ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Dirge For The Frosty Plains'
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- Game: Secret of Mana (Square, 1993, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): mp
- Composer(s): Hiroki Kikuta
- Song(s): 'A Wish...'
- Posted: 2002-04-11, evaluated by djpretzel
mp (Matt Pollard) submitted this very delicate and refined Secret of Mana ReMix recently, of the track "a wish". Over a very tasteful and realistic acoustic kit, dreamy electric piano chords arpeggio up in a style reminiscent of "Roads" by Portishead (sorry, big fan of theirs) whilst immaculate and dynamic strings accompany everything. Eventually a gliding sine wave synth solo comes in as well. This whole ReMix just sort of floats on air in a dream-like state of weightlessness which is, by my thinking, a very good thing. The electric piano patch ties the piece together - it's a great sound that's well capitalized upon and fills out the mix wonderfully. Great wolf cries as well (sorry to reminisce so much, but these reminded me of the anime X (the movie) where Inuki howls after Yuzuriha . . well, just see it yourself ^^). Fantastic to see mp back - in the end, it's about music (or should be), and I'm sure you'll all enjoy this ultra-chill track. Highly Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the It's really a tribute to this piece that it sounds like it was just
recorded, and yet it has stood the test of time. Listening to it is
feels like taking a slow walk through an ice-covered forest; quiet,
beautiful, and pristine. A total success.
- DimeTower on August 19, 2011
- DimeTower on August 19, 2011
Dripping with ambiance and a wonderful blend of peace and sadness.
It's that perfect balance of mood and chillness that makes this
such a pleasant listen.
It's harmonious, dare I say immersive, music. I don't quite know how fitting this is as a dirge, but whatever.
This mix is a little on the subtle side and it's easy to pass this one by, but it would be a shame to. The ingredients that have gone into this are seemingly ageless, and sound as tranquil as they ever did. I'm a huge fan of whistles in ambient pieces, so this was always going to suit me to a tee.
Don't let the small reach of this mix allow you to pass over this one. It well deserves some more listens.
- Marmiduke on April 26, 2011
It's harmonious, dare I say immersive, music. I don't quite know how fitting this is as a dirge, but whatever.
This mix is a little on the subtle side and it's easy to pass this one by, but it would be a shame to. The ingredients that have gone into this are seemingly ageless, and sound as tranquil as they ever did. I'm a huge fan of whistles in ambient pieces, so this was always going to suit me to a tee.
Don't let the small reach of this mix allow you to pass over this one. It well deserves some more listens.
- Marmiduke on April 26, 2011
This is a great source tune. It's not very complicated; it's
basically seventh chords going down the white keys. However, it has
a certain charm. I love what mp has done with it. That sine solo at
1:50 is brilliant. Overall, a smooth, emotional track that does not
overwhelm.
- SubNormal J3 on March 20, 2011
- SubNormal J3 on March 20, 2011
The source tune is one of the few tracks that actually caught my
attention while playing through Secret of Mana. This arrangement is
a beautiful and relaxing treatment. Just wish it were longer!
- Dhsu on November 9, 2009
- Dhsu on November 9, 2009
The tremolo-ed Rhodes is indeed very Portishead-esque. The drums,
the swelling strings and the wolf sound effect are also very nice.
This is a very very nice mood piece. I like how brief it is. It's
not indeed superbly memorable (lots of posters seem to have
forgotten about it and then rediscovered it.) On thing is that it's
quite subtle, but it's also quite bgm/intermission -like. This
doesn't detract from it's quality, of course.
--Eino
- evktalo on March 27, 2008
--Eino
- evktalo on March 27, 2008
Completely melancholy, this has a distinct feeling of isolation
with it's barren soundscape. It's beautiful, and the minimalist
presentation lends each element that much more weight. There is a
distinct anticipation for each note in the phrase, and the delivery
makes repeated listens a lot better. This is very easy to loop for
hours without it getting grating in the least.
The instruments chosen are perfect, and the wolf howling adds a bit of a throwback to the game. I remember fighting wolves for hours to level up my weapon skill. :P
Overall this is a fantastic mix, and really brings out the strengths of the original track, while adding a personalized spin to it.
