ReMix:Chrono Cross "Traversing the Aether" 4:33

It's Avaris (Shaun Wallace), it's Chrono Cross, and it's super chill, atmospheric, & hauntingly beautiful. Do you really need more? The ReMixer writes:

"Been awhile since I subbed something. Had this Chrono Cross mix sitting around about 80% done for a month or two. I wanted to make something similar to my Bahamut Lagoon and Chrono Trigger remixes, but outside of Reason. Chrono Cross has the perfect OST for these types of tracks.

Recently, my grandfather passed away towards the end of October. After I got back from the funeral, I had a bolt of emotional inspiration to finish the track. The title "Traversing the Aether" is an ode to someone's soul leaving their body and floating through the upper sky to something greater. Hopefully, the track garners a somber yet hopeful feeling for the listener. For me, this track changed from a fun and interesting track to something more personal."

Regardless of your personal beliefs about dualism vs. monism or the existence of an afterlife, the death of someone you know and love is a profound, enduring loss. Shaun's arrangement isn't dark or brooding, but instead offers serenity & transcendence, with plucked strings (sounded like a dulcimer to me), abundant chromatic percussion, a deep groove, and ethereal pads creating a very enveloping & permeating soundscape. Gario speaks to the arrangement methodology:

"Very nice use of subtractive arranging throughout - it's easy to add things to a mix in order to introduce your own personal touch, but it takes a good deal of skill and subtlety in order to hold elements back in an arrangement in order to evoke a different feel. The introduction utilizes the textures and harmonies without the lead above, which is effective, and the climax doesn't bring everything in at once until later. It gives this arrangement more time to build up to its bigger moments than the source does. Very nice - conservative, but adds a lot by holding back."

Sir_NutS wanted a bit more interpretation, but explains why it wasn't a dealbreaker:

"More often than not, I'm a stickler when it comes to conservative arrangements; however there are a lot of details around the main melody that are of your own creation. You decided to go for a similar feel as the original and keep the main motifs and build your interpretative elements around it, and I'm fine with that. I would've liked if you strayed a bit farther from the original structure, I think people often miss how much even the slightest changes in structure can add so much to an adaptation, and I think that would've been the case here, but I'm fine with what we got.

Also sorry for your loss, I think your emotions come out transparently through this track."

Greg & Mike covered everything I'd tend to say about the conservative arrangement and the subtractive & subtle approach working effectively; I'm glad Shaun was able to channel his personal loss into his music and still touch on an element of hope. An evolutionary, atmospheric, & pensive take on a classic source... highly recommended.