[KujaFFman]

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/sigma/main.html

They have just added an original drama section. There is some background music, although I'm not 100% sure they took it from the soundtrack of the game... but it sure sounds like Hamauzu. And it sounds great.

[jampot]

It's very definitely Hamauzu. It's flipping fantastic - just the way he builds up those textures...scrummy.

[squaretex]

...dang. :O
There IS some fantastic stuff happening in the background there!

Thanks for the heads-up, Kuja! As if I wasn't already crazy with anticipation for this title!

[Chris]

Press Start 2008 announced. Not much confirmed yet, but article here:

http://www.squareenixmusic.com/music..._from=&ucat=2&

[Totz]

I got this whole "White Whale of Heaven" vibe from the site's track.

That sounds incredible for the DS, btw. Who's the synth operator?

[Don]

The operator is Suzuki. It may sound so good because most of the music will be streamed for more live performances. At least, that's what I keep hearing.

[Chris]

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/s..._ost_campaign/

Anyone know what this is about?

[Don]

Apparently, Mitsuda is composing (at least in part) for a new Wii RPG called Arc Rise Fantasia. It's a traditional RPG by the developers of Luminous Arc.

http://gonintendo.com/?p=47500

[Chris]

What a ridiculous name! I have a feeling this will mainly be a Tsuchiya work but we'll see. Thanks for telling us!

[KujaFFman]

There's a new music on the Dissidia official website: http://www.square-enix.co.jp/dissidia/

Also, there is an interview with the FFTA2 team on the Square Enix members website. Sakimoto is there too: http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/ffta2/02/

[Chris]

Any composer details on Tales of Heart yet? I assume Radiant Mythology 2 will be the same guy as last time.

By the way, they posted the second part of the FFTA2 interview. It was uninspiring though.

[Don]

Here's a recent gameplay video for Infinite Undiscovery. It features some dungeon music and some battle music.

http://www.gamegrep.com/video/11266-...ameplay_video/

[KujaFFman]

Speaking of Infinite Undiscovery, Square Enix will give a bonus CD for all pre-orders of the game. It is entitled "Square Enix × Xbox 360 Sound Collections", and it will feature music from IU, The Last Remnant and Star Ocean 4.

[Dark Cloud]

Originally Posted by KujaFFman

Speaking of Infinite Undiscovery, Square Enix will give a bonus CD for all pre-orders of the game. It is entitled "Square Enix × Xbox 360 Sound Collections", and it will feature music from IU, The Last Remnant and Star Ocean 4.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/...80704/iu02.jpg

Pre-order where? I want some SO4 music now!

[KujaFFman]

In Japan only. I'm sorry.

[Dark Cloud]

Agh, that sucks. Oh well, it'll make its way to SEMO eventually!

[PQTN]

Sega also distributes World Destruction premium soundtrack containing 5 tracks as a preorder bonus.

http://wd.sega.jp/game/index.html

[Chris]

Anyone know who created the original music for Soul Summoner: The Unsung Heroes? There's quite a lot of it featured across the official site:

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/songsummoner/en/index.html

I have ideas, but nothing firm.

[KujaFFman]

I have no idea.

Anyway, will we have more JOE DOWN in the upcoming months? Square Enix has just unveiled two new Chocobo games on DS. One of them is nothing more than a port of the Wii game, but the other is a sequel to Chocobo Tales (Chocobo to Mahou no Ehon).

[PQTN]

It appears it's Soken who scored Nanashi no Game, with no confirmation.

[Bryan]

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/etc/ark/

Another new SE mobile phone game. The music on the site is VERY intriguing!

[Chris]

Concerning Nanashi no Geemu, there is a composer confirmation at 3:22 of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGTvvXHxyzs

Is it Soken? I can't quite tell.

Mobile music made me think of Kumi Tanioka. Anyone agree?

[KujaFFman]

It is Masayoshi Soken. そけん まさよし。

[Chris]

Thanks. I wrote an accompanying news article here. I think he did a fantastic job with the title in terms of creating the right ambient soundscapes. The composition is intentionally sparse, but the mix of dark minimalist cues and retro music is very fitting from everything I've seen.

By the way, are there any more musical details about Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness. All I've heard is that it is mainly rehashed material from past Front Mission games.

[Don]

SO MUCH FOR WISHFUL THINKING!

