ReMix:Secret of Mana "The Still Night Stirs" 5:31

I thought we might have seen the last posted ReMix from Rebecca E. Tripp back in November, but I forgot about Secret of Mana: Resonance of the Pure Land, which she has not one but two superb tracks on. Rebecca's unique style can be applied to many games, but it's a perfect fit for Mana, which emphasizes nature & the type of magical atmosphere she channels so effectively. This new age/ambient take on "Still of the Night" surrounds you in another place & time, pairing extensive sound FX with choral & woodwind components:

"I wanted this track to take the listener on a beautiful, dreamy journey. At first, we enter these overgrown woods tentatively. Kind of timid, though perhaps somewhat intrigued! It is intentionally unclear at what point we transition out of regular wilderness and into the titular "Pure Land," yet before we know it, we are suddenly immersed within its ancient magic and florid beauty. I attempted to convey the textures, rhythms, colors, and scents of an inviting, otherworldly glade, inside which I hope the listener will feel soothed and enchanted for a brief moment. I also hope that, by the end of the track, the listener will have imagined something sublime and ethereal, whereupon they found themselves standing in that sunny clearing gazing up at the Mana Tree, relaxed and pleasantly empty."

Mission thoroughly accomplished; album director Jorito writes:

"Rebecca brings us this very soothing track that goes together very well with the overall vibe of the Pure Land. It's a lovely, dreamy atmosphere with well-selected instruments and the nature sound effects really help strengthen that atmosphere. She thought that maybe people would feel it to be a bit too new-agey, but, for me, it's a perfect fit that oozes Secret of Mana. For relaxing times."

I agree; this is the genre that comes to mind very intuitively for many of Kikuta's compositions on the soundtrack, and while you won't be dancing or (probably) even tapping your toes, you'll be awash in a blanket of serene contemplation. Or something like that :) Co-director The Nikanoru adds:

"Still of the Night" remains one of my favorite VGM themes of all time. The Pure Land is a place that is old, undisturbed for a long time, and Rebecca's painting with sound captures the feeling and atmosphere of this place very well. There are so many little things about this track I could remark on, but it's the overall flow of the arrangement that I really enjoy; all the subtle and obvious uses of dynamics, the different instruments that are distinctive in each section -- like watching dried leaves caught in the wind."

Last but not least, Gario evaluated the piece:

"Oh, is this one of my favorite tracks from that album being submitted? I think it is! The opening of this really sets the mood for this track, and when everything comes together your orchestration really shines through. The male choral part is stilted, but otherwise the instruments are handled exceptionally well in this. Yup, you've really outdone yourself on this one. Great work!"

Rebecca's had one of the single best years any arranger has EVER had on OCR, in 18 years of operation; truly a tour de force & brilliant array of work. Hats off for another mix posted, one of her best yet & a pitch-perfect highlight on Resonance of the Pure Land!