Track Listing
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Prototype ~Album Version
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Suna no Ue no Dolphin
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squall
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Cloudy
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Rakarui
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Shylpeed
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49scale
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First Pain
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Blue Velvet
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Daremo Oshiete Kurenakatta Koto
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Taiyou
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1/2
1. Prototype ~Album Version
We begin this album with a longer version of her 2nd A-side of the era, Prototype which was trying to be the “Uninstall” of the era. Unlike the single version, it actually opens up with piano playing a long melody of the song before the weird ~eeEEEeeEee~ comes in. I’ll admit that it was the most energetic track in the era, and it makes a strong opening. I still think it’s a hard tune to remember, but it’s still kickass from Chiaki.
2. Suna no Ue no Dolphin
I find it strange to have Suna no Ue no Dolphin placed after “Prototype” but I can’t help but like this song a lot. Being the first B-side of the era, it presented us with a nice flowing arrangement. It’s quite a cute track and the acoustic solo playing that folkish line was a great thing to add. Probably my favorite B-side here.
3. squall
Well, it could be argued that squall would provide that arguement. Coming from “Prototype” it was also as hard driven as that A-side. I guess that’s why “Suna no Ue no Dolphin” was placed in between because they did sound quite alike. It also had a hook to it which the A-side didn’t which was a positive. It does seem to lack something in there and at points feels a little empty, but still a good track.
4. Cloudy
We enter our first new track off the album, Cloudy has a pretty cool dance feel to it and Chiaki is doing a little bit of ad-libbing before guitar comes in for some notes. I really like the arrangement as it’s consistent and doesn’t drive for wild notes and crazy ideas. It’s a steady tune and keeps Chiaki in check. I think I really like this song,
5. Rakarui
The only new track to get a tie-in, Rakarui really does sound like something Yuki Kajiura would take part in because it sounds like an epic folkish ballad. I mean there’s this pounding drum that punches the song greatly and then Chiaki is singing her heart out and she sound amazing through this song.
6. Shylpeed
Our next track is rather interesting because of the whole Cirque du Soleil feel. As you may know I love these kind of songs that mesmerize me and since it’s folk music, I was way happy with what we got here. I could compare this with Kalafina’s “Natsu no Ringo” since they both have that folk sound going on. I can’t exactly say if the marimba melody was treading new ground, but damn was this another strong track from Chiaki and possibly Yuki.
7. 49scale
Then she just pulls a 180 on the album by going all electronica on us with 49scale. The transitioning from the two songs are a tad random. Back to the song, I was surprised at how Chiaki is comfortable with the arrangement as it flows smoothly through. It’s another one of those odd tracks, that you might have to get used to because it’s not like the other tracks.
8. First Pain
The last A-side of the era, First Pain brings the mood down a bit because while it still contains this dance style, it feels more like a chiller “49scale” and an anime opener. Chiaki sounds nice and the song has a cool solo section to it as well. Let’s just say since the single it’s gotten better for me.
9. Blue Velvet
Oh was this a chilling tune. Blue Velvet is definitely darker than the previous songs and it has this mystical feeling that instantly make me think of Yuki’s other compositions and this fitted Chiaki almost perfectly. There’s this calming flute that comes in midway and adds an even more mystical feel to it. I have to say, it’s one of the strongest tracks off the album.
10. Daremo Oshiete Kurenakatta Koto
Has anyone seen a B-side become the title track to an album before, besides capsule? Me either. Like the ominous ballad in “Blue Velvet”, Daremo Oshiete Kurenakatta Koto acts as the lighter toned ballad for the album. I actually thought it was maybe too simple as a song for Chiaki and the sound kept going back and forth on my headphones and that annoyed me to no end. It could be the worst track off the album, but it’s not that bad of a song.
11. Taiyou
Acting as the final new track, Taiyou goes back to the more happier upbeat songs from earlier on and Taiyou is actually a nice reawakening from the last track. It’s a bit like “Cloudy”, but it has enough to seperate itself from said track and that’s a good thing because I really do like this arrangement.
12. 1/2
It’s been awhile since 1/2 has been released as a single and it actually fits well enough on the album, and it also works as the album’s closer. It’s of course folk, but not as caked on which is a good thing. The only thing I noticed is that this isn’t half as good as the other folkish driven tracks so this doesn’t come as a surprise since 1/2 is old and what not. I guess it’s just me nitpicking, but I think I liked it more as a single A-side.
Tracks Recommended
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Blue Velvet
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Shylpeed
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Prototype ~Album Version
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Suna no Ue no Dolphin
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First Pain
What can I say about this album? I mean in some points I felt I was listening to the scrapped songs from Kalafina and other times, there were songs that surprised me about Chiaki. That being said, this isn’t too bad of an album, but it seemed she couldve done more with it. I do like folk songs and there were plenty, but some of them did lack that spark like other folkish songs do. This is a slow burner album for me actually…
