[Categories: Music]
GitS SAC OST +
No updates for ages and all I have to offer is another helping of fanboy raving? Yep. It’s time for me to highlight another Yoko Kanno album…
One thing that the SAC always represented for me was the fusion of the natural and mechanical, old and new, recognisable and strange. Appropriately enough, that theme is carried over in the music that accompanies the show - traditional instrumentation sits alongside samples and other electronic sounds, showing perhaps her broadest range of styles to date. The opening tune, Run Rabbit Junk, blasts out of the speakers with an industrial drumbeat and distorted guitars, Yakitori following hot on its heels as an instrumental guitar jam. Taken on their own, this could be a rock album - a far cry from the orchestral pieces of Macross Plus. Stamina Rose however falls more into the realms of dance or trance with its hypnotic beat and ethereal chanting.
It’s an about-turn for Surf then, which sounds like more tribal with its pan pipes and wooden drums over the bassline. Where Does This Ocean Go? is the first of several brilliant performances from guest vocalist Ilaria Graziamo: the surreal lyrics, looped samples in the background and her distinctive vocal delivery give the song a Bjork-esque vibe. Train Search is a sudden change of pace and feel, with distorted Black Sabbath-style guitar lines played at an energetic tempo. Not the best song on the album, but as a rock fan the riffs are really fun to tap your feet along to!
Siberian Doll House starts off quite relaxing, with some Dave Gilmour-inspired guitar and eerie background vocal samples. Some more sound effects make it sound more and more dark and menacing, ending with a shrieking violin crescendo reminiscent of the Beatles’ Tomorrow Never Knows. Needless to say it’s quite a surprise on its first listen. Velveteen is another Ilaria Graziamo effort, which relies quite heavily on synths so sounds more ‘futuristic’ and in keeping with the show’s themes.
Perhaps surprisingly Lithium Flower comes next rather than being at the end (as you might expect with it being the end theme to the series) and is another guitar-driven tune with Scott Matthew, another long-term collaborator, on vocals. Home Stay is quite a funky instrumental that transforms into something from a 70s cop show towards the end; it is a quirky reminder that the SAC is, after all, a high-tech cop show.
It’s no surprise though that Inner Universe is one of the album’s highlights and Origa’s vocal performance is spectacular (I really ought to track down her solo stuff sometime). This version is also an extended mix that runs for longer than the TV theme edit; the slowdown in tempo partway through makes it a more varied and satisfying experience than the version most fans will be familiar with.
The two-part Fish: Silent Cruise sums up what makes the album (and the series) as a whole. it contains soaring vocal harmonies, traditional orchestral parts, crashing drums and bizarre electronic noise: the collision of the old and new, organic and mechanical, it is a strange journey but a strangely enjoyable one. Some Other Time might not be as famous as Inner Universe but it’s my personal favourite - a delicate guitar line plays over a string section with Gabriela Robin’s (or is it Kanno herself? It’s a long-running rumour) half-whispered vocals that take off into the stratosphere when the guitar’s distortion kicks in. I don’t know what she’s singing about but the whole tune sounds heavenly.
Beauty is Within Us on the other hand has very clear and interesting lyrics sung once again by Scott Matthew. The melody is pretty emotionally-charged but the feeling and meaning behind the words are especially memorable. We are the Great is a short acoustic guitar piece that is pleasant enough but isn’t anything worthy of much comment with what follows. Monochrome is Ilaria Graziano’s third and final contribution to the disc, and it’s a beautiful tune with a hint of melancholy and loneliness. Odd, but stunning nonetheless.
The album concludes on two short tracks: Get9, a short, funky number reminiscent of Jamiroquai, and a TV edit of the Second Gig’s op theme Rise. Again it’s a brilliantly energetic song with Origa providing the vocals once again (a detail that gives a great sense of continuity when you watch the second series) and a pounding dance beat. I can’t wait to get hold of the second OST and hear the full version!
Summary
Although this is only the third OST of Kanno’s that I’ve heard, I’d say it’s the most recommended owing to not only the quality but the sheer range of styles of music on offer here. We have rock, dance, industrial, traditional and more experimental elements that appear on one disc and often within the same songs. How she can effortlessly pen tunes across such a broad spectrum is beyond me, and in the process make a record that is very much a ’stand alone’ experience alongside the project it was written for. The series is mature, classy and well worth your time; the talent of the songwriter (not to mention guest lyricists and vocalists) easily matches the standards set for it.
Tracklisting:
- Run Rabbit Junk
- Yakitori
- Stamina Rose
- Surf
- Where Does This Ocean Go?
- Train Search
- Siberian Doll House
- Velveteen
- Lithium Flower
- Home Stay
- Inner Universe
- Fish ~ Silent Cruise
- Some Other Time
- Beauty Is Within Us
- We’re The Great
- Monochrome
- Get 9
- Rise (TV Size)
Note: Some pressings of the CD have a scrambled track order partway through. Velveteen and Lithium Flower are on the same track, which means subsequent tracks are numbered incorrectly. The two parts of Fish ~ Silent Cruise are on separate tracks though, so everything that follows that song is numbered correctly. The album’s wikipedia entry gives more details on this mastering problem; it’s my only criticism of what is a very unusual but outstanding record.
Posted on February 25th, 2007 @ 11:20 am
One can never have too much fanboying/fangirling on YK’s part
Have to agree, her GitS SAC OSTs are one of her best yet since they’re so diverse. Her 2nd and 3rd GitS SAC OSTs feature even more wonderful instrumentals and wonderful vocal performance from Ilaria & Gabriela 
Personal favourite (up to this day) will have to be Ilaria’s “Dew” & “Some Other Time” (that song is haunting! It’s actually my favourite from this particular album), and Gabriela’s “Cyber Bird” & “Turkey”. I don’t know where she gets her touch, but she sure puts ‘em to good use.
Posted on February 25th, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
There are some good tracks on this CD but overall I really couldn’t get into it as much as I expected. On the other hand, I love OSTs 2-3 and the Be Human and Solid State Society CDs are pretty good as well.