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Catalog KDSD-00096~98 Exclusive 0 Composer Motoi Sakuraba Publisher Team Entertainment Arranger Motoi Sakuraba Number of Discs 3 Release Date Mar 24, 2006 Added May 08, 2010 Updated Aug 17, 2010 Description Sold out, thank you! Track List Disc One: 01. Le ali del principio 02. ?逕Nの欠片 03. トキノコヘ 04. The valedictory elegy 05. Poacher 06. Chaotic dance 2 07. Iconoclasm 08. The valedictory elegy ?`guitar ver.?` 09. Evidential material 10. The true mirror ?`Orchestral ver.?` 11. Ruinous commander 12. Crystal abyss 13. Relieve 14. 傀儡の主 15. 二つの棺 16. 騎士の墓標 17. Ruins 18. 隠された?ｰとの鼎談 19. いにしえの故郷 20. 風と地の境界 21. 邂・ Disc Two: 01. 苔花大柱 02. 荊棘なる干と矛 03. 均?tの光と闇 04. ?g緋・ 05. 果てのない夜 06. The broken manas and my one and only 07. Contradiction 08. 鋭雲なる庭園 09. ?・_ 10. The edging away 11. 脅威なる?ﾀ主 12. 旭光貫流 13. 乏しくもあらず?Hの夕風 14. 豊?ﾌ郷 15. Emotional blackmail 16. ホ・ホ・鳥 17. 天海花御堂 18. Ancient slaughter 19. 白き?Sの強さと遥か未来への道 20. ャ}イマレツァ 21. シンムナフォスン Disc Three: 01. 伝?ｳの?l形 02. 漂?ﾎ塊 03. 蒼穹の天蓋 04. 古?ｰの言霊 05. Terrible technology 06. ?ｴ月夜雨 07. Into the spiral tention 08. Shogyo-Mujo 09. The dead end creatures 10. Tears of compassion 11. A road to the dignified future 12. 安らかなる四季 I 13. 安らかなる四季 II 14. 安らかなる四季 III 15. 呉越同?M 16. 蜃気楼の地平?・ 17. ?・ﾊにたゆたふ月の影 18. 見護る二つの光 19. 邪見?sの始まりと裏?ﾘりへの前奏 Total Tracks: 61 |
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Motoi Sakuraba Impresses Once Again!, 2006-04-09Reviewer : Fatigue - See all my reviews
Baten Kaitos -Owaranai Tsubasa to Ushinawareta Umi- wasn?ft a big hit. The game was co-made by Monolith Soft and former tri-Ace executive, Hiroya Hatsushiba?fs tri-Crescendo, and although it didn?ft break any new ground sales-wise or game-wise, it was a modest success. While the graphics and story (by scenario mastermind behind such hits as Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger, Masato Kato), the music, however, was perhaps the most impressive thing about the game. Motoi Sakuraba (former Wolf Team member and composer responsible for Valkyrie Profile and Star Ocean series) created an awe-inspiring score. Hatsushiba didn?ft have the money to support a large orchestra (like Yoshiharu Gotanda and tri-Ace did with Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time), instead using only 4 live instruments and performers. Well, over 2 years later, we see Sakuraba?fs return to the Baten Kaitos series with Baten Kaitos II -Hajimari no Tsubasa to Kamigami no Shishi-. The all performers from the previous game (except 1, the violinist, Fumi Uchiyama, who is replaced by Reiko Tsuchiya) return to contribute their skill to the series once more, including some new collaborators, like Sakuraba?fs daughter, Mio, and vocalist Hiroko Kato, both providing some vocal work for the score. As you can see, not much has changed.
Let?fs start with the intro track, ?gLe ali del principio?h. This is the third time in game music that Sakuraba uses his daughter to perform for him. And unlike ?gSo Alone, Be Sorrow?h from Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time and ?gThe whole new world –Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 Opening Theme-?g from Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Premium Arrange, Mio actually sings to Italian lyrics, written by yuko (supposedly Sakuraba?fs wife). Anyway, the supporting music is orchestral, and with Mio?fs touching and innocent voice flowing over the epic melody, the emotion is overwhelming. For those who do not know, this is also the final battle theme for the game, a little bit of a change from Sakuraba and Toh-ru (Toru) Iwao?fs electric power fest of ?gViolent storm?h, the final battle theme from the first game. Up next is ?gSplintered Millennium?h, a short but epic piece of music, with brassy textures accompanied by synth chorals to a climaxing crescendo, perfectly leading into ?gTo the Child of Time?h, used in the opening sequence of the game. I can?ft say this compares to the greatness of ?gNadir?fs Whale?h from the first Baten Kaitos, but when pictured with the opening scene, it?fs a decent piece of music.
Without doubt, the highlights of the soundtrack to Baten Kaitos -Owaranai Tsubasa to Ushinawareta Umi- were the battle themes, the composer mainly utilizing the guitarist Toru Iwao (from Guilty Gear X: Heavy Rock Tracks), and here, it is no different, with the exception of more variety in the tunes. Baten Kaitos II has a total of 8 main battle themes (with 1 or 2 more scattered in between the depths of the score) and I?fm totally baffled by the quality of the diversity. ?gThe Valedictory Elegy?h is the main battle theme. Just like ?gThe True Mirror?h, Sakuraba, the genius he is, takes control of the violin as the main ?eweapon?f of the track. If one listens closely, you can hear similarities in the melody of the theme to that of ?gThe True Mirror?h, but I assure you that the theme is entirely original (although the progressive rock theme and structure is almost identical). There is also an electric guitar version of the theme, ?gThe Valedictory Elegy ~Guitar Ver.~?h, which replaces the violin and takes the power to the next level, helped by Iwao?fs guitar movement and skill. It?fs guaranteed to make your head bop. ?gPoacher?h was a little awkward to hear at first. I was hoping for a rockin?f guitar theme, but instead, I was blown away by a rich and evocative orchestral theme, with emotion and strength. After a few listens, I could not be more satisfied with Sakuraba?fs result, even if it doesn?ft have that velocity that Iwao showed on the original boss battle theme on Baten Kaitos.
