Now this is an interesting idea for an album. An album based on energy levels, as stated in the directors notes, with the energy levels progressing from something with energy to the arrangements to serene lullaby arrangements that will put anyone in a relaxed state of mind. It’s not often we get arrangement albums that want to create soothing moods, so I really enjoyed evaluating this album for review. And as always, here are my takes on each individual track. And sorry if each track review seems short or abrupt in places. I was moving when I first listened to this, and I didn’t want to sit on this review forever.
1-01. "When Toys Come Alive" (The Secret of Monkey Island)
Arranger: fredrikd
Composers: Andy Newell, Barney Jones, Michael Land, Patric Mundy
Source: "Guybrush and Elaine"
It almost sounds like something out of a Danny Elfman soundtrack. Parts of the track sounded a little too hot to me though. Still, pretty whimsical.
1-02. "Mon Ami!" (.hack//Infection - Part 1)
Arranger: BONKERS
Composer: Seizo Nakata
Source: "puti_farm (Grunty Farm)"
I feel like when I hear this track, we’re building up to something extraordinary. It sounds like a great overture to something much bigger. Maybe this should have been the first track?
1-03. "The Slumber of the Beast" (Super Mario 64)
Arranger: DaMonz
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Piranha Plant's Lullaby"
I love the Piranha Plant lullaby. Then again, I love the Super Mario 64 soundtrack. This arrangement sounds like it could be used as a world map music track for a Mario game.
Arranger: DaMonz
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Piranha Plant's Lullaby"
I love the Piranha Plant lullaby. Then again, I love the Super Mario 64 soundtrack. This arrangement sounds like it could be used as a world map music track for a Mario game.
1-04. "Baby Blue Sky" (Yoshi Touch & Go)
Arranger/Performer: Chimpazilla
Arranger: halc
Composers: Asuka Hayazaki, Toru Minegishi
Source: "Sky Area"
Reminds me of something you’d hear out of Hiroki Kikuta’s library. Love the bass.
Arranger/Performer: Chimpazilla
Arranger: halc
Composers: Asuka Hayazaki, Toru Minegishi
Source: "Sky Area"
Reminds me of something you’d hear out of Hiroki Kikuta’s library. Love the bass.
1-05. "Baby Dreams of Lost Civilizations" (Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door)
Arranger: Hylian Lemon
Composers: Yoshito Hirano, Yuka Tsujiyoko
Source: "Story of the Thousand-Year Door"
Once again Hylian Lemon proves to be an expert at bringing chiptune, and “modern era” music together brilliantly.
Arranger: Hylian Lemon
Composers: Yoshito Hirano, Yuka Tsujiyoko
Source: "Story of the Thousand-Year Door"
Once again Hylian Lemon proves to be an expert at bringing chiptune, and “modern era” music together brilliantly.
1-06. "Psalm of the Summer Sky" (Secret of Mana)
Arranger: Meteo Xavier
Composer: Hiroki Kikuta
Source: "Color of the Summer Sky"
At first, I felt like this was an odd choice of music style for a soothing music album. But then I have to remind myself that this is the “playtime” album. So I shouldn’t expect the mood to be completely soothing in this part of the album. Even so, wonderful arrangement.
Arranger: Meteo Xavier
Composer: Hiroki Kikuta
Source: "Color of the Summer Sky"
At first, I felt like this was an odd choice of music style for a soothing music album. But then I have to remind myself that this is the “playtime” album. So I shouldn’t expect the mood to be completely soothing in this part of the album. Even so, wonderful arrangement.
1-07. "Luxendarc Lullaby" (Bravely Default)
Arranger: HeavenWraith
Composer: Yasuo Kamanaka
Sources: "Wicked Flight," "Serpent Devouring the Horizon," "Ballad Moving Towards Hope"
A very beautiful take on Revo music.
Arranger: HeavenWraith
Composer: Yasuo Kamanaka
Sources: "Wicked Flight," "Serpent Devouring the Horizon," "Ballad Moving Towards Hope"
A very beautiful take on Revo music.
