Drama: Mayonaka wa Betsu no Kao
Album: 23ji no Ongaku aka Music at 23 O’Clock aka Nijuusanji no Ongaku
Musicians: Sakamoto Maaya (vocals)
Composer/Lyricist: Kanno Yoko
Released: 25 May 2002

23ji no Ongaku Tracklisting 1. Two Things 2. Here 3. Danielle 4. Pepper Stretch 5. Kissing the Christmas Killer 6. Trust Me 7. Noel 8. Fado 9. Tarkan 10. Penguin Shuurinin (Penguin Repairman) 11. Mujouken Spectre (Unconditional Spectrum) 12. Toto 13. Kudamono Knife no Shi (Fruit Knife) 14. Noel no Piano (Noel’s Piano) * Bold titles - recommended listening.

OVERVIEW

It is hard not to gush about the amazing skills of Kanno Yoko. Her expertise as a composer has gained her dozens of awards, as well as thousands of “10 out of 10″ ratings, thumbs-up, and gold stars. 23ji no Ongaku is Kanno Yoko at her best, and Sakamoto Maaya lends her beautiful voice to help this soundtrack become one of the overall best.

THE GOOD

Here
Sakamoto Maaya’s voice has become one of my favorites because of this song alone. Accompanied by an acoustic guitar and piano, she elegantly sings the simplistic yet meaningful lyrics of “Here.” Music has no native language, and Maaya proves this, as all of the lyrics for “Here” are in English. She could easily pass as a native English speaker, judging by her performance of the memorable lyrics in this song.

Pepper Stretch
Kanno Yoko’s piano synthesizer pieces are my favorite. She plays the instrument masterfully. “Pepper Stretch” bounces in your ears playfully, a trick skillfully used by Kanno Yoko in previous works like Tank! Sakamoto Maaya’s voice is less prominent in this song; however, it still adds a layer of texture that adds to the great flavor of “Pepper Stretch.”

Noel
Kanno Yoko’s ability to play the piano is on par with her skill at composition. “Noel” is slow and sad, the poetic mix of the piano and violin forecasting a sorrowful scene. The majority of the first half of “Noel” is a simplistic piano solo; not until the latter half of the song does the violin bow in. This causes a crescendo that anticipates how the song will end, gracing the listener’s ears every step of the way.

Mugouken Spectre
This is another piece in “23ji no Ongaku” where the synthesizer piano is skillfully played. This time, violin and a light chorus are the synth’s partners. “Mugouken Spectre” is simple in rhythm and light on the ears. The synthesizer gives tempo to the violin, which in turn guides the pitch of the chorus in perfect harmony. Harmony in a song is crucial, and the complete harmony of “Mugouken Spectre” is a joy to listen to.

Toto
“Toto” showcases Sakamoto Maaya’s voice along with the instruments that have been her escorts throughout 23ji no Ongaku: the violin and the piano. Maaya’s command over the English language is beautifully apparent as she sings first in a spoken whisper, which slowly gains volume and charm until coming to rest in a comfortable tone that is pleasant to the ears and heart.

The Rating: 10