Why, it feels like not even a year ago we were talking about Scarlet Moon’s Prescription for Sleep series. Probably because it was on May 9th, 2023 that we talked about Volume III! Today we have another exclusive video preview for the latest album in the series – Prescription for Sleep: Heavenly Avatar.
Before you wrack your brain and wonder, “Is Heavenly Avatar a game I never heard of?”, this is, in fact, a gentle take on Yuzo Koshiro’s classic ActRaiser soundtrack, everyone’s favorite action RPG and town building hybrid SNES game that got a surprise remaster in 2021. As always with the Prescription for Sleep series, GENTLE LOVE — a duo compromised of Metal Gear Solid series composer Norihiko Hibino on saxophone and Etrian Odyssey/PersonaQ performer AYAKI on piano — delivers new, relaxing takes on familiar pieces, with a bonus original composition.
The album releases next week, but we are pleased to present an exclusive video sneak peek at track 8, “North Wall.” This snow-covered land is one of the final areas in the game, presenting challenges in both the town-building and action segments. But there’s no room for strife here, just beautiful relaxation. Take a listen:
Yuzo Koshiro and Norihiko Hibino are no strangers to working together, with the composer commenting:
“I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Hibino-san for over a decade,” reflects composer Yuzo Koshiro. “What sets Heavenly Avatar apart is its jazz-infused tracklist—a departure from ActRaiser’s original orchestral compositions. I hope you find as much enjoyment in listening to this album as I have.”
Scarlet Moon’s Jayson Napolitano adds:
“Knowing about Hibino-san and Koshiro-san’s longstanding friendship, and loving Koshiro-san’s music over the years, I wanted to find a way for them to collaborate once more. We’re really pleased to celebrate ten years of the series with this album and hope fans of the series and the game enjoy it!”
You can check out some additional audio samples on Bandcamp, with the full tracklist (below) sure to appeal to ActRaiser fans:
- Opening
- Sky Palace
- Advent
- Filmoa
- Blood Pool ~ Casandora
- Aitos ~ Temple
- Pyramid ~ Marana
- North Wall
- Birth of the People
- Offering
- Peaceful World
- Music in Heaven (Original)
Look for our review of Prescription for Sleep: Heavenly Avatar in the near future! In the meantime, the album is up for pre-order on most major storefronts, so whether you prefer Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, or more, Scarlet Moon has you covered.
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