ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Dirge For The Frosty Plains'

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Secret of Mana

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.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Smooth. I really like it one of my favourites.

- Echo4HHSM on July 27, 2009
One of my favorite remixes on the site. Highly recommended.

- XiaoXiaoNeo on October 26, 2008
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The title is what caught me eye. But this peice is more than a pretty name! It's a really great ambient and moody track. I really dig the howling wolf around 1:40 it adds a great sense of vast loneliness to the track. Great work mp!

- Pip is uh..... on March 11, 2005
Like the other reviewers, I can't believe I passed this by. Tastefuly done, very much so. Hmmm, the first 37 seconds or so sound a LOT like the final battle with Ganon (after he transforms) in Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I kid you not!

- Nobbynob Littlun on October 12, 2004
Super cool, ultra-chill mix. The howling, man, that just put me over the top! Super cool whistle lead around 2:00. You can listen to this one over and over. I can't believe it- I am totally fooled, I can't tell if those drums are real or not! Strings, everything, so tastefully done, major kudos to the remixer.

- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
I'll join in the applauding. Very nice work. This track just conveys the general warm feeling of the Secret of Mana soundtrack. I'd say Kikuta would like this too. Thanks, mp!

- Lomion on July 7, 2004

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