1-08. "Dream Fast, Little Pilot" (Gradius, Nemesis 2 & Vulcan Venture)
Arranger: rebrained
Composers: Gradius - Miki Higashino, Nemesis 2 - Motoaki Furukawa, Masahiro Ikariko, Vulcan Venture - Yoshiyuki Hagiwara
Sources: Gradius - "Coin (Coin Sound)," "Challenger 1985 (Stage 1 BGM)," Nemesis 2 - "Frontier Disputes (Life Planet Theme)," Gradius - "Free Flyer (Stage 4 BGM)," Vulcan Venture - "Burning Heat (Stage 1 BGM)"
I feel like I’m in a ship, sailing….somewhere. An aimless journey almost. The melody is interesting. However, it’s kind of difficult for me to feel anything from this track other than “going somewhere.”
Arranger: rebrained
Composers: Gradius - Miki Higashino, Nemesis 2 - Motoaki Furukawa, Masahiro Ikariko, Vulcan Venture - Yoshiyuki Hagiwara
Sources: Gradius - "Coin (Coin Sound)," "Challenger 1985 (Stage 1 BGM)," Nemesis 2 - "Frontier Disputes (Life Planet Theme)," Gradius - "Free Flyer (Stage 4 BGM)," Vulcan Venture - "Burning Heat (Stage 1 BGM)"
I feel like I’m in a ship, sailing….somewhere. An aimless journey almost. The melody is interesting. However, it’s kind of difficult for me to feel anything from this track other than “going somewhere.”
1-09. "Soothing Rain" (Animal Crossing)
Arranger: Amphibious
Composers: Kenta Nagata, Shinobu Tanaka
Source: "Rainy Day"
Very respectful to the Animal Crossing source material.
Arranger: Amphibious
Composers: Kenta Nagata, Shinobu Tanaka
Source: "Rainy Day"
Very respectful to the Animal Crossing source material.
1-10. "Soporific Sonata" (Super Mario Bros. 2 & Super Mario Bros. 3)
Arranger: DarkSim
Composer: Koji Kondo
Sources: Super Mario Bros. 2 - "Ending," Super Mario Bros. 3 - "Ending"
Another fairly upbeat track more fitting for a “playtime” mood than a soothing mood. But what doesn’t make this a completely playful track is how it feels like you’re in that playful mood right before the end of the day.
Arranger: DarkSim
Composer: Koji Kondo
Sources: Super Mario Bros. 2 - "Ending," Super Mario Bros. 3 - "Ending"
Another fairly upbeat track more fitting for a “playtime” mood than a soothing mood. But what doesn’t make this a completely playful track is how it feels like you’re in that playful mood right before the end of the day.
1-11. "Another Sky" (Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure)
Arranger: Rexy
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Source: "Skylanders Main Theme (Instrumental)"
And here is the “wind down” portion of playtime. I love that this is an arrangement of Hans Zimmer, cause it sounds nothing like Hans Zimmer. It’s so innocent, and pure. Very lovely.
Arranger: Rexy
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Source: "Skylanders Main Theme (Instrumental)"
And here is the “wind down” portion of playtime. I love that this is an arrangement of Hans Zimmer, cause it sounds nothing like Hans Zimmer. It’s so innocent, and pure. Very lovely.
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2-01. "Iso ilo" (ilomilo)
Arranger: Eino Keskitalo
Vocalist: Birgitta Susi
Composer: Daniel Olsén
Sources: "Cozy Sofa," "Once Upon"
I love the production put into this track. The vocals are very pleasant.
Arranger: Eino Keskitalo
Vocalist: Birgitta Susi
Composer: Daniel Olsén
Sources: "Cozy Sofa," "Once Upon"
I love the production put into this track. The vocals are very pleasant.
2-02. "Lullaby for an Old Soul" (Final Fantasy VI)
Arranger: Abadoss
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Gau"
Very peaceful, and relaxing. Can definitely be used as a lullaby, or a nice stroll.
