Ifukube's Swan Song.
kaijuking54 | Odenville, Alabama United States | 09/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Much to the delight of Godzilla fanatics the world over, the Maestro himself, Akira Ifukube, came out of retirement to score Godzilla's last(at least until G2K, that is) cinematic adventure. The score, while not better than 1993's Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla(which many consider to be one of Ifukube's very best scores), is still grand, enthralling and ultimately moving.This 2 CD set includes includes the complete score for the film as well as a whole CD of alternate takes not used in the film. It opens on an ominous note with "The Disappearance of Basu Island," a short cue that suggests the terror to come. The main title theme is a ponderous tune punctuated with booming kettle drums. It segues into the new theme for Destroyah, a grand piece that is heard in varying tempos throughout the CD.Tracks 3 and 8 are sad and mournful, calling to mind the horror wrought by the Oxygen Destroyer. The tune is repeated on the second CD on track 14 with only minor alteration. Junior's theme can be heard in various forms on CD 1: tracks 18, 22, 29, and 34, and on CD 2: tracks 7, 8, 9, 21, 23, 26, 31, and 36.The Super-X III theme, which is worlds better than the previous themes for Super-X I and II, is also prevalent. It is exciting in the tradition of Ifukube's best military marches. Speaking of military themes, the one from War of the Gargantuas gets a re-working on several tracks.The music for Destroyah's early appearances, CD 1, TR. 4, 9, 10, 11, and CD 2, TR. 15 and 17, is appropriately sinister and even includes some of the Oxygen Destroyer theme from the 1954 film. Godzilla's theme, sometimes called the "Godzilla March," also appears in three different versions.The best music on this Cd set, by far, is "Requieum," the music for Godzilla's death at the film's close. It appears on CD 1 in one version(Tr. 33) and on CD 2 in two versions(Tr: 33 and 38). It is a beautiful and sad, yet majestic way to say farewell to the King. The end title theme, heard once on both CDs, contains strains of Ifukube's earlier Godzilla themes. It is a nice summation of the G series, bringing us full circle. One cannot help but be moved, especially if you are a G fan.This CD set is, quite simply, fantastic. Though it can be a little repititious at times, it still is a must-have for any fans of either The Big G or of Akira Ifukube!"
