[Categories: Music]
Macross Frontier soundtrack 1: delicious deculture
Macross Frontier is something of a full circle trip for Yoko Kanno. Macross Plus, along with its two OST albums, was my introduction to both her work and that of Kawamori’s Macross franchise, so the news that the two of them would be working together again was what made me so enthusiastic about this series. It’s inevitable that comparisons will be drawn but the atmospherics of the two shows are so different that the scores inevitably have their own distinct sound and feel: Plus was very grown-up and cinematic while Frontier is more fun and eager to revel in the nostalgia of the franchise as a whole. Because of this, the Frontier soundtrack has a stronger pop slant as well as the orchestral numbers; in my reviews of the series so far I was reluctant to place the Frontier score alongside its illustrious predecessor but saying I’ve started to change my stance on that a bit is an understatement. I might go as far importing it in fact, unless Beez pick up the license and release it with English language packaging (which would consequentially make me a happier if slightly poorer man).
Frontier 2059, that instrumental piece that plays in the background to the intro narration of the early episodes, is an appropriate way to kick off the proceedings: it starts off quietly but the use of dynamic changes gives it a marvellous build-up that sums up the concept of dramatic things going on in space. I reserve using the word ‘epic’ in reviews but for something like this you have to risk a choice of such an over-used term because it’s just that: epic.
A few Cheryl numbers follow including Welcome to my FanClub’s night!, Sagittarius☆9pm and one variant on What ’bout My Star with crowd noise in the background linking them together, giving them a ‘live performance’ atmosphere that reminds me of Depeche Mode’s triumphant live show at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (found on the 101 double-album, for those who are curious). Although I was unimpressed with this aspect of the score initially, I appreciate the blend of synthesised beats and polished image of a galactic pop idoru they create when listening to them on their own: they carry a lot of energy and seem to reach out and occupy as much space as possible. My preferred version of the latter is of course Ranka’s for its raw, improvised vitality but both offer different mixes of a great pop tune. Triangler and Diamond Cravasse don’t do so much for me though, possibly because I much prefer the likes of the second op theme (which I’m guessing will feature on a later album) or Infinity, which seems more sincere and less saccharine.
The record is made up of music used in the first half of the series so features some of the orchestral background melodies. Vital Force, Big Boys and TALLY HO! have that strident military vibe that sounds wonderfully bombastic and fearless; Zero Hour is BGM through-and-through but must confess I love the cheesy 80s guitar in it! The charm of SMS Platoon Theme is probably found in understanding the lyrics though, which sadly I don’t.
These numbers remind me of similar tunes from the likes of Crest of the Stars and numerous live-action films; they hark back to Holst’s suite of pieces, The Planets, a bit too. I quite like classical and orchestral fare, believe it or not; especially when it’s as bold and evocative as this. Bajura is one piece that’s especially reminiscent of the TV series scenes that used it: those doom-laden notes convey the same sense of mystery and foreboding that accompany the appearance of the Vajra in the show. The dignified Alto’s Theme (which captures the serious side of his character very well), Private Army, Innocent Green (stunning piano work!) and Kira Kira are instrumentals too, but show the more introspective side of the show so don’t deserve to be overlooked either.
I love the way in which whoever compiles the track listings for these records doesn’t think “This isn’t in keeping with the rest of the album. Let’s leave it out.” It might seem better to omit something like Carrots Loves you yeah! and Super Dimensional Fortress Nyan-Nyan, those outrageously funny jingles that are cutesy, ridiculous and not at all in line with the rest of the record; I say props to them for including these because they demonstrate the series’ diversity in mood, not to mention being really fun.
While Macross Plus had Voices, Macross Frontier has a standout song that reminds me why Ms Kanno has such a cult fan following: Aimo. There are two versions here in the form of the shorter original and the ‘Bird Human’ version that Ranka sang for the Macross Zero movie. It doesn’t matter which version I’m listening to at the time; it’s guaranteed to send a shiver up my spine and Manly Tears™ to sting my eyeballs. To hell with the controversy surrounding where Kanno gets inspiration for her music; Aimo is so goddamned beautiful I couldn’t care less where it came from. It’s one of those songs that makes the whole universe seem to stand still.
