Anime: Serial Experiments Lain
Album: Cyberia Mix
Musicians: Takemoto Akira, Chikada “J.J” Wasei, Watanabe Yukihiro, Janamoto Tami (Cello, Track 8 ), Miyauchi Takeki (Drums/Percussions Track 7), and “Tom” Sato (Guitar)
Composer/Lyricist: Takemoto Akira (Track 4, 6, 7, and 9) Chikada “J.J’ Wasei (Track 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10. Rap for Track 7)
Release Date: 1 Jul 2003

Cyberia Mix - Serial Experiments Lain Tracklisting 1. “s”peEd 2. Professed Intentions and Real Intentions 3. Antidepressant 044 4. Psychedelic Farm 5. Invisible File 6. Prayer” 7. Island in Video Cassette 8. K.I.D.s 9. Cloudy, with Occasional Rain 10. INFANiTy World 11. ??? 12. ??? *Bold titles–Recommended listening

 

OVERVIEW

Serial Experiments Lain bleeds techno: in plot, setting, theme, and most of all, music. This OST, named after Club Cyberia, which is frequented during the series, houses most of the techno/dance beats that play in the background of Lain. However, too much techno is not always a good thing. The majority of the songs featured on this OST are repetitive.

On a technical point, Cyberia Mix lists an 11th and 12th track in the technical specs, but I have yet to find either of them. While this is not a big deal, I do take it as misleading information. Considering the odds of either track being Duvet I was very disappointed the tracks are listed but not on the CD.

THE GOOD

Professed Intentions and Real Intentions
Techno at its finest. This song really had my foot tapping and head bobbing with its fast rhythm and library of classic techno sounds. While “Hear the Revolution” might wear on some, it really fit well with the background pulse. “Professed Intentions and Real Intentions” gives off the Club Cyberia vibe. This song even comes complete with DJ J.J (Chikada Wasei) soliciting fun and ecstasy to all the good little clubber boys and girls.

Prayer
“Prayer” has the best opening minute out of all the songs in Cyberia Mix, and is one of its better songs. “Prayer” is also one of the few songs with understandable lyrics, lyrics that fit nicely into the creepy Lain mold. While I said the lyrics are understandable, there are some points where the lyrics don’t make a lot of sense. The drummer (Takeki) performs an amazing score for this song, and his solos are truly high points in Cyberia Mix.

Island in Video Cassette
When I listen to music, it is usually to relax, which “Island in Video Cassette” allows me to do in the fullest. This song diverges from hard techno, holding softer and more subtle beats. “Island in Video Cassette” weaves a relaxing blanket of pulses, tambourines, soft beats, and (unusual, but well fitting) ocean waves. While the opening does not sound like a regular song, Takeki Akira’s composer recovers quickly and never falters afterwards.

THE BAD

“S”peEd
Starting with a techie computer opening, ““S”peEd” starts off as a nice song with a good rhythm to it. However, it just goes down hill from there. This song is extremely repetitive (in all the wrong places). Some repetition is good, but only when the segment is bearable, which I found a lot of ““S”peEd” not to be. While it succeeded in making me want to read Neromancer again, it did nothing to make me want to listen to it again. At about 3min 30sec, the song sounds like it has melted your CD, but it turns out to be a sound effect, a sound effect that lasts way too long. I can recall actually stopping my CD player to make sure nothing was wrong with it. “S”peEd’s only redeeming factor, other than its opening, is that its ending feeds into the much better “Professed Intentions and Real Intentions” quiet nicely.

Invisible File
Another song from Cyberia Mix that really only has its opening done right is “Invisible File”. It starts off with a very nice fast tempo from something that sounds like either a fast drummer or a synthesizer. This beat goes for until about 3 minutes into the song, then it suddenly vanishes. After the first extra tone is added to the original one, the song takes a turn for the worse. Several more tones are added, none of which truly fit the original or those that followed. This inconsistent mesh of tones only seems to be battling with itself for dominance.

The Rating: 5