Final Fantasy VII - Mako Reactor
The First Mission
Summary
The piece captures the inhospitable and cold area that is one of eight of the reactors owned by Shinra. It begins with a march type rhythm in the low end which is a thunderous combination of timpani and bass synth with the industrial soundscape of machinery and steam.
Angular melodies continue to create a sense of unease, and it being difficult to follow is analogous to the main protagonist not knowing where he is, in this unknown place behind enemy lines. The second section adds a relentless stab from the strings to imply that things will not be any easier as we continue.
Then comes the addition of tubular bells and an ominous choir but also an offbeat synth, already suggesting the nature of the whole soundtrack as the old and ancient playoff against the new, in the fight against Shinra, the evil technocracy.
Harmony
The harmony is minimal but I wouldn’t say simple. The piece breaks down into 4 sections. The first section has only a Cm chord but that allows for melodic exploration which I’ll discuss below.
The second section is probably my favourite as I love pedal harmony, in this case the C from the first section is kept but now the voices above move between Cm and Bbm making some appropriately dissonant choices. For example the minor of the Bbm is Db which causes a clash with the C in the bass but only for a moment before returning to Cm and resolution.
The third and fourth section also involves the use of a pedal in the bass but it changes from Gm to Dm/G and then modulates up a minor 3rd to Bbm to Ab/Bb. You could argue that the Ab/Bb is actually Fm7/Bb but it’s quite a similar sound. In both cases the chord above is a 5th above the root note creating a 9th sound. For example the Dm is D F A, which is the 5th, b7th and 9th of the root underneath, G. This type of chord excludes the 3rd is very popular is Jazz Fusion, however in this case the 3rd is there, but it’s present in the melody rather than the accompaniment.
Melody
The A section mimics the motif of the main theme with three notes close together and then a large leap. However, where the main theme starts on the root note, this melody begins on the 5th (G in Cm). The repetition extends the phrase by adding notes of Bbm chord (Bb Db F), which foreshadows the B section. The 3rd phrase is almost the same as the first but with one additional note and the final phrase sequences the original motif starting on F and makes an enclosure around the root note to finish (C)
As stated before the B section has no melody and it simply states the harmony.
The C section and D section are melodically the same but in different keys, Gm and Bbm respectively, so I’ll just describe the C section.
The C section seems to be based around a 2 note motif, first ending of the 2nd note of the scale (5th of the chord at the time Dm) and then resolving to the root G. The first phrase is played again this time in quickly moves on to play the notes of the second phrase, like the sound of impatience. Again, this mimics the rhythmical phrasing of the main melody where the original phrase moves faster on the repeat.
The first two phrases with the 2 note motif repeat as is but the final phrase extends and also ascends to resolve to a different place before the key change.
Another interesting feature, is the melody always finishes before the end of the bar leaving space for the choir to provide the harmonic pad to facilitate the repeats of the melodies but also aides the modulation to Bb minor.
Textures
A section
Timpani, Bass synth, Synth melody
B section
Strings stabs, Timpani, Bass
C section
Tubular bells (melody), Choir (pad), Synth offbeat texture, Timpani