Tari Tari Soundtrack and Music Album – Review

Album Title:	TARI TARI Music Album ~Utattari, Kanadetari~
Anime Title:	Tari Tari
Artist:	Shiro Hamaguchi, Kyouichi Miyazaki, Hajime Kikuchi, Mai Sugimori, Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae, AiRI, Condor’s Queen
Catalog Number:	LACA-9246~7
Release Type:	Soundtrack
Release Date:	September 26, 2012
Purchase at:	CDJapan, Play-Asia

Tracklist
Disc 1
[spoiler]

Track Title	Artist	Time
01. Hajimattari, Mezametari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:46
02. Aruitari, Skip-shitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:47
03. Nagametari, Kanjitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:51
04. Aisatsushitari, Jareattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:33
05. Odoketari, Hiyakashitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:36
06. Katsudoushitari, Waraiattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:35
07. Hohoendari, Hottoshitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:35
08. Kirakirashitari, Waiwaishitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:32
09. Yasashisa ni Furetari, Yuugure wo Miagetari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:49
10. Kanchigaishitari, Oshiete Agetari?	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:32
11. Ketsui wo Arata ni Shitari, Koudou Kaishishitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:45
12. Akubishitari, Nobi wo Shitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:46
13. Maemuki dattari, Hinekurete Mitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:34
14. Jishin Attari, Nakattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:41
15. Toritomenakattari, Natsukashigattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:41
16. Jifu dattari, Mayoi dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:43
17. Katattari, Mimi wo Katamuketari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:43
18. Omoidashitari, Kurumaretari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:37
19. Mukaetari, Tsunagetari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:40
20. Takurandari, Niyari to Shitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:16
21. Dokidokishitari, Orooroshitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:20
22. Occhokochoi dattari, Nonki dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:14
23. Iratto Shitari, Mukatto Shitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:14
24. Matomaranakattari, Kimaranakattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:16
25. Mienakattari, Fuan ni Nattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:16
26. Hashiridashitari, Nigedashitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:07
27. Condor Queens dattari, Samba dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:26
28. Ketsui dattari, Taisetsu na Omoi dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:01
29. Haha no Yasashisa dattari, Haha e no Kansha dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:59
30. Arigatou dattari, Kibou dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:14
31. Wakare dattari, Wakaretakunakattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:06
32. Kako dattari, Shinjitsu dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:52
33. Fuan dattari, Yarusenasa dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:12
34. Umi dattari, Sora dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:02
35. Setsunasa dattari, Sabishisa dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:03
36. Arashi dattari, Ame dattari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:47
37. Toumei dattari, Hibiitari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:40
38. Omoi wo Hasetari, Tomo ni Attari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:07
39. Kakaetari, Yorisottari	Shiro Hamaguchi	2:01
40. Kakedashitari, Motometari	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:49

[/spoiler]
Disc 2
[spoiler]

Track Title	Artist	Time
01. Dreamer (TV Size)	AiRI	1:33
02. Shirohamazaka Koukou Kouka	白浜坂高校生徒一同	1:01
03. Reflectia (Gasshouban)	白浜坂高校声楽部	3:30
04. Amigo! Amigo!	Condor Queen’s (Ricardo Cruz & Friends)	1:46
05. Amigo! Amigo! (Requiem Ver.)	Shiro Hamaguchi	1:06
06. goin’ my way!! (#1 Ver.)	Konatsu Miyamoto (CV: Asami Seto)	1:09
07. goin’ my way!! (Gasshouban)	白浜坂高校声楽部	2:17
08. Shirohamazaka Koukou Kouka (Latin Ver.)	Konatsu Miyamoto (CV: Asami Seto), Sawa Okita (CV: Saori Hayami), Taichi Tanaka (CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki)	0:45
09. Hau’oli ♪	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	0:49
10. Eyecatch	Shiro Hamaguchi	0:10
11. Kokoro no Senritsu (Instrumental Ver.)	Shiro Hamaguchi	4:17
12. Kokoro no Senritsu (#2ED Ver.)	Konatsu Miyamoto (CV: Asami Seto), Sawa Okita (CV: Saori Hayami)	2:35
13. Kokoro no Senritsu (#6ED Ver.)	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	2:14
14. Kokoro no Senritsu (Gasshouban)	幕張総合高校合唱団	4:02
15. Kokoro no Senritsu	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	4:02
16. Nettou Hero Ganbaraiger (#10 Ver.)	西之端ヒーローショーテンジャー	1:13
17. Nettou Hero Ganbaraiger	西之端ヒーローショーテンジャー	1:29
18. radiant melody	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	3:34
19. Shiokaze no Harmony (2-nin Ver.)	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Saori Hayami, Asami Seto)	1:34
20. Shiokaze no Harmony (4-nin Ver.)	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	1:34
21. Shiokaze no Harmony (5-nin Ver.)	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	1:34
22. Shiokaze no Harmony (#13ED Ver.)	Shirahamazaka Koukou Gasshou-bu (Ayahi Takagaki, Saori Hayami, Asami Seto, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Natsuki Hanae)	2:04

