Chouja Raideen - Original Soundtrack Vol. 1

CHOUJA RAIDEEN - ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK VOL. 1

Ayers Inc. AYCM-545, 5 Dec 1996
50:38 (18 tracks)
¥3000

— by Maria C. Muñoz

1. In My Justice - Tsubasa no Densetsu (Legend of the Wing) [OP] 3:13

Watanabe Manabu

2. Good Shall Prevail - Theme of Raideen 3:59

3. Earth Takeover 1:32

4. Transform #1 - Theme of Eagle 3:46

5. If She Were Here 2:31

6. Get the Humans 2:31

7. Deep Groove 2:34

8. Transform #2 - Theme of Condor 3:34

9. Fresh Day 1:34

10. Transform #3 - Theme of Hawk 3:38

11. Mystic Knights 2:58

12. The Comming 1:32

13. Transform #4 - Theme of Owl 3:34

14. What Could Have Been 2:11

15. Dream Space 0:34

16. Transform #5 - Theme of Falcon 3:33

17. What Could Have Been (Reprise) 3:23

18. Q [ED] 4:01

Paradise Lost

Based on the popular video game of the same name, RAIDEEN has produced an older anime series and a whole new second anime series called CHOUJA RAIDEEN (Raideen the Superior). CHOUJA RAIDEEN, produced by Asatsu and Sunrise, employs U.S. musician Tom Keane to create the thematic music for the show.

Most of the music on this CD are instrumentals which really set the overall heroic feel for the show. Watanabe Manabu's strong voice belts out the great opening theme, "In My Justice - Tsubasa no Densetsu" (Legend of the Wing). "In My Justice" is a ballad with a single voice telling the heroic legend of the Raideen Warriors. Then it incorporates a steady beat mixed with synthetizers giving it a sense of science fiction.

"Good Shall Prevail - Theme of Raideen," combines the rock and roll beat from each of the individual themes of the five raideen characters: Eagle, Condor, Hawk, Owl, and Falcon. Each of these five tracks titled "Transform" incorporates this similar beat and melody.

"Transform #1 - Theme of Eagle" sets the basic beat, music and pace for the other themes. Its driving melody denotes it as a "Leader" theme. The rest of the themes are similar to the first, but with subtle beat variations and additional guitar riffs that serve to reinforce the slight dominance of the first version.

"What Could Have Been" commonly serves as the background for those times when Sho reflects back on his relationship with his girlfriend. She is in a deep coma from falling off a high building, and he keeps watch over her in hopes that she will recover. Viewers also hear it whenever Sho meets up with Kirari-chan, the popular idol singer who is an uncanny match for his girlfriend. The song has a Kenny G like quality to it with a single trumpet playing the harmony.

"Fresh Day" is a light, bouncy, urban type music that plays at the beginning of some of the shows when the group is getting ready for a new day. It has a gentle yet upbeat tempo that reflects the scenes it plays in. "Earth Takeover" has a very foreboding tone to it; its slow armageddon-like music plays whenever the show's villian, Lucius, is planning a diabolical plot to obtain the Zodiac Orbs in order to rule the Earth.

"Q," performed by Paradise Lost, contains a rock and roll theme using heavy percussion and bass guitars. "Q" also intersperses French language within the song to give it that out of the ordinary feel.

I highly recommend this CD for those CHOUJA RAIDEEN fans who love the driving music of this show. It is well worth it!