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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best of Escaflowne, July 22, 2005
First of all I would like to say that Escaflowne features what I believe is the greatest soundtrack ever (TV or Film). The epic sci-fi fantasy soundtrack features sweeping orchestra work the likes of which many will doubtless be familiar from their experience with films like Star Wars. In my opinion the music from Escaflowne manages to one-up said soundtracks, becoming a masterpiece of musical arrangement that not only transcends anime, but TV and sci-fi fantasy as well. My favorite piece of music is Revenge from the third Escaflowne soundtrack.
If like most people who watched Escaflowne, you loved the music, doubtless you want to buy at least one of the soundtracks so that you can experience the music in all of its glory. You may however, be wondering where to start. This soundtrack features music the three other soundtracks, as well as music which is not featured on any of the others.
The first piece of music is an alternate and slightly longer than television size version of the opening song from the show No Need to Promise. It's nice and interesting, but no match for the full version featured on the first soundtrack.
The second track is an alternate version of Vision of Escaflowne, which I believe is played on the final episode of the series. The third track Memory of Fanelia is the string instrument version of Fanelia from the second soundtrack, and is only featured in this cd. This music is played in the episode where Van returns to the destroyed Fanelia to meet with his brother, and is a simply exquisite piece of music that led to many an evening of me whistling that tune as I worked.
The fourth track Dance of Curse is played at the beginning and end of the series during the most dramatic moments and largely recalls Duel of the Fates from the new Star Wars trilogy, except of course that I happen to like it better. This track is also featured in soundtrack one. The fifth track Zaibach is a piece that grows on you. It is the perfect piece of music for a scene of total destruction and shocking brutality, as it is used in the series for the invasion of Fanelia and subsequent attacks by lord Dilandau. This track is also only found on this soundtrack.
Track six, Flying Dragon, is the music played when Escaflowne transforms into a dragon and flies through the air. It is highly reminiscent of E.T., but it's still an awesome piece of music. Track seven, Cradle Song, is also featured on the second soundtrack and is a beautiful sad piece played during flashbacks throughout the series. Track eight is a vocal song played when Hitomi starts to think about the life she left back on earth.
Track nine, Bird Cage, is of the most dramatic and searing of the pieces to be found in the show, and plays when (if I'm not mistaken) Hitomi, Van, and Allen are captured by Zaibach and kept in a giant bird cage. Track ten is one of the best pieces in the entire series. Chain is the fantastic piece of music that plays in the episode where Faulkin uses the Fate Alteration Engine to make Hitomi and Allen fall in love instead of Van and Hitomi. It is a huge part of that episode, and one greatest just-plain-cool pieces of music I have ever heard. Why this piece of music is only featured on this soundtrack I will never know.
Track eleven Epistle is played when the luck soldiers attack and during various other attacks through the series. It starts out good and just gets better. It is also featured on the third soundtrack. Track twelve is a forgettable piece of J-Pop called Perfect World. Track thirteen Blaze is splendid piece of mood music, but not as good as some of the other music featured on the soundtrack (also found on the third soundtrack). Track fourteen Hitomi Theme is definitely one of the best pieces on this soundtrack (also found on soundtrack two) and plays during some of the moments when Hitomi is dreaming about what her life used to be like back home on earth. Simply beautiful.
Track fifteen Angel (soundtrack one also) is not only one of the best pieces on this soundtrack, but of the best in the entire series. It plays during important flashbacks, ceremonies, ect., and is the kind of music you wouldn't be embarrassed to have play at your wedding. In fact this piece of music is so beautiful you may find yourself listening to it over and over again (on a side note this piece of music always makes me think of the happiest moments of my life). Track sixteen is a little lullaby type song in super-cute Japaneses. Throwaway track.
Track seventeen Arcadia is a piece of music so sad, and so heartbreaking (it plays mostly when death is remembered, or you are finding out just how terrible a past and future Faulkin is having to live under) that it made me buy the soundtrack just for itself. This piece of music is absolutely awesome in the beginning, and then goes into an opera piece (which is not bad, but not as good as the beginning). They are almost two pieces though so I don't count that as a disadvantage. This piece is also featured in soundtrack three.
