The 'nana bunch

Well, I've pillaged poor Francesca's bot once again over at #StrikeSubs and nabbed yet another Nipponsei release. This is the last of the Strike Witches image albums, this time featuring Major Sakamoto, Cadet Miyafuji and The Laugh (TM), this time for real and not the facsimile of last time out (thank you, Perrine ).

Strike Witches Hime Uta Collection 1 - Miyafuji Yoshika & Sakamoto Mio is actually the first disc to be released, as you can see, but I've never been one to do things in any order other than personal preference and that includes the practice of witch-striking, so it should be no surprise to anyone here that Lucchini and Yeager came first That and they're obviously more excitable

Bookmark a Head comes to a head here. This is where I say the title song sung by the title character on the first album is the best version over the 5 CDs: it is... And it isn't. I adore Yoshika, right? Beautiful bishojo (all right, loli. Stoppit, selo) with cat ears and tail, school swimsuit topped off by a sailor uniform blouse. Add to that a sweetness of personality and rather a good singing voice and you're on to a winner. Well yes, but only up to a point. Used as it was in each episode ending, I find myself tiring of it a little. I prefer Francesca's version, or Erica's, because their voices don't sound so earnest, so heroine, so girl-next-door. That isn't what I look for in a character, nor is it desirable in a singer. Good go, but not breast. Best.

That said, I enjoyed my final foray into the Strike Witches image albums (at least for now... Roll on series deux!). Zenryaku, a Miyafuji effort, kicked things off, not too shabby, a nice peppy starter and I'm starting to warm to Yoshika again. Then we have a solo Mio song (if you see the pun, pardon it). Yikes this was good! Falcon Eyes is one of two Chiba Saeko songs on the album, and it begins horribly predictably, with a proper, stern Japanese "feel" to it. Then we have poppy departure with a few minutes gone, a lament flipping to what's basically Mio shouting at the world in a tuneful way with a heavy drum backing. Sakamoto starts narrating something towards then end and the song never really leaves 'sorrowful national heroine character' behind. Best on disc so far.

There's bathroom pieces on all these discs: Most discussion, be it strategic or chattery, takes place in the bath. A lot of Mio's inspiring pronouncements are made while she's bathing (and Miyafuji seems constantly scared stiff!). It being a teen series there were lots of opportunities to get the minimal kit the girls usually wore off them. But why do the "water-sloshing-in-the-tub" sound effect so much? It's music. You're not drawing anything visual, there's nothing there for a viewer, unless we're meant to picture it in our heads and all the steam and soaps suds and slippery Strikers and...

...I'll just be a minute...

...Anyway, much of the rest of the album follows a familiar pattern, with a couple of duets and another song for Miyafuji, as well as each Witch's rendition of Bookmark a Head. Ryoshuu in particular is worth note, because its a soothing song, and sounds like a Hawaiian lullaby O_o

The tracks round off with Yoshika hitting water with a splash, possibly hiding from Mio, possibly fainting because she's been in the bath too long, I've yet to figure it out... So, a confusing end to a good album.

I'm so chuffed I nabbed these, because I've enjoyed them immensely