Eminence Online, Game Music Review

Who can't help but love Hiroki Kikuta's music? From his work on the Seiken Densetsu series to his hentai game scores to his solo efforts, Lost Files and Alphabet Planet, he definitely has a knack for writing very contagious melodies that are usually able to elicit a smile from just about anyone with their upbeat approach.

CONCERTO ~The extraordinary world of Concerto Gate~ is no different, but the title is significant as it marks Kikuta's return to the house of Square Enix. While I have no idea where the game went, Kenji Ito and Hiroki Kikuta tag-teamed the game's soundtrack, with Ito's portion to be released by Square Enix and Kikuta's portion having been released on his own label, Nostrillia.

With a full orchestral sound, Italian track titles, and some classical European-themed artwork, this is definitely one of Kikuta's most mature releases to date, so read our review of CONCERTO ~The extraordinary world of Concerto Gate~.

First of all, not all of the music on this album is from Concerto Gate. The album opens and closes with original compositions from Kikuta, which act as sort of image tracks. The opening piece, "Ouverture" is interesting with its rapid harp scales and sharp, Asian-inspired opening. It's a relaxing experience, meandering along with a simple piano melody and a rich string backing.

Getting into the Concert Gate itself, 'Vivace" is the typical upbeat Kikuta that we all know and love. Marimba provides a bubbly foundation for the cheery woodwind melody. "Presto," on the other hand, will have you jumping out of your seat with its explosion of sound. The piece is one of the most energetic on the album, but it's quite short lived at just over a minute in length. This track gives way to "Soave," a beautiful ballad-esque piano piece with occasional string swells that is one of the more emotional numbers on the album.

Things get a little more serious with tracks like "Mormorando" and "Misterioso," however. Each takes a minimalistic approach with repetitive harp sections and sparse instrumentation. I'm not suggesting they're boring, as these are two of my favorite tracks on the album, but their contemplative approach should be more appreciated for the mood that they promote rather than their lack of a memorable melody.

Changing pace once again, "Sonoro" contains a lot of internal conflict with its competing regal brass section, shrill woodwinds, and marching percussion. There's a lot of dissonance which makes it difficult to relax. "Ostinato" continues on with this tension, with string notes hitting every quarter note to create the sensation of an approaching battle. This one had me thinking of some of Hitoshi Sakimoto's work at times.

Moving on, "Selvaggio" is probably my favorite track on the album with its powerful piano and brass progression that sound like a reinterpretation of the "One of Them is Hope" from Seiken Densetsu 2. It also sports a cool Asian vibe, and is the longest track on the album. The next track, "Appassionato," features the same progression, but is much softer with its use of woodwinds and strings. The tempo is also slowed considerably, giving the piece a more contemplative feel.

The final track, "Coda," is an original composition not featured in the game, and opens with foreboding bell tolls before an epic string progression enters, sounding both powerful and cinematic. It's an interesting choice to close the album with, given the rather quiet tone of the rest of the album, but it's certainly something new from Kikuta.

I mentioned that the album is covered in classical European artwork that references a period that I can't quite put my finger on. Other than that, the packaging is unremarkable. But that's okay as the music is the star here, and I think you'll be surprised by what Kikuta has had up his sleeves all these years. If you're looking for a more mature sound from Kikuta, then CONCERTO ~The extraordinary world of Concerto Gate~ has what you've been looking for. I recommend heading over to VGM World (http://www.vgmworld.com/catalog/index.php?table=cocoebiz_music&item_num=1663) to pick up a copy, as this is likely a limited run from the Nostillia label.

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