Overview

After a long period of inactivity in the video game music industry, composer Hiroki Kikuta rose from his musical grave with three rather unexpected scores that took true game music fans very much by surprise. Across two years, the soundtracks to the games 'Sora no Iro, Mizu no Iro', Niizuma wa Sailor Fuku, and Sakura Relaxation were released in 2003, 2005, and again in 2005, respectively.

Compared to his previous game works, Koudelka and Soukaigi, gamers were both surprised and afraid that such a venerable composer had decided to compose for video games of the hentai genre (games with explicit, adult content; not deemed appropriate in most English speaking countries), which are known for having light-hearted musical compositions with frivolous, melodious tones. Hiroki Kikuta is well-known for being particularly talented in composing this kind of tune, as showcased in his two Seiken Densetsu works, so some listeners (such as myself) were rather excited to get their hands on this promotional release.

The Sakura Relaxation Original Soundtrack was released as a promotional item from the publisher Puzzlebox as a bonus gift for those who bought the Sakura Relaxation game for the PC. It was later repackaged into the album Love Relaxation by Hiroki Kikuta himself. This enhanced version features more exuberant packaging and three exclusive tracks.

Body

Kaoru Kano lends her voice to the opening vocal track, "If I Told You How I Felt". I'm not very impressed with her voicework in this opener; while it is pleasantly tuneful, it sounds awfully passive and underwhelming compared to the more experienced female vocal talents out there who put effort into every single note. But still, Ms. Kano appropriately complements the song's bouncy, frivolous melody and guides it through numerous instrumental passages with a decent pacing. From the fluttery mandolin opening, to the verse's light strums of a guitar all the way to the delicate chimes of a triangle during the chorus, "If I Told You How I Felt" houses some intriguing instrument choices. However, they aren't giving much emphasis within the context of the melody. Easily recognisable as being the background melody apparent in the opening vocal track, "30 Days Hath September" has thankfully redeemed its parent track, but only ever so slightly. Now that the give-or-take vocals and the passive structural undertones are gone, we can enjoy the melody in full, which is brilliantly highlighted by several clever ideas from Mr. Kikuta. Creative percussion and a mere piano do wonders at making the listener want to tap their feet and strum their fingers along a nearby surface.

Probably the most fun-loving composition on the score, "Following the Wild Rabbit" prepares a nice pace and tempo for the remainder of the soundtrack. An abundant supply of melodic fragments playfully combine with the mandolin and help its charming development, even if it is a tad predictable to those accustomed to saccharine h-game tunes (such as myself). The toe-tapping glockenspiel percussion and piano finishes are just icing on the equally sweet cake; this piece (regarding music, not cake!) would probably bode very well with children actually. With more of an attitude than anything we've seen so far, "Lovers" conveys a quirky tone through its toy-like rhythms and sarcastically humorous brass climax. This track will probably make you either smirk or cringe; I was of the former category, since you can't honestly knock back such a melodious piece of musical mischievousness. I'm very pleased that a romantic, sappy approach wasn't taken here, as it wouldn't have fit at all with the remainder of the score; as it is, "Lovers" is a charmingly wacky piece of music!

This bounciness is conveyed in a much more subdued way in "The Girl Who Touched the Sky". Tastefully paced glockenspiel percussion and structurally sound bass lead to the whimsical flute solo, perfectly indicative of the cherubic girl mentioned in the track's title. Now that I think about it, "The Girl Who Touched the Sky" is accurately epitomic of h-game tunes in general; the simple, inoffensive melody, brief yet effective developments, and memorable rhythms gently convey the intended mood without making the track feel overbearing or superficial in the slightest. Musically unimpressive, but among the most modest tracks, and that's admirable enough. Compositionally speaking, "12 Directions of the Wind" is one of the most captivating on the entire score; it's conflicted in terms of tone, delivering both a satisfying sense of instrumental maturity and a humble tone of melodic light-heartedness. The rapid acoustic rhythm heightens the track's musical intricacy, although it still competently maintains an innocuous tone of simplicity. With subtle flute incorporations and a festively jammin' beat, it comes across as extraordinarily catchy despite a severe lack in development. 

After four rather up-tempo pieces with somewhat predictable features, Hiroki Kikuta has intelligently crafted an atmospheric marvel, "Wings of Night", to calm the listener and offer a breath of fresh. non-sweet air. Comparatively darker in tone (yet still fairly innocuous), he uses a hefty amount of reverb on its piano and otherworldly synthesizers to both sooth and intrigue. This consequently aids in constructing a fitting nightscape within the listener's mind, which perhaps coincidentally contrasts with the ebullient sunshine of previous pieces. Ominous and serene in feeling, pensive and mysterious in execution, "A Gentle Moon" is, I would imagine, a great piece of music for moments of reflection. A hopeful melodic line is surrounded by significantly darker (yet subtle) synth work, establishing a gentle tempo with calming dynamics. The flute solo is even more reflective in nature, and skillfully concludes the melody.

