Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Sat, 13 Feb 1999 22:35:43 -0500
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express Macintosh Edition - 4.5 (0410) Message-ID: <199902140336.WAA26662@hil-img-12.compuserve.com> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 22:35:43 -0500 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Ouka Kenran Soundtrack
How many of you on the list have obtained the "Sakura Taisen Ouka Kenran"
OAV soundtrack album? (MJCA-00030)
If you haven't, you're in for a real treat.
I've seen all the OAVs some months back, but only now was able to acquire
the soundtrack CD to the OAVs. The music for the OAVs is all original music
done specifically for the series by Kouhei Tanaka with song lyrics by Ouji
Hiroi, and while it's certainly impressive during the episodes, it's even
grander and of higher quality on CD.
There are 53 tracks on the CD, which has the BGM music grouped by the four
OAVs it appears in. Some of the five vocal songs are "spread out" a bit, but
they're all there.
The tracks are too numerous to break down individually, but BGM-wise the
album is very much worth getting just to hear some of the arrangements that
previously were only available as "game music" now performed with full
orchestra (notably "Ganbare! Teikoku Kagekidan", the rousing BGM theme heard
during most battles in the first game). All the BGM is beautifully recorded,
widely variant in style, and the CD is of exceptional quality with good
illustrations and lyrics, as one would expect, and it's great listening.
Songs?
Well, the first song is obviously "Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan" in the same OP
arrangement and performance we know and love. Nothing new here.
"Sakura" is also reprised in the grouping for Episode 2, and this also
remains the same version from the Vocal Collection.
But yes, there are new songs...
First one is "Konpan Hula Hula" (Ship's Deck Hula Hula), a very amusing and
lovely song done in a standard Hawaiian style and sung by Akio Suyama (who
reprises his role as Oogami in the series). The song usually is played
beneath the brief scenes of Oogami as a young midshipman during episodes
1-3, but not in its entirety. I actually must say I've never heard Suyama
sing so well as in this song, and it's great! A very dreamy, idealistic song
that fits the young Oogami to a "T".
Second song is a surprise hit for Sakura lovers... "Omatsuri Dance"
(Festival Dance), a very catchy, quick, South American-beat "Carnival"-type
song that is extremely playful and fun to hear Chisa Yokoyama sing. Shows
once and for all that the "mambo" type songs aren't exclusively
Sumire/Tomizawa's property <g>. A happy song and very addictive.
The final new song- and THIS is an absolutely wonderful song- is the ED
theme for the first three chapters, "Watashi no Aozora" (My Blue Sky), sung
by Ai Orikasa as Ayame Fujieda. It's a great '40's style ballad with a
lilting big-band sound reminiscent of Glenn Miller. Orikasa's at her best
here and it's truly great.
Overall, a great album and well worth seeking out and obtaining, even if you
haven't seen the OAVs yet.
--Richard