ReMix:Final Fantasy VII "Howling Winds" 4:04

A new Forest Elves ReMix is something to get excited about, and this mellow, acoustic jam arranging FF7's "Cosmo Canyon" delivers the goods:

"We're back again with another Final Fantasy arrangement -- this time, with the acclaimed "Cosmo Canyon" from Final Fantasy VII. With all the hype surrounding the recent release of the FF7 Remake, it looks like we're in apt time too! We wanted to make a completely acoustic version of the song. We also originally recorded many layers of vocals for it too, but decided it actually sounded more charming as a simple instrumental arrangement!

The name "Howling Winds" is an homage to both the character's home in which the in-game music is heard, and the wind-instrument focused style that we settled on for our arrangement. We finished up our arrangement with some wind and crackling campfire ambience (which we were generously given permission to use from Tabletop Audio)! We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!

We just wanted to give you guys at OC ReMix as well as the listeners a really huge and warm "thank you"! The response to the two submissions we've had posted by you from everyone have been so wonderful to read. We've even had quite a few people find our channel, letting us know that they had come from the OC ReMix channel. So, thank you so very much, it really means a lot!"

Instruments used: Guitar, Djembe, Kalimba, Melodica, Irish Low Whistle, Soprano Recorder, Alto Recorder, Tenor Recorder, Egg Shaker, Jingle Bells & Rainmaker

Thanks for the thanks :) I mixed this theme myself last year, and I've always considered it a standout on a standout soundtrack. For their distinct take, Forest Elves leverage formidable multi-instrumentalism, some West African textures on kaliba/mbira & djembe, and - as the title & their explanation promise - some lovely, expressive wind leads. Fewer key changes for this arrangement, as the main melody sits over the acoustic guitar-led accompaniment and makes you wait for the progression to progress, which works well & lends a bit more emphasis on all the individual parts that make up the whole - dynamic, human percussion, with bells & a rainmaker adding some ambiance, plus a trio of recorders, a whistle, and perhaps most promintently the melodica, which (shame!) I initially mistook for a harmonica. The arrangement feels very complete due to all these melodic, harmonic, & percussive components coming together, and conveys a sense of reverence & reflection, with spirits being conjured around a sacred bonfire. Plenty of ornamentation on the wind leads, with some nice "howls" in the form of descending trills/tremolo, and the melodica has an emotional tremolo as well. It's Wild West meets West Africa, basically, and it sounds fantastic. Continued excellence, with soul & passion to match, from Forest Elves - highly recommended!