Act I

Scene I - The Unaware Bliss

"What came before and what's happening now. The only breaks in the machine are bevecause of its age. The joys and quiet moments of life are at the forefront in this scene. That is until the silence is broken."

Visit 1

V1| 1 - The great doors open wide

7 : Great

It begins! Less bombastic than TGD V1|1, it cements the start a brand new journey. Welcoming back to a familiar setting, with a milder coat of paint.

V1| 2 - Don't stray too far

6+ : Good

The opening flute feels so weird, but I like it! Body and mind aren't perfect, yet we're jolly without a care. This track pops off quite hard as the loop ends, and oozes with a social atmosphere.

V1| 3 - Wave by wave

6- : Good

This song spirals on and on, gives me carnival vibes. Nothing too special, but damn does it sound very sludgy. ATSW isn't trying to hide anything, is it?

V1| 4 - From peripheral vision

6 : Good

A straight import from TGD, this track gives the vibe of a casual stroll downtown. The delay effect is noteworthy, but not heavily pronounced. Fits the idea of lazily moving about, your entire world on the sidelines.

V1| 5 - In many moons

7 : Great

Gorgeous and angelic, its warm chorus and glistening instruments sound sacred. Makes you feel small, lost in the fleeting beauty of the night.

V1| 6 - Morning dewdrops

7- : Great

A laid-back song with a little pep in its step. The track seems to start in the left-channel, with compounding reverb throughout. Pleasant and dreamy.

V1| 7 - A quiet flame

6+ : Good

A chipper flute with strings, whimsical in tune. It's got a consistent sifting static that tickles my brain... the instruments pan all over, grow super resonant, and the song overlaps itself? Quite a lot going on.

V1| 8 - On the brink of twilight

7+ : Great

Oh, that's a fascinating sound! No idea what instrument, I've seldom if ever heard it before. This depth of bass and crackle are lovely, and those little chops are super cool. First song so far that compels me to check out the sample.
And the ending bumper is real cute, can't help but smile.

"So hold onto your hats, folks! Here we go to Hollywood!"

V1| 9 - Come and go

7- : Great

Far less bittersweet than the OG Visit 1 closer, Come and go sounds alive and eager. Practically saying "'til next time, but not for long! See you soon!"
I prefer this ending. It's heartwarming in a different way, with more satisfaction as the curtains close on today's visit.

Summary

Avg ~ 6+ : Good

Visit 1's choice use of effects stand out, bringing more flavor to many tracks. It certainly depicts a more degraded status quo, challenging my assumptions of how CS2 music should be. A welcome retake merging romanticism with the reality of old age.

Visit 2

V2| 1 - Live to live again

6 : Good

A piano solo, segued by what nearly sounds like applause. Sounds of nature create a vibrant atmosphere, and I don't sense any distortion. I see the title as an encouragement to explore while you can, tread old footsteps and see the world for what it is today.

V2| 2 - Clouds on an indigo sheet

6- : Good

A detached emotion, be it a bad omen or buried melancholy. It's a moment for the listener to zone out as well. A quick refresh of perspective.

V2| 3 - A toast to those above

7- : Great

A reference to TGD V2|1 in name, and the start of vocal tracks! An romantic ballad with high enthusiasm, heartwarming yet painful in implication. Likely an ode to lives past, to keep their passion alive.

V2| 4 - Into the dream

6+ : Good

Another callback, this time to TGD V1|5. Less pompous than the OG, the entire thing chugs along with an abrasive crust. Even so this track effectively tries to double down on cheerful sentiment and daydreaming, a noticeable clash.

V2| 5 - Present stations past

6+ : Good

Our retreat is interrupted by a cut to scrambled radio, and a sudden turn of the mental dial to a meandering brass instrument. The air is still, the mood stagnates. That... wasn't supposed to happen.
Sluggishness takes center stage, like a persistent headache. An awkward blunder, but what follows is more sinister.

This track is appreciated, I find it akin to G07+G08 in NATMOSR:CE. Emphasizes the following moment, while making its emergence more convincing.

V2| 6 - Sudden displacement

8- : Excellent

The main attraction of Visit 2. While most tracks have strange artifacts, Sudden displacement has a greater dissonance that's hard to ignore. Hypnotic reverb and delay encircle each note in a muddy fog, and the song is just eerily quiet.

And anxiously, it concludes. An uncertain ending, the mount of dread left unanswered. Gives me chills.

V2| 7 - One step at a time

6 : Good

From dumbfounded to panicked, spiraling in fixation. The rush to justify what occurred... I know the feeling, unexpected change eating at you inside. But you can't figure it out at once.

ATSW began less moody than TGD, but this ending drives the misstep home further. I found it curious, but believe it sets a precedent for Visit 3's slow unraveling.

Summary

Avg ~ 6+ : Good

The tilted older brother to Visit 1, delves into similar emotions until our first real disturbance. The humble piano of V2|1 became its inverse in the close, which makes Visit 2 sadder to me in hindsight.

Visit 3

V3| 1 - Time flowing like water

7+ : Great

A soothing intro, easily the most comforting song in Scene I for me.
A piano ponders quietly, while the brass affirms with love and contentment. A healing experience, offers compassion if you approach it under stress. V3|1's got your back.

