ReMix:Chrono Trigger "Zeal Breeze" 4:31

Not one but TWO beautiful new age/orchestral arrangements from Rebecca E. Tripp today, covering fan favorites from Chrono Trigger AND Donkey Kong Country 2!!

Even without these two mixes, Rebecca's had an amazing year on OCR, so this combo effectively cements her status as the most prolific ReMixer of 2017! It's been quantity AND quality, though, which is extremely impressive; she's tailored her sound and landed on a specific palette of instrumentation which, while she still mixes it up from piece to piece, she can wield very effectively & efficiently. These two mixes, while from different SNES classics in their own right, are essentially siblings, both incorporating world, orchestral, & new age instrumentation for an ethereal, upbeat, & transporting blend. She writes:

"This is the long overdue "Corridors of Time/Time Circuits/Kingdom of Zeal" arrangement I've been planning since I was something like 14 years old, a mix of orchestral, new age, and world-type sounds. I never felt I could truly do it justice before now. Perhaps I still didn't succeed - but I could not put off doing a remix of this Mitsuda masterpiece forever. This cover comes from the heart, as the original Chrono Trigger track is a long-time favorite of mine... I realize that this is not unique to me. The theme is popular as heck. Anyway, I hope you all like it!"

This theme has obviously been arranged up one side & down the other, and even in the genre/style Rebecca excels at, but she still brings her unique part-writing approach and otherworldly atmosphere to the mix, resulting in something new. Judges did have some critiques on attacks/releases and articulations; the soundscape itself is wonderful, but occasionally certain elements stick out a bit; Chimpazilla writes:

"There is a lot of variation in what instrument is playing lead, which I think is wonderful. I have the same nitpicks as the other Js about too much reverb/release on the lead sitar, and unnatural envelopes on the strings and choir, but each of these elements plays a bit and then gets out, so it isn't bothering me that much. If this doesn't pass, and even if it does, please pay special attention to your articulations, attacks/releases, reverbs, and learn to automate CC11 well so that your strings and choirs can sound the most realistic possible. The track overall can stand to be several db louder. But this arrangement with all its twinkly wonder is too good to pass up."

Good, MIDI CC-specific advice :) I might have dialed the BPM back a couple, too, personally. Choirs in particular are rough to blend, especially with thicker sustained chords and exposed releases, but they're also one of the components Rebecca has been utilizing more & something that differentiates her pieces, along with extensive bells, chromatic percussion, & mixed woodwinds. We've heard "Zeal" in this general style before, but this mix applies Rebecca's particular flavor & approach and is well worth disappearing into. Enjoy!