duggup

Artist: Susuma Hirasawa
Website: chaosunion.com/hirasawa/e/bio-e.htm
Track Name: The girl in Byakkoya – White Tiger Field
Playback: mp3
Download?: Yes

Today I got sidetracked by a lightning strike that reset my computer as I was going to begin an experiment in high definition photograpy. When my computer rebooted I found an email about a new extraordinary anime movie called “Paprika” directed by Satoshi Kon of Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers and Paranoia Agent fame.

Based on the 1993 book ‘Paprika’ by Yasutaka Tsutsui:

29 year old Dr. Atsuko Chiba is an attractive but modest Japanese research psychotherapist whose work is on the cutting edge of her field. Her alter-ego is a stunning and fearless 18 year old “dream detective,” code named PAPRIKA, who can enter into people’s dreams and synchronize with their unconscious to help uncover the source of their anxiety or neurosis.

What galvanised me though, was the soundtrack or at least the main theme song at any rate. The composer Susuma Hirasawa has generously made the title track The girl in Byakkoya – White Tiger Field available for free download.

This melodically rich track and others can be found on the composer’s website and there are several tracks worth listening to including the more conventional Jikan-no-seihou (The Westward of Time), the melancholy White Hill 2 from Paranoia Agent and Ride the Blue Limbo from the album BLUE LIMBO.

We are talking about Japanese electro pop here for which I have harboured a soft spot for some time. If you are not aware of the genre, this artist is a perfect introduction. Not new to composing for tv, Susuma Hirasawa is already known for his documentary music and sound tracks for video animation including the 1997 the animation series “Berserk”.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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