Kaine (Escape) by Keiichi Okabe, from the soundtrack to Nier, Square Enix’s modest attempt an a genuine action-adventure game.

Most of the albums songs feature melancholy-inducing lyrical ballads sung (and written) by Emi Evans, with lyrics written and sung in French, English, Portuguese, and Scottish Gaelic. Only 9 of the 43 songs on the soundtrack feature no vocal components. 

Although, most of the songs have no meaning behind the lyrics, “Ashes of Dreams” was the one exception. Evans convinced the composers that at least one song in the soundtrack should have recognizable lyrics rather than “futuristic english”, like originally planned. Evans found Ashes to be the most difficult song on the soundtrack to write, due to the difficulty she had with meeting the composers criteria and expectations in finding the right emotional sense of lack of hope and despair in the lyrics.

Songs throughout the album range in language, for example:

“Hills of Radiant Wind” is one of the few upbeat songs on the largely dark soundtrack. Emi sang in a variant of Portuguese meant to sound like a spirit floating in the wind. ”Grandma” was sung in french to set the theme of melancholy and anguish. “The Wretched Automatons” was sang in a variation of English, and the lyrical aspect of the song was recorded prior to the additions of mechanical sounds that play throughout the track. “Kaine” is sung in a variation of Gaelic, and is my personal favorite track on the album.

 NieR Gestalt & Replicant Original Soundtrack was released in April of 2010 and was very well received by critics and fans. Earning such applause as: “one of the best game soundtracks ever”, “captivating vocal work”, “meticulously-crafted”, “accessible to the untrained ear” and “hands down one of the best soundtracks square has ever published over the years”

Original Sound Version, and Square Enix Music later declared it “Best Japanese Videogame Soundtrack of the Year” 

I know I said that “Chrono Trigger OSV” is my favorite videogame soundtrack ever, but I have to admit, this album seriously makes me take my decision back, I mean, I’m really into videogame soundtracks and collecting them is a little bit of a hobby for me, but I can honestly say, I’ve never heard anything quite like this, and I may just never do so ever again.

Ashes of Dreams, the English version ~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufnoiz4ZCOw  

(Source: displacedinsubspace)