REVIEW: Sound Horizon’s 6th Story Moira, is a beautiful, thought provoking work which tells the myth of the young twins Elef and Misia. An assortment of styles and sounds, Moira offers a lot in terms of depth and complexity. This album in particular amongst Sound Horizon’s discography plays out much like a musical soundtrack, with vivid imagery and a continuous play throughout. The tracks meld into one and create a story rather than an album of 15 songs.
The Packaging
The packaging for Moira is exquisite, the album being in a box with a woven exterior akin to the woven fates of the Moira. The booklet is made of thick, cardboard style paper and had beautiful art inside and very unusual layouts. The CD itself also looks very nice. Click on the images for much larger originals.
Review
Note: Character Vocals refers to voice actors playing the characters in speaking roles.
I’m absolutely in love with this album. It offers many hours of enjoyment and replayability and the imaginative story that the album tells is amazing.
The songs on Moira are quite diverse, from the dark Thanatos, to the Russian influenced Matryoshka and Greek influences in Illion and throughout the album. I think the most endearing thing about this album is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Amongst the themes of death and war, there are quite a few lighthearted, amusing tracks to lighten the mood. This prevents the album from becoming too dark and gives it a much more diverse range of styles.
40sec samples of each song
Thanatos opens the album well with a very dramatic and dark track. The use of organs and chants give a great sense of the world of death and the soprano vocals of REMI and Naitou Ayaka as the Dark Lord’s Attendants are utilized well especially when sung accompanied with Revo’s deeper vocals. When first listening, the interlude of jazzy music in the middle of the track was slightly odd to me, but it has definitely grown and the singing of “You’re dead, you’re simply dead” over the top is effective. There is also a cool rock instrumental in there. It’s a great opening track.
Thanatos PV
From the dark Thanatos, we move to the very interesting Matryoshka. Matryoshka tells of the Russian Billionaire and quite appropriately the song has very Russian influenced music. I believe there is an accordion accompaniment throughout which is really lovely. There is quite a bit of narration throughout this song, setting the story up, very common in Sound Horizon’s songs. It's a fun and enjoyable song to lighten the mood from the previous track.
Mythos begins with a foreboding opening and is in essence an extended instrumental with narration and vocalisation. It is very pretty and soft and Ike’s English narration is spot on as always, though difficult to hear at times. I particularly enjoy the introduction of the Sisters towards the end of the track. As Ike introduces each Sister individually, they each do some vocalisation techniques. The singers are pretty incredible, the regular singers of REMI, KAORI, YUUKI and MIKI with Naitou Ayaka and Shimotsuki Haruka.
Didumoi opens with a really beautiful instrumental accompanied by narration and sounds of children playing. This lasts quite long, almost half the track but it is the introduction to the main characters of the story so it is appropriate. The song is very pretty until the last minute where it becomes frantic and moody due to the storyline. The introduction of rock elements and some dramatic strings are effective in creating the imagery of the closing of this track.
Duloi talks of the Slave Market and it does feel very much like the hustle and bustle of a busy market place. The music is fast paced and is accompanied by backing character vocals which further add to the scene imagery. The vocals are once again very good and make great use of the backing soprano vocals. This song manages to switch tempo with ease and is one of the more diverse tracks on the album. Mid way through there is a lovely tempo change to a melody which is repeated much later on in the album.
Beautiful chanting opens the next track Leontius, which is a male vocal track sung by Utsunomiya Takashi. He sings really well and his vocals are slightly more youthful than Revo and Jimang, able to reflect the character of the young prince Leontius. This song samples a melody which we saw in Matryoshka and makes use of some nice chorus vocals. The music sounds very heroic with trumpet sounds utilized. The track closes with some story telling with character vocals.
Illion opens with some very Greek influenced music as the characters of Cassandra and Melissa sing. It’s a nice contrast to the previous track. After some character vocals the track opens into a rock style as we enter Illion. The second half of the piece is very dramatic and the female vocals, including soprano, work really well with the rock style.
Lesbos is perhaps best described as soft and pure. When I listen to the first half of this song I think of the colour white; It’s just a very pretty song. It is sung by Iwasaki Yoshimi, who plays the role of Sofia, over a very simple instrumental of piano and what sounds like a harp. The track then opens into a slightly more upbeat, joyful melody. I enjoy how Kuribayashi Minami, who plays Misia, joins in towards the end of the track.
Horizon reminds me much of Sound Horizon’s Shuutan no Ou to Isekai no Kishi ~The Endia & The Knights~ with the use of the flute to convey this sense of journeying, (lush mountains come to my mind) it’s used very well. Jimang and Yukana do character vocals throughout this song which is nice, particularly the vocals of Young Elef who is pretty cute sounding.
