Iria: Zeiram the Animation Original Soundtrack

IRIA: ZEIRAM THE ANIMATION ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
JNA Animation/JVC Musical Industries, Inc.
JNA-1501-2
$17.98 SRP
26 Tracks

--by Peter Kenzaburo Cahill

Total Time: 56:26

1. Eternity 1:09

2. At the End of the Melting Dream 4:17

3. Empty Sky 1:02

4. Strong Wind 1:37

5. Mad Wind - No. 2 2:00

6. Fearful Uproar 1:53

7. Reckless Attack 1:21

8. Shock Destruction 2:04

9. Wild Violence 1:16

10. Rest 0:52

11. Uncommon Light 1:30

12. Escape 1:34

13. Flying Sky 1:47

14. Mad Wind - No. 3 2:01

15. Ultimate Battle 2:15

16. Cloudy Light 1:59

17. Memories Near the Sky 4:33

18. Fragrant Wind 1:45

19. Tear Attack 1:17

20. Mad Wind - No. 4 2:12

21. Courageous Attack 3:40

22. Squirming Devil 2:42

23. Sorrowful Abyss 1:34

24. Yearning Goal 2:57

25. Mad Wind - No. 5 2:06

26. Although the Dream is Far 5:01

I enjoyed watching the IRIA OVA series and loved the theme songs. But buying a CD full of one minute blurbs of background music isn't my idea of a musical prize. Granted, if you're a big fan of either IRIA or anime CDs you'll probably grab this CD anyway, and you'll enjoy it. There are five notable tracks, and even though two of them are remixes of the opening theme they're pretty good if you like contemporary jazz (sort of), but I don't think that's enough to make this a good stand alone CD. There are plenty of tracks (26) and most are good, but they're so blasted short! They end just as you're getting into them.

The four "Mad Wind" drama tracks would probably be interesting, but I didn't even try to translate them because No. 1 is only available on the theme song CD-single! (My Japanese language skills would've been stretched anyway...)

"At the End of the Melting Dream," the opening theme song, is a loose, jazzy tune that has the sort of melody that's too cool for its own good. I get a kick out of the almost off-key melody, but it might annoy some people. "Courageous Attack" and "Yearning Goal" are instrumental remixes of the same song. "Courageous" is a more sinister version, heavier on the electric guitar; it reminds me a little of Joe Satriani. "Yearning Goal" is an orchestrated version that sounds quiet and sorrowful.

"Memories Near the Sky" is a cute ballad sung by Iria's seiyuu, Hisakawa Aya. But I much prefer Sacko's voice in "Although the Dream is Far," the ending theme. It's currently one of my favorite songs and the only reason I'd buy the soundtrack. It builds up for a while and almost feels like it's going to take flight. While it never quite seems to get off the ground because it's not fast enough, the tragi-comic in me loves that kind of stuff. Besides, it's still an up-beat, feel-good song.

The rest of the songs cover a fairly wide range of styles. Classical, jazz, rock, funky digital, and basic 'bad-guy-attacks' background music--they're all here. "Shock Destruction" has a strong, steady rhythm and a Near East feel to it.

If you find yourself watching the OVAs just to hear the theme songs, then this is the CD for you. If you already own the tapes and can quote extensively from the script, you need this. (You also need help.) But otherwise you run the risk of disappointment. I once bought the LEGEND soundtrack just for the opening theme, hoping there would be a longer version. It was there, but it was still only 20 seconds long and buried in another song! Neither of these themes are cropped, but there is a lot of filler here. Soundtracks can be so tricky!