Rina Aiuchi – MIRACLE July 17, 2010

Track Listing

1. MIRACLE
2. Especial thanks
3. MIRACLE -Allegro vivace.mix-

1. MIRACLE

I’m not sure why this era has been all over the place for Rina.  I mean each single has been a different sound and feel and with MIRACLE it’s like she went for uber pop and for the most part it came off quite nicely, but it’s so unorthodox for her to become smily poppy that it’s just a little strange for me to listen to Rina that way.

2. Especial thanks

For the B-side, Especial thanks is probably her song for her fans which I guess is nice to have and of course it’s a ballad.  I think Rina’s vocals have gotten a bit stronger for this song and I love how the song builds to the chorus.  It’s definitely got A-side quality written all over it (then again, what B-side of hers isn’t?

3. MIRACLE -Allegro vivace.mix-

So of course we get a remix of the A-sid and in my opinion it sounds a bit more like the usual Rina I’m used to because it’s more like a dance song than just a cute pop song.  I mean it’s still pretty much sunshine and rainbows, but I think it sounds better off this way. 

 

 

Rina finishes off the “DELIGHT” era with the happiest A-side released and MIRACLE really didn’t leave much of an impression on me (the remix did though).  Especial thanks continues this whole (B-side > A-side) ordeal that’s been hitting her ever since she debuted and yes, I know she released “COLORS” there’s still a lot of B-sides she hasn’t put on albums yet and I wonder if there’ll be another one haha.

ALI PROJECT – Ranse Eroica

Track Listing

1. Ranse Eroica
2. Ude kaina
3. Ranse Eroica (instrumental)
4. Ude kaina (instrumental)

1. Ranse Eroica

I really don’t know how to describe Ranse Eroica fully because it’s so different than previous songs because it mixes their usual goth rock with electronica and it made a pretty interesting collision.  Arika’s vocals at first bothered me because they were filtered pretty heavily, but after that, it definitely gets better.  Pretty dramatic for a synthy song.  I do like it even though it sounds like a hot mess.

2. Ude kaina

Why does it seem like recently their B-sides have actually made the cover art seem right?  I mean “Takarajima” really captured the cover art for “Datengoku Sensen” quite perfectly.  Ude kaina follows the same, but not as obvious for the cover art here.  Unlike the energetic performance in “Ranse Eroica”, Ude kaina has a stronger orchestral feel mixed with small synth parts throughout.  Even Arika’s vocals sound more fuller and stronger as well giving the song a rather imperial feel to it.  Then again she always does these in flying colors.

 

 

I really am starting to fall for ALI PROJECT ever since I started reviewing them.  I think it’s the fact that they can bring originality with whatever they do and well is a duo that has been together even before I was born.  Ranse Eroica might slipped a slight bit with the arrangement being as wild as it is, but I did enjoy Ude kaina quite a bit.  Wonder what’s next for them.