Shin Kaitei Gunkan

SHIN KAITEI GUNKAN
Copyright 1995 Kaitei Gunkan Production Committee
KICA-308
King Records
21 August 1996
2800 yen

— by Keith Rhee

Metsubou no Zero Hour
(Zero Hour To Destruction)

1. 1945 Nen, Unmei no Hi (Day of Destiny, 1945)

2. Hinata Ichizoku no Theme (Hinata Family Theme)

3. Kaite Gunkan no Theme [Main Theme] (Undersea Battleship Theme - Main Title)

4. Nankyoku Chousatai Hasshin (Departure of the South Pole Exploration Team)

5. Kyoudai Enchu Indra (Giant Column Indra)

6. Chouriki Rensu no Kyoui (Menace of the Gravity Lenses)

7. Kokurengun no Theme (UN Forces Theme)

8. Yousai Bimaana Shotsuga

9. Eien no Ai no Theme ~ Aoki Daikai no Hate ni [Ragou Kaoukai no Theme] (Theme of eternal Love ~ To the Ends of the Blue Ocen [Ra's Sailing Theme])

Memory of Ocean

10. Kyoudai Inseki no Nazo (Riddle of the Giant Meteorite)

11. Oozora no Tatkai (Fight in the Open Sky)

12. Ragou no Kikan (Return of the Ra)

13. 1945 Nen no Shashin (1945 Picture)

14. Kou to Annette (Kou and Annette)

15. Okii naru Ai (A Love Which Grows Larger)

16. Triangle Battle

17. Suiryou no Hasshing (Launch of the Water Dragon)

18. Chou Shindouha no Mouko (Fierce Attack of the Super Vibration Wave)

19. Kessen/ Taiheiyou, Benini somaru Toku: Ragou vs. Ribatii (Decisive Battle/ When the Pacific Ocean was Dyed Crimson: The Ra vs. The Liberty)

20. Michi e no Hasshin - Ending (Launch into the Unknown - Ending)

Ever since the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK-inspired soundtrack of MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM F91, epic soundtracks have been my personal choice for background music. In particular, shows with "retro" themes such as KISHIN HEIDAN and GIANT ROBO come with powerful symphonic music that make for great listening even outside the show's context.
Another retro show, another epic soundtrack: last year saw the release of the SHIN KAITEI GUKAN OVAs, and I was pleased to find that the music was equally good as the GIANT ROBO soundtrack. In fact, the musical style may sound vaguely familiar to those who own the GIANT ROBO CDs, something explained by the fact that the SHIN KAITEI GUNKAN soundtrack is composed by the same music director. This is not a mere imitation of the GIANT ROBO soundtrack, however. Whereas GIANT ROBO had a majestic feel and a brighter theme song, the overall impression of the SHIN KAITEI GUNKAN CD is one of a darker and mysterious atmosphere, with a stronger militaristic tone.
The first track sets the mood for the album. "1945 Nen, Unmei no Hi" (Day of Destiny, 1945) starts out with a haunting chant reminiscent of THE ABYSS and, reaching a crescendo, leads into the main "Kaite Gunkan no Theme" (Undersea Battleship Theme). The power of the soundtrack becomes immediately apparent; listening to the rhythmic beat of the drums and rich brass instruments, one can almost picture the massive hulk of the Ra slicing effortlessly through the rough ocean seas. It is not often that a piece succeeds in projecting the right mental image.
It is also interesting to note that several tracks start out light but change into a more serious mood halfway through. "Hinata Ichizoku no Theme (Hinata Family Theme)" starts out with the slow and melodious tune of string instruments and flutes; just as the harmonized singing ends, the track shifts gears and turns into a military march. Only a few tracks manage to avoid the Sturm and Drang completely; "Eien no Ai no Theme ~ Aoki Daikai no Hate ni (Ragou Koukai no Theme)" (Theme of Eternal Love ~ To the Ends of the Blue Ocean (Ra's Navigation Theme)) is a melodious and beautifully sung aria, and "Okii naru Ai" (A Love Which Grows Larger) is an instrumental take on "Ragou Koukai no Theme" performed with a bagpipe and flutes.
The music tracks for the alien forces are post-modern affairs. While "Omo Karensu no Kyoui" (Menace of the Gravity Lenses) with its loud and rhythmic drum-beating and the occasional flutes is not too bad, the others, such as "Kyoudai Enchu Indra" (Giant Column Indra) prove to be a little bizarre for my taste. Speaking as someone who does not like this particular musical style much, they seem to fit into the category of background music that do a great job of setting the mood but are a little too odd to be enjoyed on their own. Fortunately, there are only a handful of these tracks on the album.
The central themes are repeated various times throughout the album, albeit with differences in mood and execution. Track twelve, "Ragou no Kikan (Return of the Ra)", is a melancholic, subdued version of the main theme with most of the militaristic feel removed, while "Kou to Annette (Kou and Annette)" is a flute and harp rendition of the haunting opening tune of the first track. These slower tunes provide the necessary mood for the quiet intermissions between conflicts. The ending piece, "Michi e no Hasshin -- Ending" (Cruising into the Unknown), recaps the main theme once again, this time with a stronger emphasis on the trumpets, and provides closure to the album.
This is not your average, run-of-the-mill background music. Performed magnificently by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, it is deep, rich, and powerful, and succeeds in delivering both atmospheres of mystery and conflict. The SHIN KAITEI GUNKAN album would make a fine addition for any enthusiast of epic soundtracks. From the crew that brought you the GIANT ROBO soundtrack, this is sheer musical brilliance, once again.