10 Nov 2005
Hanenone: Haibane Renmei Official Soundtrack
Even by anime standards Haibane Renmei is a very unusual series. The timeless, serene setting of the story required an equally unusual accompanying soundtrack, and songwriter Kow Otani was chosen for the score’s composition. The album Hanenone is a compilation of the songs especially written for the show, and demonstrates the eclectic range of musical styles that were used while providing an atmospheric and relaxing listening experience.
Although their previous album Exciter had great soothing atmospherics and some of their most tender and sensitive ballads to date, it never really lived up to its title and looked rather weak compared with their earlier work. Four years later, Playing the Angel shows a Depeche Mode who are decidedly back on form.
Mercury Rev are one of those bands who cannot be pigeonholed or subjected to the usual description of “They sound a bit like (insert band name here) crossed with (another band name).” Their big break came with Deserter’s Songs, a quirky, experimental and utterly unique record whose folk-tinged melodies and haunting ambience made the music scene sit up and take notice and shower them with praise. It was always going to be a tough job for the band to write a follow-up but All is Dream is an equally brave and unique experience with an even greater sense of ambition and the desire to experiment.
For a series as quirky, offbeat and original as FLCL, it is fitting that the soundtrack should be every bit as, well, quirky, offbeat and original. This, the first OST in a series of three, is a compilation of incidental music for the series by Shinkichi Mitsumune and various songs by Jrock band The Pillows that were selected specially for the show.
Some believe that grunge died along with Kurt Cobain. Others think it died when Soundgarden disbanded. Personally I never liked the ‘grunge’ label that was pinned to so many bands in the 90s but Soundgarden helped define the ‘Seattle sound’, and Superunknown is probably the finest example of what this band gave to the music world.
After Zwan decided to call it a day after only one album, it was a foregone conclusion that Billy Corgan would continue to write and record songs regardless, and this, his first proper solo effort, is the result. It has to be said that his distinctly nasal vocals and sometimes cryptic approach to lyrics are an acquired taste, but here is proof that it is a taste worth acquiring.
Considering the fact that they are huge in their native Japan with more than nine albums in their back catalogue and have a deranged, upbeat sound that quite frankly has to be heard to believed, the Mad Capsule Markets have so far not managed to break into the UK music industry. So what exactly does their latest LP sound like? Good question. Imagine the electronic bleeps and squeals of recent Primal Scream, Prodigy dance beats and the unashamedly joyous riot of the likes of Less Than Jake backed up by a solid wall of distorted guitars and samples and you’re halfway there. In short, the Mad Capsule Markets combine punk, metal, funk and electronica in an utterly unique way.
Before the Dandy Warhols received mainstream popularity with one of their singles from Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia being used in a UK television ad campaign, they had two albums under their belt and were in ‘almost popular’ territory. A result of record company pressure to produce a follow-up to their debut The Dandy Warhols Rule OK, The Dandy Warhols Come Down has a more atmospheric and experimental sound than the more recent material. Recorded at a frantic pace following a false start (the recordings for the ‘Black Album’ being very hard to find), it combines ambient harmonies, radio-friendly hooks and sharp, quirky lyrics.
With Trent Reznor’s reputation and only live and remix albums filling the gap since NIN’s last album, the expectations that the new record has to meet are inevitably very high. So, has the wait for Halo 19 been worth it?
When you hear the name ‘Depeche Mode’, it sometimes gives mental images of blokes with mullets, shoulder padded blazers, those bizarre hexagonal electronic drum kits all manner of 80s symbols that we’d rather forget. Well, it used to do that with me, anyway. However, when I started listening to their stuff, I realised that this band had moved way from the cheesy electronic sounds and gone for a more dark, atmospheric vibe, while still keeping catchy, foot-tapping melodies. Violator was written some time after this change occured.