In Summary
I take back pretty much everything negative I said about the Frontier soundtrack before now: it’s right up there alongside the likes of the SAC and, indeed, Macross Plus and ensures that Yoko Kanno still hasn’t had a bad project yet. Using two Jpop vocalists was both challenging and risky from a musical and thematic standpoint, but with only a couple of middling tracks aside the material on offer here is a shining example of its respective genres; it’s also varied enough to have something for almost everyone.
Track listing
The quirky punctuation, capitalisation and naming of the songs in general is always a headache-inducing collision of brackets, cute Engrish and questionable translations for me so this is the best I can do.
- Frontier 2059
- Welcome to my FanClub’s night! (Cheryl on stage)
- What ’bout my star? (Cheryl on stage)
- 射手座☆午後九時 Don’t be late (Sagittarius☆9pm Don’t be late!) (Sheryl On Stage)
- Vital Force
- トライアングラー (Triangler)
- Zero Hour
- What ’bout my star?@Formo
- Innocent Green
- アイモ (Aimo)
- ビッグ・ボーイズ (Big Boys)
- Private Army
- SMS小隊の歌～あの娘はエイリアン (SMS Platoon’s Theme - That Girl is an Alien)
- ニンジーン Loves you yeah! (Carrot loves you yeah!)
- 「超時空飯店 娘々」CMソング(Ranka Version) (Super Dimensional Restaurant Nyan-Nyan Jingle (Ranka Version))
- Alto’s Theme
- TALLY HO!
- The Target
- Bajura
- キラキラ (Glitter)
- アイモ～鳥のひと (Aimo~Bird Humans)
- Take Off
- インフィニティ (Infinity)
- ダイヤモンド クレバス (Diamond Crevasse)
Posted on August 20th, 2008 @ 4:03 am
I’m only 4 episodes into Frontier (which means only 4 episodes into Macross, period, it being my first encounter with the franchise) but I’m already loving every minute of it. While there’s a lot to love, Yoko Kanno’s music is one of the things that drew me to the series to begin with. Her work in Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop, and Darker than Black, to name a few, was a also crucial factor in my initial interest with those series. She’s just an awesome artist.
Posted on August 24th, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
@Philadlj: since you’re a fan of Yoko Kanno’s music I’d recommend Macross Plus if you haven’t seen it already - the DVD edition should include both the four part OAV and the feature film edit of the story. It’s my favourite part of the Macross franchise I’ve seen so far and although it’s Kanno’s first soundtrack it’s one of her best.
Posted on August 25th, 2008 @ 8:52 am
The second OST for Macross F is coming!
The Sojourners last blog post..Macross Frontier: Wounded Lions
Posted on August 27th, 2008 @ 11:31 pm
Whoa, that militaristic remix of “Aimo” is both goddamned beautiful and chilling.
Posted on August 28th, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
@The Sojourner: good news indeed! My next visit to CDJapan is going to be an expensive one methinks…
@philadlj: absolutely! It’s one of those songs that stirs up a lot of conflicting feelings but does it so wonderfully. Chilling indeed though.
Posted on September 2nd, 2008 @ 6:42 am
By the way… I suggest giving Vital Force a listen right after “Break Out ~ Cantabile” on Track 8 of the Macross Plus OST 1. You might… find something familiar.
Posted on September 2nd, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
@Haesslich: well spotted! I’ve been looking for parallels between the OSTs for Plus and Frontier, but you beat me to the pinch.
Vital Force does sound very similar - the same Holst-inspired orchestral sound, but a bit more energetic and brighter than Break Out ~ Cantabile. Both are awesome, obviously. ^_^
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 @ 3:37 am
It’s more the arrangement and the patterns there; she uses a similar bridge in both Break Out and Vital Force for the first two or so minutes, with only the notes being different - she follows the same ascending/descending pattern along with the timing and the double-notes. Someone pointed out that her Macross Plus OSTs have songs which are very similar to her later works in Bebop and GitS:SAC. After giving the Macross Plus OST’s a second listen, you can find the parallels in Frontier as well.
Posted on September 19th, 2008 @ 1:30 am
With regards to Kanno not having a bad project yet, I’d have to disagree. The Darker than Black soundtrack didn’t do anything for me.
Also, one of the pieces on here seem to have taken too much from Hans Zimmer’s work on Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean. That’s probably the aspect that I criticized most heavily in my review of this OST on my own blog site. That, and I’m not really sold on May’n’s vocal talents. Megumi Nakajima (sp?) is a far better singer.
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