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Soundtrack Review

There is no doubt that Clannad will stand out as a strong title for years to come since its stories pack quite the emotional punch as one experiences the ups and downs that the protagonist Tomoya Okazaki goes through as he goes from being a teenager to an adult.  From the happy, light-hearted moments, to the serious struggles with his past, from the joys of falling in love, to the tragedies he must endure when fate deals him that cruel hand, Clannad's scope covers a considerable breadth but the impact is further strengthened through the music, which accompanies those events every step of the way.  With compositions by Key's Jun Maeda, Shinji Orito, and Magome Togoshi and performances by riya and Lia, Clannad's music is completely unforgettable and out of all the Key/Kyoto Animation collaborations, this soundtrack is by far my favorite.

Part of what makes this three-disc soundtrack enjoyable lies in its presentation, which mirrors the series rather closely.  The first disc is primarily made up of character themes and town themes, allowing the listener to become familiar with the characters and the setting, the second disc packs most of the emotional content of the show, including the poignant songs performed by Lia and riya, and the third disc consists of arrangements, full vocal tracks, and other extras.  As one can imagine, the tracks that make this soundtrack worth listening to will be in the first two discs.   The third disc, while it reprises some of the memorable vocal pieces from the first two discs, isn't nearly as essential to the listening experience.

With that in mind, the first disc serves up some memorable character moments.  For example, the very first track, "Ushio," uses a simple piano melody which, while short, depicts the title character in all her innocence.  Though somewhat plain, the piano nevertheless imbues the piece with a calm and soothing aura which works in healing some of the emotional scars that some of the characters will sustain during the course of the show.  Starting the soundtrack off with Ushio might be odd seeing that she isn't introduced until much later, but when the show takes a tragic turn, it helps to recall that melody and take heart that no matter how bad things may become, it will turn out well in the end. 

But of all the character themes, the one that stands out the most is "Nagisa," which depicts a simple-minded character who nevertheless serves as a beacon of warmth.  In listening to the piece, one gets a well-rounded view of Nagisa, from her simplistic nature to her quiet sort of determination to make the most of her final year in high school.  Through the music, we come to empathize with her and understand just how essential she is to turning Tomoya's life around.  Her influence in the show cannot be stated enough and the slow, deliberate pacing that the piece provides helps endear her to the audience, thereby strengthening the emotional bonds between viewer and character.

The notable character themes that remain are a bit sillier, and nowhere is that more evident than in "Hurry, Starfish" which, for those who have seen this show, can probably guess that it refers to Fuko, whose pixie-ish nature can lighten up the scene (even if it's jarring at times).  The entirety of the piece is very upbeat and whimsical, bringing to mind a stubborn, eccentric girl who has the tendency to get into mischief, but the optimistic nature of the piece makes one feel that no matter what setbacks will occur, she'll be undeterred and will compensate by striving harder.  Kotomi's theme, "Études pour les petites supercordes," is also quite fitting since the music sounds awkward and goofy, proceeding in an unwieldy manner to depict someone who means well, but is socially inept.  But as you listen further, it's hard to not smile at her own brand of eccentricity as she goes about trying to make friends with Tomoya and company.

Given the visual novel origins of the anime, the setting is also going to play an important role and nowhere is that more evident than in "Town, Flow of Time, People."  The aspect of the piece that strikes the listener right off the bat is the overall feelings of melancholy and despair that permeate the track.  What this piece does is echo Tomoya's feelings towards the city, which he articulates at the beginning of the show, and this track meets those thoughts by bringing about a grim aura that suffocates one's hopes and dreams.  As such, this track meanders and is without any real sort of purpose, giving the listener an idea as to Tomoya's depressing mindset.

However, as "Nagisa" plays, a feeling of hope wafts through and the tracks that follow are considerably brighter in their outlook.  "Spring Wind" and "Country Lane" both are fairly recognizable as they bring about a calming aura packed with optimism as though to show a moment of carefree-ness that cannot be interrupted.  Though the happiness that both tracks depict is ephemeral (something which can be inferred given that it's a Key work), its slow-paced, easygoing melodies give the listener an opportunity to soak in that brief moment of happiness.

