Akira Original Soundtrack

Akira Original Soundtrack is as much a work of art as it is entertainment. As such there are some who will hail it as a masterpiece, and others who will simply wrinkle their nose and turn on the radio. I happily, awe-struckenly, fall into the first category.

The soundtrack is most certainly unconventional by Western soundtrack standards. Performed by the Geinoh Yamashirogumi, the music consists mostly of percussion and chanting, along with a few diverse sound effects and occasionally more standard instrumentation, like an electric guitar. The percussion has an uncontemporary, ethnic sound, at many times building upon itself persistently into a massive front of sound. As for the chanting, it is unlike anything else I've heard. In "Kaneda" it takes a slightly tribal sound, with airy, mystical, almost whisper-like early chanting being joined by firmer, louder vocals that approach the level of shouting. Combined with the percussion, memorable melody, and its prominent place in the film, this track is one of the highlights of the album.

The chanting in "Tetsuo" has an almost childlike quality, both in the nature of the performer's voices and the simplicity of the "lyrics". (In this instance the chanting isn't lyrical at all, but a unique arrangement of human vocalization.) The seemingly childlike quality is contradicted by the sense of danger and sheer power with which it is performed, making for another unforgettable piece.

Tracks like "Kaneda" and "Tetsuo" leave me in awe of Akira OST's originality and emotional power. However, there are other tracks which, despite their originality and artistic achievement, are too odd and unmelodic for everyday listening. Borderline tracks include "Battle Against Clown", with its intentionally revolting, exaggerated breathing sounds, and "Dolls' Polyphony", with its use of bizarre, interweaving vocals that defy written description. On the extreme side is "Illusion", which begins passably enough but for the latter eight or so minutes contains a sort of "restrained human howling", for lack of a better term. (To be fair, I believe the piece has roots in traditional, spiritual Asian music, an area in which I'm not qualified to judge.)

However even the extreme, tryingly unconventional moments of the album become a trivial matter after the onset of "Requiem", which is one of the most powerful, chill-inducing ending themes I've yet heard in a soundtrack. Combining a heartrendingly repentant original choral theme with subtle yet dramatic reprises of earlier ones, it takes the artistic quality of the score to its most emotional level. It's a fantastic piece on its own, but as closure to the album as a whole it's truly impeccable.

At its best, Akira Original Soundtrack is enrapturing and intense with emotion; at its worst, it can be a challenge for even open-minded listeners. Taken as a whole, it's an amazing work of cinematic and musical art, unlike any other soundtrack out there. Though its unconventional nature makes it a less frequent listen than other favorites, it's a soundtrack I wouldn't be without.