Leave out the scratch. More bass. What's that rubbish at 1:16 and then, that melodramatique s--- at 1:32?!
Anyway, I must agree that due the the original track's sound and shortness, it's really hard to mix this.
Nicely done.

8/10



Drew Pan
December 16th, 2009 - 12:50:25

I wasn't sure what to think of this remix at first... it sounded a bit weak initially, but I like it a lot now. The Ur Quan are my favorite race in the game, and this really depicts them as a proud and mighty (though a bit misguided) race.

The 2nd half of the track is a lot more successful though... guess it's just more powerful.



Serosis
July 15th, 2009 - 05:20:29

I would just like to let you know that your MOD file is corrupt...

Take the urquan.mod directly from the content file from UQM and you'll see, since it won't let me post links.

It also sounds like you carried over the corrupted instrument sound into your remix...



AKJ
October 9th, 2008 - 10:12:27

I didn't even notice the scratching noise until reading the comments. Otherwise, I personally like the remix better than the original myself. I found it more dramatic than the original, the theme itself still gives off the Kzer Za's majesty while also dramatic at the same time.



Captain Pike
April 6th, 2008 - 21:29:08

Same here, the imperial grandeur is missing in this remix, despite good musical effects



Timo L
January 4th, 2008 - 09:19:16

This track for the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za is a great idea. The sinister, mechanical and irresistible marching tune, interrupted in the middle by the organ and voice fits very well. However, as it is now, and especially in the beginning, the marching beat is a little indistinct and vague. To make this track perfect, I'd suggest to make the repeating marching tune significantly faster and more distinct from the background. The Kzer-Za are ruthless and efficient - they never doubt their own superiority. Captain Zelnick and the pesky Earthlings are just a minor, insignificant irritant to them. This should be IMMEDIATELY obvious from the track. Otherwise great job!



svofski
September 27th, 2007 - 16:43:57

This one doesn't sound sinister and imperial enough, it's more in the sad Utwig key than Kzer-Za. The Ur-Quan come only to defeat, no arguments. It's the great and the only empire and the original music meant that. I don't feel this one, sorry.



Kandosii
September 2nd, 2007 - 03:24:58

This is my favorite of the remixes. As soon as I heard it, I put it on my mp3 player. I love listening to it.

Incredible work!



Veke
August 1st, 2007 - 11:51:36

This is perfect for Kzer-Za, very orchestral and they even hold those white sticks so they are the orchestra leaders :)



Ur-quan master #3
March 8th, 2007 - 16:44:14

Sounds great, not much better than first one...but it makes me want to enslave people...I dont know why



jpinard
March 3rd, 2007 - 05:28:59

Oh my goodness! I just got here today looking for some of my favorite music of all time (Ur-Quan) and found this. I love it so much. In fact, I love all these remixes! Thanks so much for doing these making them available. You all are true geniuses!



flightundenied
February 28th, 2007 - 11:56:27

oh. i forgot to mention in my post.. i agree about the scratchy thing. booted feet would've been better. More Imperial haha.

But still. oh. so. good.



flightundenied
February 28th, 2007 - 11:46:53

So. Good.



Laucin
December 24th, 2006 - 03:40:20

Oh my god! I absolutely fell in love with this track. As I've said elsewhere, I played the UQM remake first, with these remixes... It is SO imposing, especially with the speech made by the spy probe at the beginning.

I heard the original, and I have to say, I like how you picked out the decidedly un-pronounced melody and gave it the Imperial quality that is due the Kzer-za



Tanashin
November 23rd, 2006 - 03:37:05

This is the Ur-Quan, though the scratching sound just isn't right... I thought the scratching sound would be better in the Ilwrath theme. Its good though, I really like it.



Feline
November 2nd, 2006 - 14:46:47

the scrape sound fits if you imagine an ur-quan ticking off their list of enemies as they defeat them.



Holocat
July 27th, 2006 - 10:15:53

Sorry I forgot that last bit in the last post, but I agree that the scratching sound has got to go.



Holocat
July 27th, 2006 - 10:10:54

In its own way it fits, but I prefer the more standup imperial original theme; This is more slower, more sinister, more... Kor Ah.

