ReMix:Final Fantasy Adventure "Palace of Memory" 3:27

Upon reflection, we've decided that neither NFTs nor a strict POLKA ONLY policy is right for us ;) Speaking of reflection, this minimal, crystalline, meditative take on Final Fantasy Adventure's "Mana Palace" from Rebecca E. Tripp is tremendously un-polka:

"This is another remix of the "Mana Palace" theme from the original Seiken Densetsu, also known as Final Fantasy Adventure. Ironically, as with the other (orchestral) version I made, this was chosen by my subscribers on Subscribestar. One person commissioned me to make another version of the track that sounded a little more sombre and distant, since the previous one has more of an optimistic feeling. So, I imagined that the orchestral arrangement represented the palace in its prime, whereas this more electronic, new age version represents its decline. I took inspiration from sounds I associate with ice, snow, and outer space, in order to create a colder, more lonely, empty feeling than before. If you'd like to have some influence on what music I create and/or reprise each month, you can subscribe to me as well! Here's a link: https://subscribestar.com/rebeccaetripp."

There's bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, and (in a fashion that would make Edgar Allan happy) they're tintinnabulating out the wazzoo. This may in fact be the most tintinnabulation in a single mix, although 2018's "Feastal Procession" makes it a tight race. You got me, I really just wanted to use that word again. Pay attention to the layering & negative space Rebecca uses to create an expansive, desolate vibe; while judges commented on the perhaps overly-spacious headroom and relatively conservative take, all approved. Sir_NutS writes:

"This is a very minimal approach, sort of following the original in vibe, but there are extra layers of harmonization that help a bit with that, and some extra instrumental touches throughout. Everything is spread out well in the stereo spectrum with some instruments coming in and going, sometimes firmly in one side and sometimes dancing around the stereo space."

Roger that; this is colder, more detached, and more focused on a particular type of instrument/texture than most of Rebecca's pieces, but it retains the contemplative & spiritual/mystical aspects she often explores. It's about as far from polka as you can get, which serves as a nice pivot for getting your mindfulness on & winding down a bit. Reflect & enjoy!