Noir Blanc Dans Noir ~ Kuro no Naka no Shiro~ VIZL-57

front of CD

back of CD

actual CD disc 1

actual CD disc 2

title: Noir Blanc dans Noir ~ Kuro no Naka no Shiro~
title translation: Noir Blanc dans noir ~ Black within White ~
catalog number: VIZL-57
country of publication: Japan
publisher: Victor Entertainment
date of release: November 7th, 2001
book: full color and black and white, 16 pages
tracks: disc1: 9, disc2: 8
total running time: disc1: 36 min 24 sec, disc1: 17 min 36 sec
description: Welcome to the Vocal Song Collection (disc1) and Background Music Outtake Collection (disc2). Yes, this is a set of two CDs. Disc 1 contains the vocal songs, which are all image or insert remixes. (Exception is track 2, Prelude. This track has no vocals, I personally cannot tell if it has been remixed, so I have no idea why it is on disc 1. *perplexed shrug*) My friend Tiffany swears that none of these actual vocal songs are used in the anime, and she would know, since she's watched her Noir DVDs numerous times. ^^ All vocals songs do have lyrics--and nicely done lyrics, I might add. Disc 2 is actually a small CD, the size of a GameCube disc. Disc 2 is entirely instrumental, and contains background music outtakes. Not much to say about them, except that they sound just like the rest of this show's bgm! Rather than one of those bulky two-disc sets, this CD case is the same size as a regular single disc CD. The actual disc tray is hinged to the case's spine and lifts up. Disc1 on one side, disc 2 on the back. ^^ The CD book is one of the classiest I have seen, illustrated with that wonderful background art found throughout the anime. Characters are included as an afterthought in these images! Page 2 is a full-color closeup of white flowers on a green hedge. Page 3 contains the track list for both CDs printed in gray and brown on a white background. Page 4 appears to be a message from the producer about the anime's music, black ink on white page. Page 5 is another hedge closeup, this time with red flowers. Page 6 begins the song lyrics, which are printed on the lower half of the page in white ink on a color background. The top half of each page contains another background still from the show. Page 6 has the lyrics for Aka to Kuro on purple background; the illustration above is looking up through the roof of a greenhouse. Page 7 has Canta Per Me's lyrics on a dark blue background below a night view of a European church with a full moon above. Page 8 is Lullaby's lyrics on green, with a shot of Altena's rather odd vineyard and ruins home. Altena is also in the pic very small and facing away from the viewer. Page 9 has the lyrics for Emu Moa on gold, with a shot of a forest lake in browns and golds above. Page 10 is Himitsu's lyrics on bright blue; above is a shot of distant Cloe walking on a mountain path--slightly out of focus, since only the bright orange flowers in the pic's foreground are clear. Page 11 has the lyrics for Salva Nos on dark purple, with another night scene in purples looking down on a staircase and street lamp, with Mireille and Kirika just walking in the scene. Page 12 is Love's lyrics on dark beige, with Kirika and her artist friend sitting on the river's grassy bank drawing. (My favorite episode, BTW.) Page 13 is Gensou Rakuen over blue beneath another shot of Altena's and Kirika's home. Page 14 has the lyrics for Melody on dark purple, with a lovely sunset garden scene above. A distant skyscraper can be seen above the trees, and Mireille and Kirika are walking towards the viewer. Page 15 has the usual copyright info printing in small black type at the bottom of the white page. Page 16--the back of the book--is solid black except for some fine white print from Victor at the very bottom. Of the two CDs, my favorite song is actually track 1 on disc1, Aka to Kuro. Ali Project knows what they are doing. The remaining songs are good as well, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by Cloe's image song, Himitsu. Cloe's seiyuu, Hisakawa Aya, is a great singer, but this song does not do her voice justice. It is very subdued and almost staccatto-ish, with none of the rising vocal scales or strong notes that Aya-sama can reach. I suppose the song is appropirate for the character, but still. >< I do recommend this CD set to all Noir fans. It is definitely worth a listen!
cd from Tiffany's collection

track list (the little romanization and Japanese translation required was done by Sailor Two Moons)

Disc 1:
1. Aka to Kuro (Red and Black), image, vocal, by Ali Project, 4:49
2. Prelude, bgm, 0:54
3. Canta Per Me, ins Kirika ver, by Kuwashima Houko, 3:13
4. Lullaby, ins Altena ver, by Tarako, 3:14
5. Emu Moa, img Kirika, by Kuwashima Houko, 4:15
6. Himitsu (A Secret), img Cloe, by Hisawaka Aya, 5:00
7. Salva Nos, ins remix, vocals by Mitayoshi(?) Satoko, words by Mitsuishi Kotono, 4:23
8. Love, img, vocals by Chiaka, performed by See-Saw, 4:57
9. Gensou Rakuen (Paradise Illusion), by Mitayoshi(?) Satoko, 5:39

Disc 2:
1. Guests B, bgm outtake, 1:01
2. Melody, bgm outtake "Salva Nos" ver, 3:00
3. Jealousy, bgm outtake, 2:50
4. At Dawn, bgm outtake, 1:35
5. Black Society, bgm outtake, 2:43
6. Family Affection, bgm outtake, 2:50
7. Church, bgm outtake, 1:49
8. At Ease, bgm outtake, 1:50

10-12-04