Platina Jazz Vol. 6 Released
Back in 2009, Platina Jazz Volume 1 was released. The disc featured 18 tracks of anime jazz arrangements from shows like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Sousei no Aquarion, and Macross Plus.
10 years later and Rasmus Faber is still hard at work. He’s continued to release more jazz arrangement albums and even found time to compose the score to an anime series. What I found delightful about his efforts (even if I admittedly fell off the anime wagon a few years ago) was was how the Platina Jazz series continues to stay up to date, plucking songs from anime old and new to bring a wide-ranging survey of anison to fans.
Now with Platina Jazz Volume 6 getting its release on October 23, 2019, we see their hard work bear fruit. Prior to the launch of the album, their YouTube channel featured 2 new songs: “Welcome To Japari Park” from Kemono Friends and “Komm, Süsser Tod” (AKA “Come Sweet Death”) from The End of Evangelion.
Hot Takes of Platina Jazz Volume 6
In “Welcome to Japari Park”, their jazz treatment transforms a fun, throwaway seiyuu song, into an equally fun, swingin’, swaggerin’ selection. “Komm Susser Tod’s” arrangement stays equally faithful to its source material. Its resigned, regretful take on Arianne’s cheerfully apathetic rock ballad shines in light of Niklas Gabrielsson’s pitch-perfect delivery. I’ve found myself entranced by his rendition of the tumblin’ “Hey Jude”-ish chorus, with its cathartic release of despair and self-abnegation.
There’s more, of course, but I’ve yet to listen to the album in its entirety. But to hear the initial impressions is heartening. An English version of “Zen Zen Zense” from Kimi no Na Wa/Your Name? A swingin’ “Connect” from Puella Magi Madoka Magica? How about “One More Time, One More Chance” from 5cm/second? Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about this set!
So if you’re into old media like I am, you can pick up the CD here.
I’m actually enjoying “Itadaki Mambo” a lot in this one. It’s really entertaining for such weeb lyrics! Along with Galaxy Express 999 this is my favorite on the CD 🙂
On the other hand, as usual with Platina Jazz there are a few songs that are much too close to the original for me to like them, such as a “Fireworks” that doesn’t even compare to DAOKO’s shaky and slightly out-of-pitch vocals.
A good album overall!