Last Exile OST – Dolce Triade

Run Time        58:42 minutes

Street Date      2/17/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

“A great score”, the last Exile OST features a dynamic blend of spectacular animation and superbly composed music. Delivering mesmerizing vocals and highly evocative instrumentals, this 190track CD original soundtrack opens with the rhythm-thumping signature introductory song “Cloud Age Symphony” and is sure to please those who will love the grand sense of wonder and excitement that comes from this stylish high-flying science –fiction adventure

Tracks featured on the CD:

1.      Cloud Age Symphony.

2.      A morning in Norkia

3.      Workin’ on the cloud

4.      To the race.

5.      Prayer for love

6.      Brave Willing

7.      Cover stories

8.      Flyin’ to fly

9.      Requiem in the air

10.  Hello, Kitty Girl

11.  Chivalry Spirits

12.  Advances

13.  Naval Affair

14.  All is over

15.  Skywriting

16.  Silverna

17.  Vanishing point

18.  Complicated Decision

19.  Over the Sky

I’ve only recently began watching Last Exile, sort of like getting around to a series that I didn’t have much interest in, I just felt like watching something new. Now I’m kicking myself in the back side for taking so long to get to this series. With a mixture of action, suspense and drama it’s too good to turn down, just like the opportunity to review the OST.

My impression of the CD, I have to say it was an amazing blend of high pace music from the series. Right from the get go, the opening track Cloud Age Symphony catches the listener, the remaining of the CD is a great combination of instrumental scores, with dynamite vocals, the only thing I would have against the CD is right from the opening track they take the listen to an extreme high and then the subsequent tracks they become a more mellow beat, a lighter mood for the listener, as one track ended it flowed nicely into the next track. Still not being a big fan of instrumental music I would have to say, this CD is being to bring me over to the instrumental side, sometimes you don’t need vocals to enjoy music, the themes were very mellow with a good flow.

What else comes with the CD, It comes with a brief 6 page booklet. The first thing I noticed about this book was its black, jet black as if the book was born of darkness; the CD also comes in the same jet black colour. The cover has an image of Alex Rowe of the mysterious battleship Sylvana. Within the booklet is a picture of a vanship, they’re kind of like a flying car, on the following page is the listing of the track titles. Also included, are the lyrics for “Cloud Age Symphony”, “Skywriting” and, “Over the sky”. Pleasantly the lyrics are offered written in both English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word). Last but not least there is a credits page for all the staffers that help put this wonderful OST together. The soundtrack features 19 tracks that consist of a mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

Rating 9/10

Last Exile OST – Dolce Triade

Run Time        68:05 minutes

Street Date      04/13/2004

SPR:                $14.98

A bonus, the review of the 2^nd Last Exile OST

Emerging as one of the true heavy hitters among new anime series, Last Exile has completely blown away fans with breath-taking visuals, captivating storylines and sensational music. The majestic sense of aerial exhilaration is effortlessly captured by the stunning music of Last Exile – OST 2, which includes a flight course of 15 tracks of sweeping moving symphonic tracks by Dolce Triade and five new vocal songs.

Tracks featured on the CD:

1.      Road to the light

2.      Head into the Clouds

3.      Fleet of Littleships

4.      Heavy Cocoon

5.      Ground Streaming

6.      A Stimulant

7.      Rays of Hope

8.      Beautiful Fields

9.      Coronation

10.  Lost Friend

11.  Princess, Sophia

12.  I can see a heart

13.  Malicious Queen

14.  Ceremonious Play

15.  Counter Attack

16.  Make Advantage

17.  Dreams of Father

18.  Last Exile

19.  Over the Sky [Angel feather version.]

20.  A new world has come.

Even though the reviews might be together, but the time frame has been a few days, with a couple of Last Exile episodes under my belt and a chance to gain a better understanding of what the series is about, from what little I’ve managed to watch. I’ve been eager to get started on this review.

As for the second CD, I would have to say, it’s getting better and better by the track, definitely not a let down from the first CD. It’s going to sound a little repetitive to say it was an amazing blend of high pace music from the series, but it is. Right from the get go, the opening track, Road to the Light catches the listener, an upbeat instrumental theme, which sets the tone for the remaining of the CD. Several additional tracks of note would be, the vocal tracks 2, 7, 12, 19 and 20, it’s hard to describe the category of music they would fall under, sort of a mixture of soft rock and j-pop. The rest of the CD is a great blend of instrumental themes, with the same blend of uplifting, mellow tracks. With, and I wouldn’t use the word dark theme more like a track who’s theme feels like a moment of reflection style that will definitely catch the listeners attention. As one track ended it flowed nicely into the next track. The more I get into the Last Exile CD collection the more I appreciate good vocal themes, but also the in my book anyways under-rated instrumental themes.

