Arjuna – Into Another world

By                    Yoko Kanno

Run Time        66:51 minutes

Street Date      05/11/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

Recognized as one of the most gifted and innovative anime composers, Yoko Kanno can now add the eclectic and adventurous 'Arjuna Original Soundtrack' to her list of masterworks that includes 'Macross Plus,' 'Escaflowne,' 'Wolf's Rain,' Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' and 'Cowboy Bebop!' For this soundtrack Yoko Kanno teams up with Maaya Sakamoto (Escaflowne, Rahxephon, and Cardcaptor Sakura), Tsuneo Imahori (composer of 'Gungrave' and 'Trigun') and Keishi Urata (Texhnolyze, Akira) to deliver a sumptous, elegantly ethnic-sounding aural regale, with tribal and celtic pieces sprinkled in. Featuring eight emotionally-stirring instrumentals and 13 must-hear vocal tracks, including the opening theme 'Early Bird' and ending theme songs 'Motorbike,' 'Mameshiba' and "Air & Stars.'

Tracks Featured on the CD:

01 - Early Bird	11 – A drop of time
02 – Awaking	12 – Resonance of the Earth
03 – Cloe	13 – Prophet
04 – Time to Die	14 – Before Breakfast
05 – 2nd Life	15 – Bells for Her
06 – Diving	16 – Motor Bike
07 – The Clone	17 – Diamond
08 – Feel the circle	18 – Mameshiba
09 – Aerobics	19 – Air & Stars
10 – Omega Blue	20 - Aqua

Impressions:

            The first time I was introduced to Arjuna was in the fall of 2002, Otaku Aniverse members had decided to attend CN anime, we had to opportunity to sit down and enjoy the first 3 episodes of the then fan subbed series. Right away I fell in love with what was on the screen. Arjuna is a powerful series depicting what we humans are slowly doing to our planet and the need to revert back to a more simple life to preserve that fragile balance between nature and mankind.

            From the opening vocal theme that gently brings the listener into the sound track, as the Arjuna OST play list proceeds it has the effect of slowly bring the listener in from the opening track that has a gradual increase in beat, to the following track that catches the listeners attention and keeps them locked in until the very end. While listening to the sound track, I noticed the names of each track and the order they have perfectly suit on another. For Example, the opening track, Early Bird, implies a sort of an early start to this CD, and as the next track “Awaking” implies, it has the idea to awaken the listener to what will becoming next. Arjuna sound track has a great combination of vocal and instrumental tracks that catches the listener’s attention and keeps them until the last track.  

What to expect with the CD:

            It comes with a 10 page booklet. Within the pages of the booklet is a combination of still shots from various scenes of Arjuna, displaying the series main characters. Also within its pages are the lyrics for several of the tracks on the CD, they include “Motor Bike”, “Mameshiba”, and “Aqua”. Pleasantly the lyrics are offered written in both English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word). The CD itself has a picture of a dog happily playing in a field. Last but not least there is a credits page for all the staffers that help put this wonderful OST together. The soundtrack features 20 tracks that consist of a mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

Rating 8/10

R.O.D Original Sound Track

Run Time        40:30 minutes

Street Date      6/08/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

Based on the wildly popular three-part series, it’s do or die time in R.O.D, an explosive, super powered spy-tech action adventure. Composer Taku Iwasaki (Witch Hunter Robin, Rurouni Kenshin) carries out his mission of delivering a tailor made sound track perfectly suited to this lights out anime spy thriller. Included on the 14 track R.O.D OST are definitive nods to the era of ultra cool spy movies with the opening and long versions of the “Theme of R.O.D,” along with an outstanding selection of instrumentals ranging from light tones to dramatic intensity, with subterfuge inducing ambiance snuck in for good measure.

Tracks featured on the CD

            01 – In the beginning, roars the electric genius

            02 – Them of R.O.D ~opening version~

            03 – Those who insanely love books would say “Paper is always with us”

            04 – At a bookstore – run silent, run deep

            05 – Shudder! Shudder! More Shudder!

