An absolutely delightful experience. A lot of orchestral music sometimes blend together for me, but the tracks of this album are distinct and each inspire so many different feelings. It does so well at alternating between feelings of grandeur, whimsy, impact, sadness, longing... Really made me understand the importance of wind instruments, you can sometimes take them for granted.
The usage of leitmotifs here is very clear and well done, I managed to catch them on my first listening for once haha. I like how versatille it is, a clear example would the Empress' theme, which uses it in a very dark, foreboding way compared to the other tracks.
If I had to pick a favourite, I'd say it's Heart of the Mountain Town, it's just so fun to listen to. The pizzicato strings along with the short string snippets throughout the song make it really memorable, and the part at around 1:30 was just astounding.
I also liked Lumina, the way it starts with the booming brass before quieting down with the celesta/music box really helped in picturing a cutscene of a beautiful figure emerging out of the water before it's revealed that it's a silly lil' dolphin haha. The track then picks up again in volume to show the importance of this being and you aquiring your powers, I dig it.
I also thought Love You, Farewell would be absolutely perfect for both reuniting with a loved one and ending your long journey. It honestly felt like something you'd hear in a movie
Awesome stuff, I'm glad I listened to this.