The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening "Memories of Mabe" 3:06

We told you Argle was back and with a wide range of styles to boot! After returning to the front page this year with reggae/dub and subdued orchestration, this time Argle presents an earnest and cozy rendition of an already-homey theme from the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening:

"This one's been sitting around in a half-completed state for over a decade. From the files of "shit I started 12 years ago, made significant progress on, and never finished", this! I had it like 85% done back then and for some reason fumbled the ball. And then I got burnt out on music and never revisited it. But I'm actually glad that past me failed because I like this complete renovation even more than the original attempt. I'm very pleased to have polished it up and finished it.

It's an arrangement of the Mabe Village theme from Zelda: Link's Awakening done as a sleepy lullaby, and I've made it even more relaxing than it used to be. Stuff like accordion and violin are fine instruments, but we can go sleepier. I wanted it to be like being wrapped in a warm blanket. An interesting challenge in this version was trying to create layers of percussion that added a subtle rhythmic drive without actually sticking out and drawing attention to itself, or ruining the vibe. I got to dig deep in sample libraries I've bought on a whim and never used. Ahem, not that I'm usually guilty of such reckless impulse buys! ....."

I oughta learn what a proper sleep schedule is; maybe this'll help! (See Esther's Dreams for more VGM lullaby goodness... this would have easily fit right in.) For judge Hemophiliac, this was an enjoyably subdued study in variations:

"Gorgeous, lush, and chill.

This is a great soundscape and like prophetik also said, I really appreciate how the pad does have enough attack to register on the beat and not fall behind. The opening of the music box cross-fading into the pad was very neat and I love how subtle the transition is.

At 1:00 we start getting some changes to the melody and they are very good. To me they feel very tasteful as if it were almost just an alternate version of the source.

2:00 the energy picks up a little with some additional strength in the drums and stronger accents from other parts, that by itself is helping the piece propel forward without a huge dynamic shift. It feels like there's a very long and slow crescendo throughout the whole song, when we're let down by the same music box that opened up the piece with a short rolled chord.

I enjoyed this for its mellowness as well as the personalization of the melody, didn't get too far away from the source in terms of structure. However, the production is clean and the piece is lovely."

Well, indeed, isn't that lovely? :-) You wouldn't be able to readily tell that this had such a protracted development based on how cohesive and straightforward it sounds, including the gradual increases in personalization from verse to verse. A bread-and-butter, meat-and-potatoes arrangement approach success, and one that'll help y'all get the rest and relaxation bodies crave. Continue to keep your eyes and ears open for more by the musically rejuvenated Argle, who's proven this year -- in a great way -- that no two pieces from him are remotely alike!