Before getting started, I would like to thank Jessica Stan for providing this CD for review.
Kow Otani's score for Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) not only launched Shusuke Kaneko's Heisei Gamera trilogy, but also established the musical identity that would carry through the next two films. While Otani would go on to compose two more outstanding scores for the series, I would argue that this first effort here remains his finest. It introduces many of the trilogy's defining musical ideas while delivering an exceptional soundtrack that works every bit as well on its own as it does within the film.
What immediately stands out is the sheer consistency of the score. Not only is the soundtrack consistent in terms of quality, though, but Otani also demonstrates an impressive range of styles. The ominous atmosphere established by "Opening" gives way to the lighter, more adventurous "Research Vessel," whose cheerful melody is later changed into an energetic march (“Tank Regiement”) through the addition of guitar and a quicker tempo. "Night at the Atoll" showcases another side of Otani's composition, combining a soothing quality with an underlying sense that something mysterious is unfolding.
The action material is equally impressive. "Gyaos Escapes" is one of the score's standout cues while "Gamera vs. Gyaos" is likely the album's most recognizable composition, perfectly capturing the film's climactic battle. My personal favorite, however, is "The Collapse of Tokyo Tower." It is an exhilarating action cue that I would argue works even better as a standalone listening experience than it does within the film. It is one of those rare compositions that invites the listener to simply sit back, let the music take over and allow one’s imagination to fill in the visuals.
The score concludes on another high note with the "Ending Theme." Bolstered by stirring choral work, it strikes exactly the right emotional balance between triumph, hope and closure. It is difficult to describe precisely why it works so well… it simply sounds like the perfect musical conclusion to a grand adventure.
In addition to the themes, the album also includes the vocal song "Myth" by the rock band Bakufu Slump. Although it is a perfectly enjoyable song in its own right, it feels unmistakably rooted in the early-to-mid 1990s and never quite meshes with the score surrounding it. Of the three ending songs featured across the Heisei Gamera trilogy, this is easily my least favorite, though I would not call it a bad song by any means.
Collectors should be aware that this original CD is the least complete presentation of the score. Both the Gamera: 1995–1999 Ultimate Sound Tracks box set (TKCA-71801) and Cinema-Kan's Heisei Gamera Trilogy Original Soundtracks (CINK-90) contain the complete soundtrack, whereas this release omits nine score cues: M3, M6, M16, M18, M19, M25, M27A, M27B, and M30. Most of these are relatively brief, but their absence is still disappointing. This release also lacks four outtakes, bringing the total number of omitted tracks to thirteen. By comparison, the Tokuma Japan box set adds trailer audio and sound effects, while the Cinema-Kan release instead includes an additional edited cue. One unique aspect of this original CD is that Gamera's roar has been inserted into the closing of "Ending Theme." While only a minor alteration, I personally find it detracts slightly.
Overall, this is one of Otani's finest achievements and an outstanding soundtrack from beginning to end. Although this original 1995 CD is the least comprehensive of the three available releases, the quality of the music itself easily shines through.
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