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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Kaze No Ne - Yae :: Review by Dave
OverviewAngelic. Mature. Fresh. These are all words that describe the beautiful voice of Yae, whose vocals for the Final Fantasy series are amongst the best. When the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Original Soundtrack came out in 2003, "Kaze No Ne" became a fans favourite as its enchanting harmonies and superb singing touched the hearts of its listeners. This album is a follow up to this success, and as vocal albums go, it is one of the best for musical diversity and sophistication. I was quite disappointed to see that "Starry Moonlit Night ~Arrange Version~" didn't make it onto the album, as this would have made it the definitive vocal album. But if there was a single album that would make me want to learn more about her, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Opening Theme/Yae: Kaze No Ne would be it. Read on to see why. BodyThe album starts off with "Kaze No Ne," which is a repeat of the theme from the Original Soundtrack and the game. ROBA HOUSE, who specialise in renaissance string instruments, give the track an enchanting harp and strummed lute introduction. From here onwards, Yae's voice just seems to perfectly blend in with the ethnic tone that the instruments provide. So, with Ikuo Kakehashi on the percussion, the song develops eloquently in a fresh and clear fashion that really makes you feel at one with your surroundings. Violins penetrate the melody with their mesmeric tones around the 2:00 mark, and after this, there is a great bagpipe section. The bagpipe adds a touch of excellence to the track, and then when Yae's voice elevates over the top of this, we are left in great anticipation of something climactic and perfect. Her voice climbs to great heights as the string section is introduced once more, and as soon as we pass 2:42 the mark, her voice is samples as she starts to harmonise her own words. This is an extremely intelligent and effective way of enhancing a melody, and to my knowledge, no other Final Fantasy vocalist has attempted this before. As love ballads go, this is one of the best. The majority of fans will always prefer the original "Kaze No Ne," but I feel that "Kaze No Ne featured in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles" is so different to this, that it becomes hard to compare them. The ethnic instrumentation is taken away and replaced with a pitch perfect piano and some mechanical, industrial drum beats. The atmosphere is totally different to the original, and although this is good in some ways, the emphasis seems to be placed more on the instrumentation and accompaniment then her voice this time. Nonetheless, each track has its advantages, and the main asset of this track is the way that the bass line creates a sense of dissonance amongst the vocal lines and string intersections when they arise. This track can become bare in places, but this comes as a result of listening to the original theme. The fact that the bagpipes have gone is certainly noticed, as this time the track goes into a repeated section led by the drums. It is hard to say which version I prefer since they both leap into totally different genres, but based on instrumentation and appropriateness, the original theme will always be on the top of my pile. "Carol (scat)" really surprised me, as I didn't expect it to be as fulfilling as it was. This theme sees the return of the sampling techniques featured in "Kaze No Ne," but this time, she provides the harmony by herself. A quiet flute plays in the background as Yae sings a beautiful motif in the melody, and with her harmonious textures underlying this, the interchangeable complexity and simplicity becomes all the more evident. There is truly very little that I can say about this track, other than the fact that it has an everlasting effect on the listener. The musical simplicity of this track just makes it such a relaxing listen that you just can't forget. "Flower of Love" is the last track on the album, and with ROBA HOUSE returning with their ancient instruments, the introduction to the track is wholesome and creative. Yae's voice sings without accompaniment for the majority of the theme, and this minimalist touch really suits the album well. The frequent motifs from ROBA HOUSE just make it all the more beautiful, so on the whole, this is another excellent theme. SummaryIf you are looking for a relaxing and original album that has a lot of flair, then this is the album to buy. Yae's voice separates her from the likes of Rikki and Faye Wong, and I hope that you will be pleased to know that her voice is so beautiful that you will warm to it straight away. There is nothing that this album lacks at all, but the addition of "Starry Moonlit Night ~Arrange Version~" could have made it even more perfect. I can only hope that she will return in a later addition to the Final Fantasy series or any other Square Enix series. The originality of this album should be praised by many, so I hope you will buy this album after you have saved up your money. It's an experience that you will never forget. Please note that this album is marked down due to its length. Percentage Overall Score: 79% |
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