Istoria might be one of the weaker track on the album. It is around this area of the album where the songs tend to blend a tad too much, the album's only fault. It’s quite similar to the previous track in terms of music, perhaps with a slightly more Greek influenced instrumental. There are quite a few tempo changes throughout and lots of narration. It’s one of the weaker tracks as I said, but it’s still relatively good.
Artemisia holds a special place in my heart due to its constant references to Stardust (which the name of my blog, in case you hadn’t noticed). Similarly to Lesbos this track is a ballad but with a more complex arrangement and the use of the the Sister vocalists. The soprano vocals are perfect in this song over Kuribayashi Minami’s wonderful vocals as Artemisia/Misia. There is some storytelling towards the end which is done well, as always. This storytelling is introduced by Ike’s narration and a change of music to a more dramatic, slightly haunting instrumental.
The next song Parthenos, isn’t particularly memorable towards the beginning. It opens with some dramatic music and is followed by vocals from Kuribayashi and Iwasaki. I enjoy how the storytelling comes through in the singing with Misia is attacked, her singing falters. The highlight of this track is definitely the touching duet between Misia and Elef (Kuribayashi and Revo) at the end of the song. It's extremely beautiful with a nice, simple melody.
Eleuseus begins the closing of the myth, leading up to the climax of the story and as such has very dramatic music throughout. There are a number of melodies throughout and choral vocal chants are used well. It's very high intensity in some parts and soft in others; A great use of light and shade. I particularly enjoy the call back to Duloi with a more intense, upbeat version of one of its melodies reflecting the Slave Market once again.
Iromachia opens with some really wonderful storytelling, character vocals between Leontius and the Queen. The voice actors on this album are really incredible in portraying their characters and conveying the story through just their voices. This song mixes storytelling and singing, with a lot of different melodies and tempo changes. The strings mid way through definitely heighten the tension and Revo’s vocals on this track are particularly good. The voice acting during the fighting scenes are wonderful and the sound effects really add to the story telling.
The final track Telos, is very much a narration track, closing up the story. I do enjoy the flipping of the pages to end the myth, as if closing a book. We’re then brought back to the beginning of the album with the Matryoshka melody returning behind the character vocals of the Russian Billionare and his wife. This then wonderfully melds into the dramatic, organ music of Thanatos to close out the album.
RATING: 9.5/10 – The album is pretty close to perfect for the style of album that it is. It is let down only slightly by one or two tracks which are only great, rather than excellent like the majority.
The Story of Moira
I’ve put together a retelling of the story of Moira, as far as I have gathered from the web. Thanks in huge part to dierapunzel at the animesuki forums where I got most of the information from. Not knowing Japanese I can’t verify it exactly but it seems pretty accurate. Feel free to let me know of any errors I’ve made or anything I’ve left out.
The opening track on Moira is the dramatic Thanatos, a song which tells the story of the God of Death, Thanatos. He sings of bringing equality through death, to a world which is ruled by the Moira, merciless Goddesses who manipulate the destiny of humans. Death shows no boundaries “Kings and slaves, sages and prostitutes” – Thanatos’ death is his redemption to the world; Without him, there would be no equality.
Matryoshka is the tale of the Russian billionaire who rose from a hard life of poverty to riches. He keeps a book from his mother, a poet, which inspires him to become wealthy enough to try to uncover the truths of the epic poem, titled Elefseja. He undergoes an archaeological dig in an attempt to bring this myth to life.
Mythos retells the story of the creation of the world and sets the scene for the retelling of this Myth. It introduces the Gods and Goddesses and the kingdoms of Greece. It also introduces us to the 6 Sisters, Ionia, Doria, Phrygia, Lidia, Aiolia and Docria who bring this tale to life.Didymoi or Twins, talks of the childhood of the twins, Elef and Misia. The pair are raised by loving, adoptive parents and have lived a happy life so far. It also introduces the character of Scorpius, a soldier who is unlikely to claim the throne without help from an oracle to guide him in war. Scorpius visits the family in a bid to recruit the twin’s father to fight in his army. When the father refuses, Scorpius attacks him and orders the capture of the twins. The twins are kidnapped and taken away, while their parents are left for dead.
The children are then taken to a slave market, or Duloi, in the kingdom of Arcadia where the pair are separated. Misia is sold as an apprentice to the Hetaera (courtesans or prostitutes), while Elef becomes a slave of the kingdom.
