Here's something you don't find often in a game soundtrack - a whole album of acoustic folk music, with nary a hint of action, danger, or suspense. Just pleasant instrumental and vocal pieces about life by the sea.

Just over half of the album consists of the instrumentals - piano, leisurely plucked string instruments, and softly played accordion and harmonica. It's very much akin to what you might imagine of an old-time European harbor town, and though Jonathan Eng's compositions largely forgo drama for simple rustic beauty, there's a lonesome, slightly melancholy quality that gives them a bit more weight than you might expect.

The remainder comes from seven vocal tracks - one for each day of the week - performed by Stephanie Hladowski. These are traditional folk songs about country life - moving to a house by the sea, visiting the market, dancing at the tavern and falling in love... concluded by a mysterious, vaguely saddening twist. In a couple of early songs some heart-on-sleeve lyrics threaten to distract from the mood of the instrumentals, but in general they're well written and nothing if not pleasant. I've certainly found myself singing along more than once.

Among other VGM albums, The Sailor's Dream OST reminds me most of Romancing Saga 2: Eternal Romance - both have a folk music quality (this one Western European, the other Asian), both are relatively low on drama, yet both have a somber beauty that makes them perfect to relax to. As an alternative to the usual action and adventure it makes for a welcome change.