Eminence Online

The Genso Suikoden series has been my favorite game franchise of all time after the release of the first two games in the original PlayStation era. Yes, I like it even more than the Final Fantasy series! The highly political story lines and the continuity of all the titles, returning characters, and even returning musical themes get the nostalgia engine running in overdrive.

With that, Genso Suikoden III was a bit of an oddity in a number of ways. Not only was the gameplay system completely different from what was established in the first two games, but the soundtrack was also in transition mode between Suikoden I and II composer Miki Higashino and current Suikoden lead composer Norikazu Miura. Takashi Yoshida, Masahiko Kimura, and Castlevania composer Michiru Yamane took the reins of the series, although this album was an arrange album released a few months after the official soundtrack featuring the amazingly talented and versatile group, bosque aroma. It's some great jazz-flavored stuff, and it's one of my favorite arrange albums from the series.

The album opens with "Stupid Ducks," a humorous title for a fun piece of music. The group gets things moving with a funky bassline, a snappy snare drum, and a "squawky" brass and woodwind melody that fits the imagery of ducks quite well. The piece is a bit loungey, and doesn't take itself seriously, which pretty much sums up the entire album, and drew me in from the start.

The next two tracks take an even more laid back approach. "Noisy Wind" works in a beautiful saxophone melody that's reinforced by some lovely belltones and a smooth bassline and percussive backing. "Ro's Theme" plods along lazily with its highly reverberating sax melody and thick electric piano chords. It's probably the most straightforward contemporary jazz piece on the album.

One of my favorite pieces on the album is the insanely abstract "Bridge Town." It opens with a filtered mixture of brass instruments that sounds like a classy piece being played on an old record player from the 1940s. However, as the piece progresses, instruments are layered over one another as the music comes more to the forefront, feeling like a transition from the past into modern times. Jingle bells and marimba add some playfulness to the piece, and the solo about midway through is simply awesome.

Next up, "Kidd's Theme" jumps on the "Pink Panther"-esque spy music bandwagon. Upright bass plods along thoughtfully as a steady triangle hits at set intervals, providing a sturdy foundation for the brass instruments that are the center of attention. "Large Cavity," on the other hand, sounds like some sort of big band samba from Latin America as the performers take turns with their brass stabs and the piano moves along in the background with congas and woodblock percussion. It's a really fun track.

"Going on a Journey" starts off light, but quickly gets aggressive with its electronic bass and upfront electric piano notes. It's more fast-paced than many of the other tracks, and I really dig the combination of traditional bassdrum, snare, and hi-hat percussion with bongos. "Conversation 2" is the sweetest track on the album with its ascending woodwind melody that is so low at times that it falls into the beautiful pads and piano chords that create the foundation of the piece. They do a great job keeping the bass and percussion in check, as they could have easily overpowered the rest of the elements.

Another favorite of mine is "Wind and Ground," and bosque aroma really nails it here. Rich pads and tribal percussion start us off before a lone saxophone comes in to voice the amazingly catchy melody. Energetic percussion quickly joins in, transitioning from a light approach with side sticks before blasting forth with full snare hits that really get your attention.

The final track, "Searching for a Hero," is rather melancholy, and is probably the most new agey track here. It opens with a descending belltone melody and a steady open hi-hat and is later joined by a contemplative piano melody. It's a beautiful piece of music, but a strange way to end such a jazzy and upbeat album.

I'm a huge fan of jazz music, and bosque aroma tackles a variety of styles in just ten tracks. I highly recommend picking this album up if you can find it, and it's some really great material. It draws your attention to some tracks from the Suikoden III soundtrack that you may have otherwise missed, and it takes some of the better known pieces and re-imagines then in new and interesting ways. While there only a handful of arrange albums from the series, there are even fewer "good" ones, and this is one of them!