Quiet, story-driven PS2 music setting up something that has not happened yet. before "DESIRE" is a prequel soundtrack with only six tracks, each one tied to specific character moments. The Japanese titles translate to scenes about a rookie journalist, a frustrated researcher, and the moment everything starts unraveling.
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The naming style tells you this is narrative-heavy. Tracks like the Albert MacDougal theme and the Makoto Izumi theme are character sketches in audio form. There is a track literally called "and then, everything begins" that carries all the weight of a setup with no payoff yet.
Six tracks feels minimal but intentional. Every piece is doing specific emotional work for its scene. If you are into PS2-era visual novel soundtracks where the music carries the storytelling, this brief set does a lot with a little.