I made a surprising discovery online yesterday, miraculously finding the original soundtrack for one of my favorite (and relatively unknown) science-fiction films ever. After listening to this beautiful, and incredibly rare, soundtrack, I decided I would ask everybody out there what their most obscure records were, in any genre. I’m curious to see just how eclectic people’s musical tastes are. And when I mean obscure I mean hard to come by, far removed from the mainstream, or so off the wall that people wonder what you’re smoking when you play it on your stereo. I’ll start the ball rolling with this:

Royal Space Force

Ryuichi Sakamoto. Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise (OST). 1987. 4 stars.

The original score to a superb anime film that probably most of the Western world has never heard of. The film takes place in some sort of parallel universe, in an almost Victorian-style future where everything is powered by steam (see: steampunk) and mankind has yet to go into space. As two powerful kingdoms push closer to war, one unlikely, hapless pilot is well on his way of becoming the first man in orbit. But his military superiors have ulterior motives to the launch.

Just like the film’s fantastic animation, memorable characters and striking atmosphere, the soundtrack to Wings of Honneamise is mysterious, triumphant and epic in scope. Oscar winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto weaves traditional classical elements and orchestration with soothing ambient synth passages, electronic effects and jangly guitar to create a score that is both modernist and nostalgic for cultural traditions and new frontiers. The music carries a a sense of romanticism, capturing the spirit of exploration and discovery that is conveyed so well in the film.

Easily one of the greatest soundtracks I’ve come across, Sakamoto’s compositions are lush, dramatic and inviting, showcasing the artist’s ear for variety, texture and experimentation. Recommended to anyone interested in hearing something adventurous and out of the ordinary.

  • So I hope thats a good start, maybe we can get some other obscure examples from you guys. What strange gems are you holding on to?
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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 8:06 am and is filed under Features, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.