COWBOY BEBOP ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK 2

COWBOY BEBOP
NO DISC
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK 2
Copyright © Sunrise
Japan Victor
VICL-60202
Available now in Japan
¥ 3,045

18 tracks; 53:32

—by Charles McCarter

1. American Money 1:07

2. Fantaisie Sign 5:19

vocal: Carla Vallet

3. Don't bother none 3:39

vocal: Yamane Mai

4. Vitamin A 0:10

5. LIVE in Baghdad 3:22

vocal: Endo Masaaki

6. Cats on Mars 2:44

vocal: Gabriella Robin

7. Want it all back 4:01

vocal: Yamane Mai

8. Bindy 2:18

9. You make me cool 3:11

vocal: Furukawa Masayoshi

10. Vitamin B 0:08

11. Green Bird 1:53

vocal: Gabriella Robin

12. ELM 5:04

13. Vitamin C 0:06

14. Gateway 2:58

15. The Singing Sea 4:39

vocal: Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch

16. The EGG and YOU 3:42

17. Forever Broke 3:14

18. Power of Kung Food Remix 5:28

Kanno Yoko is one of those names that fans automatically recognize. As the composer for such shows as MACROSS PLUS, PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH, and ESCAFLOWNE, her work has garnered her a very strong fan following over the years. And with the Sunrise television series COWBOY BEBOP, she was given the freedom to experiment with a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues, and even heavy metal. This second soundtrack is less jazz-oriented than the first, and includes some additional musical styles, but a strong jazz influence pervades the tracks.
The disc opens with "American Money," which is the music for "Big Shot", the Bounty Hunter show that Spike and company watch to get their assignments. As such, it is replete with banjos plunking and other western cliches, as well as the "cha-ching" sound of a cash register drawer.
The CD then abruptly switches gears with the next track, Fantaisie Sign, a sort of techno-blues song in French. At first it sounds like an old chanson, but then it quickly acquires a somewhat retro sixties feel, sounding like something off an old Burt Bacharach album. "Don't Bother None," returns to the "Old West" theme, and begins with a lone guitar strumming along for about a minute before the vocals kick in. The vocals however, are all blues, complete with a husky, raspy voice in singer Yamane Mai. Lost love, lost car, lost luck. "That's jus' the way it is.."
"LIVE in Baghdad" is another stop on this musical tour, and is a heavy metal track, complete with pulsating drums, loud guitar riffs, and lyrics as much shouted as sung over the accompaniment. At times, singer Endo Masaaki reminds me of Queensryche lead singer Geoff Tate, but without the same level of strength or range. This will probably be the track skipped by most listeners.
And just when you think this disc couldn't get any more eclectic, there's "Cats on Mars." Co-written and performed with Gabriella Robin, it sounds essentially like a children's song done with a synthesizer. It's very strange and one of those songs that you may not really like, but if you listen to it long enough, it will grow on you.
"Want It All Back" is another Jazz vocal, and is again sung by Yamane Mai. This song, like his previous track, is in English as well. The lyrics are good, the music is good. It's a good jazz song. "You Make Me Cool" begins with a sound similar to that of the old PINK PANTHER theme, but quickly moves into an area of its own. Another jazz vocal sung in English, this one is sure to please American fans.
Still another style is presented in "Green Bird," which once again reunites Kanno's music with the words and vocals of Gabriella Robin, who was also responsible for much of Sharon Apple's songs in MACROSS PLUS. This is a quiet vocal, consisting of a number of voices singing different parts. The effect is haunting and beautiful, and very different from anything else on the album.
The final vocal track on this album is "The Singing Sea." Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch gives an impressive vocal performance, immediately inviting comparisons to jazz great Ella Fitzgerald and the Queen of the Blues, Bessie Smith. A slow, lilting vocal, this song is perhaps one of the most emotionally powerful on the album.
Any track that has bongos and saxophones is going to be pure jazz, and the BGM track "Bindy" doesn't disappoint. It even manages to throw in a few Middle Eastern melodies and integrate them in a very seamless way. This is perhaps one of the best tracks that demonstrate Kanno's skill as a composer on this album. The other BGM tracks on the album don't disappoint, either, and include some very nice piano jazz tracks ("The EGG and YOU"), and more blues guitar ("Forever Broke").
The final track, "Power of Kung Food Remix" is a remix of "Tank!" the COWBOY BEBOP opening theme, and it's a little strange in areas but still overall very good, even though I prefer my music to not be electronically altered.
In short, this album is as much a showcase for Kanno Yoko's diverse mastery of musical styles as it is a soundtrack for COWBOY BEBOP. Luckily for the listener, it really does succeed on both levels and will alienate neither BEBOP nor Kanno fans. Definitely purchase this if you like COWBOY BEBOP, jazz, or Kanno Yoko.