?gChaotic dance 2?h is a somewhat controversial arrangement of the classic dance and electronica ?gChaotic dance?h. The theme is now practically a vocal with less electronica support, but I welcome the change, although understandingly, it will definitely not appeal to some people. This leaves us to ?gIconoclasm?h, arguably the strongest battle theme on the album itself. It?fs magnificently composed with the support of Iwao?fs electric guitar. Fast paced and driven, this is how I like my battle themes. Unfortunately, TEAM Entertainment?fs recording of the guitar is sadly muffled which restricts enjoyment. ?gEvidential Material?h is used within a very important battle in the game (play it to find out!), and like ?gIconoclasm?h, features impressive guitar work and structure. ?gThe True Mirror ~Orchestral Ver.~?h is an arrangement of everyone?fs favorite Baten Kaitos battle theme, and it truly sounds bombastic in all its orchestral glory. Lastly, ?gRuinous Commander?h is played in the second last battle. It?fs actually quite slow, but it?fs undoubtedly composed well with operatic vocals and heavy brass themes.
Certainly, this does not mean that the battle themes are the strongest pieces on the soundtrack. We are blessed with some truly outstanding tracks too. ?gAncient Hometown?h, a town theme, is both elegant and eloquent, being built up of harp, chorus and strings. The peaceful attempt Sakuraba tries to create is extremely pleasurable to listen to. ?gWater Cloud?h has a great melody and is a powerful fusion between having progressive rock and orchestral themes. It?fs without doubt a highlight on the second disc. ?gHolo Holo Bird?h is an arrangement of ?gHolo Holo?h, and successfully creates the tribal feeling unlike the slightly inferior attempt in the original. Sakuraba uses the ethnic chanting vocals to light up appropriate atmosphere, in which provides a greater connection to what Sakuraba was trying to communicate in a tribal scene. ?gHeaven Sea Flower Temple?h sticks closely the original theme from the first soundtrack, although it is further developed, thus being more enjoyable on the whole; the violin section is noticeably revamped, serving as a little gateway to classical music. ?gPowerful Language of an Old Soul?h puts some power into the orchestral-dominant third disc. Instead of using Iwao, Sakuraba uses his synth electric guitar (the difference between the two is easily noticed), but the power still remains the same as other battle themes of the soundtrack. This is also the same with ?gShogyo-Mujo?h, except that it is a lot more guitar oriented.
The brassy ?gBrave Way?h theme, ?gThe Road to a Dignified Future?h, shows that Sakuraba can maintain his impressive and grand orchestral styling, while not trying to manipulate the styles used in Valkyrie Profile or in the Star Ocean series. The three ?ePeaceful Four Seasons?f themes are an interesting bunch. They are all identical in track length and basic track structure, but each theme adds more instrumentation. So, in the first rack, ?gPeaceful Four Seasons I?h, all that is playing is the harp, oboe, pan flute and some ethnic percussion instruments, and by the second theme, Sakuraba adds more oboes and contributes the strings. By the last theme, the typical Baten Kaitos brass is added complete with more harps. The idea may seem repetitive, but the theme never gets old, not within each 3 tracks. ?gBitter Enemies in the Same Boat?h is fast and downright furious. Some may think that it?fs the final battle theme, but it really isn?ft. The brass and strings are in unison to create a brilliant orchestral power track. If it doesn?ft grab you on the first listen, it will certainly grow and become more memorable over time.
Concluding the album is a series of dark and moody themes. ?gHorizon of Mirage?h is the first main ending theme, and musically the lightest of the bunch. It features strings and brass and clear concluding motive. But the real treat here is the final seven and half minute ending theme, ?gShadow of the Moon on the Water?fs Surface?h, which reflects the drama from the ending theme of Baten Kaitos, ?gAddressing the Stars?h. Sakuraba uses the main theme (?gLe ali del principio?h) as the central melody of the track. It?fs effectively very dark, finishing and portraying the evil that characters had to get through to complete their quest. In the last two minutes, Mio reprises to sing the main theme (like in the first track) with newly arranged backing music by Sakuraba, and it certainly concludes the track well, not to mention the game. But if you wait after the credits in the game, there is a secret cut scene, featuring the tracks, ?gTwo Protecting Lights?h and ?gThe Original of the Wicked Way and the Prelude to Betrayal?h. The former is only a short track which isn?ft worth talking about, but the latter is ?ebridge?f between Baten Kaitos II and the prequel (effectively the sequel) Baten Kaitos. The cut scene shows of the evil times ahead, so Sakuraba accompanies this with equally evil music, sharing a continuing and inconclusive feel. A good way to keep the listener in interest for Baten Kaitos!
Sakuraba has created something truly amazing with Baten Kaitos II. The series?f signature ?ebrassy style?f, which was obviously adopted by a combination between Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time and Valkyrie Profile, is still strongly present, but the amount of bland tracks with this style is significantly lower. However, the amount of highlights in comparison to Baten Kaitos is simply inferior (the whole disc 1 of Baten Kaitos was truly incredible), leaving a limited amount of incredible themes on the soundtrack. Would I recommend Baten Kaitos II? Absolutely! While not a perfect score, it?fs definitely a score worth of high praise. Any Sakuraba fan should have this by now, but if you are new to the composer or wishing to try something new for a change, I suggest either picking this soundtrack or the soundtrack to Baten Kaitos. You can?ft go wrong with either choice, as they are both marvelous feats.
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