ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Dragon Song'

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I'm going to begin this writeup by mentioning Pillar of Salt a bit, but not because Star's magnum opus and Brandon's latest share all that much in common, musically. They're not in the same genre, or from the same game, or by the same composer, and besides involving original vocals, their respective tones and general composition are altogether different. So, where's the relevancy? Well, the simple fact is, I can't really talk about either of these ReMixes without embarassing myself in a sad cesspool of my own fanboy adulation. They're fantastic mixes, the type I dreamed would one day be made when I started the site, the type that fill (overfill, really) either side of the arrangement/production ratio, and open doors, and conclusively illustrate the possibilities and art present in what we're doing with unofficial game arrangements. They're legitimizing of the time I've invested working on the site. Now, it's important for me to clarify, so are ALL ReMixes. I'm strongly opposed to the idea of ranking or classifying something as emotional and subjective as music, especially on a song by song basis. I think of the many mixes on this site as a continuum, and NOT a hierarchy, and always will. But even in a continuum, filled with amazing work from a variety of distinct voices, there can be tracks that stand out for one reason or another, to any given listener, as quintessentially possessing certain traits and characteristics that one searches for in art. To make a long story short and avoid further pontification, if you know what I think of Star's Xeno mix, that I feel similarly about Brandon's should be enough to communicate the point. If not, just download both without a hesitant bone in your body, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Brandon writes:

"Yet another tribute to my favorite game, Secret of Mana, this time incorporating both the final Flammie flight theme and a bit from the Kakkara desert theme. Sorya mentioned in the ReMixing forum that remixing music from Secret of Mana is like “taking a little trip back in time.” So true indeed. This mix takes me to the skies above the world as the story climaxes: the lost continent has risen, the Mana Beast is on his way, you’ve gone through so much yet so much is left to do. Ahh, memories.

Thanks to all of the people in the WIP forum who commented on this mix in its infancy, especially Monobrow who provided a simple suggestion that really inspired me to continue.

Hope everyone enjoys!

~This mix is brought to you by:

Cakewalk SONAR 2, FL Studio 5, Casio CTK-551 (used only as a midi controller), Fender acoustic guitar (my new toy), and my sexy man voice"

Actually, this mix doesn't so much rekindle memories of SoM as it does reinvent the entire world before my eyes, vaster in scope and reach, an infinite expanse of land, water, and air. "Transporting" doesn't do it justice - if for some reason you couldn't get away this year, couldn't travel anywhere, see anything new, get away from school, or work, or your life, in one of the traditional ways... this is more than a substitute vacation, more than a consolation prize. Some people view the label of "escapism" as a criticism when it comes to any art form, including music, but when paired with technique and vision, for something this imaginative and flowing, I just can't see it being so. Brandon can sing, play guitar, and arrange exquisitely, and all three of his skills are utilized here to the fullest extent we've yet seen them. Again, as with Salt, when everything comes together and someone's full faculties are applied to a mix that was clearly meant for them, the results are honestly downright scary, on some level. I'm not going to bother with a play-by-play, in this instance, as I'd just prefer everyone listen to this a dozen times in a row like I have, at which point telling you what happens is moot. It's 5/4, which is worth mentioning as the meter is handled so smoothly, you may not even notice. There's acoustic guitar, piano, shuffling drums and latin percussion, simultaneously interesting + supportive bass, a calliope/pan flute lead, a variety of synths that integrate seamlessly with the more acoustic overall vibe, and - oh yeah - an impressive instrument in its own right, Brandon's voice. There's a mixture of lyrics, vocalizing, and background vocal parts, and he's on all of them, and he sounds great. As good as all of Salzman's previous mixes were, I didn't know he had Salt in him until I heard it; the same applies here. Elevating, meticulous, innovative, and representative of what still makes running this site so damn fun: you just never know what you're gonna hear next.

― djpretzel