Nurse Angel Ririka SOS - Heart Aid First

NURSE ANGEL RIRIKA S.O.S. - HEART AID FIRST

King Record Compnay, Limited
Copyright 1995, Koi Yumeno, Yasushi Akimoto, Shuueisha, Tokyo Television, NAS
KICA 273
57:28 (27 tracks)
¥3000

— by Darold Higa

1. Koi o Surutabi ni Kizutsuki Yasuku...(Ririka Version) 4:31

When in Love, It's So Easy to Be Hurt (First OP)

Vocal: Asou Kaori

2. Inochi (Seimei) no Kagayaki wa Towa (Eien) 1:48

The Radiance of Life is Eternal

3. Dakara Namida o Fuite 1:51

So Wipe Away the Tears Because

4. Kihin Afureshi Gakubi no Niwa 1:37

School Garden of Overflowing Grace

5. Mainichi no Naka no Shiawase 2:30

Everyday Happiness

6. Subtitle 0:17

7. Shojou wa Kidakaku Utsukushiku 1:25

The Girl is Noble and Beautiful

8. Suteki na Egao ni Kakomarenagara 1:08

Surround by Wonderful Smiling Faces

9. Jiken wa Itsumo Totsuzen ni 1:55

Trouble Always Suddenly [Appears]

10. Koi o Surutabi ni Kizutsuki Yasuku...(Eyecatch) 0:15

When in Love It's So Easy to be Hurt

11. Setsunasadake ga Taijinbite 1:39

Growing up with Just Sadness

12. Koko ni Ite 3:55

I am Here

Vocal: Asou Kaori

13. Kanashimi Yori Omoki Shimei (Kanon Main Theme) 2:05

Important Mission from Sorrow

14. Anakoku Kara Shikaku 1:34

Assassin from the Darkness

15. Semarikuru Kagetachi 2:12

Shadows Closing In

16. Mamoritai Hito ga Iru Kara 2:11

Because There's Someone I Want to Protect

17. Yasashisa o Yuuki ni Kaeru Toki 1:46

When Gentleness Becomes Courage

18. Hikari Afureru Sekai no Tame ni 1:42

For the Sake of the World Which Overflows with Light (Transformation/Battle Music)

19. Reikoku na Kehai 2:47

Cruel Sign

20. Makerarenai Riyuu 1:35

Undefeatable Reason

21. Tasogare wa Menu ni Orite 2:13

Twilight Falling in My Heart

22. Akui ni Michita Chikara 1:43

Malicious Power

23. Ataranaru Tatakai no Butai 3:53

New Stage of Battle

24. Fukai Yami o Koete 2:05

Cross the Deep Darkness

25. Kokoro, Aru ga mama ni 1:11

In the Heart, Like This

26. Subete no Ai Subekimono e (Ririka Main Theme) 2:18

To The Place Where You Love Everything

27. Ririka SOS (Album Version) 4:26

Vocal: Asou Kaori

SAILOR MOON's "Moonlight Densetsu" (Moonlight Legend) OP taught me a very important lesson about anime; visual images may awe and inspire, but a catchy tune will stay with you long after the tv is turned off. Good background music engages the imagination and stimulates emotions without detracting from the action on the screen. As a result of this, my "first cut" with any anime is the OP; skillful execution should result in a synergy between animation and music, the sum total greater than the parts. FUSHIGI YUUGI met this criteria; so did NURSE ANGEL RIRIKA. When I heard the first few seconds of "Koi o Surutabi ni Kizutsuki Yasuku...," deep down I knew that I was going to enjoy this show and that I had to buy the CD.

For most fans (myself included), one key motivation behind every soundtrack CD purchase is to own the OP and ED tracks. However, King Records has the annoying habit of releasing a title on air with a big-name artist, then re-releasing the soundtracks with a different version of the song (as they did with "Kimi Iro Omoi" by SMAP for Akazukin Chacha). Unfortunately they did the same with "Koi o Surutabi ni Kizutsuki Yasuku..." (The original CD is Toshiba EMI CTDR-26003). Luckily, the version sung by Asou Kaori (the voice behind Ririka) retains all of the techno-dance trappings of the original and is good enough to get me singing along, which is always a good sign.

That aside, how does the rest of the music on the CD stack up? The music for NURSE ANGEL combines classical instruments together to successfully create program music that compliments without drawing too much attention to itself. The tracks themselves vary from the whimsical to very dark and dramatic, but most have decidedly classical overtones. On the lighthearted side, the first third of the CD serves as excellent background for the day-to-day goings on at school and at home. The rest of the CD is filled with rather dramatic music. If you've only seen the early episodes of Ririka, some of the reflective violin and piano music may seem overstated, but for those who are further along in the story, such heartfelt music can elicit strong memories and emotions.

Quite a few tracks stand out as remarkable. The first segment of track 9, Jiken wa Itsumo Totsuzen ni ("Trouble Always Suddenly·"), feels like something that you'd hear at a 50's drive in. The horns and violins from Kanon's theme (track 15) are always inspirational. "Makerarenai Riyuu" ("Undefeatable Reason"), track 20, utilizes piano punctuated with woodwinds to create a very effective mood piece. My absolute favorite track (aside from the OP, of course) has to be "Hikari Afureru Sekai no Tame ni" (For the Sake of the World Which Overflows with Light-track 18), which is the background music for Ririka's transformation into Nurse Angel. That familiar music, with its blaring brass and flowing strings, always makes me want to stand up and cheer.

If you are a NURSE ANGEL fan, this CD is essential to your collection. Fans of solid program music should not shy away from this purchase either. In a world full of overhyped merchandising, this CD, with 27 tracks of solid music and vocals, is yen (or dollars) well spent.