            06 – Gentleman like, all too gentlemanly

            07 – Theme of Stardust hidden in the interval of time

            08 – The evil wing of gale, that no one can catch

            09 – Unequaled boisterous dance, the sky is too small

            10 – A man playing in the west raises a pole at will

            11 – Suite for an I-Jin part 1     Talent beyond ogre, Gennal

                                                       II   That man is witty

                                                       III Adagio for geniuses without glory

            12 – Bring all the wisdom to Great Britain!

            13 – Them of R.O.D ~ long version~

            14 – Souls of the women rest for a moment, and thereafter….

Impressions

            Read or Die, from the first time I watch the 3 episode series, I was hooked. When the TV series was announced, I had to go out of the way to get my hands on the fan subbed episodes, with Geneon releasing the R.O.D TV series shortly it will most definitely be added to my ever growing collection. However, when news got down to me that the R.O.D soundtrack was being sent to us here in the frozen north, I called for the review copy and thankfully, I was up for it in the rotation.

            Holding true to the R.O.D, 3 episode series, this sound track has the songs laid out in a way to entice the listener in. From the opening track “In the beginning, Roars the electric genius” that has a mysterious soft intro to a high pace action beat. Just like the series itself, followed by the ever famous R.O.D ~ opening version ~ a way to get the listener reattached to the series they know and love. Listening to the sound track, I noticed that the theme for many of the tracks have their origin in the spy / adventure movie genre, a funky mysterious beat that plays with the listeners imagination. Featured with in the CD are several songs from there series, an all instrumental line up.

What to expect with the CD?

            Included with the CD is a 6 page booklet with a song list, production notes explaining where the motivation behind some of the R.O.D sound track lies. A brief biography of Taku Iwasaki the man behind the music and staff listing of those who help to put the sound track together. Within the pages are still of several characters such as Agent Yomiko Readman, Joker san and Miss Deep. As for the booklet, the choice of colors is quite nice, with the exception of the biography of Taku Iwasaki, being red letter on a black background made it difficult (almost impossible) to read. The disc itself is black with red lettering, a red silhouette of Yomiko Readman. The R.O.D CD has 14 tracks that have a mixture of a modern jazz theme, to soft rock, perhaps even a hint of techno, an interesting blend of instrumental music indeed.

Rating 7.5/10

Texhnoloyze – Music, Only Music, But Music

Run Time        71:11 minutes

Street Date      6/08/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

In the futuristic, decaying city of Lukuss, getting 'texhnolyzed' is a sign of status, even if it means losing one's humanity and sanity. However, with Texhnolyze – Music, Only Music, But Music, there's no after effects to worry about, except for a compelling desire to listen repeatedly to the imaginative, hauntingly beautiful scores that thoroughly permeate the nightmarish world found in the new anime series Texhnolyze. In between the techno opening theme (Guardian Angel) by the techno trance wizards of JUNO REACTOR and the contrastingly lush and tragically romantic song, 'when reason fails,' there are 22 additional, impressive instrumentals contributed by music industry greats Hajime Mizoguchi (Jin-Roh, Rahxephon), Koji Kasamatsu (serial experiments lain), Tsuneo Imahori (Trigun), Keishi Urata (Akira) and others.

Tracks Featured on the CD:

01. Underground conversion	14. Supper of the old
02. Guardian Angel	15. A Flower Without a Glimmer of Kindness
03. The Town Wakes up	16. When Reason Fails
04. A dog heart leaping Irritation	17. A Far away lightning
05. Distortion of outside the door	18. Underground conversion: Rain Drop sounds
06. BlaXk Magic Mushroom	19. Memory of the setting sun
07. To an End of the World	20. Underground conversion : See the light
08. Gratitude for Insanity	21. The Edge
09. Fantasia	22. Lose Loose Bounds
10. Underground Conversion: People	23. Underground conversion : Rebirth
11. Spleen	24. Blue Darkness – A sleepless town
12. Underground Conversion: Radio wave	25. Poem of the moon (TV version)
13. Threat and Temptation

 

Impressions

 

            I’m glad that my first impressions of the CD, wasn’t like that of the series. While watching the series, I was left confused and found myself often having to replay the same scene over again to get an understanding of what was just going on. Thankfully, with the CD, I did catch myself going back to a few tracks, playing them over and over again, not because I didn’t understand what was going on, far from it. It was because, I enjoy what I was listening to and just couldn’t get enough of what was there. The Texhnolyze sound track, features several different blends of the various music genres, from the opening track that is a Latin guitar solo, other various examples of different genres would be, the Opening theme that has a techno / house beat to it, there are also several tracks that feature a classical instrumental theme and a few that are a cross between the genres.

