Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Highly recommended

Publisher
Manga
Director
Kenji Kamiyama
Production
Bandai, Dentsu, Production IG, Victor Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2002

Be Human - Original Soundtrack CD

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
19th May 05

The second of the two soundtrack CD’s to accompany the successful “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” anime series is entitled “Be Human”. There are twenty two tracks on this CD, significantly more than that of the “Stand Alone Complex O.S.T” CD you may think. While this is true the total running time of the “Be Human” CD is just under three quarters of an hour which is much less time than the other soundtrack CD.

“Be Human” focuses on the Tachikomas with much of the music that which is used in either sequences that use the Tachikomas in the anime, or the short “Tachikoma Days” feature at the end of each episode. As we are about half way through the release of G.I.T.S: SAC in the UK some of these tracks will be fairly new to viewers of the anime, especially the tracks featuring English vocals. The CD comes with a booklet that features the lyrics for all the English vocal tracks and the Japanese vocal track with original and translated lyrics. The booklet also contains some artwork/mock ups of Tachikomas.

Here’s the Track run down…

1. “Be Human” – This track is really simple, the music repeats it’s self, but combined with the quite funny lyrics it comes across as a sort of Techno Lullaby. This is my personal favorite track on this CD.

2. “Trip City” – This is a nice little Rock-esq. number the lyrics are nicely done but the whole track seems rather short this, and “Be Human” could of really done with a few extra verses especially when there probably the best tracks on this CD.

3. “Patch Me” – A Techno track which is extremely short, so that’s bad for Techno fans but good for everyone else.

4. “Tachikoma No Iede (Runaway Tachikoma) – This is a nice combination of a violin, piano and flute. A relaxing piece but again way to short. This is used in the anime when Batou’s Tachikoma goes for a walk.

5. “Osanpo Tachikoma” (Tachikoma Out For A Walk) – Another Techno piece with some (French?) lyrics, which give this, track a distinct strangeness to it.

6. “Bang Bang Banquet” – This track is used in one of the Tachikoma Days shorts where they are attacking each other…sounds like lift music although good lift music.

7. “FAX Me” – A nice bit of classical music…with what sounds like a modem trying to connect in the background and interesting combination.

8. “Rocky Wa Doko?” (Where’s Rocky) – A rather solemn piece, used in the anime when Batou’s Tachikoma is searching for Rocky the dog, rather relaxing.

9. “Spotter” – The longest track on this CD, but thankfully not the worst, used in the anime during tense situations this certainly does make you want to get ready incase something’s trying to sneak up behind you.

10. “Let’s Oil” – Another Techno piece but at forty five seconds long who cares?

11. “Cream” – This is the song that uses Japanese vocals in it, this is a really nice bit of music and one of the best tracks on this CD. Not that that’s saying much.

12. “Spider Bites” – “Be Human” played on a Xylophone or possibly a piano with no lyrics, and under a minute long…waste of space.

13. “Good By My Master” – Sounds like this is being played in a submarine…

14. “Piece By Ten” – A nice piece, obviously string instruments playing something that sounds very sentimental.

15. “What Can I Say?” – DON’T listen to this track…not that it it’s bad, in fact it’s good but my money is on this appearing at a really good part of the anime that may get some tears jerking and you don’t want to spoil it…of course I may be wrong, in which case this is too short.

16. “Hi!” – “Ta-Ichi-Ko-Koma Tachikoma cla”…seriously that’s what this track says all five seconds of it whooo.

17. “I’m Not Straight” - Used in one of the “Tachikoma Days” shorts, this is a bit of Techno but again stupidly short.

18. “AI Sentai Tachikomas” (AI Combat Team Tachikoma) – I actually like this, it’s cute…

19. “Pro Bowler Tachikoma” (Professional Bowler Tachikoma) – Used during the bowling “Tachikoma Days” short…nothing special.

20. “Don’t Sponge Me” – A nice thirty second long harp playing…

21. “Po’d Pod” – More extremely short Techno.

22. “Ciao!” – The end them for “Tachikoma Days”

Out of the two GITS: SAC soundtrack CD’s this is certainly the poorer. There are some nice tracks on here but the majority of it is rubbish. If you are going to buy it however try and get it as cheap as you can…it’ll soften the blo

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 19th May 05

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Images