Incertus

This short Yuki Kajiura piece, barely 90 seconds long, is a light and interesting little piece, with just a single still image as visual accompaniment. I shall say no more than that, as nothing else is needed...

A Shadow

This is another gentle yet powerful Yuki Kajiura composition. Although it differs to quite an extent from any of the others I have posted here, by now the nature (rather than simply the style) of the work is a giveaway. If a regular visitor here were to hear this unexpectedly for the first time somewhere else, her name should automatically pop into that person's head.

The vocal parts of this are quite short, and are in an 'emotional pseudo-language' that Yuki invented for the purpose. Her Kajiurago (or Kajiuran as some fans call it) features in several of her compositions, and I might post others here. It is ideal for when words are not enough, and are indeed not even required: it's just an emotional vocal instrument in the ensemble for when that is the best way to convey what the composer intended.

It also means that we are not distracted by listening to and following/trying to understand the words. It's conceptually similar to Hymnnos, but a somewhat different take on that concept. It was inspired by a combination of something like ten current and scarcely-used languages, so sometimes seems to resemble something vaguely familiar – but it isn't...

Grandpa's Violin

Another delightful violin-and-piano composition by Yuki Kajiura, this having been written for the .hack/liminality series from a later part of the .hack timeline. It lasts just under two and a half minutes, so is short and sweet...

Dreamcatcher

Next in this Yuki Kajiura season is this moderately upbeat instrumental titled Dreamcatcher. I do not know if it comes from a series, but it stands very well alone anyway.

Here it is illustrated with a series of scrolling and/or zooming anime-style images, which seem to complement each other very well, and the whole lasts just over three minutes, so is of modest length...

I Talk To The Rain

This is another excellent Yuki Kajiura piece, from The Tsubasa Chronicles, and features what seem to be Yuki's favouraite ingredients: female voices, violin, piano and (never overpowering) drum set. It is, as always, very effective, and as usual conjures up the intended mood immediately.

This is one of those still image videos: I looked for other versions, but most were much the same (though with a less good image) apart from one that showed a video game with rainfall. That one wasn't bad at first, but later showed that it just didn't fit well with the music, so I abandoned that idea. This, instead, is the best way I have found...

Houseki – Fiction Junction

This live performance, with the song's composer Yuki Kajiura on piano as usual, features the lead vocal by the extremely versatile Keiko Kubota. The other three vocal members, plus the other instrumentalists, all do a tremendous job on this as well.

Some comments at the YouTube page for this video have incorrectly attributed this performance to the singing group Kalafina, of which Keiko is also a member. This, though, is unmistakably Fiction Junction, and equally unmistakable is Keiko, who has quite a fan following, unsurprisingly...

Desert Sunset

Here is another example of the musical magic of genius composer Yuki Kajiura, written for and performed here by flute, violin and a light backing combo.

As always, I bring you beautiful creations of which you were almost certainly unaware beforehand, and it is a genuine, uplifting pleasure for me to do this, so don't expect it to come to an end any time soon...

Crying Alone

This by Yuki Kajiura is partly a slower instrumental version of her Song of Storm and Fire (in the violin portion), which it is intended to complement, and works very well for piano and solo violin. Yes, it's sad, but quiet and thoughtful too. It comes from Tsubasa Chronicles (nothing to do with the similarly-named Tsukasa from .hack/sign).

It almost feels like a rainy afternoon spent indoors alone, watching the raindrops slide down the window-pane. At least that was what came into my head while I was listening, but perhaps that's just me...

Shine, Bright Morning Light

This is Fake Wings by the outstanding Yuki Kajiura, composed for the anime series .hack/sign, and usually heard when we see Subaru back in Carmina Gadelica. It's one of those tracks that, once heard, will never be forgotten, especially the vocals with their simple but evocative lyrics.

Here it is presented simply, with just an image of the Fiction album cover, wherein the song is featured. Someone really ought to do a compilation of Subaru scenes (minus sound) to this as a backing track. It ought to be brilliant...

Twilight's Key

It's now February, it's twilight as I write this, so I think it's fitting that we should have a different video of the heart-achingly beautiful Key of the Twilight (by the musical genius Yuki Kajiura, featuring Emily Bindiger's main vocal) from the .hack//sign anime series.

This compilation of (mostly new to this 'blog) images and scenes includes the upside down castle and the special Chaos Gate that leads there, some good Aura (now awake!) moments, that excellent close-up of Subara turning her head in the breeze, and Macha sacrificing herself (quite an emotional moment in the story) to the Guardian/Morgana...

The World – Live!

This is the highly evocative scene-setting intro for the gaming world of the .hack//sign anime series, followed by the glorious song that goes with it, here performed live. It's yet another of the amazingly talented Yuki Kajiura's excellent compositions, with the lady herself on piano, and her four-lady singing group Fiction Junction performing the vocals.

Although I don't think the ending is done as well here as it could have been, overall this is still another of those powerful yet haunting themes from this series, all thanks to Yuki-sama...

A Stray Child

Another haunting song, once again featuring Emily Bindiger as vocalist, that comes from the .hack//sign anime.

Just right for the evening of Boxing Day, I think...

Key Of The Twilight

If you enjoyed (or were simply amazed by) the first .hack//sign offering, here's another 'twilight'-related song in the same vein but distinctly different as well, with multi-part vocals by Emily Bindiger.

This song is featured in the background of parts of the first and second episodes, by the way...


Here are the words, again by Yuki Kajiura...

Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for a while
Tell me of a story never never told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now fly me there

Fanatics find their heaven in never ending storming wind
Auguries of destruction be a lullaby for rebirth

Consolations, be there
In my dreamland to come
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there

I believe in fantasies invisible to me
In the land of misery I'm searchin' for the sign
To the door of mystery and dignity
I'm wandering down, and searchin' down the secret sun

Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for a while
Tell me of a story never never told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there
to the land of twilight

In The Land of Twilight, Under the Moon

This anime theme comes from .hack//sign (yes, that is its actual title, including the dot at the start!) and is truly amazing, here accompanying some powerful scenes from the anime.

The multi-part vocal is, I believe, by Emily Bindiger, as for the next of these I shall be posting (this evening), who performed a total of ten songs for the series. There are also several others not featuring her, by See-Saw alone.

Do share these journeys with me, and play these anime-related videos: you are probably in for a brand new experience – or several. This one is even better in headphones, I found...


Here are the full song's words, by Yuki Kajiura...

in the land of twilight, under the moon
we dance for the idiots
ring-around-the-roses, jump to the moon
we sing with the castanets
 
Who will sing for crescent moon
dancing with the castanet
as the end will come so soon
in the land of twilight 

I will sing for crescent moon
dancing with the castanet
as the end will come so soon
in the land of twilight

now you are watchin' us outside the circle
wanna be in the company
boy, but you are lonely
dance with nobody
run away child, to your hiding place

high and loud, the sound of your bell of the twilight...ringing..
all alone, it rings and echoes in the twilight

in the land of twilight, under the moon
we dance for the idiots
ring-around-the-roses, jump to the moon
we sing with the castanets