What to expect with the CD?

            Included with the CD is a 10 page booklet, the cover page features the image of Ran, she is a young girl in the Texhnolyze series that has the power to see 1 possible outline of the future. Instead of holding to the traditional booklet featuring information and pictures of the series, the Texhnolyze CD does things a little differently. Instead, the Texhnolyze book features information Juno Reactor the group that put the work into making the OST, a listing of the members of the group and their motivation behind the series, a brief summary of the events that took place at each of the tour stops and credits for the staffers at the various recording studios. The Texhnolyze sound track features 25 titles, varying from almost a techno, house blend to instrumental tracks. For those that have seen the series and enjoy it, well can at least understand it, this is a definite by.

Rating 8/10

Gungrave OST – “Right head”

Run Time        61:39 minutes

Street Date      7/06/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

            A perfect companion piece to the Gungrave' TV anime series is the oh-so cool 'Gungrave Original Soundtrack Uno "righthead," arranged by master jam guitarist Tsuneo Imahori (Trigun, Texhnolyze, Arjuna). From the entrancing, jazzy-funk opening theme 'Family' to the poignant track 'bitter ending,' band leader Imahori proves that nothing on his stellar anime soundtracks are ever routine or predictable, with his experimental, freestylish approach to mixing in diverse tools (cavaquinho strings, mandolin, wulitzer) alongside classic music instruments to create some truly amazing, distinctive hear-pleasurable tunes.

Tracks featured on the CD:

01. Family	11. Coaitar overdose
02. Clue	12. 16% humidity
03. Do your business	13. Great Flair
04. The maverick	14. Say, it ain’t so
05. Add 6 guaglione	15. City
06. When?	16. Jester’s Dream
07. The portrait of a father	17. Fearful Stereo
08. Hit the jackpot	18. Bitter Ending
09. Prayer to rain, song for wind	19. When the sunset turns red (TV size)
10. B – G

Impressions:

            I have to say, Gungrave is one of the few series I’ve yet to watch, simply because I’ve been too busy to get around to it. Being the person that I am, it wouldn’t be fair for me to write a review for a sound track without watching at least 1 episode of the series in order to get a feel for what is being offered. With that in mind, and Geneon Pioneer, being generous enough to send a DVD screener for the first 2 episodes, I was able to watch it a little before giving my impressions. The CD features a blend of both instrumentals and vocals. The instrumental tracks range from a jazz beat in several tracks, best example would be the opening track, to a soft rock theme as well as few fusions of classical instrumental with almost a modern funk (it’s a poor way to describe it, but has a great beat nonetheless.

What to expect with the CD:

            The Gungrave OST features a 6 page booklet, the cover of which as the “right hand” gun used by Grave on the cover. The booklet itself is nothing overly fancy, inside the pages of which features a listing of the song titles, credits to staff and the US staff, the center of the booklet features a page with snap shots of different scenes from the series, and the remaining pages of the book have a listing of the song titles, and the musicians that helped to put it together, on the very last page has the lyrics for “When the Sunset turns red (TV size) and “Clue” which are written in both English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word). The CD itself is red and black; the best way to describe it would be the CD resembles a part of the barrel on the “right head” gun. The soundtrack features 19 tracks that consist of a mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

Rating 7.5/10

Hand Maid May – OST

Run Time        65:44 minutes

Street Date      7/06/2004

SPR:                $14.98

What do we have here?

Anime fans can revisit and enjoy the charming and thoughtfully crafted music from the Hand Maid May, which includes the bouncy opening song, 'Jump- Hug Me as Tight as You Can,' the ending song, 'My True Feelings' and the over-the-top 'Nanbarap' (Nanbara's rap). This special CD contains the original 25 tracks and 35 bonus voice collage tracks, plus two exclusive full-length vocal tracks that were not available on the Japanese release!

