Stamped: March 20th, 2007 | Related Posts
Tagged: anime soundtrack, imaginary language, yoko kanno, yuki kajiura, Yuri Kasahara.

You will hear a lot of Yuki Kajiura in this blog. “Because she’s worth it”.

I haven’t been all passionate over an artist for quite a while (years probably), maybe this was due to my blinkers, but nonetheless I happened to have downloaded one of her soundtracks “Mai Hime’” after watching that Japanese Anime.
I totally don’t know what came over me to have done this but I’m thankful I did it. Because now I have discovered the world of Animes but also the great work of Yuki Kajiura.

There are not a lot of female Anime composers in this men’s world and Yuki Kajiura happens to be one of them (Noir, Madlax, Tsubasa Chronicle, Hack Sign, Gundam Seed, Xenosaga, Mai Hime, Mai Otome…).
The second major one being Yoko Kanno (Ghost in the Shell, Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop, Wolf’s rain…).

Yuki Kajiura composes Anime soundtracks but also movies, musicals, video games soundtracks. She also composes for her own projects (See Saw/Fiction Junction) as well as for other singers (Saeko Chiba).

One of the characteristics I love the most about Mrs Kajiura is her ability to wonderfully mix classical music with modern music such as techno beats, opera chants embroidered with pop or techno arrangements, Japanese traditional sounds blended with pop music/ European music.

She pretty much can do everything.

All those mixes probably comes from her background, her father being an Opera and classical music fan, being herself brought up in West Germany during her teenage years. And finally Mrs Kajiura is herself fond of Pop music.

Yuki Kajiura doesn’t sing but does call upon singers from different nationalities to perform her songs.
She writes lyrics and composes in Japanese, English, Italian, Latin and in her own made-up language.

Now that you know a bit more about her, maybe it’s time for you to sample her work with your own ears.
I will first introduce you to one of her music style (my favorite one), the one blending operatic style & choirs with techno-pop beats.

Here are my favorite tracks:

PS: If you want to know more about Yuki Kajiura, here is a Japanese video interview (Raw, no subtitles…)
http://egocentric.free.fr/index.php/2007/05/28/yuki-kajiura-video-interview/
And some live performance videos here:
http://egocentric.free.fr/index.php/2007/06/14/yuki-kajiura-at-work-videos/

1. Promised Pain:
I put that one first in order not to scare you away with a too operatic style opening. This track is so very epic, I love it. You have different rhythm during the whole track, it alternates between slow and fast. When you expect it the least, it changes cadence. It’s really sublime.
This song’s lyrics are Kajiura’s invented language.

2. Materialise:
Here is the opera style that is supposed to disconcert you at the first approach. This is one of my favourite Kajiura song. It’s beautiful all along the track, strained intensity. It’s so intense, especially at the end of the track when it reaches its apex. Yuri Kasahara’s voice is magnificent.
Here as well, the made up Kajiura language is beautifully interpreted.

3. Salva Nos:
Same voice, same intensity. My favourite moment is near the end, when you think that the chant cannot get more intense, it does and it litteraly sweeps you away.
The song is in Latin.

4. Mezame:
Another Kajiura language song. It’s a techno remix of the infamous “Ensei” theme song from the “Mai Hime” anime.
It’s amazing how Mrs Kajiura managed to turn an almost a capella sad song into such a powerful song.

5. A song of storm and fire:
Kajiura language again, I’m really amazed how well and natural it all sounds.

6. Catastrophe:
This track is absolutely sumptuous. It’s like an opera. I love the way the song unfolds itself. According to me there are three main parts in that track, and those parts are separated by dramatic moments of lyrical instrumental.

7. Godsibb:
God sent chants (Kajiura goddess language) weaved with pop rock beats. Splendid canva.