Symphony SEED: Symphonic Suite Mobile Suit Gundam SEED – Review

Album Title:	Symphony SEED: Symphonic Suite Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Anime Title:	Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Artist:	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra
Catalog Number:	VICL-61400
Release Type:	Arrangement
Release Date:	May 08, 2004
Purchase at:	CDJapan

Tracklist
[spoiler]

Track Title	Artist	Time
1. Opening – Chapter I: 蒼き海に乱れの予感	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	5:28
2. Suspense – Chapter II: 忍びくる風の波紋	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	4:12
3. Take off – Chapter III: 大いなる勇士の鼓動	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	4:18
4. Memory – Chapter IV: 愛しみの旋律の彼方	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	3:36
5. Zafuto – Chapter V: 正義という名の赤い河	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	4:27
6. Death – Chapter VI: 哀しみの消えぬ世界で	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	2:53
7. Gundam – Chapter VII: 揺れる心と誓いの絆	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	4:59
8. The Song – Chapter VIII: あんなに一緒だったのに	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	3:23
9. A Wish – Chapter IX: 静かなる平和の調	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	4:02
10. Finale – Chapter X: 闘いの果て届けられた想い	Toshihiko Sahashi, London Symphony Orchestra	7:40

[/spoiler]
Review: I’ve had an odd relationship with mecha series in that I’ll avoid having to actually watch one the whole way through (I think the list of mecha shows I’ve completed stands at about 3 or 4 now), and yet, I’ll happily embrace the music because of the way it evokes the vast final frontier and the ensuing conflicts within through a majestic, orchestral sound that is heaven to my ears. Gundam SEED is no exception to that rule with Toshihiko Sahashi doing an excellent job helming that soundtrack. That said, exploring its four-disc soundtrack can be a daunting task. That’s why I’d recommend the Symphony SEED album for those who want to experience Gundam SEED’s music, but in bite-sized chunks. And delicious bite-sized chunks at that.

Gundam SEED’s symphonic album takes ten already-superb tracks, and polishes them further by having them performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Pieces like “Opening” become nothing short of glorious, as the music alights upon our ears, beckoning us to dive into a saga just waiting to unfold before our eyes. The brass section’s fanfares and the occasional dipping into the heavier melodies hearken towards the militaristic side of the story, with its depiction of the battles between heroes and villains, and yet, it still leaves room for the strings and woodwinds to provide calmer, inspiring fare to assure us that the end result is a lasting peace with the heroes immortalized forevermore.

Opening

[audio:01 gseedsymphony.mp3]
With that kind of opener, one can safely infer that glorious and grand themes are going to dominate this album. Its approach is nono too subtle, and people who favor bombastic melodies and militaristic fanfares that announce their intent straight from the get-go will be pleased by what this album offers up. “Take off’s” pompousness in its opening lines possesses the sort of melody that works as a triumphant sendoff as the trumpets hail those departing as heroes bound upon the adventure that epics aim to retell. The same vibe permeates “Gundam,” except the strings starts out softly, allowing the listener to appreciate the mech’s structural beauty. Its war-making capabilities come once the regal, stately tones subside, unleashing upon us the mechs’ true potential, as the tempo speeds up, and the orchestra moves into a rousing, fanfare-driven finish that leaves no question-marks about its superiority as a weapon on the battlefield, one that is capable of inspiring fear and dread in enemies.

Take off

[audio:03 gseedsymphony.mp3]

Gundam

[audio:07 gseedsymphony.mp3]
So yes, these arrangements aim to get you pumped in anticipation of the action, and that can be a bit exhausting if there aren’t quieter tracks to provide some respite. To that end, “Memory” and “A Wish” work well in bringing an aura of tranquility amidst the fighting. I particularly like how the former conveys its gentle, longing tones through the woodwinds and xylophones as it reaches far into the past, bringing to mind the nostalgia of more peaceful times. The latter, though an orchestral arrangement of Lacus Clyne’s (cv: Rie Tanaka) “Shizukana Yoru ni,” is beautifully arranged. “Shizukana Yoru ni” is simple, but the basic melody is easy to latch onto, and when executed by an orchestra, “A Wish” is more poignant than the original. I love its progression as it blossoms from its quiet, calming air into an unforgettable piece dripping with sentimentality and happiness that settles one’s heart so that one can be at peace with oneself and the outside world.

A Wish

[audio:09 gseedsymphony.mp3]
Symphony SEED then ends with the wonderful “Finale,” which takes us through countless battles and emphasizes the intensity before slowly drawing it to a close, first, with the usual round of triumphant brass fanfares, before letting the horn, woodwinds, and strings carry the war’s events to the history books, where the brave deeds can be chronicled for future generations. And in closing, it never loses its sense of grandeur; the London Symphony Orchestra carries the heroism all the way to the finish line. The music isn’t subtle and it certainly doesn’t show Gundam SEED’s angstier moments, but it sure is hard for me to not be swept up by the epic melodies it serves up.

Finale

[audio:10 gseedsymphony.mp3]

Rating: Excellent