macdawson
12-03-2010, 07:21 AM
Here's the score for the live-action movie of Space Battleship Yamato, known in the US as Star Blazers, composed by Naoki Sato and Yasushi Miyagawa. Files are mp3 format at 192 kbps, 44,100 kHz. Enjoy. :)
Track List:
1. SPACE BATTLESHIP ヤマト Opening Title
2. 薄汚れた男
3. 希望の船
4. 波動砲発射
5. ガミラス艦隊
6. 帰還
7. ガミラスロイド
8. 命令
9. 敵艦隊消滅
10. 一瞬の静寂
11. 慰め
12. 美しい青い星
13. 危機
14. 信念
15. 新たな歴史を
16. コスモゼロ発進
17. 放射能除去装置の真実
18. 託された未来
19. 地球
20. デスラーの報復
21. 守りたいもの
22. 最期の敬礼
Download Links
MP3:
MP3 files (https://www.mediafire.com/?m8zbg2g778117wz)
FLAC:
FLAC files+Booklet
FLAC Files (https://www.mediafire.com/?81o9k3u3ibnwuyy)
2010.12.08 - After listening to the score several times and having watched whatever material is available online from the actual movie (specifically the Making Of and the 2 clips in SMAPxSMAP special (clocking at 2 and 5 minutes each) i decided to write this review.
Personal REVIEW (expect tears and extensive use of words like "awe", "sad" and "grandeur" :) )
First some background:
After waiting for months for Doctor Who's season 5 soundtrack, i thought i had my "score of the year". After listening to SB Yamato's score by Naoki Sato i saw the error of my ways. My love for DW Season 5's music hasn't deminished and i still believe it to be a must have and the best DW score to date. But as i listened to this... i found myself riden with a mix of downright nostalgia and amazement.
I've been a fan of Yamato's music since i first saw it in portuguese television in September 1991, when Star Blazers first bursted in to my life and changed it forever, opening my eyes to a whole new level of animation. Though i loved whatever anime series poped up in Portugal's only 2 TV channels at the time (mostly NHK series like "Tom Sawyer no Boken" and "Anime Sanjushi" and the series that shaped my childhood, Miyazaki's "Mirai Shonen Conan"), Star Blazers was different somehow, more adult, more vibrant, the Yamato itself looked to my eyes like an astounding work of art. And of course the music. Hiroshi Miyagawa's score became an instant favorite and throughout the years i've made my best to get as much of it as possible, being that these forums we're now in played a massive part in making that dream a reality.
Truth be told, i love the scores to the first 2 seasons a lot more than those of Be Forever or Final Yamato. Fastforward to 2009 and Yamato Rebirth. Although i loved the movie (despite some teeth cringing changes, especially the character designs) i felt disapointed that the score relies heavilly on reused cues and most from those less loved scores. With that in mind and knowing that a live-action movie was coming late 2010, i didn't expect much in tems of what that score could bring. The fact that Naoki Sato was to take on the composing duties gave me some hope. Having composed some personal favorites in recent years, i decided not to completely desmiss it.
Fastforward again to present day
I am pleased to say Mr. Sato surpassed my wildest expectations. Listening to this score is like being wraped in beauty, every chord of the classic themes filling you with eye-watering nostalgia, every chord of new material filling you with unabashed wonder, the whole thing filling you with a sense of grandeur. The most knowledgeble fans will probably find hints of other themes, here and there, but this score rellies heavilly in 2 classic themes. The SBY Main Theme, wich, like in the original score, is used in a variety of tones, from it's grand march to sadening overtones, and "The Expanding Universe" (or a variety of other tranlations) with it's haunting female vocals. Both are used in one form or another through most of the tracks of this score, and that is a good thing. And now for the review (sorry for the huge rant).
Be warned, for the sake of full disclosure this review contains MASSIVE SPOILERS ABOUT THE MOVIE. READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL. The titles used are those provided by JonC (thanks for those)
1. SPACE BATTLESHIP ヤマト Opening Title - Space Battleship Yamato Opening Title
An eerie chime starts this track as the camera pans away from Yuki's eye. Flying her Black Tiger she joins the battle as the familiar chords of the main theme from SBY begin to play in wonderfull orchestral mode, accentuating the raging battle in Mars orbit. As the Gamilas ships fire back and utterly smash the Earth fleet the music changes to stoic but sad vocals as Admiral Okita perceives his eminent defeat. This clip appears on SMAPxSMAP Yamato Special and gives us a glimpse not only of how good the movie looks but of how well the music blends with the action. Next comes the also familiar sound of fan favorite "The Universe Expanding" in a full choir. Beautifull. To finish the track come the inicial chords of the Main Theme as the "Space Battleship Yamato" titles appear over a stunning image of the red dying Earth.
2. 薄汚れた男 - Raggedy Men
A sadder take on the Main Theme, serving as an accent to the desperate situation the people of Earth are living. In this movie, more than in the series itself you actually get a sense of this despair, as extinction looms ever closer.
3. 希望の船 - Ship of Hope
Another piece of the Main Theme begins this track but as the 1:30 mark passes the first actually completely new material shines through. A beautiful theme for a hopefull Earth punctuated by amazing choirs.
