Hideakira Sakurai's original compositions from the popular samurai films. Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima's Lone Wolf and Cub manga was wildly popular upon its initial release in 1970. Starting in 1972 the manga was adapted into seven films staring Tomisaburo Wakayama as Ogami Ittō, the protagonist of the series. The films took the manga's elegant body of work, including its depictions of surreal eruptions of violence, into real live action. Helping to create the tension and drama was Hideakira Sakurai's soundtrack for the series. The music is all over the place, moving from psychedelic soundscapes, to surf guitars, Ennio Morricone spaghetti western sounds, and more traditional Japanese instrumentation. Released by K.O. Records Production on red vinyl with a bonus 7".

• red vinyl pressing
• includes bonus 7"
• music label: K.O. Records Production 2015

reviewed by Hank Ohs 09/2015

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