Macross Frontier OST 2: Nyan Tra Review
Hi everyone, I just came back from a short vacation, that’s why this write-up is a bit late. I should be resting right now but I think I can’t sleep until I’ve finished this post 
Before you scroll down and view my impressions of each song, here’s my summary. On the vocal side, this OST is more focused on Ranka’s songs, as OST 1 was more focused on Sheryl’s songs. This proved to be a treat for me as Ranka’s songs are more traditional Yoko Kanno, which I was quite dying to hear from OST 1. OST 2 though lacks the flow that was in OST 1, I suppose they couldn’t pull off a Ranka on Stage this time around, though I’m not complaining. Just like in OST 1, the lack of lengthy bgm tracks might make the bgm-loving fans of Kanno feel shafted, but for me, the presence of well-arranged pop tracks for Ranka make up for it.
So now on to the individual tracks:
Prologue F - Just as I thought, this is the other intro theme, which towards the end of the animation was being played as the AltoxSheryl moments. I suppose it was grand enough to depict their side of the love triangle. No, I’m not shipping, that’s just how I felt Sheryl’s love for Alto was.
Northern Cross - I love this song, the energy, the lyrics. Nuff said. I think I’ve said enough praises for this song and it’s time to give some space for other reviews. Oh, and by the way, I recall so many people thinking that this was either Sheryl’s love story demise or Sheryl’s love story triumph song depending on how you interpret the lyrics, but it seems to have ended up to be either, hasn’t it.
Triangler (fight on stage) - The final ED to the series, with what sounds like Sheryl and Ranka duking it out on each other on a song. It somewhat mirrors how the love triangle ended - it didn’t! I think I hear May’n’s mature voice as she starts the second verse, how I wished she sang consistently in that voice for this series. The tinkly bridge arrangements gave me goosebumps. Great job May’n on that falsetto, I just wish she kept the throatiness of the other high notes away. Megumi’s voice was not that notable, but should get praise for consistency.
High School Life - This is the funky “next episode” guitars and percussions bgm. I initially thought that this was Alto’s theme as it was quite nonchalant, but I guessed wrong
Transformation - Perhaps the most electronic bgm in OST 2, although I would like to hear a non-electronic version since the backing orchestra sounded a bit roughened up by the rhythm, but that might have been the intention of the song.
Anata no Oto - I loved this song ever since I heard it in the Macross Radio. The perky strings, the wind instrument (a trumpet I guess), and acoustic arrangement perfectly depicts Ranka and her innocent love for Alto. I love the simple arrangement and Megumi’s simple voice all over it like a mildly sweet syrup 
(For YKDB members… DOKUN DOKUN nightmares haunting you yet? *cackles with laughter* )
Test Flight Delight - This is sooo reminiscent of Macross Plus and the banter between its two main character leads XD Not to mention it’s entitled “Test Flight…” Playful and catchy, this has to be one of my favorite bgms in this OST.
Seikan Hikou - However I loved the energy of this song, by this time, I’m so sick of listening to it that I jabbed the forward button XD
Inu Mimi Ranka - Ranka is cute, and so is this. It evokes the image of cute without being too candy-like.
Yousei - I think this final mix finally made me like this song! It starts of sadly and picks up quickly feeling very hopeful. I think the progression of this song mirrors the events in Sheryl’s life starting from when she fell, to when she started to get hope, and when she started to fight despite her life being snuffed out of her.
Tsuioku no Trumpet - This is the funeral song isn’t it? It starts out a big sad and solemn and ends with grace a triumphant and glorious feeling to it. I sure wish this piece was fleshed out in about 1 or 2 more minutes. As it is, it ended a bit too abruptly for any development that would etch it in my mind.
