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So a while ago someone made me a gift of the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, by a Japanese band called Seatbelts which is masterminded by Yoko Kanno. It was very jazzy, and it really grew on me. I found out, after some research, that the band had actually released five soundtrack albums to the series. I thought that it was very likely just some leftover crap left over from the original soundtrack sessions. But I was so enchanted with the first album that I got another one, just to check it out. Wonderful. Better than the first. One by one I picked up all five albums, and they only seemed to improve. The band performed everything from jazz to techno to metal to J-Pop to choral/orchestral to rock to... things I can't even categorize. With the exception of a few vocal jazz ballads, which didn't suit me, they played every genre like it was their specialty. All five albums were front-to-back masterpieces.
So I was tooling around on Amazon a couple weeks ago, and I noticed that Yoko, without the band, had done soundtracks to a couple other Japanese projects: Wolf's Rain and Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I'd seen Cowboy Bebop before I bought the albums, so I knew a bit about what to expect, but I'd never run across either of these shows. I wasn't sure if the music would be any good, if it would be more of the same, or if it would be the garbage that many artists spew after their initial burst of creativity. But I had to find out, so I ordered them. They arrived today.
I'm not prepared to say that they're better than Cowboy Bebop. There's very little that I'd say that about. But I am prepared to say that they're very, very good. Not only are they excellent returns to form, they don't sound anything like anything I've previously heard from her. If I hadn't seen the CD cases myself, I don't know if I'd believe that they were made by the same person. She's a genius and a chameleon, and is rapidly becoming one of my favorite living artists worldwide.
Anyone else here into Yoko? Or am I the only one?
Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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Speed-I, too, am a Cowboy Bebop fan. However, I was unaware until recently, that soundtracks to series were a big thing. I think I would be interested in hearing some of the music from Yoko Kanno after watching Cowboy Bebop and knowing how much I liked the music on the show. Perhaps I should invest in some.
On a side-note, Wolf's Rain was one of the most depressing animes I've ever seen.
Posts: 701 | Registered: Jul 1999
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I have been into Yoko Kanno since I saw Macross Plus back in '96 She is a GENIUS. Any sort of music that exists, she can play it. Her music ranges from the sweet to the way out there. She is just brilliant. If I could, I'd marry her and have her babies. That's how cool she is! You haven't lived till you've heard the organic machinery of the Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex mix. Pieces like Omega Blue from Arjuna will make you melt. And Fate Folly Fall, a song left out of a video game soundtrack... Gorgeous JUST GORGEOUS!
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I've never heard of her before today, so I'll have to check her stuff out. Given your hugely glowing recommendations, I don't mind doing that. Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Yoko Kanno is a very good musician. If i may suggest you, listen The oricinal music tracks of Escaflown where she play piano (and write some part) under the master hand of hajime mizoguchi. For me, there are the best Japanese Movie original music tracks.
So, she has flown alone since Escaflown and Macross Plus, and has realised musics of Earth Girl Arjuna, CowBoy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Wolf's Rain (Very good serie !)...
I forget Memories by Otomo Katsuhiro (The father of "Akira"), three genius short cut against war. She was one of the three musicians who realise the music.
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