Entry 1397 - Nier - Replicant

Style: video game music, vocal, orchestral 

Primary Emotions/Themes: A hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that is defined by the female voice.

Thoughts: How can this music be so good? Why is the Nier music some of the finest recorded material in all of video games? What makes it so incredible?

This entry has the risk of going very long, reader be warned. Nier has a special place in my heart. Ever since I played the game on PS3 the music, the story, everything (even the terrible gameplay) has stuck with me for years and years.

Lets try and just focus in on the music for the purposes of this entry. The basis of the music contained within these two discs is as follows: vocals, haunting melodies, more vocals, soaring orchestral scores, more vocals, and yes more vocals. If it was not painfully obvious the voice is the main focus of this soundtrack. Be is a chior or a singular female chant, vocals are what drives this music forward, what gives it a foundation, what breathes life into the notes.

The melodies that create the music have a deep sense of sorrow in them. Even on the open world where there is a bright and gallant soar of music and vocals has an underlying sadness that cannot be ignored. Other tracks display this through a subtle minor key guitar, a vocal line that sounds like the singer is fighting through tears to deliver. It's ever constant and it's one of the main draws of the album for me.

Music like this has a deep and profound effect on me, especially the voice. I read a while back that the lyrics for this album's lyrics were created by taking common languages in current day and then extrapolating out what they would sound like a thousand years in the future. It's a fascinating approach and it gives the voice a familiar yet entirely alien feel. 

I can't say enough good things about this music. It's so creative, it's so impactful, it mirrors the games emotions perfectly... it's perfect. It's transcended the confines of the game and become one of my all time favorite scores, albums... whatever you want to call this. It's absolutely amazing and everyone who loves music needs to hear this.