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Soundtrack Review

One recurring problem that I have come across is that there are instances in which the arrangement of the music on the soundtrack album is done poorly.  The music might work within the context of the anime series, but when it is heard on CD, the tracks tend to be short and underdeveloped, leading to a dull listening experience.  Angelic Layer is one such series that could easily have suffered that fate, except Kouhei Tanaka, its composer, knows how to craft each track so as to render the music enjoyable in spite of its duration.  Regardless of whether he is trying to touch on the show's whimsical moments or to depict the intense battles that characterize the titular competition, Tanaka demonstrates an ability to immerse the listener into Angelic Layer's setting.

Angelic Layer originated as a CLAMP manga revolving around a girl's involvement in the titular game where competitors build dolls and send the doll into one on one combat.  Even with this competition as the primary focus, the overall mood of the series proved to be light and uplifting amidst the intense combat scenes, making the mixture of easygoing tracks that depict day to day affairs and dramatic battle tracks perfectly suitable.  By separating this album into two distinct segments, Tanaka is able to fully explore the peaceful, upbeat themes in the first half and depict the ebb and flow of combat through the more intense fare in the second half of this album, allowing the listener to feel as though they were following the battle from start to finish.

With that structure in mind, the soundtrack starts out with a peaceful, calm piece in "Yume no Tamago" which showers its sense of optimism upon the listener.  As the orchestra crescendos, an undercurrent of excitement flows through the piece as though this represents a new era filled to the brim with possibilities.  The slice of life moments then drive the track forwards as tracks like "Obentou Wo Tsukurou" bring about a laid-back atmosphere that depicts the show's whimsical, carefree moments. 

The characters are also explored in the first half of the soundtrack and while "Oujirou's Theme" can be a bit unremarkable and "Tamayo's Theme" a bit overbearing, the character themes are generally strong.  I particularly enjoyed how "Hatoko's Theme" is slow and stately, fitting perfectly a character who, despite being in kindergarten, is quite adept in Angelic Layer and demonstrates a resolve to be taken seriously because of her skill level.  She brings a sense of maturity to the show that belies her age, and the music's purposeful pacing is a good reflection of her steadfast personality.  Still, none of these character themes hit the spot quite like Misaki's.  Once one hears the crescendo make way for the violin melody, one cannot help but feel a bit charmed by the music, which carries an aura of grace and power to depict Misaki's perseverance and her upbeat attitude in spite of the challenges.

The eyecatch marks the second half of the album, which takes us through an actual Angelic Layer match.  "Rival Toujou" sets the stage for the competition by using its orchestral melody to convey the sense of determination that grips all competitors as they try their hardest to win their matches.  After that round of preparation that one hears through "Taikai no Asa," the listener is treated to "Angel Kourin" which carries an aura of grace as though it were depicting the arrival of a divine figure from on high as Misaki launches her Angel onto the battle arena.  The piece closes with a consonant chord to bring that brief moment of calm that allows Misaki's Angel to bask in her glory before the battle begins.

From this point on, the music becomes more intense.  "Shiai Kaishi" takes an ominous turn with its electronica to depict the degree to which the competitors are focused as they struggle to win.  This overbearing mood continues through the other tracks as the intensity of the battle heightens until the urgent mood strikes and the adrenaline really begins to take off.  "Time Up Mazika" is the piece that brings the listener closer to the stirring conclusion of the battle through another Spanish-themed piece that ups the tempo, creating that urgent mood.  The battle then hits a climax and "Moeru Toushi" comes in with its magnificent orchestral melody that brings to mind a beautiful, heart-pounding conclusion to a hard-fought battle.

What Kouhei Tanaka demonstrates through these tracks is a gift for being able to capture both the light-hearted atmosphere of high-school life while being able to shift to the intense Angel battles seamlessly.  Although most of the tracks on this album run for less than two minutes, they manage to engage the listener through their catchy melodies.  Not many anime composers can accomplish this feat which makes albums such as Angelic Layer all the more enjoyable when one realizes that the short track length does not necessarily result in boring, undeveloped pieces so long as a capable composer like Tanaka is at the reins.

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