https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA49C88B5CB69245A
This is what I call a semi-orchestrated album. You can hear that the instruments used are not real, but the tracks usually have a more realistic touch than the original. While the album as a whole is far from great, there are still a few excellent tracks.
Lenna’s Theme is such a track. It sounds far superior to the original track with its excellent flute playing the theme that sounds both romantic and relaxing, making it an excellent track to relax to. It gets even better during the extended loop with a clarinet playing, although the next loop is played with an “unreal” instrument that doesn’t sound as good. Similarly, Music Box is another track vastly superior to the original. “Realer” arrangements make it sound like an actual music box, violins in the background make the track sound even more relaxing and the ending loop is even played by a clarinet (?) that makes for good relaxation too. And unlike Lenna’s Theme, the extended loop keeps its relaxing mood.
And while not excellent, Waltz Suomi (the Tycoon Waltz) is still superior to the original. Accordion is a better fit for tango, but it still fits well in the track and the tempo is right – better than the piano version. And a rare feat: there is no extended loop (only a repetition on the same loops twice in a row), keeping the heart of the track intact. Tenderness in the Air also sounds superior to the original by sounding more welcoming, but the harpsichord sounds a little strange. I personally preferred the piano version.
Most other tracks, however, are not memorable and I haven’t kept them on my playlist. Ahead on our Way starts with strange female chanting and the first loop sounds like it’s been muted in some way. The extended loop doesn’t even sound like it’s part of the track and has unmemorable arrangements. Pirates Ahoy does have “softer arrangements” than the original track and even sounds joyful, but the extended loop has a strange choir (not the male chanting) that is out of place. Intentions of the Earth lost its dramatic touch (as if merged with Pirates Ahoy) and the extended loop sounds like “tribal” music. Critter Tripper Fritter was WAY overdone with its goofy arrangements, My Home Sweet Home gets spoiled by the singing voice (there ARE good songs in Japanese, just not this one), The Land Unknown sounds too romantic (and even Celtic) at the end of the loop, which was extended for too long, and Fate in Haze sounds good and relaxing in itself but lost its mysterious dungeon tempo.
In short, you should mostly skip this album. The few good tracks don’t make up for the other terrible ones that are either overdone, have chanting/singers that spoil the tracks or are just uninteresting.