Revolutionary Girl Utena Original Soundtrack 2 (of 1)

By: Lauren Goodnight
Date: Saturday, May 28, 2005
Release Date: Tuesday, February 01, 2005



What They Say
Anime fans, rose brides and Ohtori Academy members all agree: "Utena Original Soundtrack 2 - Virtual Star Embryology" is a must-have companion CD with an unconventional, but unique blend of eerie, mischievous, whimsical, moody and emotionally-charged duelling chorus music produced by Shinkichi Mitsumune (Fooly Cooly) and J.A. Seazer for the "Revolutionary Girl Utena" TV series. This 28-track CD swings out with 10 vocal tracks, including the second ending theme, "Virtual Star Embryology" and the TV-size versions of the first opening song, "A Round Dance- revolution," the ending theme, "truth," as well as 18 instrumentals that retain the clever, eclectic characteristics of the first soundtrack. Rounding out the track list is a karaoke version of the ending song "Virtual Star Embryology."

The Review!
(this review covers both OST 1 and OST 2)

The Utena music is a paradox. On one hand, the symphonic suite and pop music are lovely. On the other hand, the choral work is jarring and chaotic. In the context of the television series and the films, this works well to delineate the school world and the duel world, but in a listening experience, it fails to impress. Disc 1, one of the most bootlegged titles ever, is lovingly preserved and translated with vibrant colors and deep rich tonal quality. Disc 2, more difficult to find even in Japan, is kept to the same audio standards as well as visual presentation standards. These discs do not suffer poor attention to production detail. The two discs are also very similar in their content. The music from the first and second sections of the series does not differ much, and neither do the soundtracks. There is a third soundtrack in Japan, and I do not know if it will make its way here, but it as well sounds very similar (the Japanese packaging was lovely). Either way, my verdict stands: These discs are for the hardcore Utena fan. The series' relevant music can all be found on Disc 1, or, if you would rather have a fuller orchestration, on the Utena movie soundtrack. The second disc has a number of incidental pieces as well as new duel music, but nothing that sticks to the psyche like Disc 1. Brightened Garden is a defining piece on that disc; Keita Egusa's piano work is lovely. Disc 2 is characterized by strange, out-of-place tracks like 'Dona Dona' and yet another version of 'Revelation of Absolute Destiny'. I'm divided about these releases, as they evoke strong images from the anime but would not be very strong alone.


Where I took it, and where it took me: I've had this music, in one form or another, for years, and the most true thing I can say is that, no matter where I was, this disc brought me back to Ohtori Academy.
Standout track: Disc 1: Revolutionary Girl Overture -- Disc 2: Eternal Secret
Skip-it track: Disc 1: Revelation of Absolute Destiny ~ industrial mix ~ -- Disc 2: Knife of Nectar

Features
Virtual Star Embryology,Inhuman Illusory Soul Fusion Magic,Utopian Past Tense Incantation ,The Earth as a Character Gallery,Conic Absolute Egg Alshibra,Transparent Period of Maturity Age,Magic Lantern Butterfly Moth 16th Century,A Round Dance – revolution (TV size),Death of Aphrodite • Reminiscence,Momentarily Distillation ,After School Girls,The Panorama is in Full Bloom,Requiem,Dona Dona,Premonition in the Eyes,Dreaming Cells,To the War Zone down by the Castle,Comforting Nostalgia,Nemuro Memorial Hall,Eternal Secret,Confession Elevator Room ~ Imaginary Bad Bug,The Knife of Nectar,An Extra Girl (Ape),The Dance of Death,The Revelation of Absolute Destiny with Universal Gravitation,Fruit of Sin,truth (TV size),Virtual Star Embryology (karaoke)

Review Equipment