Arranger: Abadoss
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Gau"
Very peaceful, and relaxing. Can definitely be used as a lullaby, or a nice stroll.
2-03. "Adagio for Synths" (Final Fantasy IV)
Arranger: bLiNd
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Edward's Harp"
Delivers exactly what the title says it is. And that’s not a bad thing at all.
Arranger: bLiNd
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Edward's Harp"
Delivers exactly what the title says it is. And that’s not a bad thing at all.
2-04. "Respite" (Kingdom Hearts)
Arranger: Emunator
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Source: "Dearly Beloved"
Not really feeling this one. It’s kind of difficult to pull off a soothing piano arrangement of a track that’s already a soothing piano piece. It just comes across as a kind of “bootleg” attempt at Dearly Beloved.
Arranger: Emunator
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Source: "Dearly Beloved"
Not really feeling this one. It’s kind of difficult to pull off a soothing piano arrangement of a track that’s already a soothing piano piece. It just comes across as a kind of “bootleg” attempt at Dearly Beloved.
2-05. "Thy Everlasting Winter Wind Blows" (Pokémon X)
Arranger: timaeus222
Composer: Shota Kageyama
Sources: "Snowbelle City," "Bicycle"
Love the bells, and the synth strings. It feels like you’ve taken Snowbelle City, and made it sound like a town theme for an ancient snowy village.
2-06. "Cherish" (Final Fantasy VI)
Arranger: Redg
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Relm"
I know it’s Final Fantasy VI, but this reminds me of the slower music from the Super Castlevania IV soundtrack. And I absolutely love both soundtracks, so that’s perfectly fine by me.
Arranger: Redg
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Source: "Relm"
I know it’s Final Fantasy VI, but this reminds me of the slower music from the Super Castlevania IV soundtrack. And I absolutely love both soundtracks, so that’s perfectly fine by me.
2-07. "Pure Heart" (Secret of Mana)
Arranger: Fredrik Häthén
Composer: Hiroki Kikuta
Source: "Still of the Night"
Nice, and almost mysterious. You’re so drawn into this track, it’s almost disappointing that there isn’t more to this track.
Arranger: Fredrik Häthén
Composer: Hiroki Kikuta
Source: "Still of the Night"
Nice, and almost mysterious. You’re so drawn into this track, it’s almost disappointing that there isn’t more to this track.
2-08. "Merry Dreams" (Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga)
Arranger: Chernabogue
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Source: "Teehee Valley"
Nice. Does a good job capturing the essence of a Mario & Luigi game.
2-09. "Baby Mario Sweepy" (Super Mario Galaxy)
Arranger: k-wix
Composer: Mahito Yokota
Source: "The Star Festival"
I love this. It sounds like both Super Mario Galaxy and Yoshi’s Island together at the same time.
Arranger: k-wix
Composer: Mahito Yokota
Source: "The Star Festival"
I love this. It sounds like both Super Mario Galaxy and Yoshi’s Island together at the same time.
2-10. "Rabbit" (To the Moon)
Arranger/Performer: Brandon Strader
Composer: Kan Gao
Sources: "To the Moon - Main Theme," "For River - Piano (Johnny's Version)," "Trailer Theme - Part 2" (lyrics only)
Now this sounds like what Dream Fast, Little Pilot should have pulled off. Music that makes you visualize a dreamlike journey filled with wonder, and whimsy.
Arranger/Performer: Brandon Strader
Composer: Kan Gao
Sources: "To the Moon - Main Theme," "For River - Piano (Johnny's Version)," "Trailer Theme - Part 2" (lyrics only)
Now this sounds like what Dream Fast, Little Pilot should have pulled off. Music that makes you visualize a dreamlike journey filled with wonder, and whimsy.
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3-01. "Namors Gnudlib Theme (djp Naptime Edit)" [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]
Arranger/Performer: Sir Jordanius
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Prelude of Light"
Nice, pleasant slow jazz vibe.
