Stamped: June 20th, 2007 | Related Posts
Tagged: anime soundtrack, Ichiko Hashimoto, jazz, Maaya Sakamoto, Rahxephon, yoko kanno.

Ichiko Hashimoto, born in 1952 in Kobe and grew up in Tokyo and started playing the piano at the age of five, is one of the rare woman anime composer along with Yoko Kanno and our dear Yuki Kajiura.

She is a Jazz pianist and you really feel that great influence in her “RahXephon” compositions (Maybe I should gather all the Ichiko Hashimoto, Yoko Kanno and Yuki Kajiura Jazz work in one and same playlist what do you think ??).

Here is a live video of Ichiko Hashimoto performing “Rin” (Ub-X):

She is also a singer, and sings in some of the songs featuring in the “RahXephon” OSTs (along with her sister Mayumi).
She was part of Jpop band named Oororagoninmusume. And as if it wasn’t enough, she has also acted in television and film.
She also did some seiyuu work in the “RahXephon” anime and movie, playing the role of Maya Kamina.

Her most recent work after the “RahXephon” soundtracks (2002 and 2003 -the movie-) are her solo albums Ub-X (2006)
and Vega (2007)

Here are my favorite tracks from the 3 RahXephon OSTs, they all contain very various type of music, there are Jazzy tracks mingled with orchestral ones, some of the tracks are rather experimental electro music, rock tunes and there are also piano solos.
Wonderful soundtracks.
I won’t include the “Pluritas Concentio” OST of the RahXephon movie in the playlist, there is enough with the 3 OSTs alone.

And to start with it, I’ll won’t put some Ichiko Hashimoto work, but some Yoko Kanno work sung by her protégée Maaya Sakamoto (rahXephon OP song).
And as predictable as I am, I will not restrain myself from inserting a photo of kawaii Maaya to illustrate my point.

Ok, now that we’re in the mood, let’s start (don’t forget there is a slider on the player):

RahXephon OST 1 …………………………………………………………………………………………….

1. Hemisphere: This is the OP song of RahXephon (by Yoko Kanno). I love this track, I wonder why I didn’t put it in my “Nicopachi” review! But at least I did put “Tune the Rainbow”… Excellent track anyway!

2. Yume no Tamago: (The egg of Dream) Sung by Ichiko and Mayumi Hashimoto. Very special atmosphere. To me it has some Jazzy flavour… But I’m not good at describing song due to my lack of music culture.

3. The tremendous egg: I know I’m breaking the mood… Sorry, I’m not a DJ, so I’m trying my best to subtely insert songs without breaking the flow… But it’s really hard to put this song somewhere as it is one of the rare vocally depressing one. Anyway, you can skip to the Jazzy song right after if you want.
This is a ghostly song… It really gives you the creeps. But I love it, so I had to put it somewhere! Don’t worry it’s short.

4. Misty Midnight: A sweet soft Jazzy night… This is the beginning of the Jazzy tracks.

5. Their daily lives: Relax and swing before the next rhythmic track.

6. Avant Rendez-vous: What is an Avant Rendez-vous? Hahaha, “Avant” means “Before”, but it French it sounds weird. Faster tempo, and all the Jazz ingredients to make your head spin.

7. Winning sound of her: I love this track. It’s perfect for an After, it’s relaxing but still makes you dance.
Totally electro. I love it.

8. Solitudes: Just a sad piano track. Well it’s not “JUST” a piano track, it’s a beautiful and moving one with a jazzy touch.

RahXephon OST 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Protocols: Let’s go on with the sad piano tracks. It’s beautiful, it’s like a water fall. I can even feel the rainbow forming after the rain. (I know I should stop the drugs… but I’m not seeing pink flying elephants yet)

10. The other stranger: Another beautiful piano track with a touch a Jazzy tone and rhythm.

11. Runnin’: Here comes the full Jazz orchestra to enlighten the mood. Saxo solo here.

12. Vanishing Jupiter: Dark intro, before letting the light in… Nice and uncanny combination of low and ethereal sounds. But when it does explode, it’s somptuous. Jazzy saxo with electric guitars. Amazing track I tell you!

13. Perfect noise: Dark tune. To me, it sounds like experimental-industrial music. Absolutely gorgeous track, I love it.

RahXephon OST 3 …………………………………………………………………………………………….

The third OST has some interesting Rock tracks with electric guitars and raging rock singing (The first explosion), even in German (Guten Morgen), it’s a very interesting soundtrack with Rock, Indus, Piano/Violin, Ethereal sound and of course Jazz.
I didn’t select the Rock tracks though…

14. Tailspins: Electro Industrial sound. Great track, I love it!!!

15. Brave: Very interesting song. It reminds me of Goldfrapp… Anyway, there is electro indus, ethereal sounds and electric guitars along with a Bossa Nova singing. I’m not good (lack of knowledge) with describing music, so tell me if I’m wrong.

16. Before you know: This one is a misleading one. It starts like a regular classical orchestral song but “before you know”, 1 minute and 44 seconds after, electro beats just chime in and change the whole mood of the song.

17. Previous Notice: Short Jazz track. It just gives you energy in a short amount of time!

18. Mad Wing: Modern Jazz!

19.Way to the tune: Back to quietness you think… Ethereal singing and mystic atmosphere, well it sounds like Shakespeare’s Ophelia raving… and it gets worse eventually…
It kind of gets to a distressing opressing atmosphere, like we’re in an asylum. But we finally see, from afar, the light at the end of the tunnel.

20. My Soundscape: My favorite track of this third OST. I love the heart beats. It’s really ethereal. You feel like your floating towards Heaven.