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Flower Original Soundtrack :: Review by Dave
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Album Title: | Flower Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Catalog No.: | Promotional | |
| Release Date: | April 8, 2010 | |
| Purchase: | Buy at PlayStation Network |
Overview
The spiritual successor of flOw, Flower was a poetic adventure produced by small developer thatgamecompany. Designed primarily to arouse emotions, rather than necessarily provide entertaining gameplay, both the stunning art and musical direction of the game achieved this. Vincent Diamante composed the soundtrack to each level by gradually building up layers of acoustic instruments to achieve an emotional arch, comparable to the blooming of a flower. The score was eventually released through the PlayStation Network in April 2010 and comprises eight extensively developed tracks...
Body
The first track, "Lazy Daydream," is a fine representation of the relaxing approach to the game. It features a delicate acoustic guitar which sounds over suspended string notes. There's nothing especially memorable about the melody here, but it seems to have that lulling effect perfect for the game. "Life as a Flower" is a bit more memorable though, and in that sense it's a much more inspiring track too. The strings are put to good effect in providing a nice ostinato in the background, the guitar is barely a whisper, and some fantastic woodwind motifs are introduced to really exemplify the beautiful imagery created. As a piano-holic though, I find that the basic motif played by this crisp and clear instrument throughout is the most impressive asset of the track; again, there's nothing particularly memorable about it, but it's just beautiful and resounding. The piano in "Peaceful Repose," though, is even more ntricate and far more impressive than in "Life as a Flower." The melody seems to flow, the chords ground the theme, and, with a bit of help from a clarinet part at 1:08, the track becomes a lengthy nine minute gem.
Still, the second part of the album is where it all gets going and becomes more impacting. Take the energetic and timeless "Sailing on the Wind" as an exampl. With an airy flute, relentless piano accompaniment, and creative 'cello bass, this track is a real gem. Some key moments to point out in the theme are at 2:07 where some delicious piano chords are thumped out, 3:39 where the piece erupts into something glorious, and everything from 5:13 onwards, where it becomes light, buoyant, and filled with silence. The development over the time it plays is sublime, and overall, it proves to be a fantastic light-hearted theme made up from very little. Completely contrasting this is the ambient and experimental "Solitary Wastelend" [sic], which sees the piano used in a completely different, disjointed style. A seamed collection of random notes, the track runs for a long while, with various unexpected and charming sections, namely the ominous flute part which first appears at 1:16 and fantastic soundscape explored from 10:18 onwards. "Solitary Wastelend" certainly isn't a track for everybody, but it holds so much character and inventive musical devices that I can't help but respect it.
Indeed, the last two tracks I'd like to point out, "Splash of Colour" and "Purification of the City" are much more normal, and are actually the album's best. "Splash of Colour" is written in a similar style to "Life as a Flower," but holds the same sense of power exhibited in "Sailing on the Wind." Of the two, though, "Purification of the City" deserves the most attention. Over twelve minutes in length, filled with uplifting melodies, supported by congenial backing instrumentation, and written like an anthem, this track has a huge, huge replay value. The first 15 seconds of the track tell you how grand and astounding it is going to be, and with the addition of a glorious string ostinato at the 0:30 mark, this feeling is heightened even further. The instruments intertwine gloriously throughout this theme, and with each inclusion given the opportunity to caress the melody, they each bring their own special touch to the piece. If there's one point in the track which I feel needs to really be pointed out, it's the exquisite violin part introduced at 11:09; starting low, it gradually raises up a few octaves, before a perfectly placed portamento at 11:36. Of all the tracks on this album, this is the one that I enjoyed the most.
Summary
Sometimes it's nice to just listen to a good selection of relaxed tracks in game music, and Flower provides us with just that. Every track just seems to bloom here during their extensive and fluid developments. Available for just $2.99 through the PlayStation Network, it's a worthwhile purchase for those who played the game or indeed those who simply enjoy soft organic music in general.
