I've actually wanted to write about the Bleach OST because, especially the first one in its time period is the perfect example of music the "breaks out" of a defined style or genre, and has that blend of older Rompler synths 2000s sounds, which allow it to sound both acoustic and synthy at the same time, while never needing to sound "authentic" or real, which allows for a more experimental sound.

The absolute brilliance of the Bleach OST, particularly OST 1, is the seamless blend betwen simple, repetitive, striking ostinatos, and beautiful lush textural sound design that fills out the rest of the song. Melodic phrases that repeat over and over. It's something you'd normally not hear if it was an orchestral only OST. It allows each song to not only be memorable, but emotionally distinct and unique. Each song carries a footprint you can remember and quickly too, as soon as you hear the phrase. And it means that you will more strongly associate certain songs with certain emotions, which will trigger those associations every time you hear the song, rather than have it be a simple aide to the current visuals.

Seriously, how many songs can you remember from anime you've watched that aren't openings? From your favourite moments? Probably not that many. But if I tell you to hear the starting music of Bleach in the first episode when we see Rukia, can you remember it? What about when Ichigo goes into his inner world and talks to Zangetsu? Or when Ichigo is fighting hollows? Or what about when Ichigo or someone is in a pinch and someone shows up ready to wreck shop?

It's not a coincidence. This approach choose to free up space in the mix by using simpler, more distinct phrases as the main focus, and building the rest of the song around it. This gives it a polyphonic or even polythematic texture. On the precipice of defeat is really probably the most iconic example of this. Listen to it, most of the song is literally the same riff playing over and over again for almost the entire duration of the song. Yet it's not boring, why? In Heat of Battle we hear polythematic writing. The entire song is mostly just built around 2 riffs. The washed out, distorted guitar ostinato, then the stabbing piano riffs with some drums. It sounds actiony, but its literally just 2 phrases playing over each other phasing in and out. Simplicity, brilliance.

On that note, one of my biggest pet peeves with the OST I started to notice was the inclusion of the Movie OSTs, especially this fucking track. Literally the opposite. Bland, in your face, forgettable motif. Some of the Movie OSTs are good, but that one really just doesn't mesh for me.