Shinkuu no Diamond Crevasse - The Diamond Crevasse version with intensified vocal emotion. As if it wasn’t emotional in its original version! I love May’n’s voice in this song. I’m not too fond of the acoustic addition to the arrangement though, I loved it when they vanished for the second refrain. Which in the end means that I loved the original Diamond Crevasse arrangement
Ai Oboete Imasu ka? ~ bless the little queen - I like this one a lot better than the Deculture version of episode 1. The arrangement is more beautiful and more developed. Not to mention it was used very well (and ironically) in the animation.
Ao no Ether - My favorite vocal track in this OST It’s simple piano and light orchestra piece, simple as most Ranka songs are, and I think it works well. Beautiful, beautiful
is this Love? - An electronica x orchestra piece which I really thought would remind me of the love triangle side of Sheryl and Alto, but surprisingly, I don’t recall this being played within the animation. Just like Transformation, I would love to hear a version of this song with the electronic beats stripped from it.
Shadow of Michael - Oh man, the only main character who passed away. This slow, haunting piece is appropriately entitled “Shadow”, as it wasn’t about Michael’s demise, but more a depiction of the emotional impact on the people he left behind. Klan!
Aimo O.C. - Unlike so many people, I loved the arrangement to this piece. But then I love electronic-sounding arrangements with vocal harmony, so I may be biased. I’m sure if this came before Aimo~Tori no Hito, we would have given it more love than it has gotten so far. The vocal harmony and mixing starting from when the refrains kick in are well done. I’m glad I don’t understand the lyrics as it is being sang as Grace’s lyrics might have taken some from how I appreciated this song.
Battle Frontier - Does this remind you of the Toyota Lexus KannoxOriga CM? I’m pretty sure that this grand orchestral piece was used in episode 25, but only a few portions. I really thought that with the length of this song, it would have been a grand climax piece, but it wasn’t! Sure wished it was one, instead of the Triangler battle song.
Nyan Nyan Service Medley - we got THE MEDLEY!!! Even better in HQ, though they could have worked better on some transitions as they were a bit jarring. That was Lion, Infinity, My Boyfriend is a Pilot, Diamond Crevasse, Seikan Hikou, What Bout My Star, Lion, Ai Oboete imasuka, Lion, and Aimo in that order. On a side note, holy, they cut out Aimo after the second line!
Protoculture - Creepy, yes? The OST 2 sure wanted to end with a trance-like track with cryptic sounds, I hope that it’s unfinished feel means that there’s more to come after the jump.
That’s a wrap! Now which are your favorites in this set?
October 7th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Favorite track? It’s got to be Sheryl’s Yousei. I’ve been longing to hear the full version ever since she started singing it.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Nyan Nyan Service Medley! How cool was that idea? Now I want my 25 minute trance remix on the upcoming image album
I really like ‘Ao No Ether’ and really looked forward to getting it with OST2. Along with ‘Seikan Hikou,’ this is one of my favorite Ranka songs. The song certainly underscored Ranka’s melancholy at the time. And it was only played once during the entire season!
October 7th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Thanks for the review and hope you have good rest.
I really have to agree about Transformation. The first time I heard the song it really reminded me of Brain Powered. However, since there is already a orchestra version (The Target), I thought it would be really cool if the electronics and guitar is mix with real orchestra (a la FFVII OST).
As for favorites, I like Yousei (probably my favorite track) and Shinkuu no Diamond Crevasse, Prologue F and Tsuioku no Trumpet.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Aoi Ether maybe…
October 7th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Bless the Little Queen - DANG. Megumi sounded too much like Minmei at the end while she worked those high notes. This might be why she was picked to play a Minmei character.
Anata no Oto- I hope we get a complete translation of this song. ^^ The full version was even better. This was indeed written for Ranka. Funny how there was no complete winner of the love triangle but this song sounded like Ranka and the guy were already together.
Yousei- This sounded so sad and ethereal to me. Fits Sheryl perfectly imo.
Those are my top 3. There were a lot of BGM that were missing here in OST 2. Does this mean there’s going to be OST 3?
