Final Fantasy IX

by Nobuo Uematsu

Overview

The popular video game series returned to its roots with Final Fantasy IX. Uematsu's music also took a few steps back. Previous releases had been turning toward large operatic-style tracks, which was particularly noticeable on Final Fantasy, Vol. 8. Here, however, the music is very medieval-based. While this may suit the game to a T, it takes something away from secular enjoyment. The one commercial track on the four-disc album, "Melodies of Life," sung by Emiko Shiratori, is perhaps the highlight of this release. A variety of musicians are present to provide the accompaniment, including the Masatugu Shinozaki Group on strings. Unfortunately, most of the four hours that Final Fantasy, Vol. 9 lasts is rather dull and slow-paced. The occasional spark of genius comes along at various points, but there's little to write home about here. ~ Ben Davies

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2004
Label:	Square Soft
UPC:	4988601460033
Rank:	82948

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nobuo Uematsu   Primary Artist
Koji Haijima   Primary Artist,Conductor
Emiko Shiratori   Vocals
Masayuki Chiyo   Guitar
Masakazu Ishibashi   Oboe
Masato Matsuda   Piano
Atsuo Okamoto   Drums

Technical Credits

Nobuo Uematsu   Producer,Executive Producer,Composer,Arranger
Keiji Kawamori   Synthesizer Programming
Yuka Koizumi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Hirofumi Yokota   Supervisor
Emiko Funahashi   Production Coordination
Susumu Arai   Supervisor
Toshiyuki Yoshida   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Kenichi Funayama   Producer,Audio Production
Minour Akao   Programming
Hiroshi Shibaizumi   Photography
Yoshitaka Amano   Image Design,Visual Coordinator
Yuji Saito   Recording Coordinator
Kensuke Matsushita   Executive Producer