Quick Impressions
One of the things that delighted me about Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia is the attention to detail. Middle Eastern and Mongolian culture are presented in a way that, at least to me, comes across as being reasonably authentic. Props go out to its mangaka, Tomato Soup, for crafting it with care.
By that same token, I’m going to extend that same courtesy to Koshiro Hino, the composer behind Jaadugar‘s OST. But here, the results fall flat. Yes, the album uses instruments like the santur (from the Middle East) and the damnyan (which hails from Tibet, but ok fine). With an opportunity to bring styles of music that we’re not accustomed to hearing I was hoping for an enjoyable listen.
But nope, the music was sufficient for depicting the setting, but outside it, it failed to catch my attention. The flagship track, “Theme of Jaadugar” has the tonal inflections of Middle Eastern music but doesn’t have the energy or the development that would have me regard this as a top-tier anime theme.
Going further in, we have pieces like the “Analysis” series which feel airy and hollow, draining me with its repetitiveness. “Longing for Home” misses its mark because it doesn’t carry the requisite emotional weight. “Pomegranate Blossom” fares better with its softer, more emotive melody. It might very well be the best piece on the album.
Having just done a tiny bit of research for this mini-review, Middle Eastern music is pretty intricate, far more than what we got out of Jaadugar‘s OST. If you actually want to give Middle Eastern music a fair shot, you’d be better served by listening to this album.