CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan Vocal Collection

CLAMP GAKUEN TANTEIDAN VOCAL COLLECTION
Copyright © CLAMP, Kadokawa Shoten / Bandai Visual, Studio Pierro, Tokyo TV
Japan Victor VICL-60061
Available now in Japan
¥3000
Where to buy

—by Mark L. Johnson

1. Piani Pink (Peony Pink; Opening Theme) 0:00

2. Gift (Ending Theme 2) 0:00

3. Ijuuin Akira's Cooking Manual #1 Drama 0:00

4. Youkoso Metalikku Paati (Welcome to the Metallic Party; Ending Theme 1) 0:00

5. STRAY CHILDREN 0:00

6. Ijuuin Akira's Cooking Manual #2 Drama 0:00

7. Kafe Terasu de Ocha o Doozo (Please Have Tea on the Cafe Terrace) 0:00

8. Tsukiyo no Pieletto (Moonlight Pliette) 0:00

9. Nichiyoubi no Shiesuta (A Sunday Siesta) 0:00

10. Cheri Cheri 0:00

11. Bukubuku Sora ga (A Loose Fitting Sky) 0:00

12. L'eternite 0:00

13. Water Drop 0:00

14. Ai dake janai (But it's Not Just Love) 0:00

15. Ijuuin Akira's Cooking Manual #3 Drama 0:00

Tracks 1,7-14 vocals by Ari Project
Track 2 vocals by Sakamoto Maaya
Track 4-5 vocals by Marble Berry
Track 1,7-14 composed by Katakura Mikiya
Track 2 composed by Kanno Yoko
Track 4-5 composed by TERU

As a follow-up to EX's review of AnimeVillage.com's North American release of CLAMP SCHOOL, this is a look at the vocal collection currently available in Japan.
This CLAMP GAKUEN TANTEIDAN Vocal Collection is collection of the songs spawned by the TV series (including full versions of the opening and ending themes), and padded with a drama staring the three main characters.
Starting off is the opening theme "Piani Pink," a very cute song with a catchy beat. Most of the vocals on this disk are done by the same group (they call themselves ALI Project on this album). "Kafe Terasu de Ocha o Doozo" for instance is an even more upbeat song that goes all over the scale.
"Tsukiyo no Pieletto", "Nichiyoubi no Shiesuta", and "Cheri Cheri" on the other hand, are much slower pieces. The instruments are kept simple (a lone accordion or guitar) with the melody resting on the vocalist. They have the feel of fancy lounge music, and are set to a foxtrot beat. "Bukubuku Sora ga" is similar, but is accompanied by a children's chorus and fun sound effects, creating a very different feel from the previous songs.
"L'eternite" is a purely choral work; slow and pretty with voices emulating instruments and performing lyrics. "Water Drop" and "Ai dake Janai" come back closer to Piani Pink's original flare, but are slower pieces with pleasant melodies.
Switching groups on this album, "Gift" is easily my favorite piece. Anybody familiar with Kanno Yoko and Sakamoto Maaya's work on ESCAFLOWNE (the opening theme "Yakusoku wa Iranai," for instance) will definitely recognize this style. Used as the second ending theme to the series, it is an irresistible upbeat song. It's a shame they did not include the other song coupled with Gift's CD single release, "Kimi ni Ai ni Ikou" as it was another great song.
"Youkoso Metalikku Paati" is the first ending theme to CLAMP CAMPUS DETECTIVES, and emulates a pop style similar to the J-POP band Judy & Mary (RURONI KENSHIN's 1st opening for instance). A happy varied song with a light beat and a nice melody. The image song "Stray Children" is done in exactly the same way as well.
The drama tracks detail a rather humorous attempt by Akira to teach cooking neophytes Suoh and Nokoru how to make an apple pie. The drama is well done for a drama story, but as this is a vocal album I find it interrupts the music flow, as the dramas combined take over 20 minutes of the disk.
Overall, this is a reasonably good disk for fans of the CLAMP series. My main regrets though are the different slower style of half the pieces on this album away from the upbeat opening and ending themes, plus the drama tracks. However, the opening/ending themes are truly great to have, and this vocal collection is a relatively solid collection nevertheless. For Kanno Yoko/Sakamoto Maaya only fans though, I might suggest trying to locate the single "CLAMP GAKUEN TANTEIDAN 'Gift' CD-Single" (VIDL-30035) as this is currently one of my favorite songs.