Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" "Great Yokai War"

[Ostinato]

I am very pleased to say that Japanese record label Salida will be releasing Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007), a brand new CD containing two very rare film scores to "Peony Lantern" (1968) and "Great Yokai War" (1968), both scores are composed by Sei Ikeno.

Sei Ikeno's score to "Great Yokai War" was released ten years ago by Salida in a four disc set titled Sei Ikeno Works For Film (DESL-001-004). That set was limited to only five hundred copies, and is now extremely rare. Salida is now re-releasing this film music gem. I have seen "Great Yokai War", and I can safely say that Mr. Ikeno's score to the film is definitely worth obtaining. The film itself is also worth obtaining.

As far as I know, this is the first time Mr. Ikeno's score to "Peony Lantern" is being released. I can't say anything about the score, as I have never seen the film.

This new and must have CD will be out in Japan on September 10, 2014. I'll have more details as I get them.

Sei Ikeno (February 24, 1931 - August 13, 2004), sometimes credited as Shigeru Ikeno, was a Japanese composer of film scores and orchestral works. He scored well known films such as "The Secret of the Telegian" (1960), "Zatoichi's Flashing Sword" (1964), "Zatoichi the Outlaw" (1967), and "Samaritan Zatoichi" (1968). He also assisted Akira Ifukube when Mr. Ifukube was composing his masterful score to "Godzilla" (1954).

[Ostinato]

Here is an update on the upcoming CD release of Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007):

The upcoming CD release will be available in Japan on September 10, 2014, for ¥3,000 (approximately $28). The CD will also be available at various websites such as HMV Japan for the same price.

[Ostinato]

Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007) is available for pre-order at Ark Soundtrack Square. Pre-order your copy today! www.arksquare.net/index_main.html

[Ostinato]

I can definitely confirm that Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007) will have 52 tracks. 23 tracks (tracks 1-23) is the score to "Peony Lantern" (1968), and 29 tracks (tracks 24-52) is the to "Great Yokai War" (1968). I have yet to see a track listing for this upcoming CD, but based on Salida's previous release, Sei Ikeno Works For Film (DESL-001-004), the track listing will probably just list the cue numbers. I'll have more information as I get it. Stay tuned!

[Ostinato]

Here is the track listing (in Japanese) for Salida's upcoming CD release of Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007)!

[Ostinato]

Here is the English translated track listing for Salida's upcoming CD release of Sei Ikeno Works For Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007):

"Peony Lantern" (1968)
01. TOP
02. DB3
03. Amida Iroha Wasan (1)
04. DB6
05. DB7
06. DB8
07. DB9
08. DB12
09. DB14
10. DB15
11. DB18
12. DB19
13. DB20
14. DB21
15. DB26
16. DB28
17. DB30
18. DB31A (Take 2)
19. DB32
20. DB33
21. DB35 (Take 2)
22. Amida Iroha Wasan (2)
23. DB36

"Great Yokai War" (1968)
24. DB1
25. DB2-M2
26. DB2-M3*
27. DB2I
28. DB3
29. DB7A
30. DB9
31. DB10
32. DB11
33. DB12
34. DB13
35. DB14
36. DB16A
37. DB19
38. DB20A
39. DB21
40. DB22
41. DB25
42. DB26
43. DB27
44. DB29
45. DB29I
46. DB31A
47. DB33
48. DB34
49. DB35
50. DB36
51. DB36IA
52. DB37
* Unused.

Please note that tracks three and twenty-two are literal translations, I have no clue about what they mean.

[kaonashi]

Great news!

[Ostinato]

Aug 27, 2014 4:39:50 GMT -6 kaonashi said:

Great news!

Indeed!

[Ostinato]

Sei Ikeno Works for Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007) is now available! Order your copy today!

[Ostinato]

I just ordered the CD though ARK Soundtrack SQUARE today. It will ship via EMS tomorrow. I am looking forward to it!

[Ostinato]

Look at what arrived!

[Ostinato]

I have had Sei Ikeno Works for Film "Peony Lantern" and "Great Yokai War" (DESL-007) for a week now, and have given it many, many, listens now. How does this CD sound? Well, you are about to find out.