Based on the popular anime series on DVD from the creators of 'I My Me! Strawberry Egg.' Available for the first time as a domestic anime CD release, this soundtrack features a full-color insert booklet that includes song titles, lyrics and credits all translated into English language, along with the TV edit version and full-length version of both the opening and closing songs. Additionally, there are 35 bonus Japanese voice collage tracks done by the original voice actress for May, allowing computer users to customize their own Hand Maid May personal messages.

Tracks Featured on the CD:

01. Jump – Hug me as tight as you can	20. Sir Nanbara is Kotaro
02. Subtitle	21. Nanbarap
03. Overture	22. The suite “Emperor Nanbara”
04. Main Theme	23. Main Theme (Strings Version)
05. Our Time	24. Epilogue
06. How wonderful is it to be young!	25. My true feelings (TV edit)
07. The ladder	26. Good Morning
08. The room may be small…but the rent is high?!	27. Have a nice day
09. Scene by the window	28. I’m sorry
10. Eye Catch	29. What should I do?
11. I’ll do my best!	30. Thank you very much
12. My master is Mr. Kazuya	31. I’m delighted
13. Cyber Doll	32. I feel warm
14. Hi There!	33. I’ll do my best
15. I’m sorry but I must scold you	34. Good night
16. A bit of suspense	35. I’ll switch off
17. “Kazuya” the mad scientist	36. ~ 60 Materials for voice collage
18. It would be nice if I could do that	61. Jump – Hug me as tight as you can
19. Rena can foresee anything	62. My True Feelings(full length version)

Impressions:

Having watched the fan subbed Hand Maid May years ago, and sadly wasn’t able to enjoy it until I got a new computer, long story short a mysterious problem where it would lock up when watching anything with media player, something that I was never able to solve. Hand Maid May was one of those series that you couldn’t help to enjoy, a stumbling computer science student, too many lovely women in his life, friends that he could be better off without, and a cute, curious, sometimes mischievous, but always loveable May to try and help him out.

The CD itself contains over 60 tracks, at first I thought that the disc was loaded with tracks from the series, with every possible instrumental and vocal blend. However, that’s not the case, the CD does contain from track 1 to track 35 the Hand Maid May series tracks, mostly sound clips for the various characters, with a few vocal and instrumental tracks. Then from track 36 to 60 it is sound clips (this was the part that I would explain) with these 35 bonus Japanese voice collage tracks which were done by the original voice actress for May, will allow computer users to customize their own Hand Maid May personal messages. I believe this is the first time that I have seen this on any sound track; it’s a pretty cool idea. The remaining tracks are North America exclusive bonus tracks, “Jump – Hug me as tight as you can (Full length version)” and “My true feelings (full length version)”

What to expect with the CD:

The CD includes a 10 page booklet, which is nicely laid out. Within the pages of this booklet is a listing of the tracks available one the CD, conversation of Kotaro Nanbara and PD, the lyrics for “Jump – Hug Me as tight as you can” and “My true feelings,” both of which are written in English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word), also a center page with pictures of the various characters that make up the Hand Maid May series, and finally lets not forget the credits for those that help put together this CD. The disc itself is a rosy color with white dots one it.

Rating 7.0 

This by far has been the longest review I’ve done for OV, but with so many titles I couldn’t help but to do them all at once. Of the 5 sound tracks reviewed, if I had to pick my favorite of the bunch, it’s an almost impossible decision to make. Being a R.O.D fan I would naturally shift to that direction. However, with the Arjuna and Texhnolyze sounds tracks thrown in, it’s definitely an impossible pick. Nonetheless, I think Texhnolyze beats out Arjuna and R.O.D just slightly, just because of the style of music, which I seemed to enjoy more. As for the Hand Maid May OST review, some might wonder why it received the lowest score out of the bunch, and the reason being for it, is partially because of the sound clips and the fact most of the tracks are way too short. The sound clips were just in the wrong place, they would best be suited at the end of the CD, instead of the middle. As for all of the fans out there of the series that were reviewed, I would definitely say get out there and add these to your collection, it will be incomplete without them.