ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Aeris Lives'

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Another year bites the dust :) I'll be posting another mix right after this one with some post-2004 commentary, so let's jump straight to the music: newcomer Kevin Lau gives us a touching, sentimental solo piano arrangement of the innately touching and sentimental Aeris theme from FF7. It's recorded very cleanly, if low at times, and features an impressive command of dynamics, especially in terms of the minute, shades-of-gray gradations between piano, mezzo piano, etc., and even injects a little prelude into things, blending in the infamous introductory arpeggios shamelessly and effectively. Larry gives us the point-by-point, John Madden analysis:

"Very quiet but excellent first few minutes. Great way to slowly escalate things at 1:48. Well done integration of "The Prelude" from 2:21-3:05, followed up by some excellent rearrangement of The Prelude all the way until 3:35. The abrupt/drastic change in key at 3:40 didn't work at all, but what came after that was strong. Nice activity throughout the last 3 minutes or so, before slowing things down for the dramatic finish. I'm not an FF music fan myself, but I can see how other fans could dub this as emotive."

Excellent playing - I think most of the panel felt that the arrangement was a little conservative, so this would be an area where future submissions could improve, but for a first ReMix this is a pretty mature, intimate, and accessible take of a well-known theme. Should be a sure thing for Squareheads and those with a sweet tooth for touchy-feely melodies on a well-recorded grand. Side effects may include the emasculinating phenomenon of weeping like a little baby, depending on your emotional connection to the source material. Good stuff - the occassionally too succinct Malcos summarizes:

"Whew, this recording sounds sweet. Great piano playing, what else can I say?"

― djpretzel