 | Album Title: Caravan Stories Original Soundtrack Vol. 8 |
| Record Label: Basiscape Records | |
| Catalog No.: BSPE-1081 | |
| Release Date: January 30, 2019 | |
| Purchase: Buy at iTunes |
Overview
Caravan Stories is a mobile/PC MMORPG released by Aiming in 2017 and features the talents at Basiscape helming the music. The Caravan Stories Original Soundtrack Vol. 8 is the last of eight planned releases that will span through January 2019. Featuring the music from Basiscape veterans Yoshimi Kudo and Mitsuhiro Kaneda, as well as contributions from Basiscape’s Rikako Watanabe and Kazuki Higashihara, former Basiscape composer Masaharu Iwata, and guest contributions by Masaki Kawasaki and Atsume Hashimoto, what type of sound can be heard on this volume, which focuses on the story-related aspects of the game and other miscellaneous tunes from the game?
Body
The album opens with “Assault on Enigma,” an extremely powerful choral tune with a strong Classical influence composed by Yoshimi Kudo. The harmonies between the male and female counterparts in the choir provide a nice contrast, while the piano, organ, and strings help create a sense of tension and exhilaration. Kudo’s other contributions include “Unexplored Cave,” a mysterious tune with strings and fluttering woodwind passages, which give the piece a sense of tension; the bright piano contrasts with this, creating an engaging atmosphere. “Sorrow in Adagio” is a melancholy strings and woodwind tune that is serviceable, while “Rallying Man” is a more upbeat march with woodwinds and a brass-forward melody. The end result is quite a fun listen. Lastly, “The Snow Girl and the Three Santas” definitely captures the spirits of the holidays with its sleigh-bell, glockenspiel, and xylophone-driven percussion and a jovial, strings-led melody. It has a very celebratory sound, and there is a bit of a big band influence, particularly when the brass is incorporated into the piece.
The other main contributor to this volume is Mitsuhiro Kaneda. His “Demon Transformation” is an intense orchestral tune with choir, giving off a sinister sound with a brass-forward approach and light electronic accompaniment. “Claw Knights” is a bit more expressive and is primarily composed of strings and brass. The melody itself has a pensive feel to it and is also quite beautiful. “Chamber of Spirits and Training” features ominous strings and brass, giving it a more horror-esque sound and a strong atmosphere. The battle rendition, “Chamber of Spirits and Training -Battle-,” is more intense with a stronger brass focus, but is a bit underwhelming in comparison. Another battle theme is “Duel,” with its vibrant strings, woodwinds, and percussion hits that help give off a sense of tension and energy. His other contributions are area themes that were added after the initial release of the game. “Crescent Hot Spring Town” is a peaceful, strings- and woodwind-driven tune that has Odin Sphere vibes. The soundscape is beautiful, relaxing, and a strong addition to the album. Its “Nightscape” counterpart is more piano- and strings-focused, and keeps the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the original. “Trumbull Dominion” is a woodwind- and violin-driven tune with a bit more atmosphere and tension. The melody itself is quite beautiful and the slight jazz influence of the piece gives it a nice dynamic. The “Nightscape” rendition is lusher in tone and is more strings-focused. The solo violin is still present and the jazz influence is more prominent, particularly in the piano sections, while giving off a bit more urgency in its approach.
The rest of the soundtrack features minor contributions from other members of Basiscape and some guest contributors. Rikako Watanabe’s “Philosopher’s Tower” features sitar, hand percussion, and a sense of mysticism, providing a wonderful melody and atmosphere. The woodwind melody, in particular, gives off a nice airy vibe. On the other end of the spectrum is “Slapstick Castanet,” a jovial tune with bright woodwinds, castanet, piano, accordion, and more. It is much more comedic in approach, providing a fun listen. Kazuki Higashihara’s “Jillian’s on Stage” is a Middle Eastern-inspired tune with a fun melody and a great soundscape, although it does come off as a bit clichéd. Masaharu Iwata’s “Ancient Fortress” is atmospheric and combines dulcimer, strings and woodwinds to give it a mystical sound. The melody and soundscape are exquisite. “House of the Lord,” by Atsume Hashimoto, gives off ominous tones, thanks to the deep strings; however, this is contrasted with glockenspiel and woodwinds that give it a more whimsical feel. The end result is a march tune with some wonderful contrast and a great melody that carries both aspects of the piece quite nicely. However, the highlight of the entire album, in my opinion, is Masaki Kawasaki’s “Guriam Borderland.” It is an exquisite piece with a beautiful atmosphere, mysterious strings, and a stunning melody with haunting piano harmonies. The B section, in particular, with its brass melody, exudes power before transitioning into a more reflective strings section. It’s a tune that would fit right in with Final Fantasy XIV‘s Heavensward expansion.
Summary
The Caravan Stories Original Soundtrack Vol. 8 is a fitting end to a series of soundtrack releases encapsulating the breadth and variety found within the game itself. While it doesn’t necessarily excel at portraying a single style, due to its content focus, it encompasses the highlights heard throughout the previous releases. Whether from guest contributors or Basiscape composers, the music at hand is well-composed and lets the listener experience a range of emotions. Fans of the previous releases will certainly be satisfied with the final release in the soundtrack series.
