ReMix:Skies of Arcadia "Rogue Sanctuary" 2:46

This plucky, earnest, and ultimately adventurous orchestral march by Ganaé (Matthieu Loubiere) features pizzicato strings, chromatic percussion, and plenty of pointed, staccato passages, maintaining an upbeat vibe as we eventually transition into full-on celebration:

"The inspiration for this track was to make a funny, soft version of Pirate Island's theme. At the beginning, you can hear how woodwinds and strings (pizzicati jump) play together. I put xylo and castanet samples to give wood sounds (boats are make with wood, aren't they?). The second part of the introduction was for me a way to introduce the theme. I love brass, especially horns, and you can hear it like an announcement of final landing. For the final exposition, I wanted something bigger but not too loud. I used woodwinds and strings runs to make it nice.

It was very pleasant to me to make this track. I used Spitfire Albion and some samples from EastWest."

I'd hate to think of someone laboring in misery over so positive & joyous a composition, although I suppose it's happened to someone, somewhere, at some point in time. I'm glad Matthieu had fun, and I think it genuinely comes through in the playful, dotted solo part-writing and the swells into grander ensemble motifs. Album director Darkflamewolf writes:

"I had not heard of Ganaé when he first approached me to claim the "Sky Pirate Island" track. His initial conservative arrangement at first gave way to a more robust one where more and more layers were stacked onto the primary melody. Despite the slightly different direction he took with the track, he never strayed far from the original inspiration, rather he expanded the scope and fleshed it out to what it could have been had there been an HD remaster of the game, complete with remixed music! Like the original song itself, it does what it needs to do, doesn't overstay its welcome and leaves on a pleasant note, just enough to remember the good times of your home isle in Skies of Arcadia!"

It's amazing how many distinct voices make up Arcadia Legends - each brings something different, but a consistent theme of passion seems to connect them all, regardless of genre or aesthetic. Matthieu's piece is playful, happy, and has a structural arc that lets it bloom several times to a larger scope; a happy-go-lucky, comfortable tone that waxes jubilant at times. Great work, and another gem from a great album!