What else comes with the CD, It comes with a brief 6 page booklet. The booklet for the 2^nd disk varies dramatically with that of the first, it’s still 6 pages. However, compared to the first OST the cover is now white with a picture of the young Claus Valca. Also the CD is the same white colour as the booklet. Within the pages of the book, there is a picture of a vanship’s skeletal structure, a listing of the tracks available on the CD. Also included, are the lyrics for “Head into the Clouds”, “Rays of hope”,” Over the sky”,” and, “A new world has come”. Pleasantly the lyrics are offered written in both English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word). Last but not least there is a credits page for all the staffers that help put this wonderful second installment of the Last Exile OST together. The soundtrack features 20 tracks that consist of a mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

Rating 9/10

Love Hina – Best Collection

Run Time        59:52 minutes

Street Date      04/13/2004

SPR:                $14.98

As one of the most talked about romance comedies, Love Hina is renowned for its hilarious predicaments involving college entrance exams, childhood crushes, bath shenanigans and flying turtles. With the Love Hina – Best Collection soundtrack, it goes to show that the summer of love is nothing if not characterized by fanciful music. Taken from the Love Hina Spring Movie and the Love Hina Christmas movie, the CD includes nine lovely vocal tracks by the original Japanese voice actresses and 18 instrumental tracks that will make audiences fall in love with the series all over again.

The Tracks available on the CD include songs from the Love Hina, Spring and Christmas Movie’s

1.My Song	17. The Beginning Starts now
2. A Confession	18. Blessing
3. Toss About in bed	19. Energetic Tom boy
4. The Island of the South Seas	20. Skyscraper
5.Fantasy	21. X’mas present
6.To be accepted to Tokyo University	22. Town
7. Shinobu’s Diary of Duties	23. Love Hotel
8. Lonesome	24. Solitude
9. Desert – Water play in the jungle	25. An Angel of Love Has descended and...
10. Recollection	26. Winter wish – Instrumental version
11. A Cave	27. Winter wish – Vocal version
12. A big crisis
13. Nyamo’s Song – LA LA LA version
<Bonus Track>
14. The Beginning Starts now
15. Blessing <On Air Size>
16. Nyamo’s Song – Love and Peace       Version

Right from the get go, I’m biased about this series. Love Hina, was and is one of my favorite anime series. I still remember watching the first episode all those years ago and desperately waiting for the next one to be fan subbed to prevent me from going insane. It’s been a long while since another series has kept me waiting on the edge of my seat.

The CD is nothing less then you would expect from the Love Hina series, a wonderful combination of vocal tracks, with aw inspiring instrumental blends that just keep the listener craving more. Included is several version of Nyamo’s Song. One of the things I have against this OST and not to sound like a negative, but the songs themselves are too damn sort, just when you’re starting to truly enjoy the music, it seems to cut out to another track. It’s almost like a drug, making you want more and more.

Additional bonus with the CD, would have to be the booklet itself. It has 2 covers, one for the Spring movie and another for the Christmas movie. Included within the pages is a wonder table’s of content for the tracks available on the page, as you flip through the book, the lyrics for My Song, Nyamo’s song, The beginning starts now (Spring Special), Blessing, The beginning starts now (Christmas Special), Blessing (Christmas Special), Energetic Tomboy and Winter wish, the lyrics are offered for the following song in both English and Japanese phonetics. Within in the pages of the book are bright and colorful snap shots off all of our favorite Love Hina Characters. Last but not least there is a credits page for all the staffers that help put this almost too good for words Love Hina OST together. The soundtrack features 27 amazing tracks that consist of a mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

9.5/10

In conclusion,

Of the 3 OST’s reviewed, if I had to pick my favorite, I would instantly say Love Hina. Partially because of my biased towards the series, but if you were to ask the same question a month or two from now after watching more Last Exile and getting more in depth with the series. Then it would be a very difficult decision. As for all of the fans out there, I definitely say get there OST’s your collection will be incomplete without them, and for those who are interested in start to watch Last Exile or haven’t had the privilege to watch Love Hina then get out there and watch them, and listen to the OST’s you don’t know what you’re missing.