This is the fourth CD release by Salida, a private Japanese label. Their first release, Sei Ikeno Works for Film (DESL-001-004), was released ten years ago in 2004 as a four CD set. The set contained music from eighteen films, which spanned across the four discs. The fourth disc contained the complete score to "Great Yokai War", and until now, this was the only release containing the complete score. Unfortunately, the set was limited to five hundred copies, which made obtaining the set extremely difficult now. Just like me, there were many looking to get this set for the "Great Yokai War" score, among others. When I first saw "Great Yokai War", I was captivated by Sei Ikeno's score. I immediately started to track down a copy of the set, and after hunting for four years, I had no luck. At last, my search for the score, which began in 2010, has finally come to an end thanks to Salida, which finally re-released the score ten years later. What makes this release better, is that this marks the first time the complete score to "Peony Lantern", also composed by Ikeno, was released. Anyway, enough with this blah blah blah blab blab blab stuff! On with the music!

The score to "Peony Lantern", the first of two scores on this CD, kicks things off with an eerie start with the brief Main Title, TOP. DB3, the second cue, is also pretty eerie too. The cue also gives off a mysterious vibe. The third cue, Amida Iroha Wasan (1), is an A capella cue that starts with an adult male singing, then changes to children singing. A shorter variation of this song will be reprised at the end of this score. It is actually a pleasant listening experience. DB14 may be the highlight here. It starts off a bit eerie, then changes into something dreamlike. The theme is associated when Hagiwara, played by Kojiro Hongo, meets with the ghost of Otsuyu, played by Miyoko Akaza. This theme will also be heard in DB21, DB32 and DB36. The theme is very well done, and one of the best themes composed by Ikeno. The score ends with the End Titles, DB36. The overall score is mysterious, eerie and dreamlike. This is a great score by Ikeno, one one of his best. This score gets five out of five stars.

The score to "Great Yokai War", the second of the two scores on this CD, is fantastic, truly fantastic. The score begins with the creepy Main Title, DB1. That cue alone will get you hooked to the score. The theme will usually be associated with the Yokai themselves. DB2i, which is the theme for the Babylonian vampire Daimon, is really unnerving. DB3 is another variation of Daimon's theme, which begins with striking the cords and wires of a piano with a coin or something. These two variations of Daimon's theme will be repeated often, but their impact will never wear down. DB9, is a fun cue featuring drum work. This cue is heard when the Kappa tries to confront Daimon, but with no luck. The Kappa then tries to get help from the other Yokai in the area, which is when DB10 is heard. DB22 is another variation of the Yokai's theme, and ends with Daimon's theme. DB25 is another excellent cue. DB26 is a shorter variation of DB25. One of the best cues from this score is DB35. DB35 is heard when all of the Yokai come together to defeat Daimon. DB36iA is a dark variation of Daimon's theme, which is heard when Daimon is finally defeated. Db36 is heard when all of the Yokai retreat back into the mountains, and is a beautiful cue. Overall, This is one of Sei Ikeno's finest scores, and a hidden gem among Japanese film scores. It is definitely worth obtaining. This score also gets five out of five stars.

This CD gets five out of five stars. There isn't a bad cue on here at all. The packaging design and booklet, which has a very glossy cover, are very well done. The only downside one might have is the lack of actual cue names, as this release only lists the Dubbing (DB) numbers. That isn't a problem for me, as I prefer cue numbers. Anyway I highly recommend this CD, and I advise you to get it fast, as it is selling out everywhere. I bought my copy from ARK Soundtrack SQUARE for $43.80, that includes the EMS shipping I payed for. Depending on where you go, the CD will be around $29.50 not including shipping. This CD is only available through ARK Soundtrack SQUARE and HMV Japan, however, it is backordered at HMV Japan. Bottom line, this CD gets five out of five stars, and I highly recommend it.

[anahata]

Thanks for news on this including scans of the front & back covers.

[Ostinato]

Believe it or not, the images here are the booklet front, and the second page of the booklet.

[anahata]

I see that now.