Though this tiny promotional album contains no unique, elsewhere-unreleased music, I wanted to get some coverage and visibility of the album. Because, in one key way, it is the best CD you can own among the Layton albums.
Each of the three games in the Professor Layton trilogy had a full, one disc OST release. The music, composed by Tomohito Nishiura (the one dedicated Level-5 music man), is pretty strong through and through. But there’s no question in my mind that the best songs on each of the three OSTs are the opening tracks. Unlike the synths of the DS soundtrack that takes up the majority of the tracklists of those discs, the three opening themes are live, real-instrument recording sessions. Piano, string quartets, accordion, incredibly subtle and beautiful percussion sections…I couldn’t be more pleased with these songs.
And that’s why I’m taking the time to talk about this CD. The album is a Japanese promotional release for people who preordered the third game in the series (Unwound Future), and for people who found much of the OST material to be “filler” music, this is the perfect album to own. It’s three of the best tracks from the trilogy all found in one place. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want this? Only someone who instead chooses to collect all three full OSTs, I suppose, because then there’s nothing unique to be found on this disc.
Be sure to give a listen to the audio samples. Nishiura’s compositions are surprisingly memorable, and definitely mesmerizing.
