Style: VGM
Primary Emotions/Themes: Loneliness, redemption, hope,
Thoughts: A single note on the piano. The note is unobtrusive and simply comes into existence. It fades away only to be brought back to life by the very same finger that played it the first time. The note repeats over and over with different intensity, but it never is allowed to die.
After some time the note is joined by a second, giving both depth and variety to the lonely note. The two intertwine and create a slow dance together. Soon a third, different note is played. This time on a keyboard that sounds like it's meant to mimic strings. The notes begin to walk hand in hand towards an unknown destination. Then it happens.
The song blooms from its simple beginnings to incorporate drums and guitars. The notes are no longer stagnant or simple, they are dynamic and varied. The interplay between all of them is like that of a dance of petals blowing in the wind. Sometimes the guitar takes lead, other times the piano comes back, other times its the keyboard. They are all in the same direction though. They are in harmony.
This is how the first song off of Dysfunctional Systems sounds to me. Terminus is an excellent opening song that leads the listener into gently into the wonderful soundtrack that is contained on this record. The initial piano notes sound like an EKG monitoring someone's heart, someone who is on the verge of death. As the other notes come in the person has to make a choice, to live or to move on to the next world. Through the course of the song the choice is obvious what has happened.
The music in Dysfunctional Systems goes through quite a few genres, all instrumental. The primary instrument on display here is the piano, or rather the keyboard. There are so many tracks that display the beautiful simplicity of the opening track, but they do so in different ways.
Tracks like Fragment use the piano as the guiding instrument but do so in a more reflective tone than Terminal's upbeat style. Yet other tracks like Seize the Day use the piano as one of many instruments on an EDM styled track. This track in particular uses chip tunes as the primary instrument and deliverer of the melody.
No matter where the soundtrack decides to go it pulls me with it. I love the intricate nature of some of the tracks, and the simpler and more fragile nature of others. There are some tracks that sound playful and goofy, while others are deathly serious. It has a wide variety of sounds and moods. While I enjoy some tracks more than others they are all quality.
Dysfunctional Systems is a great soundtrack and a great visual novel. It's a shame that part 2 will likely never come out at this point. Regardless I'm glad that the soundtrack for what we have got pressed to vinyl, the music certainly deserves it.
Written October 27th 2023
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