Game Music, Reviews

Spring is Finally in Bloom: Flower Soundtrack (Review)

May 28, 2010 | | Comment? Share thison Facebook Spring is Finally in Bloom: Flower Soundtrack (Review)on Twitter

In our first annual OSVOSTOTY awards, Flower came in a close second for me behind the insanely brilliant Demon’s Souls. As I wrote in the piece, it may have been my top choice if not for the fact that Sony had not released a soundtrack in any capacity (I am not going to get into the debate with Patrick as to the eligibility of World of Goo since the game was released the previous year because it is a ridiculously amazing score. No, I’m not still bitter about that. Okay, maybe a little.). Well, much like a lot of the rest of Sony’s botched moves with its Playstation 3, Sony has corrected its mistake. Flower is now available for download via the Playstation Network for a mere $2.99.

I will do my very best not to sound like an eleven-year-old at a Jonas Brothers concert when I talk about this soundtrack, but I make no promises. Since I’ve already shown my hand as to whether this piece is a winner or not, how about you join me as I try to explain why, and perhaps how, it flew away with my heart, mind, and soul.

One of the twentieth century’s most famous operatic composers was Giancarlo Menotti – mostly known for his one-acts such as Amahl and the Night Visitors and The Consul. One reviewer said of Menotti that he knew so well how to create an immediate, fawning emotional response from his listeners that they almost feel guilty for succumbing so easily. Such is my experience with Flower.

For those who do not own a Playstation 3, one of my most favorite features it has is that when you select a game from the XMB (cross-media bar; selection menu) the entire screen becomes a still relating to the game (usually cover/concept art) and the theme plays. Eager to see what I would experience, I highlighted Flower on my XMB and was greeted by the theme I now know is called “Lazy Daydream.” With the simplest and most humble of openings, we hear a long-held string note as the foundation only to be tip-toed on gently by an acoustic guitar’s suspensions. I was speechless. In fact, I did not start the game for a good five minutes listening to the truncated theme again and again.

When the first flower is selected, “Life as a Flower” begins. Though more upbeat and rhythmic than the previous track, “Life as a Flower” still carries with it a wondrous innocence as its theme is gracefully passed from one soothing instrument to the next. To add to the musical enjoyment of the experience, each flower that is freed creates a sonorous tone that is always consonant with what we hear in the score. It is for this reason that I have contended since the game’s initial release that Flower be considered a music game. And, unlike the games we consider to be music games, Flower, provides the player with the ability to create sounds with the soundtrack as opposed to merely recreating what we hear on the CD.

“Splash of Color” begins out of time and with a piano solo. Again, Diamante hits all the right notes with his chord progression and, particularly, his use of suspensions that tugs the listener onward. We are once again welcomed to the rhythmic bass (6/8 time for you beautiful music geeks).

Diamante changes the pace and feel dramatically while maintaining the same rhythmic template in “Sailing on the Wind.” This track finds us in a flower garden on a wind farm. The constant sense of motion propels us forward and around in a youthful and joyous piano ostinato. Though the instruments take turns leading the melodies, the oboe and light brass are clearly in front. In the latter section, the piano plays with rhythmic accents just enough to keep us from letting our guard down. Definitely one of my favorites in the collection.

All is not fun and games in Flowerville. “Solitary Wasteland” shows us the darker side of both Diamante and the game as the player attempts to bring light and life to a dark and secluded area of the world. The contrast is certainly needed, but this track is a jarring departure from the light and love world already established.

One of the most appealing aspects of Flower is that in addition to the beauty and musicality of the piece, it is not just a collection of pretty ideas. There is a very intelligent thematic design with recurring themes, variations, and rhythmic ideas. “Peaceful Repose” embodies these traits with its piano recapitulation of the main themes. Aided by light winds, this track is just what the title says it is.

Clocking in at over sixty minutes and weighing in at under three dollars, this is the no-brainer of the year. Its sentimentality and dreamy aesthetic may not sweep everyone away like it did me, but I cannot imagine most readers of this blog not finding an exorbitant amount of musical merit to this score. Flower‘s score may be the most beautiful music I have ever experienced in a game. I really do almost feel guilty for how easily this music immediately staggers me. Arrogantly, I assume that a man of my musical pedigree should not fall prey to such simple musical concepts. Alas, I am defeated. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Comments are closed.

« Next Post

Previous Post »

More like this Post