Macross Plus Original Soundtrack 1

Yoko Kanno's reputation in the anime industry is well known. This album is another good example of why that reputation is well deserved. All of the music on this album is excellent. There is not a single number that doesn't qualify as excellent. What really showcases Yoko Kanno's talent is the variety of the music on the album. Being a Yoko Kanno album, there are of course excellent formal orchestral numbers; in this case performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Some of these pieces rank among the best in her career. Tracks 2 & 9 stand out as some of her best orchestral work. Tracks 4 & 8 are very intimate numbers that are associated with the character of Myung. The convey really well the sadness and regret of her character. Track 8 also contains some excellent vocal work by Akino Arai. The whole thing is topped off by three Sharon Apple songs (tracks 3:After,in the Dark~Torch Song & 11:SANTI-U). Sharon Apple is a pop singer in the Macross Plus world. Although her songs are very different and odd, they're also quite good. Whether you're a fan of Yoko Kanno or have never heard of her doesn't matter. Either way, this is a great CD.