LogFAQs > #950474339

How sweet of you two to provide feedback anyway :) Gates to Infinity is my very clear #1 soundtrack at this point (I haven't explored a ton of vgm yet), which shouldn't be a surprise. I was going to post a list of 9.0+ rated Pokemon HM's, but after seeing how massive the list is because of Gates.. um, I decided it's better not to post it. o_O

15) Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica - EXEC_SPHILIA/.
Series ranking: 1 of 6
https://youtu.be/aDBQbWTESMM
Composer: Daisuke Achiwa
Other credits: Noriko Mitose (lyrics), Noriko Mitose (vocals)
Prelim score: 9.3/10
Score: 9.6/10 (Phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 5 (Lost R3), VGMC 6 (Lost R4), VGMC 7 (CHAMPION)
Favorite Part: 2:05 - 2:32, https://youtu.be/aDBQbWTESMM?t=125

Interesting how this took three tries to get its championship. I thought this would have been an instant contest winner! I love this kind of a capella singing at the start (electric quality).The beeps are really cool... that along with the cut-off stacatto makes it all sound like one big computer... Its all just a big warm-up for the main material...somethings gotta lead up to it. Gets even neater when the intensity jumps beeps are even better now, hehe. When it suddenly transforms into such dark/suspenseful metal (for lack of a better word), it gives me the CHILLS. Furthermore, this track makes AMAZING use of mixed meters...not that theyre super fancy, but they really make it that much more of a banger!

And its not just the style thats great the harmonies, man! i-i7-IV is one of my VERY FAVORITE mini-progressions, particularly when the music highlights the i-vii-#vi notes in that order! (also done in FF7s You Can Hear the Cries of the Planet). Cluster chords in the chorus really make a difference, too! Add the 6/8+5/8 meter on top of that and its just.amazing. Too much awesomeness piled on at once!

As far as the vocals, they certainly can sound relaxed and static (like at the start) but also put a ton of energy behind the voices, too, when the metal begins. At 1:10, I love how they utilize legato-to-staccato articulate to bounce around, repeat that same idea two more times, then join the bass on the last two measures... The bass with its legato, but punctuated stuff through there aw, yeah! The singers calm down a bit at 1:38, back to 6/8+5/8 (good acoustic guitar textures) Finally, the CLIMAX of the vocals at 2:05 I cant get enough of how they draw attention to the meter as they unify with the bass again! :) :) :) Everything drops out at 2:32 so crescendoing computer beeps (6/8+5/8) there is a nice artsy way to give a little bit of a reprieve. (And, um those strings being pulled I know Ive heard something like this before OUTSIDE Of music, but I cant put my finger on it! >_< But I like it!!) The ending does something similar, too, adding satisfaction to the ending. As for the guitar solos, parts are cool but later on it feels like the soloist has run out of ideas.

=I wish there was more of a contrast in volume between the beginning parts and 0:43, though. It should go from piano to fortissimo! (Granted, that would perhaps break the speakers of unsuspecting new listeners >_>) You could always fake that by upping the volume at that point, hrhrhr!!!

Oh, hey, that was my second highest-rated champion! That means only... that one remains. =O

14) Cytus 2 - Chocolate Missile
https://youtu.be/j2FRjbvb60Y
Composer: Yuni Minami (also lyricist)
Other credits: Nene Akagawa (vocalist)
Prelim score: 9.7/10
Score: 9.6/10 (phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 13 (Lost R6 to XBC2 Battle!!)
Favorite Part: 0:36 - 1:01,https://youtu.be/j2FRjbvb60Y?t=36

At first I wasn't happy when it beat Murderswarm by one vote, but now I'm glad it did! There are a ton of subtleties here that make a HUGE difference in the score (pun very much intended). Stunningly beautiful and sparse at the beginning what a wonderful singing voice. The real name of the vocalist is Nene Akagawa , so Alice Schach an alias, I guess? Actually, it seems like shes just a character in Cytus? (Hm, interesting, the language is made upAlician) The initial vocals are very diatonic, but harmonies can be hauntingly adventurous...I like the ambiguity of that chord at 0:13. Great uses of piano/acoustic vs. edm, etc. (contrasts as well as mixing everything together).

Bells are nice and pretty, with a cool transition (crescendo) to the next section (now a duet) at 0:37. REALLY cool electronic sounds effects here...I wish I could adequately describe them. I like those fast staccato lines such as at 0:51. Way cool piano delay echoes at 0:44!! (also reverse effects?) Yeah, the piano really dominates the effects doesnt it? Love how the phrase ends suddenly the two voices split into THREE on this SUPER intense/dissonant chord similar to at 0:13. And then, ah, back to the beautiful sparseness..! Piano and string pizzes (+violin) are absolutely gorgeous how they blend in you wouldnt even notice them if you arent listening carefully. Happy feeling from the key change at 1:12 :). Organ reserved just for the key crescendo at 1:24.!!

For the new section, Im liking the flatted 7th with the major 3rd. I would expected the same electronic effects here as in the previous section, but theyre way different this time around! Its amazing how both the acoustic and electronic stuff blends so perfectly. At 1:49 we get these AMAZING chords underneath the singers repeated notes. We get some Middle Eastern spice for a bit, and then it suddenly EXPLODES at 2:07. Haunting voices in there, too, what on earth, its Nene Akagawa (er, is Alice Shach the alias name? doing that! Creepy. Then suddenly a stark bit of chiptunish techno.LOVE IT! Then back to the totally pure piano+vocals--what a contrast! And we get those some more amazing chords at the conclusion again, yesyesyes!!! Then you got the Kit Kat Bar being broken and shared at the end. ;)

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"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So... what is a party?"
"You drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."