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In Sq. Enix Chill Out Association Tracks – Round 80’s Combine, Sq. Enix solutions the query, “What if lofi hip hop radio beats to calm down/examine to featured music from our earliest NES and Sport Boy RPGs?” Particularly, six video games get represented throughout this album: the primary two Closing Fantasy video games, the primary Seiken Densetsu recreation (aka Closing Fantasy Journey), and the Sport Boy SaGa trilogy (aka Closing Fantasy Legend trilogy).
Whereas I used to be disillusioned to see Closing Fantasy III lacking from this assortment, the payoff is that we get to listen to preparations of some lesser-heard tracks from these different six video games. It’s a boon, to make certain.
That mentioned, not each observe on this assortment is a deep minimize. Even so, the type of those preparations permits for complete new and fascinating parts that change the texture of even essentially the most well-known melodies. To that finish, I name your consideration to trace 10, the well-known “Prelude” from the unique Closing Fantasy (that has since labored its method into most entries within the collection). This association, by New Zealand-based artist Lord Echo, brings a wholly new strategy.
(As an apart, I’ll as soon as once more thank Sq. Enix for together with liner notes in English. Understanding Lord Echo’s association, alongside many different artists on this assortment, comes primarily from the insights present in these liner notes!)
Lord Echo begins up with some sustained synth pads and lightweight percussion. The 2-chord vamp from the tonic main right down to its relative minor (usually, C main to A minor), at a half-time tempo with sluggish triplets on the drums, and with none of the arpeggiation, feels downright overseas. However it’s all performed with intention. Lord Echo cites inspiration from Angelo Badalamenti, the composer who labored with David Lynch on many tasks, together with the opening theme to the TV present Twin Peaks. On this piece, one can now hear the distinct connection between that collection’ opening and the Closing Fantasy “Prelude.” When the arpeggios do lastly arrive, they really feel like a vocalist ready within the wings whereas the band begins a groove, then making a intelligent delayed entrance to construct anticipation.
This single observe introduced new life to a music that has, frankly, been organized to demise over the previous 35 years. If the opposite 14 tracks on this album sustained this stage of high-concept association, it could be among the best organized albums Sq. Enix ever produced.
Not every bit is that this distinctive, nonetheless. Not one of the tracks really feel like phoned-in lo-fi preparations, in order that’s nice information. However even with good consideration to element, some items don’t really feel as transformative as what Lord Echo did with the “Prelude.” For instance, Christian Gulino’s association of “Enraged Battle” (boss/remaining battle music) from The Closing Fantasy Legend maintains the important thing parts of this basic Uematsu battle theme. And, sure, there’s a groovy bass line that’s new to the scene. Past that, it’s an sufficient piece of music that neither surpasses nor supplants the unique. It’s simply one thing enjoyable and completely different.
A number of the most fascinating preparations on this album are from Closing Fantasy Legend III, composed by Ryuji Sasai and Chihiro Fujioka. Chocoholic’s association of “Unique City” undoubtedly brings the lo-fi vibes in full impact: vinyl white noise artifacts, groovy lure set, detuned piano licks, it’s all right here. To me, this piece was transformative. Additionally noteworthy is the surprisingly quick association for “Deep,” organized by hip-hop artist Botsu. His remark within the liner notes undoubtedly helped me perceive his course of:
I’m primarily a rapper, so this was an opportunity to point out my instrumental aspect. I used to be capable of rediscover the allure of PSG audio, and it was fascinating to contemplate the restrictions of that format whereas I labored. The top result’s a bizarre sort of beat music that I wouldn’t usually make. It’s like part of the underwater world from the unique music has warped and is taking us on a visit!
I like Botsu’s insights right here, however what stood out to me was that he selected to include his personal PSG audio. Nevertheless, I don’t suppose Botsu restricted himself to the Ricoh/Famicom chiptune {hardware}. The melodic line Botsu highlights all through this piece virtually appears like one thing you’d hear in Phantasy Star, so SaGa meets SEGA? I’m right here for it!
Maybe essentially the most spectacular piece by way of manufacturing high quality is Michinobu Takarada’s association of the basic “Chocobo Theme.” This can be a brass-heavy association with some enjoyable voice samples, giving this specific observe a Reggae/seashore bum vibe. The trombone solo is each easy and slick. Simply after I thought I’d had sufficient chocobo music for a lifetime, Takarada pulls this one out of his hat, and I’m thrilled with it!
I’ll finish the place the album additionally ends: “The Royal Palace” from Closing Fantasy Journey. Organized by DJ Synthesizer, this association takes some shocking twists and turns, however at such a sluggish tempo that you would be able to brace your self for a few of the change-ups within the introductory minute. That is one other stable “lo-fi chill beats” association, with a pleasant mixture of sampled audio and newly-recorded instrumental efficiency.
Whereas this isn’t the best organized album we’ve seen from Sq. Enix previously decade, it’s completely stable. Don’t let your interior cynic cease you from having fun with this one. Simply because lo-fi examine beats are stylish (and positively had been tremendous stylish in 2020 through the pandemic!) doesn’t imply this was a swiftly thrown collectively mission to money in on a fad. It’s been 5 years for the reason that album dropped, and I’m nonetheless having fun with it. I believe, particularly for followers of those early Sq. titles, it’s fairly the musical deal with!
