Niea's Loco

15 Tracks; 46m:54s

1. Ukulele Blues 1:56

2. Paradise Branch 2:58

3. Olomana Blues 3:55

4. Come Stay With Me 4:16

5. Mana 3:54

6. Comfortable Feelin' 3:43

7. Like a Hula Blues 3:43

8. Lag Rag 1:47

9. As Is 3:07

10. Papa Street 2:48

11. Molokai Shores 2:57

12. Love Never Change 2:41

13. Pua Eno Hana 2:45

14. Nia 3:46

15. Holo Holo 2:36

—by Charles McCarter

Like the show itself, NIEA'S LOCO, the soundtrack for NIEA_7, leaves the listener wondering what exactly is going on. Probably the strangest thing about this CD is something that I have never encountered before. The track listings are arranged in a complete circle in several different places on the CD. However, in none of these instances are there numbers or any other way to denote which is the first track on the disc! After listening to the CD a couple of times, I decided on what I thought was the appropriate starting point for the track listings and labeled them accordingly. However, only the NIEA production people know for sure at this point.
The overwhelming theme of this CD, and the soundtrack for NIEA_7 can be summed up in one word "ukulele." Now, this is not an instrument that one associates with great soundtracks, so immediately, after hearing the first track (which I assume is "Ukulele Blues"), I was a little worried. Sure, this song was cute and bouncy and reminded me of all those stereotypical scenes of Hawaii underscored by Don Ho music on the beach, but still...
In fact, the prevalent instrument on this CD is the ukulele, and it's very different. It gives the soundtrack a very folksy, homey feel. In the show, it gives the scenes an intimacy that is hard to characterize, but it hasn't been seen in anime for a while.
In fact, it's only at the 4th track that we hear a different instrument—a violin. This is a sad, lonely song so the violin is an appropriate voice. But, like the ukulele, even the violin is played with a bit more of a "rustic" quality, so it sounds more like fiddle playin' than a classical violin. And again, it really suits the show.
Track five introduces a new instrument—the steel guitar. For those not familiar with this instrument, it is responsible for the glissando—the gliding sounds—in many older country songs as well as some Hawaiian songs as well. And here again, it is used to create a musical landscape that reminds one of beaches and palm trees.
Probably the weirdest track on the CD is track nine, which begins as whistling and it then accompanied by what sounds like an electric organ. It's rather difficult to describe, and it is very different from the rest of the tracks on this disc. But after that, it's back to guitar music, and this time, it's a Spanish guitar. Or at least it sounds like one, in a high-spirited fiery dance tune that is one of the most upbeat and energetic on the disc.
Probably what most fans will notice and not like is the lack of any vocals on this disc. But there aren't really a lot of vocals in NIEA_7, and I'm pretty sure that we don't want the voice actresses to start belting out songs in character.
Most of the disc is ukulele music. It's unpretentious, mellow, laid-back, and surprisingly fun. And it fits the pacing of NIEA_7 very well. If you like the series, you'll like the soundtrack. But, even if you haven't seen NIEA_7, if you listen to the soundtrack, you may find yourself drifting away to a more relaxing place. At least for a little while. NIEA'S LOCO is original and it's fun, and that's all that really matters.

Pioneer
PICA-1210
¥3059
Available Now in Japan
Where to buy