Macross Plus OST 1
One of the most memorable aspects of Macross Plus is the music: a heady mixture of the orchestral, electronic and ambient. This is the first in what I hope will be a series of editorials drawing attention to the songwriter who created it: Yoko Kanno.
Although her scores for Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell: Stand-alone Complex are the most well-known Macross Plus has always had a special place in my appreciation of anime soundtracks since it was the first work of hers that I’d heard. Coincidentally, it was the first anime soundtrack she’d written - quite an amazing fact when you’ve given it a listen.
The first CD is quite a surprise in another sense: more than half of it is orchestral, no doubt inspired by European classical: the National Anthem of Macross has a ‘military band’ feel with the brass section and Fly Up in the Air: Tension could have been picked straight out of Holst’s The Planets. Somehow this traditional approach to a music score works well as a companion to a science fiction story but can stand as an outstanding record on its own. There isn’t much from the Sharon Apple set list though, which I’m assuming can be found in the second CD (which is fortunately easier to find).
The most outstanding tracks for me are the episode end theme After in the Dark and the stunning vocal piece Voices; the latter adding words to the soaring melody of Myung Theme. Already this compilation shows the trademarks of Kanno’s sound: eclectic yet easily recognisable with a wide variety of instrumentation and frequent use of heart-rending vocal harmonies (Torch Song and the haunting closing track Santi-U for instance).
In Summary
This particular CD is out of print and hard to find unless you import (CDJapan.co.jp is your friend) - a shame since, as well as being Kanno’s first foray into anime soundtracks, it’s also one of her best. I strongly recommend you track it down: the effort involved will be amply rewarded.
Tracklisting
- National Anthem of Macross
- Fly Up in the Air: Tension
- After In the Dark: Torch Song
- Myung Theme
- Bees and Honey
- In Captivity
- More Than 3cm
- Voices
- Break Out: Cantabile
- Very Little Wishes
- Santi-U
Leave a Reply