© 2025 Lawrence Tuczynski

All information courtesy of Sam Scali

Title: I Tried Playing Akira Ifukube's Music 7 - April Fools' Day Fantasy
CD Label: BKM
CD Number: G.R.F.AI-07
Music Performed by: Takeo Yahiro (on electronic instruments)
Bukimisha Weird Secret Society (male chorus)
Music Composed by: Akira Ifukube
(arranged by Takeo Yahiro)
Number of tracks: 2
Running time: 28:45
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: April 28, 2024

REVIEW

June 06, 2025 (Written May 27, 2025)

This CD-R features a demo recording of what can be considered an alternate "Symphonic Fantasia", wherein Bukimkisha mastermind Takeo Yahiro assembles a medley of film themes that were not utilized in Akira Ifukube's original three-movement concert work. For this new presentation, Takeo selects less-renowned motifs from sci-fi and fantasy films that featured invaders (space aliens or medieval warriors), skillfully blending and arranging the themes for maximum dramatic effect.

The disc includes two versions of the completed musical montage. The first is performed by Takeo on electronic keyboards, while the second consists of a vocal rendition by the Bukimisha male chorus. Though most of the themes are not as well known as Ifukube's more popular film cues, they are no less memorable, and Takeo's arrangement, though still in a demo stage, is powerful and haunting in both its instrumental and vocal incarnations. Takeo's ongoing fascination with Ifukube's music is truly impressive, and hopefully a more fully-developed version will be recorded in the near future.

Bukimisha CDs are available to non-Japanese buyers through BOOTH (The International Indie Art Marketplace) by using a proxy service or other intermediary: https://bukimisya-maal.booth.pm/

I Tried Playing Akira Ifukube's Music 7 - April Fools' Day Fantasy (G.R.F.AI-07)

  1. SF Symphonic Fantasy Invaders (instrumental version)
  2. SF Symphonic Fantasy Invaders (vocal version)

      3. The above compositions are sourced from the following film cues:
    1. The Helios Heads Into Outer Space (M3) from YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE, 1970
    2. Escape from Monster Land (M10) from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, 1968
    3. The Kilaak Starmen (M9) from DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, 1968
    4. The Cave (M22) from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, 1959
    5. Tokyo Bay Goes Up in Flames (M26) from ATRAGON, 1963
    6. Main Title (M2) from DOGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER, 1964
    7. Ahmed's Escape (M7) from BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, 1959
    8. Akatsuki 1 in Distress (M2) from TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA, 1975
    9. Mogera Attacks (M5) from THE MYSTERIANS, 1957
    10. The Appearance of Mogera (M4) from THE MYSTERIANS, 1957
    11. The Incident (M2) from THE MYSTERIANS, 1957
    12. Escape (DB7) from DAIMAJIN, 1966
    13. Nobunaga Heads to Battle (M30) from THE STORY OF TOKUGAWA IEYASU, 1965
    14. The Air Corps Launches an Offensive (M16A) from DOGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER, 1964
    15. Dogora's Natural Enemy (M14) from DOGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER, 1964
    16. Run, Daikaku (M25) from ADVENTURE IN KIGAN CASTLE, 1966