To me, between the Kzer Za and the Kor Ah, the Za have always been more stand up, more imperial like The Empire, like a constant tread of a booted heel, a endless machine that grinds opponents to dust, like warhammer 40K's imperials. Thus the orchestral original is more in tune with what my perceptions are.

I feel it is the black as night ships that the Kor Ah have to be the stiletto, the assassin, the silent killer and deadly plague. This music reminds me of the latter, an implacable, unfathomable sort of evil, and therefore I attribute it to them more so than the Kzer Zas.



Avenger
April 25th, 2006 - 04:04:39

My favorite track, fits the Ur-quan perfectly :)

A few people have commented on the scratching sound, it does sound a bit off to me... What about replacing it with the sound of a hammer hitting metal?



groundctrl
March 1st, 2006 - 09:16:46

Very nice remix, a bit soft for Ur-quan doctrine. Meybe I was expecting to hear the large gong I used to hear every 8 measures.

Hard one, nice mixed.



ChampionHyena
February 27th, 2006 - 16:48:34

What more needs to be said that hasn't been already? This song is FANTASTIC. Perhaps my favorite of the Precursors' remixes.



Jason Kauppinen
January 31st, 2006 - 04:32:55

The totally awesome: The organ and vocals send chills up my spine!! :D

Areas for slight improvement:

I too don't like the "scrape" sound.

I'd also experiment with playing the original ten note melody (comes right at the start and repeats) slightly slower. Right now it sounds like, well if you sang along: "Hop skip and a short jump, la la _la_ la".

The melody should convey a sense of utterly crushing inevitability, it shouldn't be the same as an inspiring marching music that would be played as "going off to war".

The Kzer-Za have just finished fighting 99/100ths of the way around the galaxy in order to get to the place of the ritual combat, enslaving and destroying everyting in their path. This is a well-oiled diciplined, unstoppable (at the start of the game at least) war-machine that the music is describing.



Garra Assassina
January 27th, 2006 - 15:49:37

ADMIRABLE!ADMIRABLE! SNORT!!
Impressive remix, and in my opinion it surpasses the game music. To be better, only with a Ur-Quan voice too!



Hayes
January 5th, 2006 - 18:08:06

I think that this song really can fit for the Ur-Quan... It doesn't need for being imperial or grandilocuent, but This can reflect somehow the behavior of the Ur-Quan.

Example: Starts the music, there they come, conquering all sentient races and destroying any opposition (the former Alliance). They establish and impose their order, only loking for security for themselves, and then, just before the part of the organs, they face someone who defies them... they're ready to subjugate him, but he says the Words, and then the organs... they remember their former allies of the Milleu, the Dnyarri domination and how they destroyed their friends the Taalo and feel a momentary, awful and terrible pain... after that, they remember their vow of Now and Forever and keep their imperialistic attitude, but with terrible scars in their souls...

Geez... it really fits...



Valdemar Alastair Fritz
November 28th, 2005 - 11:10:18

I don't really like this one - the Ur-Quan may have a sad past, but they're more like angsty goths about it, rather than whiny goths. It's also too soft, imo.

I like the original most, but that's just me.



Dan
November 8th, 2005 - 18:55:38

This suits the Kzer-Za quite well. It starts off very imperious and dominating, but around the middle, it becomes very soft and sad, which reminds me of The Words - forcing them to remember the Dynarri and their Taalo friends...

Very well done, overall. :)



Jeep-eep
October 8th, 2005 - 19:51:55

Very dominating-sounding, and yet very later on very, very sad. Ideal for a race with such a sad past.



Stephen
August 21st, 2005 - 11:58:14

You just may need an orchestra to make this one orchestral. I think that you can loose the scratching sound from the original in the interpretation. It is a tricky one. I would like to see a more truer translation of the music. Just think of the music saying without words:
"You will now die. Make whatever rituals are necessary for your species."

I think that this is not the one, but keep trying. :)



Jeep-eep
August 13th, 2005 - 19:43:01

Ideal!



