[Album] Masashi Hamauzu Solo Album

I am rabid in anticipation of this. Hamauzu is my favorite, and when I listen to SaGa Frontier 2, my hero.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I think this album is something in the style of Chocobo dungeon the arrangement version (which I just discovered some weeks ago ). There is this nice violin/piano piece in there that's just marvellous.

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

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Vielen-Dank-.../dp/B000P28RKI

There seems to be a review on Amazon Japan. All I can understand is that the arrangements are either flute+piano or piano+string quartet. I wish they had used a small orchestra like in "Rhapsody".

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Good enough for me!

I was speaking idiomatically.

Tracklist is there:

http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=SQEX-10098

All names are in German. Anyway, two samples and some pictures are present on the official website:

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/vielendank/

Hamauzu, I love you.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

That first sample song is subtle:

He uses 5/8 - 4/8 and right after that 6/8 - 4/8.

You don't hear the rhythm change but it just is there.

FELIPE NO

So very sweet, and so very Hamauzu.
Yes...this album MUST be mine when the time comes.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yeah, I'm definitely getting my hands on this sucker. The samples sound terrific.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Zanasea

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/vielendank/

You know, I never was a huge fan of Soaring Wings, but this version is just beautiful. I need to preorder this album.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Currently listening to the samples . . . I shivered. It's that good. I need to get this album . . .

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

I'm extremely impressed with the samples as well. This is shaping up to be a very nice album. I'm definitely feelin' the track selections too. I can't wait for this one.

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I'm also concerned about the length of the pieces, all under 3 minutes - 45 minutes total? Or 70 minutes with 3-4 minutes each? Not very long to be good enough and soaring wings already is so long, making the others even shorter.

I was speaking idiomatically.

"Feldschlacht V" is 2-minute long. This is pretty short, like the SaGa Frontier 2 piano pieces, but nevertheless enough to enjoy these...pieces.

Oh, maybe you want to listen to Feldschlacht V. Here you go. I'm in love.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Where did you get that!!!!

It's a sampler CD and it's track 5. In the CD itself it is track 20. I'm confused.

FELIPE NO

That sample provided by Zanasea was very impressive. Again with the shivers. May 30th is soon approaching us . . .

How ya doing, buddy?

Does Zanasea know Hamauzu personally? I know Zanasea has done interviews with Hamauzu, maybe the composer provided some samples?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I have interviewed Uematsu, but not Hamauzu (I would so like to, only to say how much I love him ). This sample comes from the Square Enix Music Sampler CD given at the SQEX Party last weekend. There are no other samples from Vielen Dank.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well if the date is based on Japan it's supposed to be out already :X

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

Transcribing time begins now!

Did anyone notice there is one new sample at that site?

And it's a piano piece! Perfect for me to perform for an audience. I'm going to layer the second melody in the left hand with the actual melody in the right hand.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

No comments on this now that it's been out for a bit now? I like all the songs but personally, they are all way too short for me. I think each track had more room to develop, and it comes off as more of background music to listen on a passing fancy now. Hopefully some official sheet music eventually gets released but that might be too optimistic.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Summonmaster

I like all the songs but personally, they are all way too short for me. I think each track had more room to develop, and it comes off as more of background music to listen on a passing fancy now.

Agreed. There isn't room for arrangement to shine when there's just enough time to fit in the base melody. Furthermore, I was slightly disappointed to hear that most of this was just piano --- I like piano, but I was hoping for a little more variety. The new tracks are decent; I haven't had time for them to grow on me at all though... Overall, I think this album serves best as a stroll down memory lane; a recap of some of Masashi's best melodies. I'll have to hold out for FFXIII to get my main Hamauzu fix.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'm really not disappointed just because it's solo piano music!

So does anyone know if there are going to be sheets for piano solo? If not, is there someone who wants to transcribe it?

FELIPE NO

I find this album to be very nice, perfect to study to. It's so calming and peaceful, though not particularly memorable for me.

And it came right in time for my exams. Woot!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

No one can say that "Calm Before the Storm" was anything less than gorgeous. I would have died to hear that arranged on the piano in this album. Overall, quite a good listen. The new stuff harkens to his old style while the arrangements bring a new layer to already stellar pieces.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

While I was a bit disappointed by the lack of variety on this album, I am pleased overall with the presentation. It's not on the same level as some of the top-tier piano albums out there (Like Arc the Lad, or even Saga Frontier II Piano Pieces) but it does hold it's own pretty well. The shortness of most of the tracks was also a little disconcerting, but I'll deal.

I give it a B+.

There's nowhere I can't reach.