Stamped: May 31st, 2007 | Related Posts
Tagged: anime soundtrack, xenosaga, yuki kajiura.

Xenosaga is one of my favorite Kajiura sountrack, so I already mentioned some of the Xenosaga episodes tunes in previous posts (Godsibb, Promised Pain, Maybe tomorrow, Rolling down the UMN)

Xenosaga is primarily a trilogy of PlayStation 2 video games that has been later on developped to anime adaptation. All three episodes of the main Xenosaga trilogy are named after the Nietzsche books.

The first Xenosaga RPG soundtrack was in the hand of Yasunori Mitsuda, the composition was more classical than what Yuki Kajiura did when she was handed the two last episodes. Of course, she made it more modern, adding beats, synth and vocals.
The development of Episode II’s music was split between Yuki Kajiura (cutscenes) and Shinji Hosoe (in-game music).

Being one of my fave Kajiura Artwork, it was really hard for me to pick my favourite songs. When I think of all the wonderful track I didn’t put in that playlist, it simply drives me crazy! All the tracks are all equally wonderful, even though some of the tracks are “recycled” versions of Episode II but I highly recommend you get those two soundtracks in your CD library.

So this being said, please give a particular attention to that playlist. Unfortunately, I will not include a second time the tracks I already put in previous post (the one mentioned above), except for “Promised Pain”… Otherwise the playlist would be way too long.

Here are my fave picks from Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse and Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse

1. Fatal Fight (Jin & Margulis): Sung by Deb Lyons, one of Kajiura’s partner in crime, this track slowly goes crescendo to its peak with the nimble violins, techno beats, choir and Deb Lyon’s performance.

2. Communication Breakdown: Ethnic choirs in Kajiura’s imaginary language… very uncanny… Then the strings just take you by the hand and lead you to the core of this epic journey highlighted by the angelic choir. Absolutely wonderful and thrilling. It’s really grandiose, the choirs are magnificent, the strings are overwhelming. Totally breathtaking till the very end.

3. Sakura #2 (theme-simple voc.ver.): Sung by Margaret Dorn, simply accompanied by a guitar.

4. In the beginning there was…: Sung by Deb Lyons, it’s the first track of this soundtrack. Very uncanny short track.

5. Albedo: Dark track with Gregorian chants and electro sounds. Very mysterious.

6. Xenosaga II Opening Theme: The title says it all, it’s the main theme. Wonderful melody.

7. Sweet Song: This is the Ending song. The main theme sung by Margaret Dorn. Very simple, very beautiful.

Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

8. Promised Pain: This one has been already posted in a previous article illustrating Yuki Kajiura’s work. One of my favourite track. It’s simply great that alliance between operatic singing and techno beats…

9. We’ve got something to believe in: I love this track!! We’re right away thrown at the heart of the action. The choirs marvellously takes you higher. The strings are sublime.

10. The battle of your soul: Same here, right in the heart of the battle, it’s so powerful.

11. Hepatica (Kos Mos) : Sung by Eri Itoh. Beautiful. It’s starts very simply with Eri Itoh and some light arrangements. Then, when you think it’s over, it’s starts over with gentle and warm beats.

12. Hepatica #3 (I believe in you): Hepatica violin version and harp version. It totally makes me sad… I find it so very romantic. I can’t help but close my eyes. When you only think that it’s going to be a harp and violin duo till the end, here comes in the piano, then the beautiful strings. It’s really heartbreaking. So emotional. You feel so fragile. It’s a 7:50 minute long track. So you have time to cry many times before it’s really over. It’s really like a fairy tale.

13. Outrageous: Done with the tears, more testosterone. Fearless electric guitars…

14. T-Elos: More percussions and a bit of electric guitars and ghostly choirs.

15. Inferno: I like the tension in that track.

16. Testament: Very sad, the choirs are absolutely beautiful and hearbreaking.

17. A new world: The battle is over, here comes a new world.