UlasanAnime.com – Listening to the new El Cazador soundtrack reminds me of Yuki Kajiura’s ability to surprise. However, after hearing her work so many times, I find myself less captivated by her stylistic shifts and more interested in her execution. Curiously, she has only managed to impress me once since Aquarian Age TV, specifically in Mai-Hime. I still don’t fully grasp why her contributions to .Hack or Xenosaga elicit such strong reactions, whether positive or negative.
In contrast, listening to Naoki Satou’s music is akin to a ten-year-old’s first encounter with John Williams. This feeling has persisted with every piece I’ve heard from him. While his compositions might not be groundbreakingly original, ever since I first experienced his work through the soundtracks of X TV, the music has possessed a power that, much like Kajiura’s earlier efforts, drives the imagery independently. In such cases, the anime or animation itself becomes secondary to the narrative conveyed by the music.
However, unlike the often criticized “lol still pan + YAMANI” approach favored by many Kajiura fans, directors have approached Naoki Satou’s music differently. X, for instance, presented a more conventional narrative of intertwined destinies within a forest of revenge, reminiscent of Noir. The musical presentation similarly reflected this tone. Eureka 7, however, offered a distinct approach.
It was during Eureka 7 that I began to scrutinize his work more closely. While at times it was extraordinary, it ultimately left a subtle impression. This might be attributed to the soundtrack’s eclectic nature or perhaps because the direction aimed to tell a story centered on characters rather than presenting a visual slideshow enhanced by a pleasant soundtrack. The soundtrack albums themselves were undeniably grand, yet they lacked that distinctive, legendary radiance.
This experience is paralleled in The Heroic Age. The two soundtracks released for the show have provided a clearer understanding of my perceptions. Regarding the music within the show, unlike E7, Heroic Age predominantly featured the typical “lol grand space epic” theme. Several main themes and recurring pieces from the soundtrack were prominently featured in the anime. While some music stood out, it wasn’t particularly memorable. Yet, listening to the soundtrack albums separately revealed a different, yet similar, and significantly more engaging epic narrative. The music on the album, unlike in E7, maintained a cohesive flow and was a genuine delight to experience.
In fact, it’s somewhat disheartening that so much of the exceptional material from the second OST is overshadowed by the anime’s less compelling aspects. I find myself wishing that a series featuring slow-paced space battles and complex racial politics could have incorporated moments of stillness and introduced new musical pieces. The key, I believe, lies in the arrangement.
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The Heroic Age also includes fast-paced space battles, which might be consuming all the available sonic space. Perhaps Naoki Satou would be better suited to compose for a series akin to Simoun. That would undoubtedly be legendary.