[/spoiler]
Review: Scoring high school drama anime isn’t something one readily associates with Shiro Hamaguchi given his work history, but despite this seeming misalignment, he’s done a competent job in every outing. Hamaguchi, better known as the guy who arranges Final Fantasy music to orchestra and scores anime such as One Piece, has delighted listeners with the upbeatness found in the music of another adolescent drama: Hanasaku Iroha. For better or for worse, Tari Tari’s soundtrack follows in Hanasaku Iroha’s footsteps; the ordinary and everyday persist and Hamaguchi once again draws upon small ensemble pieces to fuel his score. That said, Tari Tari’s score is more enjoyable, with a dab of the magical to make it more stimulating than its predecessor.

The magical bounce is what the early tracks on this album cultivate, starting with “Hajimattari, Mezametari’s” upbeat ordinariness. From the get-go, “Hajimattari, Mezametari” bathes you with a mellow tone propelled by a clarinet riding atop a soothing guitar accompaniment. The manner in which it skips along is pleasant and the detour where the melody dawdles a bit enhances those feelings of contentment all the more by letting them bubble forth, inviting all to experience its concoction of optimism and nostalgia. And if the first track sets listeners awash in pleasantness, “Aruitari, Skip-shitari” skips along with youthful exuberance, building up a sense of wonder from the previous track while adding in a solid dose of energy. The skip-happy piano melody drives much of the enthusiasm, and the way in which it dashes along imparts a sense of boundless optimism fueled by a passion and determination to overcome all odds in this delightful, buoyant affair.

Hajimattari, Mezametari

[audio:101 – Tari Tari.mp3]

Aruitari, Skip-shitari

[audio:102 – Tari Tari.mp3]
With these two pieces as the front-liners, the youthful tone for Tari Tari’s soundtrack becomes firmly established. Much of what follows falls somewhere along the spectrum of mellow ordinariness or upbeat optimism, all of it tied together by Hamaguchi’s enchanting melodies. “Kanchigaishitari, Oshiete Agetari” exemplifies the former as the clarinet and flute engage in a whimsical bout of call and response before the strings settle the mischief with a smooth chord to round things out. “Ketsui wo Arata ni Shitari, Koudou Kaishishitari” is upbeat as its rippling, buoyant piano flows confidently. The way it buzzes with activity in the second section gives listeners the feeling of an idea gaining momentum, which, combined with the youthful tone, charms with its freshness.

Ketsui wo Arata ni Shitari, Koudou Kaishishitari

[audio:111 – Tari Tari.mp3]
The soundtrack isn’t all fun and mellow since there is a significant amount of drama to cover. As the album proceeds, the tracks sober up, shedding their exuberance, but not the entirety of their optimism. “Mukaetari, Tsunagetari” moves in that direction, opening with a delicate combination of piano and woodwinds before the piano, with its solemn air thick with tragedy, takes over. The pain becomes more pronounced when the woodwinds join in, building upon that sorrow until the climax shifts the tone into one of hope and acceptance. Taking it in sum, the blossoming effect of the crescendos is beautiful and bittersweet, but assures listeners that all will be well.

