Track Listing
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Galactic material
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Spiral
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Beautiful fighter
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Hikari, Sagase Nakutemo
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Mangetsu All Night
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SONGS
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Fine!
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Koko ni Iru yo
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innocence
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Beginning
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My story
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Panorama
1. Galactic material
I didn’t think angela was going to begin Land Ho! with such an epic song. Galactic material opens up with an epic strings opening before getting into the brassy arrangement. The song feels like it was in space, but add in a bit of peppyness and we get this track. atsuko’s vocals are pretty steady, but I don’t exactly like how she pronounces the title during the chorus…it just sounded weird…At least it end on this low string before getting into…
2. Spiral
One of their best songs. Spiral as the last A-side of the era totally blew me away with how KATSU and atsuko worked the entire track. It does seem like they incorporated a little more electronica and a little more of atsuko’s vibrato with Spiral and I quite liked it as the progressive sound moved on by. It’s still an amazing song and one of my favorites of the year.
3. Beautiful fighter
Sadly, it doesn’t make up for how bad Beautiful fighter turned out. Beginning the era off as the first A-side, Beautiful fighter does come off as an edgier and darker “Spiral” but atsuko’s vocals were just too out of place and unusual in this track. I also felt the energy level was a bit lower and placed the song into boredom. I do like KATSU’s arrangement, it’s just atsuko’s singing that made it bleh.
4. Hikari, Sagase Nakutemo
We go back into the new songs starting with Hikari, Sagase Nakutemo and it starts with a strange instrumental before KATSU comes in with the guitar part. So far this is slower than the previous songs which is good and atsuko’s voice is back into a comfortable position, it’s just that once again the song doesn’t provide with enough energy to make the song sound long-lasting.
5. Mangetsu All Night
That’s why I’m happy to see this track pop-up next. The song goes back into the fun-sounding pop/rock that started the album off right. atsuko is already showing more interest into the song and her tone is a bit more cutesy. but when the chorus pops up it goes back to the heavy vibrato side to her vocals and it oddly works for me. I think it’s pretty catchy, thx KATSU.
6. SONGS
SONGS first starts off ballad-like with atsuko singing pretty nicely before KATSU comes in and gets the synths in place within the song. It’s still more of a pop/ballad mix which is a little strange as far as tempos and arrangements go. That’s why I think it’s one of their better songs as the mix fits rather nicely. Vocally, it’s atsuko best so far.
7. Fine!
At this point of the album, I was pleasantly surprised to hear an acoustic track on here. atsuko’s singing is pretty quick-paced and her voice is softer than normal which gave the song an extra boost of interest from me. That it until she’s basically wailing in the chorus. Then KATSU throws us for a loop when he adds a sitar solo…it’s a very strange, yet relaxing track and being so varied stands out on the album.
8. Koko ni Iru yo
I’m starting to miss their aggressive songs now by the time I get to Koko ni Iru yo. It’s a little more together and faster, but it still sounds like more of a pop song than anything. I do like the song as it’s more normal-paced and nothing could really compare to this so I liked it. Even atsuko lightened up on that vibrato a little bit.
9. innocence
Oh yea, the song that sampled Nami Tamaki’s “Sunrize” opening…innocence was my favorite off the “Yakusoku” single which by the way (LULZ at the A-side not being on here). Anyways, innocence once again is a little bit like “Spiral” (but this came out beforehand). The mix of strings and guitar and a particularly cool sound from the duo. I still like the song a lot.
10. Beginning
If it wasn’t for “Beautiful fighter”, I would’ve said this has the darkest opening as it’s gloomy and full of crying strings. Then atsuko comes in and the mood is rather changed and sounds more like a moody & hopeful song. They just got it right with Beginning since KATSU’s arrangement worked with atsuko’s vocals and they are actually really nice in the song.
11. My story
Coming from “Beautiful fighter”, My story was already better than the A-side. It’s rather a more traditional tune since it includes instruments that usually come with that and mixed in with the dance style and we get My story. atsuko does create some awkward notes here and there and sometimes cover the music, but it’s still a nice enough song.
12. Panorama
Ending off the album, Panorama sounds like it’s going back to “Galactic material” almost, just without the whole brass craze. I like the synths that were used here and atsuko’s vocals now sound like she could’ve been part of Kalafina in some parts of the song. I think it’s the layering that made it happen. It’s a fitting ending to the album and it’s quite nice.
Tracks Recommended
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Spiral
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Galactic material
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Fine!
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Beginning
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SONGS
For my first angela album…this was actually surprising to hear that most of the songs were more upbeat and in pop nature than what was released single-wise. Land Ho! might not have the theme pat-down (if there was any to begin with) but mostly this is a strong album. atsuko does have some singing obstacles in a few songs, but thx to KATSU’s work, that problem is mostly non-existant. Hopefully they keep releasing strong tracks for future releases.