Stingray
June 27th, 2005 - 06:06:53

I think it fits. The image I got when the song first began is of Don Corleone entering a room and everyone looks around and everything gets all quiet, then he makes his way to the back.. when the pipe organs kick in at about 1:20 and segue to the vocals, it's like an execution taking place, very dark and heavy. I think it fits the Ur-Quan. "We gave you protection, and look how you repaid us, so this is how it's gotta end."



Deimios
May 30th, 2005 - 12:59:25

Now this is what Ur-Quan are. Like the fiends from japanese anime who aren't evil just have their agenda. This is THE SOUND! Gr8 work!



rabi
May 11th, 2005 - 15:25:53

i agree with JWJ, if u`ll combine both original and new ver of the urquan u`ll use all its potentual to fitt the urquan.



JWJ
February 25th, 2005 - 19:25:55

It's good, but doesn't really suit the Ur-quan. Not powerful or imperial enough. It does highlight their more tragic side, but I think that someone who's first playing the game should hear something stronger when they first meet the Ur-quan - they may have a sad past, but they're villains nonetheless.

What would really be cool is if the Ur-quan theme started out as the original, then it switched to the remix after you spoke the words to them.



Mad Mike
February 20th, 2005 - 00:49:03

This one took some time to get used to. As much as I enjoy the original Kzer-Za theme, this is a damn good track. That scrape, like some other folks brought up, is the only hitch in an otherwise solid piece if work.



Tuomo
February 11th, 2005 - 22:30:42

I really, really like this one. My only minor complaint concerns the odd, rhythmic scratch sounds in the background- I suppose they represent the 'flawed' mindset of the Kzer-Za, but I think the whole thing would work even better with something else.
Of course I don't know a damn thing about music making, but what I'd do would be to replace the 'scrapes' with the sound of whips. Very Kzer-Zaish stuff, whips.



chemman
February 7th, 2005 - 00:59:26

Every time I hear it I am more and more impressed. After reading all other comments, imperial it is, and adds kilometers of depth to the Ur-Quan. The fast-paced original sounds more, uh, serious-sam'ish - faster, more aggresive, without the mind-blowing drama. This has been the hardest remix to do, but after listening to all other, it is the best.

One of very few pieces of non-metal music that I like that much.



Bobcat
January 30th, 2005 - 02:07:20

Mmmm... orgasmically nice...

I wouldn't mind losing the little rythmic 'scrape' sounds, tho.. would sound a lot more fluid without them. Maybe the sound of a bell tolling, instead?



Leto
January 28th, 2005 - 01:33:43

This is a reasonably good song, the part with the organs was particularly nice. However, I think there is too much repetition, the main melody should vary more.

Also, I think it was not a good idea to move the Kzer-Za away from the imperial sound. The Kzer-Za are first and foremost imperialists who give orders to their thralls and want to subjugate all other races. In order to do so they want to sound as mighty and imperious as possible. Of course, they have their tragic and tormented side, which the remix represents, but they don´t want to show any sign of weakness to other races. Therefore they hide their tragic side unless you speak The Words to them. The main message the Kzer-Za want to convey to other races is "Submit or die" and it sounds much more impressive and convincing with the original version. Consider the Kzer-Za´s behaviour when they were subjugating the Spathi. The remix simply doesn´t fit the first part.

"...the Ur-Quan started blasting out this overwhelming signal`SENTIENT LIFE. WE ARE THE UR-QUAN. INDEPENDENCE IS INTOLERABLE. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.' [The Kzer-Za speak in this manner almost all the time]
-- you get the idea anyway, in a moment of panicked genius, the Captain blurted out `Hold! What you are doing to us is wrong! Why do you do this thing?'
To everyone's amazement, the Ur-Quan fleet stopped dead in space. The Ur-Quan fixed a tight communication beam on the shipand the creature spoke a long while and with great passion almost as though it were intoning a high ritual."

I think the remix would be fitting for a sequel because then the Ur-Quan are not so mighty anymore.

Sorry for the length of this post. But anyway, of the remixes made by Espen and Tore I think this is the only one worse than the original. So keep up the good work.



chemman
October 13th, 2004 - 17:40:08

Absolutly magnificent. While I thought that the original theme was good, the remix I saw quite literally petrified me for some time. The theme catches the exact feelings and emotions even better than the original theme. For the Kzer-Za are not evil - rather slaves gone berserk. Enslaving or annihilating everyone in it's path, they have fought the path of now and forever, which this theme ilustrates.

