https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYjJftnky1E

The Japanese are so lucky: they always get the video game soundtracks and their “remixes” before North America… if ever we get it. Granted, this album is not the best piano tracks ever, but it has a few interesting ones. Here is my review.

1-A Presentiment

I had never been a fan of the original track, although it carried the right mood. The piano version is even worse; it doesn’t carry the original feelings at all. The tempo is incorrect, the keys don’t carry the mood from the original track and it gets much too loud. Just skip it.

2- Tenderness in the Air

This track is MUCH better, maybe even better than the original track. The tempo is slow and quiet, making for even more “tenderness.” Even the “extended” loop, despite being louder, still carries feelings of welcomeness and calm. The perfect track for a quiet village.

3-Harvest

An even better track than the original and the best one of the album. Without the silly 16-bits arrangements (that sounded like a cheap Celtic track), the track carries a more much joyful mood. The tempo is just right, the “extended” loop has excellent arrangements and will surely uplift your mood!

4- Ahead on our Way

The original one wasn’t my favorite intro theme. The piano version isn’t my favorite either. Until it’s about ¾ in it’s very hard to recognize the track. Plus it doesn’t carry the epicness of the original track because it’s too slow. Just skip it.

5- Critter Tripper Fritter

After a strange introduction, you can easily recognize the track. However I found the tempo to be too slow and not carrying the jolly mood or the original. And after the first loop the pianist seems to be smashing keys completely at random. Just skip it.

6-My Home, Sweet Home

The track carries the sadness of the original track even better. The tempo is even slower, increasing the feelings of sorrow, and the notes are played well. However the quality goes down in the second part where the track goes away from the original arrangements in an uninteresting manner.

7- Mambo de Chocobo

I preferred the original, but this “remix” is still interesting. The tempo is just right, the “extended” loop still keeps the mambo beat and, despite having louder notes in the second part, the track stays interesting all along.

8-Lenna's Theme

Unlike the piano version of Rydia’s theme, Lenna’s Theme isn’t carried as well. It suffers from the limitations of a single instrument, lacking the means to make the theme feel romantic and touching like the original one (or even the Dear Friends version). Just skip it.

9- Music Box

Probably the most unlikely piano track from FF V. It is good nevertheless; it is played is a slow waltz fashion, making it perfect still to relax to. Although the finale was a little too loud, the track as a whole was still good, carrying the relaxing feeling from the original music box.

10- Battle with Gilgamesh

This track DEFINITELY profited from being played on the piano rather than on the 16-bits organ. The tempo is a little slower but the keys are played in a more dramatic fashion than the original track. A quicker tempo would have made the track perfect.

11- Waltz Clavier

Not up to the fully orchestrated version, but it does sound better than the original. The tempo is about the same (sometimes slower) and it sounds much more joyful than the original one, showing the happiness or having both princesses finally reunited.  However, I thought that the second part of the track (which departed from the waltz beat) was a little out of place compared to the rest of the track.

12- Dear Friends

The first part sounds better on the piano than in the game. It’s a little slow but at least it doesn’t get lost in not-so-good arrangements. It also carries Kara’s feelings of loneliness and better. However, the second part merely repeats the first one and louder, which spoils the track.

13- The New Origin

I’m not fond of ending themes, and much less of the piano versions. Having only one instrument just doesn’t carry the feelings of epicness one can except from ending a game. Plus the tempo is slow and too dramatic with the flat notes. Just skip it.

Final diagnosis: The few good tracks of the album cannot save the other poorly arranged ones. I wouldn’t recommend buying it.