© 2024 Lawrence Tuczynski
All information courtesy of Sam Scali
| Title: | Exciting Fantasy - Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah |
| CD Label: | BKM |
| CD Number: | G.R.F.GK1 |
| Music Performed by: | Bukimisha Weird Secret Society |
| Music Composed by: | Akira Ifukube |
| Number of tracks: | 2 |
| Running time: | 38:00 |
| Number of discs: | 1 |
| Year of release/manufacture: | April 30, 2023 |
| REVIEW |
May 03, 2024 This CD-R features two extended tracks featuring a capella vocal performances of Akira Ifukube compositions inspired by the iconic, three-headed space monster, King Ghidorah. The first is a new adaptation of the maestro's 1991 concert suite, SYMPHONIC FANTASIA "GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH", which was based on themes from the then-latest GODZILLA film. Bukimisha had previously recorded the suite in 2005 (G.R.F.015), but this is a new, reconstructed version. As always, Bukimisha uses their distinctive vocal blend to perfectly evoke the awe and excitement of the suite's original musical arrangement. The second track, "KING GHIDORAH FANTASY" takes a somewhat different approach, with a medley of musical motifs that are related to King Ghidorah, mostly taken from Showa Era fantasy film scores. Some of the cues are variations on the monster's signature theme, first introduced in his 1964 debut film, GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and reprised in MONSTER ZERO (1965), DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968) and, much later, in GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991). Also included are radically different arrangements of the motif, the earliest being the eerie "Lunar Landing" from 1959's BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, along with "Tsukuyomi's Sword" from THE LITTLE PRINCE AND THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (1963) and "The Dorats" from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH. In addition, the medley features march themes from MONSTER ZERO and DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, both of which portrayed Ghidorah as a major threat. And while neither BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959) nor FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (1965) featured King Ghidorah, themes from both films were recycled as stock music in GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (1972), in which King Ghidorah appeared a secondary adversary. And "Get Rodan!", originally composed for RODAN (1956), was re-recorded decades later for OSTINATO (1986) and subsequently reused as "Get King Ghidorah!" for GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH. Despite the varied original sources, the themes are carefully blended together to create a continuous composition, magnificently performed by Bukimisha. Once again, this amazingly talented and prolific vocal group have created a unique and exciting presentation of Akira Ifukube's work that is unlike any other collection of film music. 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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Exciting Fantasy - Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (G.R.F.GK1)
Fury of the Gravity Beam (M15) from GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) Monster Zero (M8) from MONSTER ZERO (1965) Main Title (M1) from MONSTER ZERO Major Battle at Fuji I (M25) from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968) Missile Operation to Protect the Capital (M15) from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS Search March (M26) from FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (1965) Main Title (M2) from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE King Ghidorah from SYMPHONIC FANTASIA NO. 2 (1983) Main Title (M1B) / UFO Raid (M1C) from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH (1991) King Ghidorah Attacks Fukuoka (M18) from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH The Self-Defense Force Mobilizes (M6) from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH King Ghidorah Crashes (M27) from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH Get Rodan! (M15, "Ostinato" version) from RODAN (1956) The Dorats (M11) from GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH Tsukuyomi's Sword (M21) from THE LITTLE PRINCE AND THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (1963) |