Mukaetari, Tsunagetari

[audio:119 – Tari Tari.mp3]
And then there’s dramatic fare like “Omoidashitari, Kurumaretari,” which characterizes the kind of sorrowful tracks one finds in this album. Its melody makes up the main theme for Tari Tari and the sound sculpted is weighed down by a sorrow that gets drawn out through a solo violin. Its slow tempo immerses listeners deep into the tragedy and the piano, which comes in shortly after, brings in not only a sense of loss, but also an acceptance of it. The few tracks that really give the sorrow its impact include “Arigatou dattari, Kibou dattari,” which features an oboe melody that wafts its melancholy tone about as if it were pining for greener pastures and “Fuan Dattari, Yarusenasa Dattari,” which has the piano linger in a state of gloom, leaving one feeling resigned to Fate’s whim though its tinkly piano becomes repetitive and dull after awhile.

Omoidashitari, Kurumaretari

[audio:118 – Tari Tari.mp3]

Arigatou dattari, Kibou dattari

[audio:130 – Tari Tari.mp3]

Fuan Dattari, Yarusenasa Dattari

[audio:133 – Tari Tari.mp3]
But the despondent tones never become too permanent a part of Tari Tari’s soundtrack, as pieces like “Umi dattari, Sora dattari’s” packs bright, cheery tones that stride out with gusto after the piano introduction slowly raises listeners from the sadness. Also, selections like “Ketsui dattari, Taisetsu na Omoi dattari” capture that sense of relief, where the introduction rushes confidently with joy. The cheerful tone also turns stately towards the end and if there are any doubts that happier times are ahead, the lovely combination of strings, woodwind, and piano carry it through.

Umi dattari, Sora dattari

[audio:134 – Tari Tari.mp3]
Though the BGM disc closes out on a promising note, the second disc is no slouch as it extends the quality of the first disc by filling it with songs that capture the essence of Tari Tari extremely well. First and foremost, no track makes a bigger impact than the vocal version of the main theme which manifests as “Kokoro no Senritsu.” As an ending song sung by the duo of Asami Seto and Saori Hayami, this song captures the anime flawlessly as their happiness reaches out through the music to resound strongly with its heartfelt message of joy. The only way it got better was when Ayahi Takagaki throws her weight in with the full group and her competence brings out a harmonization that is beautiful to behold.

Kokoro no Senritsu

[audio:212 – Tari Tari.mp3]
Other songs worth mentioning include the chorus version of “Reflectia,” which is a nice throwback to PA Works’ earlier anime and still stands as an OP theme I tune into once in awhile. “Radiant Melody” is also fantastic on account of the way the song bursts with energy while incorporating “Kokoro no Senritsu” into the mix. Finally, “Amigo! Amigo!” bears mentioning for its bemusement (and amusement) value as it’s a Spanish-inspired melody. While it’s a fun piece to listen to, Spanish-inspired is about as far as one can describe it, mostly because the lyrics are made to sound like Spanish without it actually being Spanish.

Reflectia

[audio:203 – Tari Tari.mp3]

Radiant Melody

[audio:218 – Tari Tari.mp3]

Amigo! Amigo!

[audio:204 – Tari Tari.mp3]
With Tari Tari’s soundtrack, Shiro Hamaguchi’s has a clear winner on his hands and the only criticism that can really be leveled against it is that it’s not more memorable than it is because it lacks the overall impact and melodic development that characterizes excellent anime scores. But I speak merely as one who consumes much in the way of anime soundtracks and tilts towards certain musical biases. Regardless, Hamaguchi’s recently been on a roll, first with a competent effort in Hanasaku Iroha and now, with the enjoyable Tari Tari. I’m certainly not going to complain if he turns out to be the go-to composer for PA Works’ future high school drama projects.

Rating: Very Good