Overall guys, you are really, really good. I am in shock&awe.



NB
September 28th, 2004 - 00:24:36

Wow. Man, that was fucking great. Imperial it still is, rest assured, and the war-mongering/enslaving feeling is excuisite. It's a pitty I can't compare it with the original right away, but it's powerful on its own right!



Ken Shaw
September 26th, 2004 - 18:03:14

I think it's truly amazing what you all have done with this mod, it is now my favorite mp3. Never before have the Ur-Quan sounded as imperial or downright scary as they do with this remix.
That's my two cents - job well done.



Dunhart
August 30th, 2004 - 18:35:50

I love this one. Along the Starbase remix, this is one of my true favourites. I like the haunting female vocals on the background and I absolutely adore the strong organ part and the following male vocals. :)



FreakyM
August 19th, 2004 - 10:40:28

Kharivas, you are damn right. "The words.. the words.. "



Profound_Darkness
August 17th, 2004 - 03:33:50

WOW! It doesn't quite have the same feal as the original had but it is one heck of a good run. I didn't think it likely to fit till I rushed off to the urquan space and got one to have a chat with me. It still isn't a perfect match but I wouldn't expect such a thing from an original work.



Kharivas
August 10th, 2004 - 21:57:55

Also, an additional note: This tune is so haunting and sad it perfectly reflects the true mindset of the Kzer-Za -- driven insane by their own dark past. Play this remix while listening to urqua037.ogg -- their response to The Words -- and the overall effect is touching and amazing beyond what words can describe.



Kharivas
August 10th, 2004 - 21:41:54

WOW. You guys never cease to amaze me. I thought it would be impossible to improve upon the Ur-Quan's theme, because I absolutely loved how it sounded in the original game, but you've made it better somehow, and more menacing in its own respect. I REALLY like this. I'm looking forward to see how you handle remixing the Yehat theme, one of my favorites from SCII.



FreakyM
August 4th, 2004 - 10:05:59

This totally kicks a**! It has such a magnificient atmosphere.. just PERFERCT for those mean ´ol slavers!
But maybe, just maybe, the original melody should be a bit louder, and have some serious bass like the original.



Azrael
July 25th, 2004 - 02:01:13

Good job! This, I thought, would be the one remix I didn't like as I thought the first one was awesome. But, this is BETTER!!! The whole sound of it, it sounds like there's a huge Ur-Quan fleet surrounding your little world and demanding 'Submit or die!'



castcan
July 13th, 2004 - 12:55:22

This is a brilliant remix.



armassusi
July 12th, 2004 - 04:00:51

I like this remix very much! It gives the Ur-Quan a powerful, mysterious and but still a bit sad feeling, witch is good considering their tragic past... well done! lookin forward to pack 4!



GSL
July 2nd, 2004 - 17:08:49

I was always a big fan of the overwhelming "power" of the original piece, and initially wasn't enamored by this mix; this one sounds much more tragic than the original, which conveyed a strong "supreme evil guys" feel. Having said that, now that I listen to it again, it has really grown on me, as it makes the Kzer-Za so much more three-dimensional of a villain. Great job.



Chrispy
July 2nd, 2004 - 14:41:34

This one must have been hard to remix. The melody is so flawless anything you add might seem out of place. It didn't though. The added cromatics on the rising melody, that wierd percussion noise, the organ. It all sounded right. This was definatly my favorite remix so far.



Chez'puf
July 2nd, 2004 - 05:06:45

Now that was exquisite. The chamber organ really sets off the piece, as do the odd crying voices that call out in their own iconoclastic ways to the steady drum beat and choir. The Ur-Quan Kzer-Za are driven by their own haunted past, and they steeled themselves to a grim task because of their own perceived weaknesses; you really captured that in this piece.

If you might consider it, a remix where the choir is discordant and the drum has an odd cadence would be great for the "We have lost the war... run, human! Take what you can and flee!" responses from the Kzer-Za, as a sign that the wheels are coming off their war engine.



blitzoid
July 1st, 2004 - 09:07:43

Will you be my valentine?