© 2024 Lawrence Tuczynski

All info courtesy of Sam Scali

English Title: Exciting Fantasy - Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
(aka Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II)
CD Label: BKM
CD Number: G.R.F. SMG1
Music Composed by: Akira Ifukube
Music Performed by: Bukimisha Weird Secret Society
Number of tracks: 2
Running time: 36:29
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: October 29, 2023

REVIEW

February 24, 2024

This CDR features two tracks - each of them an a cappella medley combining several of Akira Ifukube's film score motifs into extended vocal suites, similar in spirit and structure to the maestro's "Symphonic Fantasia" concert works.

The first medley consists of 17 cues from 1993's GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA. The cues are not arranged in strict film order, nor are they randomly strung together. Rather, they are artfully combined to flow as a continuous piece of music in the manner of the "Symphonic Fantasia" suites. As always, Bukimisha vocally interprets the musical arrangements in seamless fashion, handling melody, rhythm and percussion with power, grace and subtlety, while sustaining an overall mood of dark solemnity - an approach well-suited to the classic 1993 score.

The second medley is a further departure, selecting 17 cues from a variety of classic Showa Era Ifukube scores from 1957-1975. In addition to these cues being musically compatible, they also share a common theme: All of them were originally composed to score movie scenes featuring assorted mecha/tech creations such as cyborgs, futuristic vehicles, alien weapons, space ships and monster robots. In addition to music from five GODZILLA movies, the suite includes choice cues from THE MYSTERIANS (1957), VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE (1958), BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959), ATRAGON (1963), DAGORA THE SPACE MONSTER (1964), KING KONG ESCAPES (1967), LATITUDE ZERO (1969) and YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE (1970). Despite these varied sources, the motifs flow together seamlessly and the results are outstanding; Bukimisha imaginatively renders each cue with breathless urgency, fully capturing the music's range of terror, panic and grandeur.

Once again, Takeo Yahiro and his friends have created a unique and satisfying listening experience with their dynamic vocal presentation of the music of Akira Ifukube. This disc will appeal to the maestro's fans as well as aficionados of Japanese fantasy film scores, and is well worth picking up.

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/

Exciting Fantasy - Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (G.R.F. SMG1)

  1. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla Fantasy (medley selected from "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla", 1993):
    Music of Ancient Plants (M7)
    Main Title (M2)
    Rodan's Life Force (M39)
    Rodan Attacks Sendai (M26)
    Rodan Appears (M5)
    Baby Godzilla is Born (M8)
    Starry Night Serenade (M24)
    Baby's Transport (M18)
    Parting With Baby (M41)
    Opening (M1)
    Mechagodzilla Attacks Again (M29)
    Godzilla's Fury II (M34)
    G-Force March (M16)
    Mechagodzilla Prepares to Land (M12EX)
    Godzilla's Theme (M40)
    Fossil of Adonoa Island (M4)
    Ending (M43)

  2. Exciting Showa Mecha Fantasy (medley selected from Showa mechanical leitmotifs):
    Cyborg Girl (M5) from TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975)
    Mechagodzilla II (M7) from TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975)
    Combat Rocket Manufacture (M30) from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (1959)
    Mechanikong (M4) from KING KONG ESCAPES (1967)
    Mogera (M5) from THE MYSTERIANS (1957)
    Muu Submarine (M26) from ATRAGON (1963)
    Muu Flying Weapon (M21) from ATRAGON (1963)
    The Black Shark (M8) from LATITIDE ZERO (1969)
    Helios Launch (M2) from YOG: MONSTER FROM SPACE (1970)
    Rocket Launch (TV2) from VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE (1958)
    The Alien Disc Appears (M12) from MONSTER ZERO (1965)
    Mysterian Dome (M8) from THE MYSTERIANS (1957)
    Matsumoto City PR Vehicle (M13) from GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964)
    Exploration Vehicle Maser Attack (M23) from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
    Operation: Destroy Godzilla Tower from GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (1972) - taken from "Storm (M2)" from the EXPO '70 Mitsubishi Future Pavilion multimedia exhibit
    Sikorsky H-19 Hatch (M14) from DAGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER (1964)
    Bee Venom Sprayer (M16A) from DAGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER (1964)