Mushi-Shi OST

Wavy watercolors, sleepy canopies and smudged light dappled here and there along lazy green landscapes all wrapped up in warm acoustic guitar and caressed by the voice of Ally Kerr - just like that Mushi-Shi nudges the viewer into its world... and what a world it is.

Mushi-Shi, based on the award-winning manga written and illustrated by Yuki Urushibara, was adapted into a 26 episode anime television series in 2005; directed by Hiroshi Nagahama with music by Toshio Masuda the series swept viewers off their feet (just look at the user ratings at Anime News Network and IMDB) winning awards at at the 5th Tokyo Anime Awards in 2006 such as best art direction (Takashi Waki). Without resorting to harems, high-budgeted mecha fight scenes or even a chronologically relevant storyline, Mushishi was a remarkable success gaining a dedicated cult following and showing the world that a slow, thoughtful and unimposing story can be marketable too.

The world of Mushi-Shi is solemn, textured and visceral - as is the soundtrack.

So what is it that makes the series so appealing to both average viewers and critics? I would say it is harmony; harmony of animation, art style, voice acting and, of course, music. It is this harmony and the almost unrivaled sense of immersion (which results from it) which really makes the show stand out. I have consumed very few series, games or movies which suck the audience in quite like Mushi-Shi and I'm sure the gripping soundtrack plays a big part in this.

For me, the sign of a great soundtrack is not necessarily that the viewer notices it and enjoys it, but rather that the viewer is immersed in an enjoyment of the whole production but doesn't quite understand why - for in noticing and enjoying the soundtrack, although a different type of pleasure may be gained, immersion is lost. Masuda's work walks a fine line here, carefully balancing beautiful melodies with a sense of transparency and atmosphere. I noticed the soundtrack to be sure, but I noticed it in relation to the rest of the show - it was not a separate entity but rather more like the paper on which the images were painted, the milk in which the cereal becomes soggy. This was the soundtrack's biggest strength for me.

If you enjoy Japanese culture, tradition and music, Mushi-Shi is a must see.

The anime follows the meanderings of Ginko (above) as he traverses rural japan around the time of the Edo period dealing with various spirit-like beings called Mushi-Shi. Both the main character and these spirits are mysterious to the viewer and the details thereof are intentionally few and far between. The soundtrack manages to really amplify the mystery and odd happenings which provide the meat of series. It wraps the various little stories in a veil of misty instrumentation which suggests that everything you've seen could just be a dream, an imaginary world - about as real as thought itself. In this sense, it provides the perfect atmosphere for the series as a whole.

Masuda manages this through the use of heavily reverberated sounds, the strategic panning of instruments (If you have a high end sound system, you are in for a treat - the soundstage can be glorious) and amazingly detailed recordings (in some songs you can hear the fingers slide along the koto and the fue's lamentations give the feel that you're in some sullen and mossy cavern). On top of this there is a strong sense of instrumental dynamism both in frequency and volume (for instance there are the deep sub-bass lows of the taiko, the rich pads and strings of the mid range and a generous peppering of sparkling chimes taking up the summit frequencies). His compositions are spacious and, unlike some more forceful soundtracks, tend to unfurl into being over time. The delicate arrangements and the extended use of traditional Japanese music styles and instrumentation render the music swollen with a heavy dampness of sound, kind of primal yet dignified. For me the music is a striking metaphor for a combination of nature and tradition - just like the series itself.

The audio of Mushi-Shi is rich and well recorded. It's hard to tell if the creaking of bamboo is part of the song or an independent sound effect.

With this solid praise, it should be noted that Mushi-Shi and its music would definitely not be for everyone. I happen to love ambient-based music and am very interested in Japanese traditions. The speed of both the music and the series may, for some, be dull and drawn out. Also, I would like to add that the music gains just as much from the anime as the anime from the music. If you are thinking of just listening to the soundtrack and giving the anime a miss, I would recommend either just biting the bullet and watching the show or spending your time on another more attractive one; when separated, the two lose a lot of their power - a testament, I suppose, to the harmony I spoke of earlier.

At the end of the day, if you're in the market for a new immersive series or an episodic show with aesthetics (as opposed to plot) at its heart, look no further. If you let it, Mushi-Shi has the potential to be both captivating and relaxing - the perfect thing to watch after a long hard day at work. And, best of all, by the time your done the soundtrack will be laden with emotional connotations embedded in it from the series, ready to impart a truly amazing audio experience well worth your time.

Personal rating: 7.7/10