If there was one word I'd use to describe this submission, it would be "haunting". It's like listening to the thoughts roaming around someone's subconcious as they travel alien and unfamilliar lands. Like a vintage movie's soundtrack, it evolves through so many different feels: The deep bassoon drowning Willow-worm's timid choir, creating a sense of unease, but also appealing curiosity through its lighter flutes and oboes. Meadow of Woeful souls, while not shy of rivaling the previous track's unease, is instead more focused on recollection: remembering sadder times one would rather forget, as the beautiful strings and cellos, singing as if they were being tuned, remind our traveller of decisions he could've made. The oboes pick up on that, showcasing a brighter what-if, but are brought down to reality by the other instruments rather quickly.
Suddenly, Lost-Thought River introduces a brighter piano, weaving us for the first time into a sense of peace... Twisting itself in the process. Beautiful harp-like instruments pan to the left and harp as gentle pizzicatos accompany the piece, as if lost you're in thought... But these peaceful thoughts are often interrupted by harsher, more sudden bursts of conciousness. It is hard to find inner piece in these tumultuous places we're visiting.
Soon enough, as we reach the Fields of Fading Memories, these lapses in one's thought are replaced by utter confusion: It becomes harder to know what evokes hapiness and sadness. The once confident strings are now overshadowed by trumpets. Overpowering the composition before just as quickly fading away, leading to utter chaos... Yet that chaos is still somewhat controlled. A small part of our conscious still clings, refusing to be forgotten.
Entering Mezmar's Maze. Chaos now reigns free, guitar strums surprise the listener, as voice in the darkness try luring away their minds. This damp, uncomfortable labirynth that further tries to corner your mind, does not contain the small yet reassurring moments of peace that the other tracks at least pretended to showcase...
Soon, however, the nightmare ends. The tranquil shore finally lets us rest, as we look back on our journey and beyound... Finally able to recollect. Hints of tension still remain, the journey is not yet over... But at least we can appreciate those fleeting, tender moments while they last.
These reason these tracks resonate with me so much is probably due to the excellent quality of the samples used, and the skill in tweaking and changing each and every note and sound until everything feels authentic. No stone is left unturned, not a single string or key sounds out of place, I know damn well how hard it is to make an orchestra actually sound like one, and this album delivers masterfully. If I didn't know this was made in a DAW I would honestly believe an actual orchestra recorded this lol.
A really stand out submission and an amazing time, well done!