Overview

In 1993, Hiroki Kikuta produced an arranged album known as Secret of Mana +. his was an arranged album with a difference — instead of going with the long accustomed style of the standard orchestral album, he decided to create something more experimental. As of 1993, it was the only Kikuta score to have been released, so many Seiken Densetsu listeners were shocked by exactly what was given to them.

Body

The key feature of this release is that it is a continuous tracks, lasting an amazing 49:22. Inspired equally by progressive rock artists and classical symphonies, the release shifts between several movements while being a continuous listen. This will be very daunting for some fans, particularly considering they cannot easily skip their least favourite passages, but it has its creative merits nonetheless.

An image album of sorts, the album portrays a number of scenes inspired by Secret of Mana. Kikuta achieves this magnificently by fusing a number of styles together. These include Debussian impressionist styles, his own heavy electronic and synth ideas, and even ideas of popular musicians (such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and even Queen). There are huge contrasts in the timbres used throughout, ranging from the typical synth instrumentation heard in most of Kikuta's albums to sound effects, ranging from bird songs to waterfalls, from keyboard typing to phone dials.

Kikuta incorporates a number of themes from the original sound version throughout the release. For example, the suite opens with a particularly ethereal version of "Angel's Fear" that will inspire memories of the opening scene. The treatments of other themes is more radical and will turn off some listeners, but these all help build the concept of the album. Divisive interpretations are inevitable in such an experimental magnum opus.

Kikuta's astonishing feat is that he manages to offer so much themes, moods, and imagery into a single continuous track. He achieves this by gradually introducing contrasts over prolonged passages, ensuring the transitions are smooth. Yet he does not bore listeners either and realizes when a melody or idea has been repeated enough. To pull this off well requires nothing more than a genius. .

Summary

All in all, this album is well worth purchasing if you are a listener willing to experiment and try new things. This album is certainly not intended for everyone, and it is likely many will be alienated by it. It is a valuable work of Kikuta's, since it combines all the good points of his composition together with influences well outside the world of game music. It is also one of the most valued arranged albums out there, not just because it is so unorthodox, but because the arrangements are so deep that new elements always emerge no matter how many times you listen to it.

Overview

Sometimes people break the mould and something different, original, sand inspired. Medleys of pieces have always been a staple of arrangements, maybe not so much now, but in remixes and arrangements a while ago. However, an arrangement that still divides people over ten years later as much as it probably did back then must be given credit for breaking the mould. Hiroki Kikuta, an extraordinary talent severely underrated and underused in today's game music world, gave us Secret of Mana +, a single arrangement of his Seiken Densetsu soundtracks that is 50 minutes long!

Body

After an almost space oddyssey introduction, the ambience of tweeting birds and beautiful electric keyboards take over and off you will go on a journey. The arrangements of various pieces throughout this trip are both beautiful and original. There is real thought into how each piece transitions into the next one and they are all smooth and brilliantly executed.

The originality comes from some excellent use of various household objects around us. Phone key tones bleeps, pinging cash regesters, flicked tables, ringing telephones, outside ambience, animal noises... it all lends a hand to create a unique world to have the music housed in. As for the actual sound, it is very much of its mid 1990's time. It sounds dated in places but to no extent is it ever really horribly dated. It just helps its unique tone.

I won't spoil how arrangements are done but they are very true to the originals of the soundtrack, and I think the main critisism of "but you can't fast forward to your favourite arrangement" is very much missing the whole point of the CD. You have to experience it as a whole piece to appreciate your favourite parts more.

Summary

Sure, on hindsight it would have been nice to keep everything seamless and just insert places to start off on a CD, but this is an artist CD. It won't appeal to everyone and its easy to see why, but when an artist goes the whole hog on an idea, it's refreshing to see there is no compromise. A daring thing to do in a commercial age.