4. 波動砲発射 - Fire Wave Motion Gun
The battle theme, if you wish, for the movie. This scene also appears in a full 5 minute clip in SMAPxSMAP Yamato Special. A quick and rousing theme, cut by the Main Theme in full battle mode as the Yamato finally breaks free from the Earth. The track grows in intensity as Kodai and the crew make preparations to fire the Wave-Motion Gun to destroy a massive Gamilas missile, with the last minute being an intense mix of the new theme with the Main Theme.
5. ガミラス艦隊 - Gamirus Fleet
Despite its title this is not really the Gamilas theme. If anything it would be the Black Tigers theme. An epic piece of fully new music. Listen to track 16 for more of this theme.
6. 帰還 - The Return
Another new theme, this one a bit sad if filled with plentifull doses of hope.
7. ガミラスロイド - Gamirusroid
Another new theme, a quick cockophony of eerie sounds serves as background to the revelation of the Gamilas true form.
8. 命令 - Orders
Once more the Main Theme serves as a base for another quiet but rousing track.
9. 敵艦隊消滅 - Enemy Fleet Destroyed
This starts with what i would call the Gamilas theme (it's used again in track 20), evolving to a full orchestra combat theme, as the Yamato and the Gamilas lock in to fierce battle, with hints of the Main Theme spread out for effect. And a magnificient effect at that.
10. 一瞬の静寂 - Moment of Silence
The sadness theme for the movie. Kodai comes to terms with the burden of command and the choice he had to make, acompanied by this beautiful (if a bit repetitive) crescendo. An epic track despite its slow tempo.
11. 慰め - Comfort
Continuing from the previous sad, quiet tone from the previous track, this one kind of picks it up and turns it in to a more hopefull theme.
12. 美しい青い星 - Beautiful Blue Planet
Epic choirs acompany this very short track as the Yamato gets its first glimpse of Iscandar.
13. 危機 - Crisis
The wonder is short lived as a massive barrage of fire hits the Yamato and the crew realises the true nature of Iscandar and Gamilas. New material is woven into the Main Theme as Kodai makes a desperate gamble.
14. 信念 - Faith
A beautifull take on the Main Theme (along the lines of the Yamato March version) as the Yamato faces the enemy.
15. 新たな歴史を - A New History
Once more the Main Theme is brought to bare, in a more quiet tone wich rises to a more hopefull and rousing one, as Kodai speaks to the crew. The last desperate strugle is at hand.
16. コスモゼロ発進 - Cosmo Zero Launch
The theme from track 5 returns as Kodai and the Black Tiger launch their attack on Iscandar/Gamilas evading floating fortresses with the Yamato diving into combat right on their tails, acompanied by the Yamato March from track 14. The track ends with the music taking a darker twist and an eerie ending.
17. 放射能除去装置の真実 - The Truth about the Radioactivity Removal Device
This track makes use of "The Universe Expanding", slowing it down making it almost unrecognisible. This marks the scene where they encounter "Starsha" deep within the planet Gamilas/Iscandar and Kodai has to make a shocking revelation to his companions. As "The Universe Expanding" takes its more familiar form the cards are on the table as "Starsha" embues an astonished Yuki with the power to save Earth.
18. 託された未来 - Entrusted with the Future
Another sad theme (yes, there are quite a few sad themes here) that grows into hope (yes, it happens a lot, too. But that is the fulcral point of the movie). More sacrifices are made to ensure the survival of the human race.
19. 地球 - Earth
The beautifull Earth theme from track 3 makes an amazing uncore, finished by another brash and rousing piece of the Main Theme, as the Yamato reaches the battered Earth.
20. デスラーの報復 - Deslar’s Revenge
A big orchestral opening gives way to the Gamilas theme (as i mentioned on track 9), as "Desslar" reveals the Gamilas last gamble to destroy the human race.
21. 守りたいもの - To Protect
An epic track wich accentuates sadness and despair as Kodai orders the crew of the Yamato to evacuate and he says a tear filled goodbye to Yuki. The Main Theme makes its final encore.
22. 最期の敬礼 - The Final Salute
The crew salutes their comrade as they fly past the bridge of Yamato, acompanied by another version of "The Universe Expanding", subdued at first but growing to its full glory as the Yamato and Kodai make their final stand and sacrifice for humanity.
Final note: I apologise for the untechnical review but i'm not a music professional. I wrote this review as i listened to the score one more time so as to actually put into writing what poped in my head as i hear each track. The scene descriptions are, unless otherwise noted, extrapolated from the full synopsis at starblazers.com. I say here and now, this is my Score of the Year, not just because of the nostalgia value but because Naoki Sato has truly made something that pays homage to the original material without being a carbon copy. The fact that i find it incredibly hard to single out a single track as an highlight speaks volumes to how great this is as a whole. I hadn't found a score yet wich i would hear from begining to end without skiping a single track, after several sittings. This one i do. And if the score and what bits of the movie i've seen say anything... is that this is a movie i just have to see. Even if it doesn't meet my present expectations, it was worth just for giving us this, the best Yamato soundtrack in a long, long time.
