[Album] LET THE WINDS BLOW: Phantasy Star Online episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution (WWCE-31010)

The following is resurrected from a thread I created back in July 2004.

This soundtrack went virtually unnoticed by me on my harddrive for several months. When talking with Access Gamer about what our favorite soundtracks of the year were, I mentioned that I have yet to hear the soundtrack in mention here. So, I listened, and lo and behold; it's a soundtrack worthy enough in my eyes to vie for this title.

Let me get the info out of the way first...

LINER NOTES

Track List:

Disc 1 "HUNTERS":
01 Into The Sound -Logo-
02 "LET THE WINDS BLOW" -Theme of Phantasy Star Online Episode III-
03 Gate -File Select-
04 Morgue PART1 -Morgue 01-
05 Code -Deck-
06 Special Relaxies
07 Hi, Guys!
08 Mortis Fons -Fountain of Mortis-
09 Unguis Lapis -Unguis-
10 Nebula Montana PART1 -Nebula Plateau 01-
11 Tener Sinus -Tener Coast-
12 Lupus Silva PART1 -Forest of Lupus 01-
13 Dolor Odor -Dolor Odor-
14 Ravum Aedes Sacra -Temple of Ravum-
15 New Lifes -Result-
16 Scenario: Sorrow
17 Scenario: Deadlock
18 Scenario: Courage
19 Scenario: Peace
20 Can Still See The Light ~Phantasy Star Online ENDING THEME~

Disc 2 "ARKZ":
01 "LET THE WINDS BLOW" -Remix Version for "OPENING"-
02 Tune -Option-
03 Advices -Tutorial-
04 Morgue PART2 -Morgue 02-
05 Tower of ''Caelum'' -Tower of Caelum-
06 Molae Venti -Photon Rectification Area of Molae Venti-
07 Cyber -Cyber-
08 Nebula Montana PART2 -Nebula Plateau 02-
09 Lupus Silva PART2 -Forest of Lupus 02-
10 Via Tubus -Via Tubus-
11 Ride On -Observation-
12 Scenario: Great
13 Scenario: Smile
14 Scenario: Ease
15 Scenario: Navigation
16 "IDOLA" The Strange Fruits
17 World With Me ~Phantasy Star Online episode II ENDING THEME~
18 The Whole New World ~Phantasy Star Online OPENING THEME~

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The music style is generally a mix of orchestral and electronic; but there is a hint of jazz and some other things in here. I can't say I like every track on here, but I hardly found anything that made me switch to the next song, as even the dullest of the tracks still maintain a good background atmosphere. My favorite aspect is how epic some of these songs feel; hitting the high notes and not holding back any punches with the choirs and orchestral strings/brass.

While I'm at it, I would like to add that, as far as I'm concered, "IDOLA" The Strange Fruits is my favorite final battle theme ever. It's got choir samples, piano, guitars, trumpets, strings, breakbeats, synth, and all kinds of stuff. It's similar to BT "ultimate" from UNLIMITED: SaGa in style (though more rock-ish), but it is WAY more epic feeling and just generally kicks the ass of that song.

Anyway, if you are a fan of the UNLIMITED: SaGa OST or the Panzer Dragoon soundtracks, this seems to have a similar style (as close as I can relate it at the moment), so definately seek it out.

My favorite ten tracks are (not in order):
Gate -File Select-
Morgue PART1 -Morgue 01-
Special Relaxies
Ravum Aedes Sacra -Temple of Ravum-
Scenario: Courage
"LET THE WINDS BLOW" -Remix Version for "OPENING"-
Morgue PART2 -Morgue 02-
Tower of ''Caelum'' -Tower of Caelum-
Via Tubus -Via Tubus-
"IDOLA" The Strange Fruits [my top favorite]

Jam it back in, in the dark.

This album was a pleasant surprise for me, though it did wind up being something of a disappointment; I was introduced to it by hearing "IDOLA The Strange Fruits" in the BSC.

"Strange Fruits" is the finest techo-based battle theme I've ever heard, easily outstripping the previous IDOLAs from other Phantasy Stars and "BT Ultimate." Its secret lies in combining hardcore techno loops with a synth choir and orchestra: the loops establish an aggressive style, while the melody comes from synth strings and the choir gives the whole an ethereal feel at times.

Unfortunately, "Strange Fruits" is also far and away the best track on the two-disc set. The others are good--in much the same vein as the previous Phantasy Star Online games--though absolutely nothing like Unlimited Saga (with the exception of BT Ultimate).

It's not unusual to have an album overshadowed by one terrific track (BT Ultimate is the only survivor of the US OST on my hard drive, after all), and the feeling is certainly more a personal quirk than an informed opinion, but it remains.

This OST is reccommended to fans of *good* techno, Phantasy Star fans, and people who enjoyed Kobayashi's previous Phantasy Star efforts.

4/5

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I dunno, I think many of the other songs in the album are still very good. You're right on the fact that IDOLA Stange Fruits is the best track though. It's extremely catchy.

Other songs I like are Cyber and Ravum Aedes Sacra - Shrine of Ravum-.

This soundtrack is also a rather acquired taste, due to its interesting use of synths. If you really like the music from here, check out PSO 4 soundtrack as well (Blue Burst)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.