Track Listing
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Meiou
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Jinsei wa Ireko Ningyou
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Shinwa
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Unmei no Futago
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Dorei Shijou
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Raijin-eiki no Eiyuu
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Shi to Nageki no Kaze no Miyako
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Seinaru Shijin no Shima
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Haruka Chiheisen no Kanata e
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Shiseru Monotachi no Monogatari
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Hoshi Megami no Miko
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Shiseru Otome Sono Te ni wa Suigetsu
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Doreitachi no Eiyuu
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Shiseru Eiyuutachi no Tatakai
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Shinwa no Shuuen
1. Meiou
As being the main promotional track, Meiou had lot to live up to and it delivers quite menacingly. Starts off with a guy talking bout mythology and the like, with some pretty creepy organ and later comes the chanters. It is a long opening so you might wanna get some popcorn for this. Once things start to pick up, it becomes a gothic rock song that is pretty to the ears. It might be REVO’s singing, or the opera-like ladies singing but this is one song that pumps you up. Funny that the song is the longest on the album, but that’s OK.
2. Jinsei wa Ireko Ningyou
I’m pretty shocked that the song takes a more lively route and I’m not sure if REVO is exactly singing and the whole circus atmosphere throws me for a loop as well. Turns out this Jimang guy sings this part. After a little bit, piano and some other instruments start to play and changes the overall sound and even when the lady comes in, there’s so random moments that pop in. I actually like the ladies parts more than the guys, making the song seem split at two ends y’know?
3. Shinwa
Talk about unnerving. There’s something about the music that screams “Final Fantasy” about it and I quite love it in face. The same voice from the beginning of “Meiou” reappears and I think he repeats the same exact lines, but to a more graceful sounds played by an orchestra. Then about more than half-way the song gets a little more playful in itself and the ladies ad-libbing makes it more sweet than it is. Definitly cool.
4. Unmei no Futago
I know, I’m not mentioning it enough, but this album is a story and the guy’s vocals pretty much told me that, oh yea the album is one long story that spans through their career. Anyways, the song has the sound of water and kids playing which isn’t too out of the ordinary. As time lingers on, the guy pops back and tells a little more of the story. Then the ladies come in and I’m surprised I really like their voices, even though the ladies change as frequently as I do reviews. It’s not forever. Once REVO comes in things get dark and pretty angry perhaps? Sounds like a fight and ends and leads straight into…
5. Dorei Shijou
Sounds like a cool chase scene with this one. The girls are pretty strong and pretty exact on lyrics here. Even though I wish the song was entirely of this fast-paced hectic sound, but it changes into a waltz-like atmosphere for a little bit and then it becomes Spanish-influenced? Not what I call the cleanest of transitions to each part, but it’s nice to listen to because of all of the differences.
6. Raijin-eiki no Eiyuu
Haunting chants starts this next dark track. We finally get to hear Takashi Utsunomiya actually sing again, he’s from TM Network BTW. His voice is pretty calm and collected as well as the music. I have to say though that the Trumpet solo before returning to the haunting chorale was pretty nifty. I’m not sure exactly where I stand with the song, but I guess it’s alright….and why does it end with a baby crying?
7. Shi to Nageki no Kaze no Miyako
I know it’s quite strange to hear a deep ladies voice and a seiyuu’s voice sing together, but it’s nonetheless a nice site. They seem to compliment each other in a way. I also like the upbeat string+accordion sound at the beginning. Then the music stops and they talk a little bit before entering a dark zone. When I listen it seems the song is taking place someplace else in the storyline, because it sounds like someone’s being someone’s bitch. Pretty awesome and then they finish by going through the upbeat part….strange….LOL and the man’s voice telling more of the story.
8. Seinaru Shijin no Shima
Yea, the guy introduces a character here, and it sounds like a true ballad because all that’s going on is someone playing the harp. It’s quite calming to me. but it does make me want to take a nap because of its lullaby-qualities. At least that’s not the entire song because REVO flutes his way in the song and the song gets upbeat. It’s one of the catchier songs off the album.
9. Haruka Chiheisen no Kanata e
Pretty upbeat again, but this sounds like medieval music to me. Luckily, REVO returns to singing for a little bit, but he’s playing other things along the way (pretty much the solo parts), but like the other tracks, it changes pretty boldly into a ballad again. Luckily, I really like the gal who’s using the opera voice.
10. Shiseru Monotachi no Monogatari
So we get a happy-go-lucky track next and what’s better is that REVO’s singing! Even though he still has those fast flute solo’s and the various “storytelling” moments. I actually think the song could actually be one of those pop songs, I know blame me, but it’s kind of got that quality. Funny is that the song doesn’t really lead into anything until close to the end where things get darker, but it’s still upbeat, so it isn’t too drastic or anything.
11. Hoshi Megami no Miko
I can tell this already by the title that it would be something that has nature sounds in it. You can faintly hear the crickets in the background with the music. I actually loved the chorus of the song. Pretty well written if you ask me. Then it seems by what the storytelling is telling us, is that the girls are either escaping or someone died because of the melancholic music-box sounds hear the end.
12. Shiseru Otome Sono Te ni wa Suigetsu
~The offering to the cruel god~ Doesn’t that send chills down your spine. Even though it has a grandiose opening, it’s pretty much a ballad again. Not that I’m complaining really, though I’m not feeling this one as much. From the song’s background stuff, you can hear someone running, even though it’s not clear where to, but it’s there. The second half does include REVO’s vocals so it does come out better in the end. Probably my least favorite.
13. Doreitachi no Eiyuu
I was waiting for something that’s like “Meiou” to pop up soon enough and even though it isn’t as foreboding and evil as said song, it’s fast and aggressive. I have to give props to the band as they sound so friggin cool. The band solo’s do get darker in sound and wow, Another epic track found here.
14. Shiseru Eiyuutachi no Tatakai
Asking for more presence of the brass section was a bold idea and to be more it made the song sound more epic. It sounds like there’s an epic battle as well looming in the background. Even though it fades away since the song is the main focus. There’s a full chorus in which they sound almost perfect then like out of laughs, there’s a flute solo here too. Pretty energetic track.
15. Shinwa no Shuuen
As if the album was smart enough, the album ends with the shortest track and prolly is the weirdest. Like you hear this angry voice from “Jinsei Ireko wa Ningyou” and then Jimang shuts his book and talks and then there’s like a comedic area that slowly fades away into the sounds of the organ and the guy talks and just ends midway, leaving us on a cliffhanger.
Tracks Recommended
This couldn’t have been a more better album as it already is. Even though I know there’s various storylines interlacing each other and since I haven’t read much on it. I know it’s quite epic and in the end, it’ll be awesome. As for the songs, the ladies have have such beautiful voices and c’mon it’s REVO’s best composition on one album. What I thought was interesting was that a lot of the songs didn’t stick with one sound on one song, REVO loves to change the sounds a lot. It’s probably one of my favorite releases this year.
