Monster Hunter Orgel Arrange Album, Or “What The Hell Is An Orgel?” (Review)

The Mosnter Hunter series has always been known for its rousing orchestral themes, but rather than make the transition over to a classical instrument such as the piano for this solo instrument arrangement album, the Capcom team has decided to go with the orgel instead. While I have no idea what an orgel is, it sounds like a music box with its simple chromatic sound, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

I am a huge fan of orgel music (I’ve been trying to get my hands on the Genso Suikoden Orgel Collection for years), so this one is right down my alley, although I realize that not everyone shared my enthusiasm for the instrument. It’s minimalistic and mechanical, but it also has a pure beauty that’s hard to describe.

Let me try to give it a shot in our review of the album after the jump.

“Song of Beginning” is a lovely starter, with a whimsical melody that makes great use of the orgel range, creating beautiful harmonies that voice the lullaby-like melody. It’s truly a soothing piece of music. “Theme of Pokka Village” takes a similar approach, sounding almost like a J-pop track with its high notes and sort of skipping rhythm. Next, “Cute Ailu” serves up a sort of swinging jazz theme that had me thinking of Sugyiama’s casino tracks from Dragon Quest or even some Super Mario Bros./Super Mario World stuff by Kondo.

Things get more serious with “Bustle of Dondurma,” a contemplative piece that isn’t all that bustling. It moves along at a measured pace, with some of the most impressive rhythmic work on the entire album with its twittering melody. “Village of Deeply Blessed People” takes a similar approach, but works in some meaty jazz chords that sound like they’d be perfect on the xylophone.

Two jingles come in next, and it’s kind of odd that those both appear together and are so upbeat. It kind of disrupts the flow of the album. Things pick up again with “Awakening,” which provides one of the most mysterious melodies on the album with mostly low-pitched notes and a vibrant melody that’s somewhat melancholy. “Soul Carried by Song” is a tad more joyous, taking on a pop vibe that sounds fit for a love song. I love the poppy approach. The album ends with “Proof of a Hero,” sounding like the perfect accompaniment to the ending credits with its decisiveness.

Perhaps I’m biased in my love for the orgel, even though I have no idea what it really is. Yasufumi Fukuda’s arrangements are simply wonderful, and I found myself falling in love with this album from the first listen. While I wish there were more albums out there that made us of the orgel, I suppose the fact that there are only a few make those select albums even more special to me. If I had to voice one complaint, however, it’d be that there are only 24 minutes of music here, which left me wanting more. The bottom line is if you’re a fan of Monster Hunter, music box sounds, or are just looking for something different, I highly recommend picking this album up at CD Japan or Play Asia.

Are you a fan of the music from the Monster Hunter series? Do you think an orgel arrange album makes sense, or do you wish they had spotlighted another instrument?