V3| 2 - Window of sepia

7 : Great

I love this one! The metallic dings + erupting orchestra are an addicting combo on loop. Even merrier than some tracks from V1!

As for the oddities, here's what I've found:

1st loop, clean
2nd loop, longer pause at the vocal bit, and into the next loop
3rd loop, longer vocal pause w/ static, sample cuts off early
4th loop, song ends halfway

This track decays in real time, but it's so overwhelmingly positive that I hardly notice...

V3| 3 - Solace in thought

8- : Excellent

...as the cracks give way.
V3|3 isn't distorted, but its instruments are like the backdrop to an encroaching drone. It's deeply despondent, burdened by dread, alone.

In leiu of scurrying for answers, it sits motionless with grief. Is this what life will be? More anxious, uncertain, and empty...?

V3| 4 - My heart seeks true

6+ : Good

A jarring cut to the present. TIL this instrument is called a harpsichord, it's got such an elegant sound and strong bass. The ending melody is a nice cherry on top.

Oh, and there's a simmer that briefly pauses halfway through, returning stronger. Like a vestige of V3|3, snowballing.

V3| 5 - It's all in the details

6 : Good

A casual melody with strange vibrato. The way its focus pans is an active struggle, each loop swaying drunkenly.

With that and the title, I view this track as a sort of mental exercise. An attempt to patch the chinks in one's armor.
If you took better care of yourself, stopped worrying, stayed socially engaged... there'd be nothing to worry about. It's all in the details.

V3| 6 - Shift of perception

7- : Great

Visit 3's analog to V2|5, a turning point which builds the visit-defining track.
The starting loop refuses to go on, overridden by a dark drone and entirely new sample.
And gosh, it sounds horrible. The 2nd sample conflicts with itself, cutting back earlier and earlier. Panic impedes all thought and action, settling within as the world around fades away...

V3| 7 - Flowers for those below

8 : Excellent

A sullen tribute to bygone times, with the gravitas of a final farewell. Scene I is packed with pleasant daydreaming, but V3|7 is the flipside. With nostalgia comes heartbreak, and little solace for what lies ahead.

Yet it deserves this much, for it means the world. One more ode, to every person and experience who shaped our very self. To reunite in spirit, if only for a moment.
Off into the future, we go...

V3| 8 - Leaving the past

7 : Great

Wishful thinking can't sustain the present. We could stave our fears for a while, but the fuse has met its end.
There's no turning back.

Summary

Avg ~ 7 : Great

I love Visit 3! Each track is meaningfully intertwined as they funnel towards the end of Scene I. And what an ending it is, a full story told in just 25min. Needless to say I appreciate the new tracks, the first definite improvement over the OG in my book.
And holy, I wrote a lot for each track. Goes to show my V3 bias lol

Scene II - The Quiet Moments

"A ripple in the water. Small as of now, but the longer it goes unnoticed the larger it grows. The wear of the facets and recesses begins to peer out from the dark, yet overall all continues to function as normal. The mental state wavers, falsely believing that all is still well, despite the subconscious realization."

Visit 4

V4| 1 - The hall's lights dim

6 : Good

A vibe switch that keeps it classy, bonus points because I love the xylophone. This confers how Scene II will play out; Far less sudden, with poise.

V4| 2 - On the sidelines of life

6+ : Good

A surprisingly fresh sample to start things off! The original sound flows into classical song, yet sticks in my mind throughout. I wonder what it could mean?
The 2nd sample could be a response to feeling out of place, veering back towards the familiar. Discouraged by new sights and sounds.

V4| 3 - Of a rose tint

5+ : Average

Is that a TGD V2 reference 👁️
This was my least favorite track from TGD, which hasn't changed much. It sounds like stadium music? Here it's jollier but a tad vanilla, could use distortion. The middle section is still neat though, sounds imposing.

V4| 4 - Most every night

7 : Great

Theeeeere we go, bring in the distortion! That's one CtJD-ass intro (sure, that's a sentence buddy)
A wistful reaction, mulling over snatched joy. Feeling betrayed by the world, or even yourself for making it this far. Prior vocal tracks were declarations of love, but now's come the pain of abandonment.

"Well I, guess I'll never see the light
I get those blues most every night
Since I fell for you..."

V4| 5 - Conversation

6+ : Good

A tiny interlude, rousing us from inactivity. The title is perfect, conveys some intrigue as the mind begins to peek outside its walls.

V4| 6 - Times of serenity

6+ : Good

Loneliness recedes into beauty once again, with no strings attached. Still sparkly and blue, the sound doesn't compel you to do anything but appreciate the simple pleasures. Melancholy has its moments.

V4| 7 - Call me back

6+ : Good

Quality blues with a bit of vibrato leading-in. This feels like a positive new baseline, acknowledging fatigue but staying engaged in our own time.

V4| 8 - Present-tense

7+ : Great

Pop!
Here's a track renewed with hope, riled by quiet excitement. If today turned itself around, maybe there are things left to love in our life!
There's much to cherish at every corner, new and old alike. Fragments to collect, never a complete picture but each wonderful in their own right.
You just have to look, see them for what they are. Receive the wonders of today.

Summary

Avg ~ 6+ : Good

A humble start to Scene II. Visit 4 is listless and confused about where it's headed, but finds a reason to enjoy itself regardless. The use of jazz & blues are a great way to stay consistent with the album while sounding distinct.