Of the non-vocal tracks on Love Relaxation, only one disappoints me; that's a pretty good record, really. "The Lights in the Sky are Stars" is the track in question. Its pretty title correlates with a delicate and celestial reverb, which is used to decent effect to establish a piece of heavenly scenery. As for the melody, the real meat of the composition (usually), it merely meanders — or in this case, hovers / flutters — around the etherealness of the reverb and harmonic undertones. I would imagine that this track is particularly fitting when used in game, since it conveys the intended mood so well and sets up some nice imagery. However as a stand-alone track, it's boring and uneventfu with a few decorative attachments here and there. To make up for this, "Sleeping Dog" is undoubtedly my favourite track on the score. It melds both a laidback attitude and some joyous emotions to depict a naïve, drowsy dog. The plodding xylophone percussion cutely (and melodiously) signifies the sound and pacing of a dog's tottering footsteps; additionally, the trumpet (sounds like the same one from "Lovers") delivers an appropriate sense of naïveté and whimsicalness, complementing the dog's plodding footsteps with playful precision. Along with some tuneful drums and a twinkling triangle, each loop is tastefully completed through the use of a mandolin, evidently a favourite instrument of Kikuta-san.

Meanwhile "Left Hand of Darkness" is the most unconventional piece of music on the entire soundtrack. This trait is easily identifiable by the noticeable jazzy undercurrents and the exciting melodic pacing. Intense piano licks and subtle organ chimes elaborate upon the insanely fun melody and the adventurous atmosphere (which makes it sound like a dungeon theme to me, and a very creative one at that). Additionally, the piano solo towards the end of each loop can be described as nothing but awesome. Undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the score! Given this success, it would have been silly of Mr. Kikuta to not revisit this seemingly fruitful genre. Less in-your-face and more of a subdued, contemporary piece of jazz, "Afterimage" is the most sophisticated track here, almost seeming out of place. Drum percussion, thoughtfully luscious synthesizers, and that same twinkling instrument build up to the appropriate climax of a tasteful saxophone solo. University students probably play this piece of music in their maturely mellow cafes, while they lazily grasp onto their mugs of coffee or chattily sip their mochas. Go on, grab some coffee, put "Afterimage" on, and just chill out.

Y'know how I mentioned that if there were a romantic, emotional theme on this soundtrack, it wouldn't really work? Well I've kind of been proven wrong. "What Is This Thing Called Love", a title kind of Engrishy in nature, creates a mellow, heartfelt soundscape with its celestial piano and complex yet serene background support. There's a lot going on this track, which is surprising considering the simplicity of the melody and the easy-to-follow manner of the melodic passages. "Days of Grass, Days of Straw" is an exceptionally well-composed piece of music too. The instrumentation, including a fluid acoustic guitar and some accompanying lush strings, sounds musically profound in its mellow, lackadaisical tone. String plucks at the end of each loop also create an added sense of amicability and warmness. My favourite part of this track, however, is how it stirs a vivid response within the listener. Every time I listen to it, "Days of Grass, Days of Straw" makes me picture myself lying on some verdant grass with a piece of straw sticking out of my mouth, basking under the glorious outdoor sunlight with no cares in the world. Ah, life is good. 

The game closes with "When the Cherry Blossoms Fall", another vocal theme. As soon as this track began to play I winced in pain, being aware of how potentially sucky the vocals could have been. Thankfully, Kaoru Kano's work here is much more accomplished and fitting than in the opening track. I'm guessing that her delicate voice complements more slow tracks such as "When the Cherry Blossoms Fall", and doesn't really cohere with songs more upbeat in nature. This ending vocal track is a wonderful piece; the lack of emphasis on a convoluted instrumental background is nice to (not) hear, and the piano does a simply divine job at conveying all of the necessary melodic components. The implied melancholia also helps me picture cherry blossoms falling from the sky, enhancing the song's intended effect. Overall, Ms. Kano's voice work is spot on and beautifully complements the melody, making "When the Cherry Blossoms Fall" an all-round wonderful track. Note that the karaoke versions of these tracks were omitted from Kikuta's release.

The reprint soundtrack features three exclusive tracks, namely "Cat's Cradle", "On the Shores of Peaceful Water", and "Children's Afternoon". I'm not sure if they were specifically composed for this release or simply didn't make it on to the original soundtrack, but either way they're welcome additions. "Cat's Cradle" integrates quite well at the centre of the soundtrack with its light pop-flavoured sound. While the other two tracks seem tagged on after the vocal theme, they are also quite enjoyable. "On the Shores of Peaceful Water" is particularly enjoyable with its synthpads, inspiring relaxing imagery.

Summary

So, just why is the Sakura Relaxation soundtrack the most acclaimed of Hiroki Kikuta's three h-game scores? Well, for starters there's only one "bad" track on the entire score, making it arguably the most consistent one of the three (consistency is severely lacking in one in particular). The music doesn't suffer sameness, and there is an appreciable amount of diversity, from the smooth contemporary jazz of "Afterimage" to the outdoorsy mellowness that is "Days of Grass, Days of Straw". Light-hearted tunes are in abundant supply as you would expect, with "Sleeping Dog" topping the lot with its charming silliness; tracks like "Lovers" aren't too far behind though, with their flagrantly exposed attitudes and catchy rhythms.

The only part where I'm conflicted is with the vocal tracks; while the ending piece is great with its talented vocal work by Kaoru Kano and lovely underlying melody, the opening song is merely passable due to her comparatively weak singing. Overall, a very solid offering from Mr. Hiroki Kikuta that any fan should definitely check out. It doesn't match his best, but it's surprisingly not too far off. It's definitely worth checking this reprinted soundtrack, particularly with the bonus tracks in place.