We are then introduced to the royal family of Arcadia in the next song, Leontius. Leontius is the First Prince of Arcadia, heir to the throne and wielder of the Lightening Lance. Because of warnings from the Oracle and the impending threat of surrounding nations, a wall is built around the kingdom to protect it. Elef, now a slave, helps build this wall.We also learn that the twins were in fact the son and daughter of the King and Queen of Arcadia but because they were born during a solar eclipse, the Oracle claimed they must be abandoned. They were given away to a courtier, the man the twins believed was their father.
Misia, having been sold to the Hetaera, Cassandra and Mellisa, is now brought to Ilion to provide service to the priest of Anemos, the Wind God. Her brother, Elef and his friend Orion, are slaves under the priest who is cruel and harsh towards them.
The trio’s betrayal of Anemos angers the Wind God. He and the Rain Goddess conceived the Goddess of Storm, Thyella and she creates havoc for the group who are separated once again, on the high seas.
Misia is found washed up on the Isle of Lesbos by the women there who take her to the poet, Sopia. Sopia notices Misia’s ability to read the stars and guides her in her ability, encouraging her to overcome the torment of her past.Meanwhile, Elef continues his journey in Horizon, searching for his sister. He and the blind poet Milos, who has followed him, return to the home where the Twins grew up. They find two graves, side by side, those of his adopted mother and father. Milos, dies on the journey, but not before telling Elef to travel to the Isle of Lesbos to gain knowledge from an old friend of his. Elef sets out in search of Sopia of Lesbos.
Rumours begin spreading throughout the Kingdom of the identity of the abandoned Prince, born under the solar eclipse, and the talented archer Orion, a champion in Anatolia
Istoria or History, tells of a world in turmoil upon an outbreak of war. Leontius battles against the Amazonians, but fails to kill their Queen who becomes obsessed with him.
Elef continues his journey towards Lesbos. The Twins miss each other and can feel each other’s presence, having faith they will meet again one day.
Meanwhile Scorpius has gathered all he needs to wage war and sets his sights on Leontius.
Through Sopia’s guidance, Misia becomes a Miko, or shamaness of the Star Goddess and is now known as Artemisia. She is able to foresee the destiny of the star signs Leon (Leontius), Didymoi (Elef) and Parthenos (Misia). Scorpius and his soldiers visit her shrine at night, seeking Misia’s guidance as an oracle. Misia is unwilling to aid in Scorpius’ destruction and war and refuses to help.Because of her resistance, Misia is killed in Parthernos by Scorpius who leaves her for death in a pool of water. Though dying, Misia accepts her death as the wish of the Moira and does not resist her fate.
Sopia comes to tell Misia that a young man with similar eyes had arrived to visit her but Misia has already died. Elef becomes aware of Misia’s death and the two share a farewell, Misia speaking to her brother from another realm she has passed on to.
Eleuseus explains how after Misia’s death, Elef becomes changed and seeks revenge over the Moira and the Kingdom of Arcadia. He creates an uprising of the slaves and becomes their leader Amethystos.
While this is happening, battles continue in Arcadia. Because of the rumours surround Orion, Scorpius seeks him out. The two battle and Orion is severely wounded by Scorpius. Believing that Orion may be his brother, Leontius seeks revenge and manages to kill Scorpius.
Elef/Amethystos and his army of slaves target and wage war on Arcadia, advancing towards the Kingdom during the next song, Iromachia. The Queen of Arcadia, knowing Elef’s true identity, pleads with Leontius not to fight but Leontius leaves before his mother can reveal her shocking secret.
Orion dies of his wounds, inflicted by Scorpius and the wall which Leontius helped build is brought down by Amethystos and the slaves. Amethystos and Leontius meet up and the two brothers duel. The Queen tries to intervene but is mortally wounded in the process and Amethystos shows no mercy in killing Leontius. The Amazonian Queen, who is obsessed with Leontius, cannot bear his death and attacks Amethystos who swiftly kills her.
After conquering Arcadia, Elef sets his sights on the relentless Moira in an attempt to avenge his sister’s death. The myth ends as Elef opens the gates of Hades, advancing upon the Moira. We are left with the question of whether or not the Goddesses will live or die in the final song, Telos.
As the story ends, the Billionaire’s wife comes to inform him that she is pregnant with twins. The Billionaire is overjoyed and decides to name the twins…
ROUND UP
Moira is a beautiful album with a wonderful selection of songs and styles. A true gem for those who enjoy this style of music. Of course it isn't to everyone's taste but for what Sound Horizon does, it is perfection!
Moira is a beautiful album with a wonderful selection of songs and styles. A true gem for those who enjoy this style of music. Of course it isn't to everyone's taste but for what Sound Horizon does, it is perfection!
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