Softlock presents:
lv. 7: aji wo [K]utta (NieR)
L+R: Kaine, Emil, Brother NieR, Yonah, Grimoire Weiss. Yes, the book too. They’re mostly doomed but they’re adorable.
aji wo kutta.
Translation: “I ate a mackerel.” Problem is, if you’re an Android like 2B or 9S from NieR Automata, fish oil immediately kills you. Try on an alternate translation: “I experienced a flavor.” Suddenly a fish overloading your circuits becomes hilarious.
NieR is an incredible franchise. It began as an offshoot to a joke ending to its (even darker) cousin franchise Drakengard. The games are funny, sad, demented, sly, experimental, and most of all human. Which is…fitting, considering you never once actually play as humans. Well, at one point they were, but not they’re not. Then they weren’t, but still act like it. NieR’s strange. NieR is a series about what it means to be alive, what a family can be, and how the differences between what you love and hate may not be so great after all. Also, how mackerels are deadly and riding a moose out of town to go fishing is the best way to leave your problems. NieR never stops being moving and weird.
Speaking of, today’s episode of Softlock is a deep dive into the absolutely incredible music of NieR, made possible by its composer Keiichi Okabe, house band MONACA, and vocalist Emi Evans. The first half is uptempo, the second half is mostly down. This episode has been in the making since the show began and it’s my pleasure to experience my favorite franchise’s sonic flavors with some of the hypest and emotional music gaming has to offer.
Show Archive
Play show / Add show to playlistPlaylist:
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Keiichi Okabe & MONACA, “Alien Manifestation”
from NieR:Automata (Original Soundtrack)
Square Enix - 2017
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Nobuyoshi Sano & Eriko Hatsune, “Ending B Staff Roll 'Growing Wings' (Japanese version)”
from Drakengard Original Soundtrack
Square Enix - 2003
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Keiichi Okabe & MONACA, “Temple of Drifting Sands”
from NieR Gestalt & Replicant (Original Soundtrack)
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2010
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Keiichi Okabe, “Wretched Weaponry”
from NieR:Automata (Original Soundtrack)
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2017
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![NieR Re[in]carnation Original Soundtrack](https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music124/v4/ee/53/93/ee5393fc-f5cf-2e88-402b-fb75e7cf7dbd/SQEX-10858-1_3000x3000.jpg/170x170bb.jpg)
Keiichi Okabe, “Shinpan - 審判”
from NieR Re[in]carnation Original Soundtrack
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2021
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Keiichi Okabe, Emi Evans, “Hills of Radiant Winds (Another Edit)”
from Nier Replicant Ver.1.22474487139... Original Soundtrack
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2019
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帆足圭吾・岡部啓一, “Alien Manifestation (Arranged by Yutaka Oyama, Junichi Saito, Yusuke Shima, Jose Colon)”
from NieR: Automata Arranged & Unreleased Tracks
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2017
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Keiichi Okabe, Emi Evans, “City Ruins (Shade)”
Materia Collective - 2022
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![NieR Re[in]carnation Chill Out Arrangement Tracks](https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music112/v4/d7/f2/a1/d7f2a173-8594-c033-9078-b294a3881294/SQEX-10945-1_3000x3000.jpg/170x170bb.jpg)
Keiichi Okabe, “Kyūsai - 救済 Arranged by Hiro-a-key”
from NieR Re[in]carnation Chill Out Arrangement Tracks
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2022
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Square Enix Music & Keiichi Okabe, “Repose”
from NieR Gestalt & Replicant (Original Soundtrack)
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC - 2010
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Daishu Oikawa, “Emil (Sacrifice)”
from NieR Gestalt & Replicant (Original Soundtrack)
Square Enix Music - 2010
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Emi Evans, MONACA, “Analogous Memories”
from Nier Replicant ver. 122474487139... Ending E
Square Enix Music - 2021
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Straw Softlock November 16th, 2024
Posted In: Music Shows