Bonus Review: Beatmania IIDX Remix for 10th Success Anniversary

While not a V-RARE, Beatmania IIDX Remix for 10th Success Anniversary was released a couple of months before the IIDX 10th Style OST. It featured many unique remixes as well as a couple of Premium Party exclusives. Ok, perhaps "remix" is a bit of an understatement. Some of these remixes were taken to beyond even a Diverse System level of complete reimagining. We're talking a level where you can't even tell what song it's based off of unless you read the title. Let's proceed.

1.　Astral Voyage ～akakage's sweet peaktime samba～ / EeL / Remixed by akakage
I really enjoy this remix. It combines EeL's vocals of Astral Voyage with a funky and smooth Latin-inspired backing track. It feels completely different from the original Astral Voyage, but sounds excellent on its own. Good. Damn good. ****

2.　システムロマンス ～DJ 19 REMIX～ / AKIRA YAMAOKA / Remixed by DJ 19
This is a radically different reinterpretation of System Romance from 10th Style. Completely minimal, vocal track removed, slowed way down, and much harder hitting. This extremely well done, even managing to throw in the cool little backwards skip that was in the original. Wonderful. Damn wonderful. *****

3.　desolation ～dj Remo-con ReMixx～ / Mr.T / Remixed by dj Remo-con
This starts out enough like Desolation with a muddied and wavering piano track similar to what was in the original, and then about 10 seconds into it does a complete 180 into something that's not even close to resembling anything. Really, I just don't get the connection. But, since it's dj Remo-con, it's forgiven. Also, on its own it's a pretty good song. ****

4.　雪月花 ～DJ TOMO'S NIBURU MIX～ / Ryu☆ / Remixed by DJ TOMO
This is perhaps one of the purest remixes yet, staying very close to its roots. Then again, why fuck with perfection? Basically, take the original Setsugekka, stretch it out to 6'40, add a distorted guitar track over it, and make the beat a bit harder, and you end up with this. It's really, good, but eh, it could have been better. ****

5.　Pandora ～DJ WADA Remix～ / dj TAKA feat.Tomomi / Remixed by DJ WADA
Ok, seriously. What the shit is this? I really want to know. In no way, shape, or form is this anything even closely resembling Pandora (which for the record is one of my favorite IIDX songs). You basically end up with almost 7 minutes of a staticy drum beat with some occasional bursts of something a little different. Talk about a complete letdown. On its own, it's not really bad, but certainly not memorable, and certainly not my beloved Pandora. **

6.　SCORE ～Mars on mix～ / dj Remo-con / Remixed by Susumu Yokota
This is a pretty well done remix that manages to be completely different while still retaining at least some semblance of the original. It has done away with the 8-bit feeling of the original and represents a modern, slickly produced version. While just a bit too long at almost 6 minutes, it manages to not quite wear out its welcome. Not bad at all. ***

7.　Think of me ～ASYLUM Mix～ / good-cool feat. Sana / Remixed by AKIRA YAMAOKA
If you could ever imagine the original Think of Me dumped in a blender and converted into some sort of weird Hard House/Tech House style track, you'd end up with this. The thing is though, it works. It sounds really good, albiet a bit mash-uppy at times. But, it is Akira Yamaoka, who can do no wrong, after all.

8.　Back Into The Light ～A DAY IN THE LIGHT Mix～ / Sota Fujimori Remixed by SLAKE
It'll be interesting to see what SLAKE, beatmania remix god can do with this song. While I could have done without some of the weirdness in the beginning, this ends up being quite listenable. Much of the trancieness of the original has been stripped out and is a bit more minimal than the original. It even has some ever so slight hints of two-step in it. Really well executed, but not the kind of thing I'd actively seek out to listen to. ***

9.　DoLL ～L.E.D. Style Mix～ / TЁЯRA / Remixed by L.E.D.
Another great L.E.D remix in typical great L.E.D style. DoLL is made OMG HARDCORE, and is quite good. Sort of reminds me of a combination of Jaeger's Final Attack meets DoLL. I can listen to this over and over again. *****

10.　Love Is Eternity ～SF SYNTH TRANCE MIX～ / kors k ［Remixed by Sota Fujimori］
11.　Ready To Rockit Blues ～dj TAKA remix～ / SLAKE ［Remixed by dj TAKA］

Bonus Tracks from beatmania IIDX secret LIVE ～one night premium party～ 2003.09.13
12.　bit mania / AKIRA YAMAOKA
13.　Colors / dj TAKA
This is utter crap. Take "Colors," play it back, add some echo and crowd noise, and this is what you end up with. It's worse than Era from TaQ's Bounce/Connected album. If I could give it negative stars, I would. *

A real mixed bag here, but then again, this album was pretty much something never done before with a Bemani game. It took songs that had not been on an OST yet and sought to put a completely new spin on them. Some worked really well, some just sucked rocks. It's certainly worth a listen because the good tracks are REALLY good.