Arranger/Performer: Sir Jordanius
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Prelude of Light"
Nice, pleasant slow jazz vibe.
3-02. "Dream" (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
Arranger/Performer: DusK
Performer: Tuberz McGee
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Zelda's Theme"
Great way to incorporate lullaby-esq lyrics to the Zelda theme melody.
Arranger/Performer: DusK
Performer: Tuberz McGee
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Zelda's Theme"
Great way to incorporate lullaby-esq lyrics to the Zelda theme melody.
3-03. "Off into the Night" (Chrono Trigger)
Arranger: pu_freak
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Sources: "At the Bottom of the Night," "Epilogue - To My Dear Friends"
Reminds me of music from Joe Hisaishi. Wonderful arrangement of excellent Chrono Trigger tracks.
3-04. "Another Dream Will Start from Here" (The Legend of Zelda)
Arranger/Performer: zykO
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Ending"
Very quirky, and light hearted. A little too long for my tastes, though. Love the guitar work.
Arranger/Performer: zykO
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Ending"
Very quirky, and light hearted. A little too long for my tastes, though. Love the guitar work.
3-05. "Dreamtime" (Chrono Trigger)
Arranger: E-Bison
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Source: "Outskirts of Time"
VERY dreamlike. Could almost fall asleep to this (in a good way).
Arranger: E-Bison
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Source: "Outskirts of Time"
VERY dreamlike. Could almost fall asleep to this (in a good way).
3-06. "Dawn of a New Dream" (The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask)
Arranger: Radiowar
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Tatl & Tael"
Not a good idea to put this track after the previous. Yes, it’s very dreamlike, but not as dreamlike as the previous track.
Arranger: Radiowar
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Tatl & Tael"
Not a good idea to put this track after the previous. Yes, it’s very dreamlike, but not as dreamlike as the previous track.
3-07. "Goodnight Moon" (DuckTales)
Arranger: E-Bison
Composer: Hiroshige Tonomura
Source: "The Moon"
Most appropriate arrangement to follow the lullaby theme.
Arranger: E-Bison
Composer: Hiroshige Tonomura
Source: "The Moon"
Most appropriate arrangement to follow the lullaby theme.
3-08. "Sleep Tight, No Bed Bugs" (Super Mario Bros. 2)
Arranger: norg
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Ending"
I’m loving the piano in this track.
Arranger: norg
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Ending"
I’m loving the piano in this track.
3-09. "Child of Legend" (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
Arranger: LindsayAnne Pepper
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Zelda's Theme"
Not quite as impressive as “Dream” but still a great lullaby arrangement of the Zelda theme. Nice way to end the album.
Arranger: LindsayAnne Pepper
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Zelda's Theme"
Not quite as impressive as “Dream” but still a great lullaby arrangement of the Zelda theme. Nice way to end the album.
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4-01. "Zone of the Esthers" (Zone of the Enders)
Arranger/Performer: The Legendary Zoltan
Composer: Masumi Ito
Source: "Kiss Me Sunlights - Opening Theme"
K.K. Slider sings you to sleep? Oh wait. It’s the mice from Babe. Still love it. Makes you feel like you’re dreaming in a wonderland.
Arranger/Performer: The Legendary Zoltan
Composer: Masumi Ito
Source: "Kiss Me Sunlights - Opening Theme"
K.K. Slider sings you to sleep? Oh wait. It’s the mice from Babe. Still love it. Makes you feel like you’re dreaming in a wonderland.
4-02. "Namors Gnudlib Theme (djp Naptime Edit - Instrumental)" (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
Arranger: Sir Jordanius
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Prelude of Light"
It’s…the same track. Only instrumental. Still love it.
Arranger: Sir Jordanius
Composer: Koji Kondo
Source: "Prelude of Light"
It’s…the same track. Only instrumental. Still love it.
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All in all, one of the most creative OCR albums I've ever heard from this website. Excellent work the whole lot of you.
Download here: http://esther.ocremix.org/
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