October 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
i’ve had THE MEDLEY on repeat for most of the day now. i’ve even got it playing in the car =.= so, i guess that answers the question of what my favourite track is. (if only there was a karaoke of this, lol)
Shinkuu no Diamond Creavasse - ah~~ beautiful, beautiful song. seems like whatever arrangement it gets, it can’t go wrong
Yousei - i felt *blah* about this when i first heard it, but now i play it intermittently btwn my back-to-back repeats of THE MEDLEY. what a difference a proper mix makes to a song!
Anata no Oto - i like this song now. it’s an improvement over the short tease that we were given in the episode it was first used in.
For the BGMs, i have two favourites: Prologue F and Protoculture. For some reason i can’t stand Tsuioku no Trumpet :-\
Aimo O.C. - this track is good, but it suffers from being used over and over and over in various arrangements. i’m personally just sick of it. maybe in a few months, i’ll learn to appreciate this track more.
Triangler (FoS) - the bridge reminded me of a Ghost In The Shell SAC track. can’t put my finger on it…
October 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Still waiting for my copy to be shipped out but I’ve been listening to Shinkuu DC, THE MEDLEY and Triangler-fight on stage- constantly at nico. Really can’t wait to get this album. The only negative point for me is Maaya only sings a few lines.
And what do you mean Micheal was the only main character to die!? Is someone forgetting the evil librarian looking puppeteer? Spare a thought for Grace, one of the most interesting villains I’ve seen in a while;).
October 7th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
[...] my homework. let’s see: a flood of episode 1 and two subs to choose from, and the leaking of nyan tra? regulatory capital is very high maintenance [...]
October 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
[...] to keep me from my homework. let’s see: a flood of subs to choose from, and the leaking of nyan tra? regulatory capital is very high maintenance [...]
October 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
@Kai - Grace in the shell doesn’t count!!! She’s a robot XD Perhaps I missed Raramia, but I can’t count her as a main character either since she didn’t really speak, did she? Okay let’s just say what I meant was “(Michael was) the only lead protagonist who died…”
October 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
She does so count
cyborgs need love too, or in lieu of love, galactic domination. Provided shes actually dead and it wasn’t just another spare body that Alto shot.
Oh, and what about the Prez? He gets turned into swiss cheese and you’re worried about Michael. Confess, you are biased.
I’m always play devils advocate so i’m just messing with you.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
^
October 7th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I love Yousei, Ai oboeteimasuka & is this LOVE?
Can’t get enough of those songs.
What is this character image albums???
October 8th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Ok, now that Nyan Tra is here and in the wild (and I’m not downloading it until Nipponsei relases it - or at least until I can find a download with the booklet), I do have a question.
Where did that full version of Diamond Crevasse 50/50 that is floating in YouTube come from?
ED: not me definitely…
-mai
October 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
The YouTube one? It could’ve been an episode rip from the second episode? I haven’t listened to it, so can’t confirm.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:27 am
This one is no rip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUqbLGVzGDQ
But if it’s no rip… and no internet cellphone bs whatever release like the Bobby single… where can I find it? >_<
(Mai, good thing it’s not yours. Otherwise, I’d be filling your PM inbox @ MacrossWorld with promises and threats every two seconds until you shared the goods or the site crashed again =P)
October 9th, 2008 at 5:58 am
The medley is awesome. Especially the Lion x Do You Remember Love? at the end. I was surprised they did a duet with “Triangler” actually. Cuz’ in an interview didn’t they say that “Triangler” is supposed to be “seperate” from Macross Frontier. Like when you hear a pop song that TOTALLY goes on in your life. Fans rallied for it I’m sure xD Megumi did well, that is a hard song to sing. It was even hard for Sakamoto Maaya to sing, it isn’t in her normal vocal range. “Empty DC” I’m pretty sure the pairing song for “W’bout My Star@Formo” the acapella opening. Pivotal character point, etc.
