© 2024 Lawrence Tuczynski

All info courtesy of David Hirsch and BSX Records

Title BUKIMISHA: Mothra Heart Godzilla
CD Label BSX Records
CD Number BSXCD9236
Music Composed By: Akira Ifukube
Track 32 by Yuji Koseki
Music Performed by: Bukimisha
Number of tracks 33
Running time 67:26
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture November 29, 2024

REVIEW

January 04, 2025 courtesy of BSX Records
(Exclusive liner notes by David Hirsch)

https://buysoundtrax.myshopify.com/products/bukimisha-mothra-hearts-godzilla-the-spiritual-voices-of-akira-ifukube-1

BSX Records proudly presents Bukimisha's latest "a Capella" recreation, Akira Ifukube's magnificent music for MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (aka GODZILLA VS. THE THING). Many fans consider this, the fourth film in the series, to be the pinnacle of the Showa-era entries. Godzilla meets his match as he takes on Mothra and her offspring.

It was also the first U.S. adaptation since the original Raymond Burr version of GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956) to retain Akira Ifukube's complete musical score, a master class in demonstrating how the maestro artfully blended his multiple daikaijü motifs. The final eight-minute battle between the Mothra caterpillars and Godzilla is simultaneously exciting and terrifying, thanks to Ifukube's impeccable musical support.

Contrasting with the soundtrack's bombastic battle cues are the gentile, almost fragile melodies for Mothra's tiny emissaries, the "Small Beauties." With their Tagalog vocals, "Mahala Mothra" and "Sacred Springs" are the only songs the maestro ever wrote for the vocal duo of Emi and Yumi It? (aka, The Peanuts). These songs are included complete with original lyrics. Bonus tracks include music Ifukube wrote for a scene created exclusively for foreign editions.

Bukimisha the Weird Secret Society is a self-proclaimed 'secret society' (pronounced "Boo-key-may-sha" and roughly translating into "Creepy Company") and have enthralled Japanese audiences for 35 years. They have transformed their love of music into a unique art form, building an impressive catalog currently nearing 200 albums! Many of these feature selections from Akira Ifukube's vast output of classical compositions and complete film scores. Bukimisha was even given the opportunity to perform before the legendary composer at one of his final birthday celebrations.

BSX Records is proud to once more offer the distinctive performance art of Bukimisha to movie music fans around the world. This album has been mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland from the group's original digital recordings, all supervised and approved by Takeo Yahiro & their great mentor, Dr. Bukimi. Exclusive liner notes by author David Hirsch with Sam Scali.

This CD set is a limited run.