Little Busters! Ecstasy Tracks

	Album Title: Little Busters! Original Arrange Album -Semicrystalline-
	Record Label: Key Sounds Label
	Catalog No.: KSLA-0032
	Release Date: July 27, 2007
	Purchase: Buy Used Copy

Overview

Little Busters! Ecstasy was the eroge version of Little Busters!, released a year after the original game. A range of new music was created for the title, including a diverse handful of original compositions and some theme song remixes. These were compiled together in the Little Busters! Ecstasy Tracks album and are, for the most part, an impressive listen.

Body

Despite being an eroge adaptation, most of the new music for Little Busters! Ecstasy is far from sleazy. “Will & Wish” and “Glassware”, for instance, are piano-based compositions filled with sadness and fragility. “Will & Wish”, in particular, blooms into a beautiful tutti that captures the depth of Kazuya’s feelings. It’s Key at their sentimental best! Continuing the plaintive sound, “Run” and “Saya’s Melody”, are instrumental renditions of a song that originated from Key’s original album Love Song. “Saya’s Song” is also covered by Lia, in a standout performance, elsewhere on the release. While this song did not originate from Little Busters!, it fits well with the soundtrack’s ethereal and emotional sound. Somewhat frustratingly, though, it is needlessly repeated in a short and long versions here.

A couple of others, “Cat, Glass, and the Round Moon” and “Thinking Time”, have the peppy mood expected for a bishoujo game. But in addition to unforgettable melodies, both have hidden depths that make them fine compositions; the shifts in mood during the former evocatively capture Sasami’s character, while the latter brings a fresh jazz sound to the mix. Composed by Jun Maeda’s old-time collaborator Ishisan, “Labyrinth” is an unexpectedly experimental addition to the soundtrack. It deviates from the emotional melodic pieces of Key in favour of moody electronic ambience; not all will enjoy it on a stand-alone level, but it’s spectacular in the scene it is used in. Equally fresh is “Shadow Buster” with its jagged but uplifting electronic beats.

There are several other vocal covers featured elsewhere on the album. Japanese rock band MintJam inject some rock flair into “Little Busters!” and “Alicemagic”. While Rita’s vocals are unchanged, a2c’s electric guitars provide a fresh injection of life here. Note that the full version of the latter is exclusive to the Rockstar Busters! album. The soft piano-supported ballad “Song for Friends” also returns from the Little Busters! However, Key collectors will be disappointed to learn that it is truncated version of the original, rather than a true arrangement. While short, the truly memorable “Sha La La Ecstasy” makes up for it. A hymn featuring the voice of Haruka Shimotsuki, it feels warm and magical.

Summary

Overall, the Little Busters! Ecstasy Tracks are a fine supplement to the Little Busters! Original Soundtrack. All the instrumental tracks are interesting and emotional for one reason or another, while the surplus of vocal themes will appeal to mainstream audiences. The album is a little sparing in content and a little muddled in presentation, but has enough highlights to be worthwhile.

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Chris Greening. Last modified on August 1, 2012.

About the Author

Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!

Related Posts

Final Fantasy VII Remake Acoustic Arrangements →

Fleeting Symphony →

Final Symphony II – music from Final Fantasy V, VIII, IX and XIII →

The Primals Zepp Tour 2018 -Trial By Shadow- →