It’s amazing how new information about an upcoming Zelda game can instantly send the fandom into a tizzy. Whether it’s just a few seconds of unseen footage accompanying an announcement about a delayed release date, or a full-blown trailer showcasing gameplay mechanics and tantalizing clues about the lore, rabid fans will spend months dissecting it and coming up with theories as they anxiously await their next trip to Hyrule.
One concept that is relatively new to me, though, is something that Tim de Man likes to call “musical speculation,” where a musician composes some original tracks inspired by the characters and environments featured in trailers for upcoming games. Lately, the masterful maestro responsible for Hyrule Highlands has been brainstorming potential tracks for Tears of the Kingdom, and I must say, his imaginative creations have been quite wonderful to listen to thus far. Since recent trailers have heavily implied that the sky will be a prominent location in Link’s new adventure, it’s only fitting that one of Tim’s musical musings would be called “Cloud Islands”.
As the track begins, one imagines themselves exploring an ancient and sacred place that has been left untouched for a very long time. The pure, lingering tones of the flute, the soft plucking of the strings, and the occasional chime of what sounds like a triangle all contribute to a feeling of meditative sadness. You can so clearly picture yourself walking across these golden forested islands — with their faded gateways and crumbling structures — and experiencing a profound sense of loss. Who created these relics of the past, and what happened to them?
Another stringed instrument, possibly a cello, plays methodically throughout the majority of the piece. It maintains the tempo as reliably as a metronome, and its deep, rich timbre adds a sense of mystery to the composition. Perhaps it’s meant to reflect the mystery of who once inhabited the islands. Was it the ancient Hyruleans, the Zonai, or some other unknown group that hasn’t been introduced to us yet?
Percussive beats are sprinkled sporadically throughout the piece, calling to mind the snare drums you might hear during military marches. In my mind, they represent the potential danger that lurks within these cloud islands. As Link traverses the ruins and unravels their secrets, who knows what kinds of hidden mechanisms, devious puzzles, and murderous foes are lying in wait, ready to swiftly snuff out the life of the young Hylian hero who dared to leave the ground for the sky realm?
About halfway through the track, a new melody weaves its way in and adds another interesting wrinkle to the whole piece. Violins play a quick series of notes that rise higher and higher, as if a creature of the sky is spreading its wings and lifting itself into the wild blue yonder. While this does seem indicative of the Loftwings of Skyloft, it could just as easily be hinting at the triumphs of the hero. As he confronts the dangers of the cloud islands, he will undoubtedly rise to overcome them. He must, for the fate of Hyrule is once again at stake. But a low, fluttering flute at the very end suggests that the hero’s success is not a guarantee this time. Maybe courage simply won’t be enough to halt the onslaught of evil, and failure awaits our humble boy in blue.
Tim de Man’s musical speculation gives impatient fans like myself the chance to start our journey through the new game early, if only in our imaginations. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable, heightens our excitement even further, and provides a salve to our anxious hearts, as the wait for our next adventure continues.
