Choicest VGM - VGM #151 - The Ur-Quan Masters - Starbase - Under a Red Sky



Composed by: Dan Nicholson
Remixed by: Espen Gätzschmann and Tore Aune Fjellstad

This is a remix of the music which plays when you visit the starbase orbiting Earth in Star Control II. In the game, races that have been defeated by the Ur-Quan are given two choices: serve as battle thralls for the Ur-Quan Empire or be forever trapped on their home planet under a red "slave shield". Through a democratic vote, the Humans decided to be placed under a slave shield rather than fight for the Ur-Quan Hierarchy. The track's title is an obvious reference to what humans in the game see when they look up at the sky which is red thanks to the installation of the slave shield.

Unlike other remixes by The Precursors, this one seems to be quite a bit different from the source material. The main theme is still there but besides that, the remix is almost unrecognisable when compared to the original. This remix sounds more like an epic world music or ethnic fusion track that manages to channel the sadness and suffering that the entire Human race is experiencing across the globe, thanks to the clever use of different ethnic instruments and styles. It's by far my favourite remix by The Precursors and a definite improvement over the original track.

Special thanks to The Precursors for remixing the classic Star Control II tracks and making them available for download.


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