1. Yakusoku Wa Iranai [TV Edit]
2. Vision of Escaflowne [Take 2]
3. Memory of Fanelia
4. Dance of Curse
5. Zaibach
6. Flying Dragon
7. Cradle Song
8. Tomodachi
9. Bird Cage
10. Chain
11. Epistle
12. Perfect World
13. Blaze [Take 2]
14. Hitomi Theme
15. Angel
16. Neko No Kimochi
17. Arcadia
18. Days the Wind Blows
19. Mystic Eyes [TV Edit]
20. Story of Escaflowne - End Title
Album Description
Full Title - Tenkuno Escafrone - Lovers Only. Japan exclusive anime soundtrack, features 20 tracks. Victor. 2004.
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Vision Of Escaflowne: Lovers Only
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2001-01-05)
- Publisher: Jvc Japan
- Label: Jvc Japan
- Format: Import, Soundtrack
- Studio: Jvc Japan
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 11 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #178102
Avg. Customer Review:
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: You want a masterpiece? The music delivers it - in spades. 2008-03-18
Comment: First, let it be known that I don't usually buy anime soundtracks. With the exception of a few of them (such as the excellent Noir), most anime music composed doesn't click with me. Usually anime tracks seem way over the top - which throws me out of the song. Many are comprised with cheesy J-pop lyrics or it just feels like the music doesn't have emotional impact.
Then came Yoko Kanno and Hajime Mizoguchi with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Wow. This is a must have for any fan of music, whether you like anime or not. This isn't just different, it's in a unique class of its own. The music demands attention and delivers. It's worth every penny. Hats off to everyone involved in this production. It's one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard. (This includes the other 3 Esca soundtracks which I will also review.)
But back to this one: "Tenkuu no Escaflowne - Lovers Only" is my favourite of the 4 soundtracks because most of my favourite songs are found on it. The CD is wonderful. It's enjoyable to listen to and as another reviewer already stated, it's non-intrusive. The music never gets old; it never gets tiring. It really demonstrates what music and what a great soundtrack is. IMO, Yoko Kanno makes the best music of her career here - even beating out GIAS. Unfortunately, I must regretfully add, I am not as familiar with Hajime Mizoguchi, in terms of composing, so I cannot make that assertion. But, I will say that this music will add to his successful career.
The tracks themselves:
"Yakusoku wa Iranai (No Need For Promises)" begins the soundtrack. This is the TV edit. Even though it's short, it's still expertly crafted.
"Escaflowne" follows as a short chant of the title. It's done in a mystic etheral way, drawing the listener in.
"Memory of Fanelia" is a brilliant piece. It's mainly a string version of "Aoi Hitomi" but it's beautiful. It remains one of my favourite classical compositions.
Someone once said, if "Dance of Curse doesn't get your blood going, you must be a bloody zombie." I'm inclined to agree. The chants are back; but the music is pulsing, you can see the battle taking place, and it sure gets your adrenaline running. It's a highlight of the soundtrack.
"Zaibach" has a slow creepy sort of way about it. I must say, that there must have been a Jaws influence in this song. The beat is very reminicient of that musical pattern/theme. It's still a great song on it's own merits.
Track 6 - "Flying Dragon" starts out a tad cheesy; but delves into brilliance. A great piece capturing the glory of flying and enjoying the beauty of nature in the process.
"Cradle Song" - soothing and sweet. Very enjoyable.
However, the next track "Tomodachi (Friend)" is one of two tracks I dislike. Not because it's horrible; but it doesn't seem to match the anime much in terms of style. The chorus is a tad cheesy (not too bad though). I can't help thinking that I'd find it in a karoake bar somewhere. It just seems to detract from the feel of the anime and music in general.
"Bird Cage" - Another great song
"Chain" - One reviewer has said Chain is addictive. It is. The chants begin, then more chants are added layering over each other. With each chant there is proper increase of tension. The build-up is incredible. It's a favourite of mine.
Another one of my favourite songs is "Epistle". The moment I heard this song, I loved it. The instrumentals are perfect with the choir, creating a picture of the battle taking place, the incredible destruction, and sadness of war. Brilliantly crafted.
"Perfect World" - J-pop with an odd twist. Ironically, the singer reminds me of Depeche in terms of singing style here. (Note: I am NOT referring to vocal ability or sound, just style.) It's a slow song but nice all the same.
"Blaze (take 2)" shows the destruction brilliantly through it's music, where "Hitomi Theme" and "Angel" are both softer and highlight the beauty of nature, events taking place, or the character herself (ie. Hitomi)
I should hate "Neko no Kimochi"; but it's just so adorable. I can't help but smile listening to it.
