This is a collection of Symphonic Tunes from the latter half of the OVA series "Mobile Suit
Gundam: The 08th MS Team", including two vocals by the Series' OP/ED singer, Chihiro 
Yonekura.



The following is excerpted from the website "The Newtype Asylum"...http://www.newtype-asylum.com/
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Recorded in PLAHA is the third and final soundtrack album for "The 08th MS Team" animation 
series, featuring soundtracks that appeared on the last half of the 08 OVA as well as 
Miller's Report motion picture. As before, all the music on this album are composed by 
Kohei Tanaka, the music director of the 08 series. Unlike the two previous 
08 soundtrack / drama albums, however, this is a pure symphonic album recorded in 
Prague, the Czech Republic. Here, Tanaka enlisted the service of the Czech Philharmonic 
Orchestra to perform the entire album, plus vocal performance by Chihiro Yonekura 
(vocalist of 08's theme songs) on two of the tracks. Of the fourteen tracks, only the 
last two ('Nameless Future Drawing' and 'Open your Eyes'**; sung by Yonekura) are titled, 
as the rest are simply identified sequentally with Roman numerals. The CD booklet includes 
interviews with Tanaka and Yonekura on the making of the album, with photos of rehearsals 
and actual performances. Music wise, every track on the PLAHA album is fully-fledged single 
piece, a stark contrast with the previous two albums in which individual tracks are 
combinations of several short pieces. I personally view this album as the 'Iida album', as 
most of the tracks appear exclusively on episode 5 to 11 of the OVA directed by Umanosuke 
Iida, who took up the task after its original director (Takeyuki Kanda) passed away upon 
completing the first four episodes in 1996. If you've experienced the 'Kanda's albums' and 
expect Record in PLAHA is more or less the same thing, you are in for a pleasant surprise. 
Here's why...

Not only did the arrival of Iida signal a change in the direction of "08" OVA, his style 
also has a profound effect on the direction of the show's music as well. As the story 
shifted its focus from team efforts to a more personal level, Tanaka's music is a lot 
darker and brooding this time around. By presenting each track as full and separate pieces, 
he also gave this album a distinct and classy character you won't find it on the other two 
"08" albums. From dreamy, romantic numbers ('I', 'XII') to gripping and highly charged 
('III', 'VII', and 'VIII'), it is hard to single out a track on this album which is NOT 
outstanding; Quite simply, I was instantly moved on the very first listen in which I have 
no problem to pick out the ace tracks:

            - trk 1. 'I' (Shiroh & Aina's encounter in the Himalayas; episode 7);
            - trk 7. 'VII' (Gouf Custom vs. the 08th MS Team; episode 10);
            - trk 8. 'VIII' (Gundam Ez8 vs. Apsaras III; episode 11);
            - trk 12. 'XII' (Aina's theme; episode 7);
            - trk 13. 'Nameless Future Drawing' (sung by Chihiro Yonekura);
            - trk 14. 'Open Your Eyes'** (sung by Chihiro Yonekura);

Those who've watched the OVA already will no doubt find the first four listed above 
instantly familiar and enjoyable, with the militaristic 'VII' highlights the show's most 
glorious moments and the brooding 'VIII' hits you like a unstoppable wave and brings the 
series to a spectacular climax. The strong vocal performance by the ever-improving Yonekura 
on the last two tracks, coupled with fully-fledged orchestral backings, close the album on 
a highly-spirited note. Sadly, the half piano, half orchestral piece of Norris-Aina theme 
in episode 10, another moving moment in the show, is not included on the album. Call me 
nitpicking, but the omission is a let down and somehow makes the album less than complete. 
The Roman numerals / nameless titles work both ways: those who've watched the OVA may find 
it confusing to relate them with the corresponding episodes; 08 fans may find such measure 
mysterious and have to guess what's inside the album and hesitate, hence it inadvertently 
reduce the album's attractiveness. Yet it places no constraint for non-Gundam audiences, 
for they can enjoy it as a full-bodied symphonic album which sit well with your classical 
CD collection.

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