© 2003 Lawrence Tuczynski
| Title: | GOUKAI Na Godzilla & Jet Jaguar Punch-Punch-Punch! |
| CD Label: | BKM |
| CD Number: | G.R.F.012 |
| Music Performed by: | Takeo Yahiro & Friends |
| Monster Sound Effects performed by: | David Hirsch, Sam Scali, Robert Storch & Larry Tuczynski |
| Number of tracks: | 26 |
| Running time: | 70:10 |
| Number of discs: | 1 |
| Year of release/manufacture: | 8/16/2003 |
| REVIEW |
September 12, 2003 (Courtesy of Sam Scali) GOUKAI Na Godzilla & Jet Jaguar Punch-Punch-Punch! This is the fifth installment in the series of a cappella CDs from the Japanese artists' collective known as the Bukimisha Weird Secret Society. While all of the previous discs consisted of vocal arrangements of Akira Ifukube's monster film music (sung by a group of about 10 male vocalists), the latest offering is an almost total departure - and by far the strangest of the bunch. Rather than vocal versions of film score cues, the CD starts off with rousing renditions (in Japanese) of three signature theme songs from classic Toho films, beginning with "We Are Space Pilots", from GORATH (1962). Next, we are treated to a heartfelt interpretation of "Return, the Sun!" (aka "Give Back the Sun!"), from 1971's GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER". Finally, the Bukimisha team tackles "Godzilla & Jet Jaguar Punch! Punch!!Punch!!!", from the infamous GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) - giving us not one but two versions, the second of which is even more vigorously (and comically) performed. Taking the concept of the human voice to the next level (!), the second part of the CD consists entirely of simulated roars of twenty of Toho's most famous monster characters, once again "performed" entirely by male voices. But while Bukimisha's previous material was recorded by Takeo Yahiro and his Japanese friends, here the untrained vocal stylings of four American "guests" were enlisted - apparently to make use of the inherent characteristics of American vocal expression. The CD concludes with a couple of hidden bonus tracks, though the first of these unfortunately consists of more than 48 minutes (!) of near-silence, occasionally interrupted with short bits from the chorus of "Return, the Sun!". Track 26 closes the disc with Bukimisha's spirited rendering of "Get Hedorah!", another song from GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER. Overall, this is another fun release from the Bukimisha Weird Secret Society, though not nearly as essential as their recordings of Ifukube music. Though the CD appears to clock in at over 70 minutes, there are actually only about 23 minutes of audio on the disc, so it is more like an EP than a full album. Still, it is an entertaining listen for fans of Godzilla songs and monster sound effects. Bukimisha CDs are available to non-Japanese buyers through BOOTH (The International Indie Art Marketplace) by using a proxy service or other intermediary: https://bukimisya-maal.booth.pm/ |
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GOUKAI Na Godzilla & Jet Jaguar Punch-Punch-Punch!
MONSTER ROARS HIDDEN TRACKS |