Secret of Mana Gets Live Folk Album with Heart of the Forest

SEATTLE - March 15, 2018 - Materia Collective is thrilled to announce Heart of the Forest, a beautiful tribute to Hiroki Kikuta's beloved soundtrack to Secret of Mana. Celebrating the recent remake released on the PlayStation 4, Heart of the Forest features 18 fan-favorite selections performed live as jigs, polkas, and marches that are reminiscent of lands such as Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, as well as Spanish, Filipino, Indonesian, and Armenian music. Themes from the game are occasionally meshed with traditional folk compositions that complement the Secret of Mana track. Heart of the Forest is available now for pre-order and will enjoy a full release tomorrow, March 16, 2018:

Heart of the Forest on iTunes
Heart of the Forest on Spotify

Key moments from the classic Squaresoft RPG can be enjoyed again through these wonderful arrangements, including the majestic opening theme "Angel's Fear" arranged with soothing mandolin and flute, the whimsical dungeon theme, "Into the Thick of It" done on harp and ocarina, and the adventurous flight theme, "Flammie and I" performed with Irish whistle and guitar. The full track listing for Heart of the Forest is as follows:

01. Angel's Fear
02. A Phantom and a Rose
03. Into the Thick of It
04. Dancing Animals
05. Distant Thunder
06. It Happened on a Moonlit Night / The Kesh Jig
07. Mystic Invasion / Ballydesmond Polkas Nos. 1, 2, 3
08. Secret of the Arid Sands
09. A Wish
10. Spirit of the Night
11. Calm Before the Storm
12. The Wind Never Ceases
13. Flammie and I
14. Dawn of the Mana Sword / An Dùn Mìorbhaileach
15. The Fortress Rises
16. Pure Lands
17. Peramal Kematian Tiba (The Oracle)
18. D'oscail Mo Shúile / Dhún Mo Shúile

"The ethereal and earthy textures of the original Secret of Mana soundtrack fit perfectly with the folk concept our group tries to promote," explains arranger Masha Lepire. "I love how we all brought new flavors and ideas to the table but still captured the original essence and beauty of Hiroki Kikuta's music."