Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Joe Hisaishi
" Symphonic poem showed us early the potential of one Joe Hisaishi "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Today Joe Hisaishi is known by many fans due to his wonderful music for acclaimed movies as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. But even before all this was accomplished, Hisaishi was already capable of so much. Back then I mean 1986, literally several years before he composed his first musical score, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky is the one I'm referring at.
This is a wonderful symphonic poem to be exact. There's a difference with most other releases of this score, since Laputa received multiple soundtrack releases. This version is the wonderful symphonic suite covering only 8 tracks, but perhaps containing the best orchestral performances of the entire selections. And let's face it, Hisaishi is a darn fine thematic mastermind, letting the music work around the images and not vice versa.
Anyway, Laputa begins with a wonderful fetching return to the baroque period with classical fanfares in "Prologue / A Meeting". From the moment the typical signature sound appears you know it is Hisaishi at the helm of this composition. I'm of course talking about the brief piano moment which almost never appears again!
In this first track the rather soft but beautiful main theme is heard for the very first time, leaving behind a meandering relaxing quality. From then on the moods shift constantly, bringing a comical fetching moment in "Gran'ma Dola", intermingling Spanish effects into an eastern sound.
One of the softest pieces is "Gondoa: In Mother's Arms" and this due to the flutes and soft violins that enhance the magical flow of the album. One of the best moments is heard in "The Great Legend" (with a link towards another Japanese score but video game based namely Panzer Dragoon). Anyway it are the same wondrous strings performing the main theme that make a fluent magical experience.
Once again a bit of comedy or happier fluff is discovered in "A Big Riot" (sometimes even a bit like The Goonies which is cool). But the best moment is saved for "A Mining Town" and this because you get a theme that you could listen to all day long. It is fetching, fun, playful, and it will stick in your mind for a very long time. "The Castle of Time" ends the score rather softly with the main theme.
In the end Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a lovely score, and a wondrous effort if you compare it was written so early in his career. Mind you, I have no idea whatsoever what all those other releases deliver more (or less) of virtues, but I have no idea also if it's as symphonic as this version here. It feels like this is the only version I need, covering enough fun themes, gorgeous orchestral moments and a Hisaishi at the helm promising again what I was expecting. Meaning he gave me a darn fine listening experience from start to finish.
Tracklisting
1. Prologue / A Meeting (5.35)
2. Gran'ma Dola (4.10)
3. Walking in the Air (4.54)
4. Gondoa: In Mother's Arms (4.15)
5. The Great Legend (6.30) Excellent track
6. A Big Riot (4.15)
7. A Mining Town (4.08) Excellent track
8. The Castle of Time (3.27)
Total Length: 37.33
This is a wonderful symphonic poem to be exact. There's a difference with most other releases of this score, since Laputa received multiple soundtrack releases. This version is the wonderful symphonic suite covering only 8 tracks, but perhaps containing the best orchestral performances of the entire selections. And let's face it, Hisaishi is a darn fine thematic mastermind, letting the music work around the images and not vice versa.
Anyway, Laputa begins with a wonderful fetching return to the baroque period with classical fanfares in "Prologue / A Meeting". From the moment the typical signature sound appears you know it is Hisaishi at the helm of this composition. I'm of course talking about the brief piano moment which almost never appears again!
In this first track the rather soft but beautiful main theme is heard for the very first time, leaving behind a meandering relaxing quality. From then on the moods shift constantly, bringing a comical fetching moment in "Gran'ma Dola", intermingling Spanish effects into an eastern sound.
One of the softest pieces is "Gondoa: In Mother's Arms" and this due to the flutes and soft violins that enhance the magical flow of the album. One of the best moments is heard in "The Great Legend" (with a link towards another Japanese score but video game based namely Panzer Dragoon). Anyway it are the same wondrous strings performing the main theme that make a fluent magical experience.
Once again a bit of comedy or happier fluff is discovered in "A Big Riot" (sometimes even a bit like The Goonies which is cool). But the best moment is saved for "A Mining Town" and this because you get a theme that you could listen to all day long. It is fetching, fun, playful, and it will stick in your mind for a very long time. "The Castle of Time" ends the score rather softly with the main theme.
In the end Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a lovely score, and a wondrous effort if you compare it was written so early in his career. Mind you, I have no idea whatsoever what all those other releases deliver more (or less) of virtues, but I have no idea also if it's as symphonic as this version here. It feels like this is the only version I need, covering enough fun themes, gorgeous orchestral moments and a Hisaishi at the helm promising again what I was expecting. Meaning he gave me a darn fine listening experience from start to finish.
Tracklisting
1. Prologue / A Meeting (5.35)
2. Gran'ma Dola (4.10)
3. Walking in the Air (4.54)
4. Gondoa: In Mother's Arms (4.15)
5. The Great Legend (6.30) Excellent track
6. A Big Riot (4.15)
7. A Mining Town (4.08) Excellent track
8. The Castle of Time (3.27)
Total Length: 37.33