My favorite it “Blue Ether” it so pretty, and wish Sakamoto Maaya will sing it on her next album. The song reeks “Sakamoto Maaya Song”.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:52 am
@Leigh “Megumi sounded too much like Minmei” you’re wrong, maybe what you mean was “Megumi sounded too much like Mari Iijima”. And btw, it didn’t, Megumi voice is quite common, just another bubblegum pop voice. Mari and May’n voices on the other hand, just like Maaya, are very rare and particular.
I’m loving yousei, ao no ether, The Medley, and Ai oboete imasu ka. I can’t stop hearing Mari Iijima’s voice at the end of The Medley, singing “Mou hitoribotchi ja nai, anata ga iru kara…” Besides, Mari was in Tokyo before and after the 25 chapter airing.
I love your blog.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:54 am
@Naru: well, she did write the lyrics XD
October 9th, 2008 at 8:23 am
@Daxion - did you just say you love this blog? If so then thanks
October 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Daxion: Do you mean Megumi or Ranka? If you’ve listened to her live concerts, or at least the clips here, when she drops the Ranka voice she has a better range and sound, which is more full-throated than the Ranka voice which is, as you’ve pointed out, quite bubblegum pop, as is some of May’n as Sheryl’s stuff.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I actually haven’t listened to the whole thing since i already had Lion and Northern Cross. I’ll say now the ABSOLUTE main reason I got this was for Aimo O.C. Anything else is just a bonus for me. To all the people that don’t like that song…..all I’ll say is you’re entitled to your opinions and leave it at that.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:33 am
@Haesslich
Good point. In part, my comment pointed the fact that many people regard Mari Iijima == Minmay, and Mari is a human being, she should not be regarded merely as Minmay. Of course, for many ppl, like me, she was Minmay’s voice and that’s quite intense.
Yes, I agree with you. Megumi ‘per se’ has a better range. Bubblegum is not bad thing, I like bubblegum. Come on, May’n, Megumi, Iijima back in 80’s, Madonna, Leona Lewis now, are/were all bubblegum, heck, even Def Leppard!
October 9th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Daxion: I’ve heard some of Iijima’s later work, and it’s much fuller sounding than some of her early Minmay stuff… which itself has a bit more range than Ranka gets in the show, as she’s very much the image of manufactured J-Pop Idol, which Japan’s music industry goes through the way a fat kid goes through bags of potato chips. I’ve heard people suggest Ranka’s rise and fall is Kawamori’s poke at the Japanese music industry, whose methods parallel that of Grace O’Connor’s when it comes to manufacturing pop stars whose careers are rather brief while being greatly accelerated by the mass-production mentality which goes into making idols for fans to buy merchandise for the six or eight months in which their popularity peaks before fading faster than a crack addict’s high.
Megumi’s normal singing voice is quite nice, at least when she’s not getting chained to singing in her Ranka-voice, which stays ‘up there’ compared to her normal one, which has a much fuller sound to it and which seems to less come from her throat. It’s a pity she’s stuck singing like Ranka in this series; it creates more contrast between her and May’n as Sheryl, but their voices in the last medley would’ve gone together much better if she’d been able to sing normally.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
My only gripe about the second soundtrack was missing tracks … no Diamond Crevasse 50/50 or Maaya-Megumi duet of Aimo …
October 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
^ OST 3 says hi, tough I bet it will be a a half best of with half new tracks + other versions of songs. Like Infinity duet, Don’t Be Late Remix, Maaya Aimo etc.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Great OST ..
*listens to the medley on repeat*
Hope to see another OST with the missing BGMs and some mixes\duets
October 10th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Do you happen to have scans of the lyrics booklet, mai? The CD’s been out for two days and I want to take a crack at translating all of the insert songs provided, but I haven’t been able to find the lyrics scans.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:31 am
@Atashi, all - I’m also looking for it, I just received a note from the post office that my parcel (the CD I guess) is already with them, but they’re only open during weekdays and I’m having some trouble getting out of work to fetch it. Perhaps there’s someone else around here who has the booklet and could share the lyrics?
