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Title
 Complete Recordings: Akira Ifukube Toho Special Effects Movie Music 9
International Title
 Godzilla vs. Mothra

Music By: Akira Ifukube
Record Label: Toshiba EMI

Running Time: 71:41/72:08 Discs: 2
Release: December 1992 CD Number: TYCY-5267/8
Comments
The ninth set in this amazing series focuses on maestro Akira Ifukube's score for the 1992 box office hit Godzilla vs. Mothra. This particular release is really a fantastic and thorough set which features well over two hours of music related to and from the movie. This of course includes the entire score, as it appeared in the film, which is found on the second disc in the set. For those familiar with the Ifukube's music for the movie, this particular outing sees the famed composer take a shot at some new themes instead of primarily updating previous cues as he did for Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991). In doing so, Ifukube crafts a number of excellent themes here, including the great one for Battra and the nice low key one for "Midori's Letter". As one has come to expect from the composer, he also displays a number of updated themes in this score, although always with great results as the "Infant Island" theme is breathtaking while the "Mesa March" makes its triumphant return after its introduction in The War of the Gargantuas (1966).

As for the first disc in the set, it's dedicated to early recordings, and is really the star attraction of this set. Unlike other outtakes from Ifukube, which often hardly deviate from the used themes, the ones here are sometimes very stark departures from the final cues. Some of the stand out examples in this regard include the very eerie and organ heavy "The Giant Ferris Wheel" along with the very distinct "Ruins of the Ayutthaya Dynasty". The bonus material doesn't end with just outtakes, though, as the second disc also has a number of interesting additions tossed at the end. My favorite of these would be the incredibly soothing "Sacred Springs (Complete Version Mix)", which adds bird cries and a light wave noise to simulate being by the shore; an effect which seems perfect in the context of Ifukube's magnificent theme. The other stand out track from the bonus selection is "Mothra's Song" as arranged by Hiroshi Takada. Most, though, will probably be familiar with this more upbeat compilation of the song due to it being featured on the later The Best of Godzilla 1984-1995 release. The set finishes with two songs by Hideyuki Tsunoda which have become fairly infamous overtime and, sadly, their reputation in that respect is well deserved as it takes a strong stomach to weather the "Gojirap".

Overall, this set is really exceptional, and more dedicated collectors will likely seek this out for having the definitive presentation of the film's music, easily surpassing the two single disc releases and its coverage in the Perfect Collection.
- Anthony Romero 
Tracks
    Disc 1 - Unedited and Full Size (Ordered by Recording on September 1st and 2nd)
  1. Main Title (M2)
  2. The Temple Collapses (M5)
  3. The Suspension Bridge Falls (M9)
  4. The Strange Cave (M11)
  5. Discovery of the Giant Egg (M12)
  6. Rolling Title - Ending (M37)
  7. The Cocoon on the National Diet Building (M28)
  8. The Legend of the Cosmos (M13)
  9. Battra Slow · Short
  10. Battra Slow
  11. Battra Fast
  12. The Giant Egg in Tow (M15)
  13. Mothra Slow
  14. Mothra Fast
  15. The Ocean Halo (M35L)
  16. Mesa March (Tanzawa) (M32)
  17. Mesa March (Nagoya) (M32)
  18. Godzilla Slow
  19. Godzilla Fast
  20. Godzilla Fast · Full
  21. The Girl and the Cosmos (M27)
  22. Mothra's Song (Karaoke) (M23)
  23. Imago Mothra's Birth (Karaoke) (M30)
  24. Imago Mothra's Birth Intro (M30)
  25. The Golden Statue of Buddha (Ganesh) (M4)
  26. The Iceberg Disaster (M7)
  27. The Fall of the Meteorite (M1)
  28. Scale Powder: Musical Effect (M104)
  29. Midori's Letter (M10)
  30. Mahara Mothra (Karaoke) (M25)
  31. Mothra Heads into Outer Space (M36)
  32. Infant Island (M8)
  33. The Ruins of the Ayutthaya Dynasty (M3)
  34. The Hotel in Manila (M22)
  35. The Giant Ferris Wheel (M103)
  36. Scale Powder Attack (M38)
  37. Mothra and Battra's Conversation (M101)
  38. Imago Battra's Birth · Original (M31)
  39. Energy (M102)