"Arcadia" is a beautiful song. The instrumentals begin the piece, setting off a beautiful operatic ballad about midway through. The song is wonderful and I'm not even a fan of opera!
"Kaze ga Fuku Nichi (The Day the Wind Blows)" is some of the best J-pop on the CD. It's not too cheesy, it's a sweet longer song.
"Mystic Eyes" is the only other track I dislike. But, unlike "Tomodachi," I dislike the song. It clashes very very badly with the music in the series. Skip this track. Luckily the rest of the CD will have already swept you away.
"The Story of Escaflowne - End Title" is another main reason I bought this CD. I love the ending theme. It's one of the best pieces of music on here and it's not found on any other CD. A major favourite of mine.
So, that's the rundown of the tracks. Wonderful compositions. It's a great soundtrack (aside from two songs). The good outshadows the two weak songs, and delves into masterpiece. I would recommend this to anyone who loves music.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best of Escaflowne 2006-04-27
Comment: If I had to buy one CD to define the series of Escaflowne, this would be it. The music for Escaflowne is a rare wonder, and for twenty-six episodes, it defies the average anime soundtrack. It is superior to even most movie soundtracks. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! Even if you don't like the series (or how it ended XD) you have to admit that the music is beautiful. Superb.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not the best of Escaflowne 2005-07-22
Comment: First of all I would like to say that Escaflowne features what I believe is the greatest soundtrack ever (TV or Film). The epic sci-fi fantasy soundtrack features sweeping orchestra work the likes of which many will doubtless be familiar from their experience with films like Star Wars. In my opinion the music from Escaflowne manages to one-up said soundtracks, becoming a masterpiece of musical arrangement that not only transcends anime, but TV and sci-fi fantasy as well. My favorite piece of music is Revenge from the third Escaflowne soundtrack.
If like most people who watched Escaflowne, you loved the music, doubtless you want to buy at least one of the soundtracks so that you can experience the music in all of its glory. You may however, be wondering where to start. This soundtrack features music the three other soundtracks, as well as music which is not featured on any of the others.
The first piece of music is an alternate and slightly longer than television size version of the opening song from the show No Need to Promise. It's nice and interesting, but no match for the full version featured on the first soundtrack.
The second track is an alternate version of Vision of Escaflowne, which I believe is played on the final episode of the series. The third track Memory of Fanelia is the string instrument version of Fanelia from the second soundtrack, and is only featured in this cd. This music is played in the episode where Van returns to the destroyed Fanelia to meet with his brother, and is a simply exquisite piece of music that led to many an evening of me whistling that tune as I worked.
The fourth track Dance of Curse is played at the beginning and end of the series during the most dramatic moments and largely recalls Duel of the Fates from the new Star Wars trilogy, except of course that I happen to like it better. This track is also featured in soundtrack one. The fifth track Zaibach is a piece that grows on you. It is the perfect piece of music for a scene of total destruction and shocking brutality, as it is used in the series for the invasion of Fanelia and subsequent attacks by lord Dilandau. This track is also only found on this soundtrack.
Track six, Flying Dragon, is the music played when Escaflowne transforms into a dragon and flies through the air. It is highly reminiscent of E.T., but it's still an awesome piece of music. Track seven, Cradle Song, is also featured on the second soundtrack and is a beautiful sad piece played during flashbacks throughout the series. Track eight is a vocal song played when Hitomi starts to think about the life she left back on earth.
Track nine, Bird Cage, is of the most dramatic and searing of the pieces to be found in the show, and plays when (if I'm not mistaken) Hitomi, Van, and Allen are captured by Zaibach and kept in a giant bird cage. Track ten is one of the best pieces in the entire series. Chain is the fantastic piece of music that plays in the episode where Faulkin uses the Fate Alteration Engine to make Hitomi and Allen fall in love instead of Van and Hitomi. It is a huge part of that episode, and one greatest just-plain-cool pieces of music I have ever heard. Why this piece of music is only featured on this soundtrack I will never know.
Track eleven Epistle is played when the luck soldiers attack and during various other attacks through the series. It starts out good and just gets better. It is also featured on the third soundtrack. Track twelve is a forgettable piece of J-Pop called Perfect World. Track thirteen Blaze is splendid piece of mood music, but not as good as some of the other music featured on the soundtrack (also found on the third soundtrack). Track fourteen Hitomi Theme is definitely one of the best pieces on this soundtrack (also found on soundtrack two) and plays during some of the moments when Hitomi is dreaming about what her life used to be like back home on earth. Simply beautiful.
