OK, after a little prodding from Charles, I decided
to review this CD (just to take the load of him a bit). Anyway, I bought this CD way
back when Esca was still a sleeper. I got it after seeing the opening video on an
OP/ED clip collection VCD. I just heard Maaya Sakamoto’s wonderful voice and I was
hooked. Now, on to the actual review.
The music was composed by the team of Yoko Kanno and
Hajime Mizoguchi. The former, known for her earlier work on Macross Plus, and the
latter, for his work on the haunting themes of Please Save My Earth.
The full version of Yakusoku Wa Iranai, the
opening theme song, opens the CD. I’m pretty sure most of you have heard of it (if
not shame on you :P) so I won’t go into that anymore.
Flying Dragon introduces us to the fantasy
world of Gaea with the sound of soaring trumpets and violins.
Dance of Curse is the famous Escaflowne
chant during the battle sequences, which is appropriately upbeat and mysterious.
Murder is like a reprise of the former song, an appropriate sequel.
Escaflowne is the song the haunting chant
you hear when Escaflowne is shown as inanimate. Related to the 2 songs before it but
it sets to slow down the pace to transition over to the next song.
Angel is a slow song with soothing flute
sounds. It gives a feeling that something magical is about to happen. The pace
quickens once more in Cubic, as if anticipating for battle.
Romance, as you can guess from the title,
is a slow song and invokes feelings of romance. An excellent piece. Ne Zu Mi
also gives off a feeling of magic, but as if mischief is intended.
Wings starts off with a pace as if racing
through the sky, it then turns into a slower beat, as if gliding relaxed now.
Gloria sounds like a tribute to something
divine. Eyes is another theme of love, but with a slightly tragic tone to it.
Pocket O Kara Ni Shite is another Maaya song
that was included as an image track. It means ‘empty the pocket’ which Hitomi does
when she takes out her pager, expecting a message from Amano. A change from the
otherworldliness of the other songs, this one has a more modern, upbeat tone to it.
White Dove starts with the BGM to Hitomi’s
divination, then moves to a faster pace to begin the vocal song by ACELEIUX. It kinda
reminds me of that goo goo dolls song in City of Angels.
Mystic Eyes is the ending theme song.
Horoki Wada renders it quite well. It’s upbeat tempo serves as a foil for the slower
paced opening song. They also give you the full version of the song here.
Deja Blue is the final track, closing the
CD with a musicbox rehash of the opening theme.
Personally, with the exception of the Lover’s Only
CD, I think this is the best Escaflowne OST. The CD was made back when the times were
more carefree and the plot was not yet filled with intrigue. The BGMs last longer
than in most other OSTs so you know that these weren’t meant to just fill an empty
scene. Highly Recommended.
-Charp
