NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album – Addendum Special Disc is essentially an addendum to the addendum. It’s addendum squared. And in some ways, this disc’s existence is especially cruel. With a runtime of 14 minutes, it could have easily fit on Addendum as one complete single disc. Instead, it’s a first-press bonus disc that has become especially difficult to find.
These three tracks are all from NieR: Automata, and they are especially impressive. I go back and forth about which is my favorite, but I think J’Nique Nicole’s performance of “Alien Manifestation” with a surprisingly strong chorus and orchestral percussion backing is arguably the most impressive. Had it been on the main Addendum release, it would remain a top contender. Arranger Sachiko Miyano did a fantastic job balancing the many voices on this stacked fourth heavy piece. Alien, indeed.
Kosuke Yamashita’s arrangement of “Peaceful Sleep” is heavy on strings and winds, with the choir making a soft, background appearance. It’s easy to get lost in this one. Appropriately so, given the track title.
Finally, we have the luscious, lounge-jazz strings making a grand introduction before Emi Evans prepares to make the audience cry. “Vague Hope” was excessively strong on the OST, but it gets a major upgrade here in the orchestra version. Hearing the string ensemble play against Emi’s careful, controlled voice in a language none of us can comprehend is a mesmerizing piece that somehow leaves me in parts: one part grieving, another inspired. And when the choir joins Emi in the final minute? Chills, my friends. Absolute chills.
I hope that someday, perhaps when Addendum gets added to streaming services, Square Enix Music remembers to also include these three tracks! They are every bit as good as the main album and the main album should have included them as one complete package.
