ReMix:Secret of Mana "Beyond the Big Infinity" 4:29

We begin the week with not one but TWO upbeat electronic arrangements from Jorito (Jorrith Schaap), starting with this energetic synthwave collaboration with Sagnewshreds, arranging "Flight into the Unknown" from Secret of Mana: Resonance of the Pure Land:

"Originally, Sam (Sagnewshreds) claimed this track for the album, but due to time constraints he wasn't able to do a full remix in time. Since I felt that this was an iconic track we needed to have on the album, I offered him to collaborate, with me taking the lead in the track and Sam helping out with guitar parts.

We started talking about his original idea, which was chiptune with guitars. I tried some things, but couldn't come up with anything good. Instead, I opted to take a different route, and after my first synthwave track "Shovel Power," I felt it would be interesting to explore the genre further. I started out with the "chorus" part from the source track because I figured that'd make excellent material for the typical Italo/synthwave staple background synth stabs. After I added some gated LinnDrums, some typical bassline patterns for the genre, and messed around with the melody from the source, the rest fell into place very naturally.

Of course, I couldn't resist trying to add some chiptune anyway, and that was a perfect excuse to incorporate a chiptune solo too. Since I knew that Sam is a great guitar player, I also added some guitar leads in there, and, as he requested, I reserved a nice space in the arrangement for the kickass guitar solo he cooked up. Add copious amounts of reverb for that 80s goodness, slice it until it grooves, season it with some more cheesy synth sounds, et voila: 80s synthpop cheese! Bon appétit. :)"

Delicious! Album co-director The Nikanoru writes:

"Feel the wind off those neon skies! Jorito's high-flying synthwave take on this track takes the classic 80s synth-cheese, some heavy beats, and a little chiptune action sprinkled in to emulate the experience of being on Flammie's back as he/she soars through the air. Sagnewshreds' hair-metal style solo made my hair stand on end the first time I heard it -- the perfect addition for this blast from the past."

There's definitely a feeling of elation & elevation here, which is consistent with riding Flammie (or a Luck Dragon or whatever that thing Space Harrier hops on in the bonus stage is...) & soaring through the skies and what not. Right from that intro you've got a faceful of meaty, warm synth, then the Linns kick in (pun always intended) and everything picks up and, well, it's rather joyous. Synthwave is a pretty gratifying, accessible genre, and Kikuta's melody is already an invigorating & positive refrain, so line the two up, add some chip, add some SS on guitar, and Bob's your uncle. Not literally. Unless he actually is. Gario had some concerns about how the guitar was mixed but was feelin' it nonetheless:

"It's definitely a different approach to the source material; it stands on its own with the different reharmonizations used throughout, but it definitely stands firmly in the source material. The sound design is pretty eclectic, which works great for the most part."

DragonAvenger adds:

"Really love the style change, and the bass is kickin'! Great energy overall, and while it gets a tad repetitive towards the end I felt it didn't overstay it's welcome. Nice collab between you two, hope you both work together again!"

Ditto that; it's fun, has great energy, blends synthwave, chip, & guitar effectively, and transforms the source while keeping it easily recognizable. Happy!