Track eighteen is probably the best piece of pop music in the entire series (well, except for the opening song). This song is played when Hitomi gets back to earth and relives the entire day over again, realizing how flawed her perspective was and how childish she had been acting. A really great song sung in Japanese. Very good. Track nineteen, Mystic Eyes, is one of those pieces that you will either love or hate. Personally I think it clashes terribly with the rest of the music in the show. For those who care it is the TV Edit, not the full version.
Track twenty The Story of Escaflowne, is a very good reason to buy this cd. The final piece of music in the entire series, played only at the very end of the final episode, is one of the greatest ending themes you will ever hear. Absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful. If you loved this music from the TV show then you have to buy this cd, because it is the only place you will find it.
There is a tremendous amount of variety in the music in Escaflowne, but the show is best when it uses the rousing orchestral themes. The best pieces of music in the entire series are probably Chain, The Story of Escaflowne, Dance of Curse, Gloria, Wings, and Revenge. Gloria is the piece played at the royal wedding, and also when Van comes home to Fanelia after slaying a dragon in the second episode. Wings is an absolutely FANTASTIC combination of Flying Dragon, Angel, and other music. It is played when Van is rescued from the flying fortress, and features a grander, bigger, better rendition of Angel at the very end that is so beautiful it's hard to describe. Revenge is THE theme of the show (if you ask me). Played at the very end of the show when everything comes to a showdown, it starts out like an action scene from Star Wars, then swiftly transitions into a sorrowful march rendition of the Escaflowne theme, and then picks up momentum until it climaxes like the end of the Firebird Suite (good old Stravinsky).
If you want the best soundtrack to start off on the music from this series, get the first soundtrack which features Dance of Curse, Flying Dragon, Escaflowne (awesome), Angel, Ne Zu Mi (Merle's theme {another awesome!}, Wings (so awesome is defies description!), and Gloria (repeat last parenthetical statement). If you want the single best piece of music get the third soundtrack (REVENGE!!!!!). It's more of a mixed bag but has a couple of truly awesome pieces. Get the second track last because it has the least amount of really great music. Get the Lovers Only soundtrack if you want a specific piece not found on the other soundtracks or want to have everything.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Escaflowne OST, May 20, 2003
I own all the Escaflowne OSTs and I'd have to say this is the best one. The music of Yoko Kanno and Hajime Mizoguchi is just wonderful, smooth and flowing and conveys all emotions from the hopeful, ethereal "Angel" to the dark, ominous "Blaze."Maaya Sakamoto's songs on this track are just as lovely, especially "Kaze ga fuku hi" (Track 18) which is still my all-time favorite song after 5 years of owning the CD. This track is has deep, soothing bass accompanied by a lovely saxophone and instruments get added in seemlessly as the song goes on...by the time it reaches the climax of the piece, you're shocked by all that's there. I'd highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes Yoko Kanno, Maaya Sakamoto, symphonic/choral music, or anime.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful OST, April 11, 2004
When I was first introduced to the series "Tenkuu no Escaflowne" (Vision of Escaflowne) several years ago, one of the things that immediately drew me in was the incredible music. I tire of soundtracks very quickly, normally - but it's been about 4 years now, and I can still put my Lovers Only CD on repeat for hours. It's wonderful background music for creative activities such as writing, drawing, painting, or just relaxing.Unlike a great deal of soundtrack music, the Escaflowne songs and instrumentals are, for the most part, very non-intrusive. They mesh well with a variety of moods and provide everything from upbeat, catchy stuff to sorrowful and soulful pieces that will really move you. You don't need to be a fan of the series to enjoy the music, either. This particular OST is my favorite of the five Escaflowne OSTs that I own; it takes many of the best pieces from the series and puts them all on one CD. It also includes one of the most beautiful and addictive musical pieces from Escaflowne, the ominous "Chain" - which is absent from other Esca OSTs. (This is the background piece heard playing during the scene where Folken and Eriya alter Fate, among other scenes.)
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is quite Blues, with hints of Art Rock”
