Arjuna: into the another world

 (11 customer reviews)

I wasn't impressed with Arjuna's soundtrack at my first listening... (Mind you that I haven't seen a single episode of Arjuna)... I thought the sounds were too weird compared to Escaflowne or Cowboy Bebop (which I truly love)... But to appreciate Yoko Kanno is to know the theme she's aiming for in the anime... So I listened to this CD once more with open ears (which is usually the case with Yoko Kanno... She creates BGM music most of the time, so usually I find that it takes about a second or third hearing of the OST to really appreciate it)...

1. Early Bird - Calm and peaceful piece sung by a girl (or a boy; can't tell)... It sounds like an out-of-this-world language--typical Yoko Kanno...

2. Awakening - I like the chanting here... Very ominous and feels like a dungeon music...

3. Clóe - My favourite peice in this soundtrack along with Mameshiba (track 18)... This song is just amazing... A must hear!... It's fascinating how Yoko Kanno was able...Read more

I've never seen the show, but there's no way it could be worthy of this amazing score, which stands alone as a triumph of composition, musicianship and production. Possibly Kanno's best. I've been a fan of her's for a few years now, but I hadn't heard of this one until i found it cheap on Amazon. Across this album, she's got psychadelic guitar rock blending seamlessly with Akira-esque percussion pieces, lush orchestral themes, choral interludes, flamenco flourishes, eastern european folk styles, and some of the lushest j-pop imaginable - sometimes in the same song (though none of Kanno's typical electronic dance, jazz, or blues music is present). Far from being the scattered stylistic tour de force you'd expect (which would be fine with me), it somehow hangs together as a coherent listening experience all the way through. Themes re-emerge with radically different instrumentation and every few moments brings a new surprise. A perfect balance of aggression and tenderness, (boldness and...Read more

I can't emphasize enough how much I love this disc. The music is beautiful, moving, inspiring, and always creative. Yoko Kanno is a genius. This soundtrack is a testament to her artistic range and to her dedicated striving for perfection. She recruits top talent to help her realize her vision. The first time I heard Maaya Sakamoto singing "Mameshiba", I knew I had to know more about the voice, the composer, the arranger, the musicians. I've been watching episodes of the Arjuna anime lately, and I find that the music enhances the experience to produce moments of ecstasy. This disc also happens to be one of the easiest of Yoko Kanno's to find at an affordable price, so buy it before that is no longer the case.