ReMix:Final Fantasy VII "The Call from the Mine" 3:28

Bluelighter (Guillaume Saumande) starts the week off for us with a bouyant, darkly energetic solo piano arrangement of "Mining Town" from FF7 that plays with time signatures a bit & oscillates between delicate and emphatic:

"This is a new version of my arrangement of "Mining Town," recorded in a better quality. "Mining Town" is really my favorite track from the game. In this very simple piece, N. Uematsu has known putting a lot of emotion. So, I've made a piano version of this. Globally, I tried to keep purity of original piece. Beginning and ending are very peaceable; 2nd part (50'') has a more accentuated rhythm and brings a darker section (1'25). The melody is then played lower with a rhythm in 5/8, more stressful. The song finished quietly by the second melodic line of the original. I've also corrected the middle part that I've played too quickly in the last version. Enjoy. :D"

Beautiful stuff; this is a revision based on panel feedback & features a cleaner recording that does the arrangement/performance justice. I dig the syncopation and time signature work, but also the elegance of the quieter, more intimate moments juxtaposed against powerful left-hand chords and forward momentum; we talk about "dynamic contrast" a lot for a reason, and it's even more important for solo piano pieces. Liontamer writes:

"Now this strong arrangement is sounding solid. I was one of the Js who heard the previous version, so I'm proud to say you did a great job pulling this one up, Guillaume! Thank you for revisiting it."

DragonAvenger adds:

"This is a fun arrangement, and not something I would have expected. I appreciate the changes between the dynamics and flow of the piece; it really keeps the track interesting."

I was less familiar with this source than many of FF7's "greatest hits" - this is actually our first featured arrangement of this particular theme - and while it might not be my favorite on the entire OST (which is large & amazing), I can see the appeal. Kudos to Guillaume for an expressive, interesting, & enjoyable arrangement and for taking the time to refine it just a bit more and let it shine!