Track fifteen Angel (soundtrack one also) is not only one of the best pieces on this soundtrack, but of the best in the entire series. It plays during important flashbacks, ceremonies, ect., and is the kind of music you wouldn't be embarrassed to have play at your wedding. In fact this piece of music is so beautiful you may find yourself listening to it over and over again (on a side note this piece of music always makes me think of the happiest moments of my life). Track sixteen is a little lullaby type song in super-cute Japaneses. Throwaway track.
Track seventeen Arcadia is a piece of music so sad, and so heartbreaking (it plays mostly when death is remembered, or you are finding out just how terrible a past and future Faulkin is having to live under) that it made me buy the soundtrack just for itself. This piece of music is absolutely awesome in the beginning, and then goes into an opera piece (which is not bad, but not as good as the beginning). They are almost two pieces though so I don't count that as a disadvantage. This piece is also featured in soundtrack three.
Track eighteen is probably the best piece of pop music in the entire series (well, except for the opening song). This song is played when Hitomi gets back to earth and relives the entire day over again, realizing how flawed her perspective was and how childish she had been acting. A really great song sung in Japanese. Very good. Track nineteen, Mystic Eyes, is one of those pieces that you will either love or hate. Personally I think it clashes terribly with the rest of the music in the show. For those who care it is the TV Edit, not the full version.
Track twenty The Story of Escaflowne, is a very good reason to buy this cd. The final piece of music in the entire series, played only at the very end of the final episode, is one of the greatest ending themes you will ever hear. Absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful. If you loved this music from the TV show then you have to buy this cd, because it is the only place you will find it.
There is a tremendous amount of variety in the music in Escaflowne, but the show is best when it uses the rousing orchestral themes. The best pieces of music in the entire series are probably Chain, The Story of Escaflowne, Dance of Curse, Gloria, Wings, and Revenge. Gloria is the piece played at the royal wedding, and also when Van comes home to Fanelia after slaying a dragon in the second episode. Wings is an absolutely FANTASTIC combination of Flying Dragon, Angel, and other music. It is played when Van is rescued from the flying fortress, and features a grander, bigger, better rendition of Angel at the very end that is so beautiful it's hard to describe. Revenge is THE theme of the show (if you ask me). Played at the very end of the show when everything comes to a showdown, it starts out like an action scene from Star Wars, then swiftly transitions into a sorrowful march rendition of the Escaflowne theme, and then picks up momentum until it climaxes like the end of the Firebird Suite (good old Stravinsky).
If you want the best soundtrack to start off on the music from this series, get the first soundtrack which features Dance of Curse, Flying Dragon, Escaflowne (awesome), Angel, Ne Zu Mi (Merle's theme {another awesome!}, Wings (so awesome is defies description!), and Gloria (repeat last parenthetical statement). If you want the single best piece of music get the third soundtrack (REVENGE!!!!!). It's more of a mixed bag but has a couple of truly awesome pieces. Get the second track last because it has the least amount of really great music. Get the Lovers Only soundtrack if you want a specific piece not found on the other soundtracks or want to have everything.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: If you are only going to buy one Escaflowne CD 2005-06-17
Comment: A lovely overview of some of the best music from this lovely anime. The hidden gem on this CD is Kaze ga Fuku Hi (The Days the Wind Blows). This song dosn't stand out while you are watching, but like many of Yoko's songs it is better as a complete number. That song alone is easaly worth what I paid for the CD and the rest of the music is worth having too.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful OST 2004-04-11
Comment: When I was first introduced to the series "Tenkuu no Escaflowne" (Vision of Escaflowne) several years ago, one of the things that immediately drew me in was the incredible music. I tire of soundtracks very quickly, normally - but it's been about 4 years now, and I can still put my Lovers Only CD on repeat for hours. It's wonderful background music for creative activities such as writing, drawing, painting, or just relaxing.Unlike a great deal of soundtrack music, the Escaflowne songs and instrumentals are, for the most part, very non-intrusive. They mesh well with a variety of moods and provide everything from upbeat, catchy stuff to sorrowful and soulful pieces that will really move you. You don't need to be a fan of the series to enjoy the music, either. This particular OST is my favorite of the five Escaflowne OSTs that I own; it takes many of the best pieces from the series and puts them all on one CD. It also includes one of the most beautiful and addictive musical pieces from Escaflowne, the ominous "Chain" - which is absent from other Esca OSTs. (This is the background piece heard playing during the scene where Folken and Eriya alter Fate, among other scenes.)
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Vision Of Escaflowne: Lovers Only
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