Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet ED Single – Sora to Kimi to Message – Review

Gargantia ED Choucho

Album Title: Sora to Kimi to Message
Anime Title: Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (Suisei no Gargantia)
Artist: ChouCho
Catalog Number: LACM-14098
Release Type: OP/ED Single
Release Date: May 15, 2013
Purchase at: CDJapan, Play-Asia

Track Title Artist Time
01. Sora to Kimi no Message ChouCho 4:41
02. Cocoon ChouCho 4:09
03. Sora to Kimi no Message (off vocal) ChouCho 4:41
04. Cocoon (off vocal) ChouCho 4:09

Review: ChouCho’s vocals carry few surprises that would leave a profound impression upon listeners because her delivery is plain and, in most other contexts, unremarkable. However, there’s something to be said for basic competence and a consistency in her performance which, when put together, feels like a rarity, making her enjoyable effort stand out even more.

So with the release of “Sora to Kimi to Message,” ChouCho’s voice wafts in gently, with a dab of euphoria that sets the stage for the song’s wonderful sentiments. As the guitars continue to strum that calming, pleasant foundation, ChouCho proceeds on towards the chorus as her voice nestles within the instrumentals to forge a good partnership where neither component eclipses the other. Her intonation possesses a quiet anticipation for the host of possibilities and discoveries which slowly open up to unveil breathtaking new vistas – all these hopes and expectations that have built up over the course of the verses then become realized once the song goes into the chorus.

Here, ChouCho never goes all out; the way in which she expresses her happiness bears a touch of restraint, fitting, if the idea is to instill the representation of a more personal monologue versus something shared effusively, with abandon. In this vein of the personal, the song becomes appealing in its authenticity. Nothing is masked; there are no fronts being put up; nothing comes off as being forced. What’s expressed is pure and natural. The result may not be flashy, but the sentiments are simple and effective.

The B-side, “Cocoon,” starts off on a more energetic foot, but not so much that it would make for too sharp a contrast with “Sora to Kimi to Message,” even if it serves as a double-edged sword. The pleasant atmosphere that pervaded the A-side continues, as does the restraint, suggesting of someone who’s hopeful in being able to break free and show her true colors. But as much as the optimism continues to grace the song, one aspect to be wary of is how similar both songs are to each other. Separated on their own, that’s not a huge problem. But when the songs start to bleed into each other, being unable to distinctly differentiate one from the other does become a bit problematic from the standpoint of a singer who’s looking to improve as an artist and stretch her abilities.

Oh well. If nothing else, ChouCho’s pair of performances are at least appealing. Yes, I have a tendency to prefer performances that showcase a wide range of vocal expressions or nail its emotive content deep into my soul, and in that preference, craft can often be lost in the mix. Here though, ChouCho’s performance for the Gargantia anime’s ED theme is a stellar example of how a work so ordinary in its presentation, but done competently, can carry its endearing message effortlessly to become one of my favorite themes from this anime season. Now about expanding upon that foundation to become a better artist…

Rating: Good

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet OP Single – Sora to Kimo to Message

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Anime Instrumentality's Founder and Editor-in-Chief. As you can probably guess, I'm a big anime music junkie with a special love for composers who've put out some beautiful melodies to accompany some of my favorite anime series. I tend to gravitate towards music in the classical style with Joe Hisaishi and Yoko Kanno being a few of my favorite composers, but I've come to appreciate jazz and rock as anime music has widened my tastes.

3 thoughts on “Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet ED Single – Sora to Kimi to Message – Review

  • May 31, 2013 at 4:33 am
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    I’d just like to point out that there’s a typo in the title.

    I like the ED much more than the OP. I actually couldn’t explain why I like the ED, just that it sounded nice and it was a nice end to the episode? There’s nothing special, but the vocals were pretty and the melody fairly memorable so I actually liked it enough to listen to the full version.

    The B-side left absolutely no impression on me though.

    Reply
    • May 31, 2013 at 9:56 pm
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      @dawn
      Thanks for pointing that out. Hopefully fixed, though this post suffered quite a few typos after publishing and fingers crossed that this is the last of it.

      And yeah, the ED outshines the OP through and through (a rare happenstance indeed!) and I say this track managed to carry itself competently. Plus, I like this a lot more than the louder stuff since I’m a tad mellower as a person and this never tries to shove its sentiments down my throat.

      B-side… well, it is what it is. Even now, I’m having a hard time remembering it despite listening to it so much to write this. And yet, the A-side manages to hang in there for the points you made: pretty song with a memorable melody.

      Reply
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