Joe Hisaishi - Spirited Away

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Music reviews of Spirited Away

Music Review: Spirited Away By This Score
Rating: 4 Stars

"One Summer's Day" starts it all, as Chihiro rides in the back of the car to her family's new home. It's a sweet melody, and it does sound like the theme for a lost child. It also introduces the beautiful theme of Spirited Away, with a soft piano and seldom string instruments. It ends with the fast-paced ride to the abandoned amusement park.

"Nighttime Coming" is very dramatic, and sympathetic as well. It's also awe-inspiring, as you feel the changes going on around Chihiro as the music plays and the scenery alters to that of the spirit world. This can't be told through the music, but similar themes seem woven into the piece.

"Dragon Boy" is simply magnificent, though I wonder if it should have been placed later in the soundtrack. Nonetheless, it is exciting and is exactly the type of music that truly represents Spirited Away.

"Sootballs" is a charming piece, if a bit long, but you can tell the struggle occuring in it, despite how happy and cute it sounds. "Procession of the Gods" is probably one of my favorite tracks, though perhaps only for its grandeur, as it sweeps with the serving of the spirits in the bathhouse, as well as remaining a type of simple Japanese rythm at the same time.

"Yubaba" is eerie and tense, and is easily distinguished as the villain's theme for the track, even if you haven't seen the movie. The slow, isolated piano plinks really establish the setting of the piece.

"Bathhouse Morning" has a very sweet sounding little theme inside it, and while that part is short, it makes the whole song wonderful.

"Stink Spirit" is very, very simple at first, but it gets better as it goes along. Like much of the music, it works better with the image, but it does reach its own drama, and eventually triumph as the piece comes to its climax and conclusion.

"Kaonashi" isn't that enjoyable in audio for. As great of a character as No-Face was, his theme really only worked while he was present in front of you... whatever he was. There's nothing really wrong with this piece; it simply isn't that interesting to listen to.

"The Sixth Station" is a well-paced, beautiful piece, and is very sad as well. It creates an emotion that even conveys the color tones you can't see when just listening to it. Amidst the depression within it, there is also a line of hope, which is easily distinguished among all the sad strings, revealing that they are also strings of struggle, and possible triumph.

"Yubaba's Panic" is pretty much just a reorchestration of "Yubaba," yet faster paced and with a couple of additions. "House at Swamp Bottom" is very homely and peaceful, a theme that reminisces to times of reading a good book or simply feeling cozy at home.

"Reprise" is probably the most moving piece on the soundtrack. It's filled with drama, sadness, exhultance, and joy. The scene accompanying it is equally beautiful, but is greatly helped by the piece, which can easily stand on its own and deserves much listening.

"Return" has an exciting opening the drifts into the theme of Spirited Away, as well as a sad overture to the end. "Always With Me" is a bit of a disappointment as the ending love song, but it's decent enough to hold.

I suppose the only thing wrong with the soundtrack is that, if you haven't seen the movie, many of the pieces won't get you the same way. And if you have seen the movie, it really makes you want to watch it again. So either way, it relies on the movie. There are exceptions, and of course, everything sounds beautiful, but it's this problem that holds the soundtrack back a star. Otherwise, a wonderful orchestration by Joe Hisaishi and I look forward to hearing more of his work in the future.

-Escushion

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