My one complaint is that the synth at the end only appears there. Either it should appear where it does currently and then have piano or a lead instrument we have already heard come in to close out the track, or have the synth appear earlier on, so it feels more like it belongs. Right now it shifts to synth only and then trails off. Not the best ending to the track, though it can work if you loop the song repeatedly I suppose.
Overall very good work, a bit of a hidden gem here. :-)
- OA on March 26, 2008
The instruments chosen are perfect, and the wolf howling adds a bit of a throwback to the game. I remember fighting wolves for hours to level up my weapon skill. :P
Overall this is a fantastic mix, and really brings out the strengths of the original track, while adding a personalized spin to it.
My one complaint is that the synth at the end only appears there. Either it should appear where it does currently and then have piano or a lead instrument we have already heard come in to close out the track, or have the synth appear earlier on, so it feels more like it belongs. Right now it shifts to synth only and then trails off. Not the best ending to the track, though it can work if you loop the song repeatedly I suppose.
Overall very good work, a bit of a hidden gem here. :-)
- OA on March 26, 2008
This was the mix that I discovered that lead to me OCR, so I'm
already biased there. I'm even more biased bc this is completely
friggin awesome. More specifically the mood that was created. mp
really took the source and made it even more emotive, doin that is
extremely hard to do.
The little voices around 1:41 really sound pretty sweet. The new lead synth while being more aggresive doesn't change the mood.
I gotta say overall the combination of the soundscape, variation, and simplistic writing are amazing.
- avaris on December 23, 2006
The little voices around 1:41 really sound pretty sweet. The new lead synth while being more aggresive doesn't change the mood.
I gotta say overall the combination of the soundscape, variation, and simplistic writing are amazing.
- avaris on December 23, 2006
This song will do nothing but calm you down. Don't take this the
wrong way, I mean that in a positive light! Words that come to mind
off the top of my head when listening to this song:
Smooth
Chill
Snow
Relax
Soothing
This is just a list of words. Take them as you will, but this remix is perfectly set to the mood it's title tries to convey. I love this song and applaud it's creator loudly for making such a smooth, ambiance mix. Keep it up!
- MasamuneX on March 11, 2006
Smooth
Chill
Snow
Relax
Soothing
This is just a list of words. Take them as you will, but this remix is perfectly set to the mood it's title tries to convey. I love this song and applaud it's creator loudly for making such a smooth, ambiance mix. Keep it up!
- MasamuneX on March 11, 2006
Been a while now since I've played the game, but the melody sounds
exactly like something that would be in SoM. Very smooth and chill
arrangement, it's a little sad with strings, piano and depressed
howls far beyond the horizon. I don't think i have much to say that
hasn't been told, I thought this piece would contain some material
from the winter area in the game, but that would have made it too
happy I guess.
A very emotional piece, good job mp. :D
- Bummerdude on March 11, 2006
A very emotional piece, good job mp. :D
- Bummerdude on March 11, 2006
It's all smooooth sailing, I'm digging this vibe, love that ep! I
could fall asleep to this stuff, awesome stuff mp, you gotta bring
me more!
- jordex on April 30, 2005
- jordex on April 30, 2005
This is excellent. It seems, mp, as if this song envelops you in
clouds. You just seem to drift off, in a relaxed state of mind. The
ambient effects added to a sense of peace within the tune.
Forgive the lack of eloquence, I'm having trouble finding words.
But keep it up!
- Angelus Laminarum on March 30, 2005
Forgive the lack of eloquence, I'm having trouble finding words.
But keep it up!
- Angelus Laminarum on March 30, 2005
Beautiful. I love this song. It makes me just forget about all the
problems i'm having and helps me just sit back and relax.
- lkoro on March 23, 2005
- lkoro on March 23, 2005
This is the most melancholy and solitary mix I've ever heard on
OCR, and I mean that as the highest of compliments. An utterly
beautiful song that conjures up mental images of slowly dying
worlds, vast emptiness, abandoned cities, and the sense that
something irreplaceable has gone missing, that someone, somewhere,
some lonely drifter wandering through all these surreal, barren and
beautiful landscapes has underdone a journey filled with hardships
and returned ultimately changed. And that really resonates deeply
with me at this point in my life.
That this was the first mp mix after the 'Exodus' only seems to support these imaginings.
- Ventrex on March 21, 2005
That this was the first mp mix after the 'Exodus' only seems to support these imaginings.
- Ventrex on March 21, 2005