October 10th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
“Ai Oboete Imasu Ka ~ bless the little queen” is my favorite from the CD, but I love everything on it. I really hope we can get a new movie OST ;__;!
I used to not like aimo OC (maybe because I love the original… and the “susume frontier” part when I feel there’s one more syllable than it should be), but I’m starting to like it more (since I’ve heard the CD like 7 or 8 times by now xD)
BTW, I want booklet scans~! if you know where can I download them I’ll be very grateful…
October 11th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I have to agree with Kirby-san, Ai Oboete was my fave as well. It felt quite moving probably cause of the vocals (Megumi did a fantastic job on it) as well as the arrangement by Kanno-san. It was pretty haunting at times (esp the high piano keys)…though haunting isn’t the word i’m thinking of. The beginning of the song reminded me of a theme in Parasite Eve (Phrase of Aya theme i think). This version is as good as the timeless classic it covered.
The medley had that up tempo version of Ai Oboete albiet short it was neat to hear. I still remember that scene with Alto & Michel’s rifle….T___T! everytime i hear it.
Shadow of Michael was a moving piece of music. Feel sorry for Klan cause not only did she lose her most precious she also lost one of her ’sisters’ as well.
The vocals on this OST i feel were far superior to the ones on the first…more emotional (Shinkuu no Diamond Crevasse T__T!), more intensity, much more feeling to them. Both May’n & Megumi performed them superbly. The instrumentals were very good as well. From cute to grande.
Overall a highly listenable OST (more so than the first) so high marks for Kanno-san & company.
*note* Is it me or is anyone else wondering why Diamond Crevasse 50/50 was left out? Maybe they heard the ‘complaints’ about the song so they cut it out.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Awesome CD. Even though i’m a BGM fanatic and would prefer a more BGM oriented CD, i still loved this. The only thing that is getting to me is that, as with many other Yoko Kanno OSTs, many more BGM’s are still unreleased as well as some songs.
Now that the series over, i very much doubt that we’ll get a 3rd OST CD. Maybe when the movie comes out (anyone know anything about that?) but then i’m sure the movie will have new music wich will only compile to the problem.
I’m currently doing an episode by episode track list. Episode 1 TV version has 2 unreleased tracks and episode 2 (still watching) has a wonderfull BGM that is a sort of medley of several other BGMs but with different orchestration, playing in the scene where Alto escapes with Ranka in Gilliam’s VF-25.
It’s the curse of being a Kanno fan, we never get the whole thing. Anyone for getting the unreleased tracks from the DVDs? I wish i knew how to do that. MACROSS F RULES.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Nice review!! I really like this OST as well!
Check out my anime music blog: http://worldofanimemusic.blogspot.com
October 20th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
what they really should start doing is putting a music only audio track on the dvd’s and Blu-Ray’s. It’s been done before, i have the remastered edition of Space:1999, a 70’s Sci-Fi Classic with music by Barry Gray and they did that with almost all the season 1 episodes. At least we could be sure that all the music featured in the series was published somewhere. Either that or have special edition Soundtrack Collections with ALL the music. I know these would be pricey but i would buy it. I have found at least 10 unreleased BGM’s till now in only the first 3 episodes. Here’s hoping a 3rd and 4th OST CD’s come out.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:07 am
note to my previous post:
when i say special edition Soundtrack Collections i’m not refering to something like what was done with GITS SAC. That collection was just a reedition of the already existing CD’s with a new CD of unreleased music and that USB Tachikoma thing. I mean a totally new edition of a full OST.
GITS SAC is another example of how many BGM’s go unpublished.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
“Aimo O.C.” is my favorite on this disc. After being so comfy with the other Aimo versions on OST1, this one simply blew me away. I think I looped it a few times while driving. It makes you feel epic
October 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
the medely gave me chills…one heck of a track. and I think I cried when triangle came on near the beginning