HISAISHI, JOE

The original soundtrack double-LP for Joe Hisaishi’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (Gake no Ue no Ponyo) is a wonderfully vibrant, whimsical, and musically complex addition to the Studio Ghibli Records catalog. Moving away from the darker themes of Princess Mononoke, Hisaishi crafts a colorful sonic universe driven by a full classical orchestra, operatic motifs, and playful marches. Performed masterfully by the New Japan Philharmonic alongside the Kuriyukai Chorus, the music captures the pure innocence of childhood friendship and the turbulent, overwhelming power of a magical ocean