ReMix:Skies of Arcadia "Shining Silver" 4:08

Wow. Channeling a deliberately epic scope and grandeur that hits me like a modern update of Ottorino Respighi, this symphonic arrangement from Sam Dillard off of Arcadia Legends is, in a word, breathtaking; there's a scale to the width and layering of the ensembles, combined with a slower pace, that feels monumental. His own solo albums are amazing and do use the word "Cinematica," which feels spot-on.

"For this track, I wasn't too concerned with trying to stick super close to the original song, but rather make a new one with the same DNA. But the main point was trying to evoke the overall feeling of Skies of Arcadia as a whole, which has a very whimsical and big, adventurous tone. So, since I was only doing one piece for this album, in a way, I wanted this song to also represent some of the bigger symphonic feelings found across the soundtrack."

"Adventurous" almost sounds too small; this feels more... geologic. Seismic. Something natural in its awe and power, and beyond the interactions of individuals and agendas. The type of piece you could write about something like a planet, or a supercluster. Album director Darkflamewolf concurs:

"This track was very dear to my heart and I wanted a uniquely different remixer to tackle it. I was always a fan of Sam Dillard and made the attempt to reach out to him. In a surprising twist, he was in between projects and agreed to do it! Although the original song was an odd, quirky song with carefree whimsy and light-hearted flair, his orchestral take deepened the feeling of wonder and awe that the original should have had without removing the light-hearted emotion. This bombastically reserved piece truly captures what it would be like to be on the Great Silver Shrine orbiting in space, staring at the majesty of your planet slowly spinning below - the ultimate destination in the sky every pirate dreams to go. A moment of nostalgia forever burned into my psyche from playing this game."

This is the type of music Carl or Neil could narrate over while they teach you some space things, but you'd want them to keep it brief, because you also wanna hear the music, and they *would* keep it brief, because they're cool and want you to hear the music as well. Yeah. I've always loved everything Sam has sent us and rarely have any reservations of note... and the trend continues. However, I'm used to hearing his work at faster tempos, and the director's comment about this being "bombastically reserved" isn't an oxy-moron, but an accurate description of the slower, deliberate pace contrasted with towering oomph & proportion. I don't have a beef with the American overuse of "awesome" like some folk do, but I will say that when the word is truly warranted, it sometimes ends up feeling insufficient as a result. Rephrased: this is worthy of some awe, and a standout track on Arcadia Legends. Kudos to Sam for his well-deserved success & props to him for taking a break between projects to lend this album a grand vision!