Arjuna, Earth Maiden Soundtrack

By Tiffani Nadeau     June 09, 2004
Release Date: May 11, 2004



What They Say
Recognized as one of the most gifted and innovative anime composers, Yoko Kanno can now add the eclectic and adventurous 'Arjuna Original Soundtrack' to her list of masterworks that includes 'Macross Plus,' 'Escaflowne,' 'Wolf's Rain,' Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' and 'Cowboy Bebop!' For this soundtrack Yoko Kanno teams up with Maaya Sakamoto (Escaflowne, Rahxephon, Cardcaptor Sakura), Tsuneo Imahori (composer of 'Gungrave' and 'Trigun') and Keishi Urata (Texhnolyze, Akira) to deliver a sumptous, elegantly ethnic-sounding aural regale, with tribal and celtic pieces sprinkled in. Featuring eight emotionally-stirring instrumentals and 13 must-hear vocal tracks, including the opening theme 'Early Bird' and ending theme songs 'Motorbike,' 'Mameshiba' and "Air & Stars.'

The Review!
2 out of 5
Music found in Arjuna.

This CD comes with a ten-page insert. The first page is the title of the CD. Following that is the second page which has the song title list. Next are two pages of scene pictures from Arjuna. The next page is a sunset scene from the show. Followed by a page of two song lyrics in both English and Japanese). Following this is two more pages of scene pictures. The next page is lyrics for a third vocal song in both English and Japanese. And finally the last page is credits for the Anime as well as the CD.

Maaya Sakamoto lends her vocal talents to this CD, and unfortunately doesn't live up to the great music she is normally known for. The vocals in this one are nowhere near the great vocals that Maaya graced El Hazard, or Wolf's Rain with. This one is very disappointing, with no feeling in the music whatsoever. I expected more from a great vocalist such as Ms. Sakamoto.

The instrumentals are an even bigger disappointment than the vocals. The only word I can think of to describe the music that floated out through the speakers is boring. It isn't anywhere near what we are used to hearing from Yoko Kanno. Kanno, whom you may remember from her work in Lodoss and the Escaflowne movie, has not lived up to the expectations of this particular listener. The music is not moving at all. It was a trial to get from one song to the next, and I for one am glad that the CD is over. There was no emotion behind any of the tracks and it seemed like I was sitting there listening to white noise, which was the effect that the music had on my emotional state.

I'd have to say not even close to a good one.

Features
Early Bird2:09Vocal (Japanese) ,Awakening7:58Chanting (Japanese),Cloe3:20Vocal (Japanese),Time To Die2:51Instrumental,2nd Life3:05Instrumental,Diving2:36Chanting (Japanese),The Clone2:06Chanting (Japanese),Feel the Circle1:36Instrumental,Aerobics3:26Instrumental ,Omega Blue2:48Instrumental,A Drop of Time0:53Instrumental ,Resonance of the Earth1:56Chanting (Japanese),Prophet4:10Instrumental ,Before Breakfast1:15Instrumental,Bells for Her2:04Instrumental,Motor Bike5:12Vocal (Japanese),Diamond1:25Instrumental,Mameshiba6:11Vocal (Japanese),Air & Stars1:09Vocal (Japanese),Aqua10:41Vocal (Japanese)

Review Equipment
Total CD Length: 66:51