[Anime Reviews]

GitS SAC: 2nd Gig episodes 1-4

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell]
While I admire the Ghost in the Shell films as much as anyone, the Stand Alone Complex was somehow more enjoyable. Put it down to the gorgeous soundtrack, the easily digestible TV-slot length episodes, whatever. Right from the get-go, the Second Gig promises more of the same. Great, huh? I think so...

Section Nine are back in business...more or less. After the events that marked the explosive end to the first season they are under closer supervision but are glad to be back at work at all. A new prime minister is in office: the elegant Yoko Kayabuki (below, middle). Unfortunately she appears to be little more than a puppet, despite her own obvious intelligence and insight - there is a considerably stronger political slant to the second season, but more of that in a moment.

The series kicks off as the first season did; namely a few self-contained episodes and others that link into the main story arc. While the former once bogged down the progress of the story as a whole, the second season wastes no time and we are thrown into the main theme right away. The new case is a worthy replacement for the now-resolved (and excellent) Laughing Man, involving a terrorist organisation known as the Individual Eleven. It starts with a hostage situation but there appear to be other incidents that may be linked, tying in multination corporations and who knows what else. The great thing is, even the supposed 'stand alone' episodes have the potential to feed into the main narrative. As cruel as I feel in calling the first season's stand-alone eps filler, that's what they were. Entertaining, interesting but filler nonetheless.

This could be due to the GitS movies' director Mamoru Oshii sitting in as advisor on the production committee: his input has added to the multi-layered and convincing premise of the narrative, including the aforementioned political aspect. The Japan of the SAC is not without its problems, namely the issue of foreign immigrants and the economic and social repurcussions that ensue. The SAC is now more than a high-tech cop show: it is a political thriller as well. On the downside, it is more dialogue-heavy which may leave action fanatics glazing over and missing the finer points. On the plus side the adorable tachikomas are back so we can expect their military firepower and childlike humour by the truckload.

This is all amounting to a worthy continuation of the story but apparently the writers didn't think a few terrorists were enough for Section Nine so have created another enemy who could be even more dangerous. Before Ep #4 is over we are introduced to Gohda (not to be confused with the Dutch brand of cheese), a very shady and visually distinctive character who works for the Intelligence department. Already he has shown a ruthless and effective knack of going over Section Nine's heads and outwitting even the shrewd Aramaki. Definitely one to keep your eye on.

Production-wise, it can't be faulted - the clumsy old CGI-laden opening sequence (which looked like a poor man's Appleseed) has been dropped in favour of animation more in keeping with the episodes themselves and the song Rise easily matches the glorious rush of Inner Universe. The closer, Inside the Shell, is also an outstanding effort that sounds uplifting and a little plaintive at the same time. Summary All in all the Second Gig is another polished and classy dose of everything we've come to expect from the franchise so far - it already seems to have met my lofty expectations. Now all they have to do is keep it up...I predict more tachikoma action, some more terrorist characters and Gohda causing more problems for Section Nine in upcoming episodes!

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[Music]

GitS SAC OST +

Posted by Martin  [Tags: Ghost in the Shell, Yoko Kanno]
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:

1. Run Rabbit Junk
2. Yakitori
3. Stamina Rose
4. Surf
5. Where Does This Ocean Go?
6. Train Search
7. Siberian Doll House
8. Velveteen
9. Lithium Flower
10. Home Stay
11. Inner Universe
12. Fish ~ Silent Cruise
13. Some Other Time
14. Beauty Is Within Us
15. We're The Great
16. Monochrome
17. Get 9
18. 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.

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