Drift Into Slumber with “Zelda & Sleep 2,” a Piano Lullaby Cover Album
Posted on August 23 2024 by John Lortie
Link’s a sleepy hero. It’s a long-running trope in Zelda that the adventurer is sound asleep at the beginning of the games. Whether he’s found washed ashore and taken to a village home to recover, described as a “lazy boy,” or healing from hundred-year-old injuries, he rests before his quests. I like to think that at the end of each of his journeys, having saved the kingdom and rescued the princess, Link treats himself to a full night’s sleep. The guy deserves a nap at least!
We all deserve a good nap on occasion. That’s where Zelda & Sleep 2 comes in handy. The new, officially licensed cover album from brother duo Super Piano 64 is now available to buy or stream. It features 34 tracks chosen from across the Zelda series, each rearranged for piano. These lullabies are as “beautiful, relaxing, nostalgic, [and] sleep-inducing” as possible, according to Super Piano 64.
The pianist pair consists of brothers Nathan and Canaan Evans. Together, they’ve released lullaby albums for Zelda (see the original Zelda & Sleep), Pokémon, and Final Fantasy. They also create and release music as the chillhop group Super Lofi 64.
Zelda & Sleep 2 is published through GameChops, a record label focusing on licensed and original video game music. The album’s track list is as follows:
- “Great Fairy Fountain”
- “Lost Woods”
- “The Dark World”
- “Kass’ Theme”
- “Ballad of the Goddess”
- “House”
- “Korok Forest’
- “Prelude of Light”
- “Dragon Roost Island”
- “Clock Town”
- “Skyloft”
- “Ilia’s Theme”
- “Mabe Village”
- “Sword Search on Koholint Island”
- “Ballad of the Wind Fish”
- “Stables”
- “Riding (Day)”
- “Romance in the Air”
- “Ghost’s House”
- “Crimson Loftwing”
- “Minish Village”
- “Temple of Time”
- “Koume & Kotake”
- “Pirate Fortress”
- “Farewell Hyrule King”
- “Mayor’s Meeting”
- “Fi’s Lament”
- “Midna’s Lament”
- “Fishing Hole”
- “Spirit Flute”
- “After the Battle”
- “Courage”
- “Triforce Chamber”
- “Epilogue”
Super Piano 64 has achieved its goal for the album. The piano pieces are calming, delicate, and sleep-inducing. The familiar Fairy Fountain theme that leads Zelda & Sleep 2 primes the listener for what’s to come. Each track flows seamlessly into the next. The album arrives shortly at “Dark World,” a calm and tempered take on one of the series’ most iconic and lively pieces of music. This shifts into “Kass’ Theme,” which becomes “Ballad of the Goddess.”
“Minish Village” and “Koume & Kotake” introduce a dream-like quality to the album’s final third. “Pirate Fortress,” “Farewell Hyrule King,” and “Mayor’s Meeting,” while rowdier than the earlier music, are quickly mellowed by the dual “Fi’s Lament” and “Midna’s Lament.” “Epilogue,” Zelda & Sleep 2’s final track, is sparse and dreamy. It perfectly loops to the “Great Fairy Fountain” beginning if you keep the album on repeat.
You can listen to Zelda & Sleep 2 on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Pandora. It’s available for purchase on Amazon Music.
What do you think of Super 64’s calm piano renditions of these classic Zelda tunes? Have you listened to the original Zelda & Sleep? Do you think Link deserves a good rest after saving Hyrule and Zelda? Tell us all your thoughts down in the comments!
Source: Gamechops
GameChops provided Zelda Dungeon a copy of Zelda & Sleep 2 for this preview via Scarlet Moon Promotions.
John’s been a Zelda fan since he was seven years old (which was a good few decades ago). He loves the last three months of the year, analog media, his family, and Tolkien. His favorite Zelda game is Breath of the Wild and his favorite game is Night in the Woods.
