Entry 242 - Song of Saya

 

Sometimes music is unsettling not only because of the notes and atmosphere contained within, but also the larger context in which it is held. Some games... this one in particular... are so incredibly fucked that it only adds to the unsettling nature of the music contained within. It sparks memories and recollections of events that happened that cannot be unseen. This is the case with Song of Saya.

On its own the music has that child holding a balloon at night in the bad part of town feel to it. It looks and sounds innocent but there is something obviously wrong here - very very wrong.

Song of Saya is the chronicle of an individual going through a mental deterioration to the point where all normal people look like monsters. The only true monster in the game - Saya - looks like a little girl. The music reflects this imbalance perfectly.

The music may seem normal on the surface but there is this constant undercurrent of tragedy and insanity that claws at the edges. As the soundtrack continues those undercurrents become stronger and stronger until they finally break through on side C. The way that the soundtrack is handled is a perfect reflection of the genuine horror that this game provides.

I rarely mention the packaging on a vinyl, however here it is obvious just how much care and attention to detail was put into this release. The packaging, the obi strip, the sound quality found on the records... everything just oozes class. I never thought this soundtrack would get a vinyl release, but I am very glad it did. It's one of the few records that makes a collection more complete than it was before its inclusion.