    September 4th and 5th Compilation Pieces
  40. The Fight on the Seabed (M20)
  41. Imago Mothra's Birth (A Cappella 1) (M30)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  42. Imago Mothra's Birth (A Cappella 2) (M30)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  43. Mahara Mothra (A Cappella) (M25)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  44. The Luminous Fairies (A Cappella) (M34)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  45. The Appeal (Another Take) (M23)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  46. Mothra's Song (A Cappella) (M23)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  47. Mothra's Song (Original Mix) (M23)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  48. Mahara Mothra (Original Mix) (M25)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  49. Imago Mothra's Birth (Original Mix) (M30)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura

    September 2nd (Live Recording Coverage)
  50. Scenery Rehearsal (M16 Test)
    Disc 2 - Edited and Finished Score (In Movie Order)
  1. The Fall of the Meteorite (M1)
  2. Main Title (M2)
  3. The Golden Statue of Buddha (Ganesh) (M4)
  4. The Temple Collapses (M5)
  5. The Iceberg Disaster (M7)
  6. Infant Island (M8)
  7. The Suspension Bridge Falls (M9)
  8. Midori's Letter (M10)
  9. The Strange Cave (M11)
  10. Discovery of the Giant Egg (M12)
  11. The Legend of the Cosmos (M13)
  12. Larval Battra's Attack (M14)
  13. The Giant Egg in Tow (M15)
  14. Battra Attacks Nagoya (M16A)
  15. Battra's Fury (M16B)
  16. Godzilla Appears (M17)
  17. The Larval Mothra's Birth (M18)
  18. Mothra vs. Godzilla I (M18B)
  19. Godzilla vs. Battra I (M19)
  20. The Hotel in Manila (M22)
  21. Mothra's Song (M23)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  22. Mothra's Oceanic Strike - Mothra's Song (M24)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  23. Mahara Mothra (M25)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  24. Mothra Goes to Akasaka (M26)
  25. The Girl and the Cosmos (M27)
  26. The Cocoon on the National Diet Building (M28)
  27. Godzilla from the Fuji Volcano (M29)
  28. Imago Mothra's Birth (M30)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  29. Imago Battra's Birth (M31)
  30. Mesa March (M32)
  31. Mothra Comes Flying (M33A)
  32. Mothra vs. Battra (M33C)
  33. Mothra vs. Battra II (M33D)
  34. Mothra's Counterattack (M33F)
  35. The Luminous Fairies (M34)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  36. Mothra vs. Godzilla II (M34A)
  37. Mothra Rescued (M34C)
  38. The Desperate Struggle of the Three Monsters (M34E)
  39. The Plan to Airlift Godzilla (M35)
  40. The Ocean Halo (M35L)
  41. Mothra Heads into Outer Space (M36)
  42. Rolling Title - Ending (M37)

    Related Music
  43. Sacred Springs (Complete Version Mix)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  44. Sacred Springs (Karaoke)
  45. Sacred Springs (A Cappella)
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura
  46. Mothra's Song
    By: Sayaka Osawa and Keiko Imamura, Arrangment: Hiroshi Takada, Composer: Yuji Koseki
  47. Orthodox Tune: Gojirap - Ambient Mix
    By: Saburo · Ichiabn Ujigami and the Uniform Improvement Commission
  48. Godzilla So-Fa-Mi-Re-Do (Godzilla Gymnastics)
    By: Saburo · Ichiabn Ujigami and the Uniform Improvement Commission, Composer: Hideki Aoki




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