Mitsuda commissioned to do the Chrono Trigger DS soundtrack remastering!

AKA THERE IS A GOD!

[Muzza]

Sweet, that should be really cool! Can't wait to hear what Mitsuda does with the tunes!

[Dark Cloud]

Originally Posted by Don

SO MUCH FOR WISHFUL THINKING!

Mitsuda commissioned to do the Chrono Trigger DS soundtrack remastering!

AKA THERE IS A GOD!

So THAT'S where you got "There is a God" from...

[KujaFFman]

There's a new promotion movie for Sigma Harmonics on the official website: http://www.square-enix.co.jp/sigma/main.html

You can listen to the theme song, "Harmonia vita", performed by Aya Hirano. Pretty cool, actually.

[Muzza]

Very nice! Loving everything about this game at the moment. Here's hoping it gets translated!

[Josh_Barron]

I can't wait to hear how Mitsuda will upgrade the sound. He's certainly proven to get the best sound out of a DS.

EDIT: Music from the Sigma Harmonics video is awesome! I wonder if Hamauzu wrote the vocal piece? If so, then he's written a keeper !

[KujaFFman]

Originally Posted by Josh_Barron

EDIT: Music from the Sigma Harmonics video is awesome! I wonder if Hamauzu wrote the vocal piece? If so, then he's written a keeper !

I really can't say... All I know is Aya Hirano is also the voice actress for Neon, the game's heroin. "Harmonia vita" will be featured in her next album, RIOT GIRL, released on July 16. I wonder if the song is actually used in the game.

[jampot]

What a strange video. I don't take to the song, and I doubt that it's the work of Hamauzu, but if it is, it's a new direction, certainly.
Does anyone else notice that it looks like the protagonist is fighting a pipe organ in that video? Odd.

[Chris]

http://www.squareenixmusic.com/music..._from=&ucat=2&

I don't understand but more Etrian Odyssey music isn't a bad thing.

[Don]

Oh man. That has me pumped! Why do I have a feeling my top arrange albums of 2008 will be very Etrian Odyssey heavy...?

[PQTN]

It seems Hayato Matsuo does the sound design of DS DQV like the PS2 port with his wife, Chiyoko. The interview contains a little more info on him and Sugiyama to be added on the site. A shame this is a flash site.


All samples are now online.
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/ff_remix/

[Josh_Barron]

The only tracks from FF Remix that have potential are To Zanarkand and Mambo de Chocobo, imo. I don't like how they just insert previously released material. They should have made completely new sounds and mixed them like the rest of electronic mixers on this planet do .

[Aevloss]

This isn't so much news as an indicator of the musical direction Hamauzu may be taking for FFXIII. IGN posted the following in their recent preview of the game:

Originally Posted by IGN

Kitase spoke briefly about the audio direction Final Fantasy XIII is taking ... In terms of the music, the team will start working on putting together the soundtrack after the cutscenes are finished and polished to match them properly. This hasn't happened yet, but they do have an idea on what direction the music should take. For this game, the team would like to incorporate more voices and choral work.

I'm intrigued - I always felt a bit disappointed that synthesized voices were used in Dirge of Cerberus and I'd be interested to hear how Hamauzu incorporates choral music into this soundtrack ... I'll be disappointed if he doesn't lend his own bass vocals though

[KujaFFman]

I just can't wait for FFXIII. The new BGM in the last trailer is gorgeous -- and it's orchestrated!

Also, Square Enix Music just released another EP on iTunes, today it's for Nanashi no Geemu, but only on the Japanese store (click here). Strangely enough, the musician credited is Louise Noma (or is it Luis or Luiz? I really can't say: ルイーズ野間), but I guess it is another of Soken's nicknames. Also, the second track has a really strange name...

[jampot]

Originally Posted by Aevloss

I'm intrigued - I always felt a bit disappointed that synthesized voices were used in Dirge of Cerberus and I'd be interested to hear how Hamauzu incorporates choral music into this soundtrack ... I'll be disappointed if he doesn't lend his own bass vocals though

Ohhh...yum. Remember the choral harmonies of the Song of Prayer (Spira)? I can't think of anything more sophisticated to say than "Hamauzu + Choir = Win". Damn.

[PQTN]

http://www.gotmail.jp/sound/ad_sq_jprs01.html
http://www.gotmail.jp/sound/ad_sq_bar01.html