SPT Layzner BGM Collection Volume 1

SPT LAYZNER BGM COLLECTION VOLUME 1

— by Charles McCarter

1. Merosu no you ni (Like Meros)
Vocal: Air Mail from Nagasaki 4:12

2. Kokuren Kasei Kichi (U.N. Mars Base) 3:40

3. Kozumikku Karuchaa Kurabu (Cosmic Culture Club) 3:17

4. Senran no Jokyon (Prelude to War) 1:51

5. Akai Hoshi (The Red Planet) 2:59

6. S*P*T 4:35

7. Anna Sutefanii (Anna Stephanie) 5:29

8. Senka (Ravages of War) 2:36

9. Hisou (Pathetic) 2:59

10. Sono Hitomi o Shinjite (I Believe in Your Eyes) 2:57

11. Kyoushuu (Homesickness) 1:30

12. 5-fun dake no Wagamama (Selfish for Just Five Minutes)
Vocal: Air Mail from Nagasaki 4:38

If you remember AOKI RYUUSEI SPT LAYZNER (yes, it's a Sunrise show), then you may remember its music. Either way, it can be recaptured on SPT LAYZNER BGM COLLECTION VOLUME 1, part of King Records' Star Child line.
Of course, the disc opens with the opening theme, "Merosu no you ni ~Lonely Way~" ("Like Meros ~Lonely Way~"). The title alludes to a story ("Hashire! Merosu") about a man who was in a race to save his friends life. If he lost the race, his friend would be killed, but if he were to win, then he himself would be killed. Not a pleasant situation. Aside from its lyrical cleverness, this song also has a strong beat, good melody, and the ubiquitous ability to juxtapose less than cheerful lyrics with an upbeat melody and make it work.
The BGM on the disc is best described as atmospheric and moody, as each piece evokes a different sensation from the previous one. "Senran no Jokyon" ("Prelude to War"), for example, begins with low strings and stretches to include a rolling timpani, creating an ominous feeling, and making the very air feels as if it was pregnant with tension. In contrast, "Kokuren Kasei Kichi" ("U.N. Mars Base") uses jazzy piano and muted trumpet to deliver more relaxed atmosphere, and certainly not what one would expect judging by its serious and lofty title.
Different still is "SPT." At the beginning, it sounds very much like "Mad Machine" from BUBBLEGUM CRISIS 2. But instead of a vocal, this composition gets its body and character from a liberal use of brass, including trumpets and trombones. The brass infuse this piece with energy, and the listener can visualize the preparations before the battle as the trumpets blare. A short piece, "Kyoushuu" ("Homesickness") uses keyboard and synthesizer to create a lonely, dreamlike atmosphere, as if remembering a happy childhood now so seemingly far away.
The strength of this BGM lies in its cumulative effectiveness in creating a mood; as one listens, he finds himself starting to feel the melancholy as the succession of emotional tracks continues playing. This experience culminates with the ending theme "5-fun dake no Wagamama" ("Selfish for Just Five Minutes"). Air Mail from Nagasaki, the same group who performed the opening, delivers a very powerful ballad dealing with separation and the pain of saying goodbye. The melody is haunting and will linger in the listener's head even after the CD is over.
While this is certainly not a "feel good" soundtrack, it deserves credit for solid musicianship, composition quality, and its ability to make the listener feel. If this appeals to you, or if you just want to relive the experience of watching LAYZNER, it won't get any better than this CD.