Super Paper Mario "Memory: Night" 6:00

AJ DiSpirito takes things down a notch and hits us with a peaceful, serene ambient/ballad ReMix of Super Paper Mario, our first featured arrangement from the game:

"So, here's a little experiment. I took one of my most popular remixes and made a "night" version, which is like an alternate version of a song to fit a different setting. This isn't meant to be a new or improved version of my original "Memory" remake, this is just a different idea."

Watery, dreamlike piano pairs with several tick-tock clocks, as dusty strings, koto, & oboe augment. This has a deliberate pacing and stretched-out, lullaby-ish vibe, and would have fit right in on Esther's Dreams. MindWanderer writes:

"It's a repetitive arrangement on the face of it, but so's the source. It's progressive though, never giving the feeling that it's retreading the same ground, but always adding and expanding to it in engaging ways. It's not for listeners expecting excitement around every corner, but that's not the point."

Sir_NutS echoes that:

"The production here is very atmospheric and subtle. There are strings and pads making the rounds in the background but there's a bit more detailing than that if one listens closely, some atmospheric drones and textures complement the mood and set up the stage for the super minimalistic arrangement. I gotta say, by the 4 minute mark the constant piano hook was really starting to distract me from the enjoyment of the string melodies and textures. Thankfully it goes into a breakdown shortly after, with a slightly different voicing that leads to the ending."

Yesterday's mix was rather minimalist & reflective, too, so I guess we're ending the week on a chill, laid-back vibe, which works for me. This piece is long and does indeed repeat, but I think AJ keeps the soundscape differentiated and rich - I especially liked the interleaving tock clicks and the subtle Japanese influence on the instrumentation. Peaceful, relaxing, expressive stuff, and a different & effective style for the artist - enjoy!