The Second Truth From the Left

February 28, 2021

A play on the famous line from Peter Pan, this is the triumphant exit music. We’re leaving the theater as the janitors are waiting to enter. It’s a pure retro jam, with many different sections that return to a fixative theme. It was a throwback even in the time of the game’s release, sounding like the opener of a prog rock concert, even featuring a spicy Rhodes piano solo. This is another track that doesn’t sound anything like its contemporaries.  Despite the limited sound palette of the Super Nintendo, Hiroki Kikuta managed to craft a vibrant experience with his finest rhythm section execution, and the most effective choice of sound patches on the soundtrack.  It makes us forget that we’re listening to 16-bit hardware. A fan told me a story of how he recorded the game’s ending on a VHS tape, just so he could listen to this track.

And if there’s an award for best ‘18 take on a ‘93 track, it goes to this too.  The track has been extended to almost eight minutes (involving some repeats) with the finest mixing and scoring of the 2018 effort.

Flute – Wave 18 Flute on Yamaha TG55
Strings – Yamaha PSLCD-104
Brass Section – Roland SC-55/U-220
Synth Brass – 1980 Brass on Yamaha TG77
Fingered Bass – Fingered 1 on Roland U-220/LCDP-02
Slap Bass – Brite Thumb 1a on Roland U-220/LCDP-02
E. Piano – Electric PF2 from Akai S-Series CD-ROM 2
Glockenspiel – TG77/Yamaha PSLCD-103
Sine Pad – from unknown synth
HiHat – Yamaha TG55/77/99
Snare – Ouch Snare from Roland R-8
Kick – Mondo Kick from Roland R-8