Imagined sound albums are generally an intriguing type of music, with many being created with the intention of placing emphasis on sound design, atmosphere, image or a story. “After Image,” released on Dec. 31, 2006 and produced by Morrigan, also known as WAVE, is one such album that takes a unique approach to its composition. It’s not necessarily popular among the public, however it is worth a listen as to how it adapts a story into music.
“Angel Notes,” officially known as “Notes,” is a Science-Fiction short story written by Japanese author Kinoko Nasu in 1999 for a writing competition with a theme of angels. The basic premise is that a dead, futuristic Earth calls forth aliens known as Ultimate Ones or Aristoteles to wipe out the remaining humans on its corpse. The main character, Godo, with a weapon called the Black Barrel, shot down one of the Aristoteles known as Type Venus and upon returning home, finds that Type Venus has been reborn into an angel named V/V. The story follows the two characters and their lives within the world “Notes,” created until the story ends with Godo’s death in the battle against the Aristoteles, Type Saturn.
“After Image,” adapts “Notes,” into a hypothetical soundtrack for the short story, with a wide range of themes and tracks that act to convey the tone and emotions of scenes told within the story, with grand, overpowering tracks such as “Another II / ULTIMATE ONE – Aristoteles,” meant to convey the sheer destructiveness of the Aristoteles, bittersweet songs such as “4/Beyond the Clouds, I Arrived at a Single Answer,” which is meant to represent the death of Godo at the story’s conclusion or something as simple as “Image I / The Corner of The World – Where I Am?” which is meant to portray V/V in Godo’s home attempting to learn how to use a guitar that he owns. “Angel Notes,” is a brilliantly written short story and “After Image,” develops the story into song well and I would recommend giving both a try.
