Following the news of DigiCube's pending bankruptcy reported on last November, many fans and media alike wondered how this would affect the various soundtracks they had published. After all, DigiCube was responsible for publishing the majority of Square Enix game soundtracks, along with other big titles' music, such as Xenosaga Episode I.

Nothing has been announced on the Square Enix side of things, meaning fans looking to buy soundtracks for the Final Fantasy or Chrono series, Xenogears or other Square Enix titles, are still out of luck unless they can find them in stock somewhere. Luckily for fans of Xenosaga and Yasunori Mitsuda, Mitsuda's own label, Sleigh Bells, will be re-releasing the soundtrack next month.

More than a simple re-release though, the 2-CD set will feature a selection of new music. "Pain ~ Piano Version ~", previously only available from a pre-order promotional CD in Japan, will now be included on disc 1, along with a new track known as "World to be Born."

In addition, the songs "Warmth," "Beach of Nothingness" and "Green Sleeves" have been re-recorded from a new live performance specifically for this CD. The aforementioned piano version of "Pain" was also re-recorded in a similar fashion.

Releasing in Japan on May 19th, the new soundtrack (sporting a much spiffier cover) to Xenosaga Episode I can now be pre-ordered at our affiliate CocoeBiz for fans outside of Japan, for about $30.00 US. The first 50 pre-orders will receive an exclusive postcard normally reserved for members of Yasunori Mitsuda's fan club, Hopeful Weeds.