As the anime continues on, the emotional moments rear their heads and that is when the second disc takes over.  The melancholy feelings are heard immediately in "Snowfield," which paints a scene bereft of hope as it seeps the track it the solitary suffering that Tomoya undergoes as a result of the tragedies he's been forced to endure.  Snowfield's emotional turmoil is heightened further in "Roaring Tides II," which goes at a slower, more deliberate tempo compared to "Roaring Tides" so as to drive home the amount of despair that Tomoya experiences through this piece's piano melody. 

But if you are looking for a piece that really turns on the waterworks, then nothing on this soundtrack quite compares to "Nagisa ~ Farewell at the Foot of a Hill" which is a real tear-jerker.  Through the track title, Nagisa's fate becomes fairly obvious, but that doesn't lessen the heartbreak any less as it uses the theme from "Nagisa" to stir the memories of all the wonderful times that both the viewer and characters experience together.  With her passing, this piece emphasizes just how integral she was to Tomoya's life and that was where there was once warmth and happiness, all that's left is an emotional void because we realize that no one can really take her place.

Through the endless slew of melancholy pieces, there are some bright spots scattered here and there.  "To the Same Heights" is exceptionally beautiful as it encapsulates a sense of hope that things will turn out for the best.  "Shining in the Sky" also carries a sense of finality by bringing about an air of happiness that the characters receive in the end after going through so much.  The disc also creates a strong sense of purpose through "Country Train's" tempo and rhythm as it depicts Tomoya's awakening as he goes off to reopen his heart and make up for the time that he lost with Ushio.  Through the train-like rhythm in the background, this piece packs a strong sense of resolve as he puts his heart into making amends.

The pieces that make the biggest impact on the second disc are by far the vocal tracks which, for the most part instill a hopeful aura.  I qualified that remark because "-Two Shadows-" stands apart by ushering in a feeling of nostalgia as riya's delivery is upbeat and optimistic in its fond expression for times long past.  As the song continues, the song becomes more emphatic as though riya seeks to reassure the person to whom she is addressing that she will stay by the person's side through thick and thin.  "Ana" is likewise optimistic, though this song focuses more on the hope of a paradise that changes with the flow of time.  Though the lyrics are sometimes incoherent, Lia's performance is, as always a treat since her singing in this instance is ethereal, which fits in with the lofty sentiments that the song requires. 

Finally there's "Tiny Palm" which is by far the most memorable experience on this album.  I've always felt that this song sums up the experience that this show brings to us.  "Tiny Palm" starts off with Nagisa's theme, but what follows after is an extremely poignant delivery that encapsulates the feeling of hope that this series brings forth while reminding us of how important the family is to a person's core being.  Riya's delivery in this piece, while not quite up to par as Lia's version, is still emotionally powerful as it takes us through the journey with its sad moments, but also all of the uplifting moments that made this series really shine.  Heartfelt, uplifting, and genuine in its emotion, "Tiny Palm" is unforgettable as it truly signals the happy ending that the audience so desires.

As I mentioned above, the final disc contains extraneous tracks and isn't a crucial listen unless one is looking for arrangements of earlier tracks, various-length versions of vocal tracks, or unused tracks from the anime series and the visual novel.  There's nothing inherently wrong with its inclusion since it is nice to see how different takes upon the same piece can yield a different emotion, but this disc is the least useful in understanding the contextual bases that make Clannad such a compelling series.  So treat this disc like you would the extras on a DVD; they're nice to have, but overall, they're not all too important.

Clannad can be best seen as a long journey that goes through the many ups and downs that life bring out, but like the series, the soundtrack never forgets to remind us that though there may be sad moments, the happy ones more than make up for it and with a firm foundation through one's family to help one out, one can recover from tragedies and come out a stronger person.  The pieces from Clannad express these themes beautifully and through the music, in conjunction with the visuals and characters, yield an unforgettable experience.

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