MELL – RIDEBACK March 1, 2009

Track Listing

1. RIDEBACK
2. RIDEBACK -Japanese ver.-
3. RIDEBACK -Re-mix ver.-
4. RIDEBACK -instrumental-

1. RIDEBACK

I think MELL finally got it right this time around.  Definitly one of her most tranceish songs (not including the various I’ve Sound releases).  It’s kind of funny that the RIDEBACK’s chorus is very lively and not dark.  Her English is a bit difficult to understand here…more harder than “Red fraction”.  Maybe it isn’t that fantastic, but it’s got some golden moments. 

2. RIDEBACK -Japenese ver.-

So it’s basically the same track, but with a language twist of all things.  I’m actually considering to take this one rather than the English cut.  It doesn’t seem more convoluted and hard to point what she’s saying, but there’s moments still of uncertainty.  Other than that, nothing new to really report.

3. RIDEBACK -Re-mix ver.-

I honestly don’t think RIDEBACK needed a remix version because it just seems like a lost cause on the single.  There’s a lot more synths present and MELL’s vocals are messed with a bit, giving an echo effect like her remix of “repeat” on her debut album.  It’s a pretty wacky remix, but it’s pretty cool.

 

 

MELL is doing a lot better on these singles than through her first era.  RIDEBACK seems to be one of those WTF because the song isn’t dark and in your face as much as “KILL” was.  It’s nice to see an English/Japanese version of each which gives the listener a good preference.  The remix was a little useless, but was a nice treat.

MELL – KILL November 21, 2008

Track Listing

1. KILL
2. On my own
3. KILL -instrumental-
4. On my own -instrumental-

1. KILL

KILL finally brings back the evil side of MELL for sure.  As it is still combining dark guitar riffs and synths, this song is like a Japanese “Red fraction”.  MELL also uses a more deeper sound to get through the verses.  The chorus doesn’t really change tempos and you have to get used to where it is in the song.  It is so much better than the last two A-sides for sure.

2. On my own

On my own is one strong B-Side that’s for sure.  It starts immediatly with MELL singing in a woman-like sound and then she brings out the deep vocals and how she transitions through it and gets louder is so bone-chilling.  Given the fact that the song is a ballad somewhat, I was definitly liking this song a lot.  This should’ve been the A-side IMO

 

 

MELL’s first single for the new era was definitly a step up than the last single.  KILL was definitly going to remind us that MELL loves evil songs and sound cool doing it.  On my own however won me over with great vocals and soothing music.  Very strong single for her

MELL – MELLSCOPE November 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. SCOPE
2. Red fraction
3. Way Beyond There
4. repeat
5. Virgin’s high!
6. no vain
7. Permit
8. Under Superstition
9. kicks!
10. The First Finale in me
11. Utsukushiku Ikitai -10 years anniversary mix-
12. repeat -Deep Forest remix-

1. SCOPE

~In the future~ opens the title track and I’m kinda confused why there’s like guitars that sound like southern sounds.  Maybe it’s just me but who knows.  I love her power going through the chorus and she sounds great even though she twists her notes between her voice.  Even though she’s yelling, it’s not too bad and I love her control here.  Musically it does sound different from anything I’ve heard before the album so that’s good.

2. Red fraction

Red fraction is still the angriest track on the album and is still one of my favorites.  Noting already that it’s all entirely in English.  Even the lyrics are some of the most angsty lyrics I’ve seen a J-pop artist use in a long while and I love it.  MELL’s English BTW is passable, but there’s some accenting issues that needs to be worked on.

3. Way Beyond There

Taking on a more punk rock phase, Way Beyond There is definitly an interesting song.  The verses are dark and the synths are foreboding as well creating this almost uncomfortable setting.  Sadly, the chorus wasn’t anything surprising, but you do hear piano.  Her vibrato does kind of bother me in the chorus as well, but I guess it’s a good track.

4. repeat

Our next track opens with a strange synth opening and leads into a string entrance.  It’s a pretty long entrance too.  MELL is kind of singing without really noticing the music that’s playing.  It isn’t until the bridge that she gains control and being a mid-tempo track, it’s nothing really to be happy about.  I guess it’s a moving track, but MELL is a little lost in the song.

5. Virgin’s high!

Like I said in the review this song is so strange and not to my liking.  It’s back to the rock stuff, but with MELL’s voice being filtered like crazy and all of the mishaps, this song just came out bad.  The chorus is probably the only good thing because it’s quite catchy. 

6. no vain

Now, I’m happy that no vain appeared on the album instead of “Proof” because it just sounded so much better IMO.  Now, I can compare the guitar and synth usage to “Red fraction”.  Luckily MELL is singing in Japanese and her voice is lovely to hear.  It’s like singing/opera-like.  The chorus of the song has to be the coolest thing about it.  Definitly a great track.

7. Permit

Permit, is another English-only track and it’s more heart-felt because most of it is musically the acoustic guitar and piano.  As it is the first ballad, I actually like it.  MELL sounds fairly nice doing the ballad-style and as time goes by her voice gets stronger and louder making a better impression on me.

8. Under Superstition

Love the static opening of this track.  There’s something evil looming in the song and I love MELL’s voice sounding like she’s longing for something.  Her deep vocals are definitly are great thing here and with the dark atmosphere, it’s one of the better new tracks, if not best on the album. 

9. kicks!

kicks! is still a weird song with me.  Being so upbeat and yet destroying it pretty quickly.  MELL through the chorus is so bad because she’s depending too much on the vibratos and it doesn’t sound right with the music.  I think this and its sister A-side was the worst coupling in her career.

10. The First Finale in me

The last new track is a ballad and is a beautiful one as well.  It’s pretty sad and with just the piano backing up for the first half and then some other sounds coming later, it’s a nice track.  MELL through the verses sounded different like her pitch was higher and yet when the chorus she becomes fuller in sound and deeper again.  Definitly a high point for the album.

11. Utsukushiku Ikitai -10 years anniversary mix-

Surprised huh?  I was when I learned that she was in fact singing for 10 years (even though this is her debut album that came out this year).  The original was full of trance and you know me, I love it to death.  Main difference between the original and now is that this one seems a lot more happy.  MELL also sounds a lot more mature now as well.  Definitly a nice touch-up for the ole’ track.

12. repeat -Deep Forest remix-

Our last track is a remix of said track.  Now this remix makes the song sound more depressing and foreboding with the piano and eerie sounds.  I actually really loved this more than this original because it doesn’t have any truly awkward moments.  MELL’s vocals are also more twisted and have an echo effect which added more to its elusiveness.  I think her yell/ad-libbing was intoxicating and showed the most emotion of the album.  It’s also fully in English as well, which does shock me.

Tracks Recommended

•  Red fraction
• repeat -Deep Forest remix-
• no vain
• The First Finale in me
• Under Superstition

Song of Avoidance

• Virgin’s high!

Even though MELL’s been in the music industry for 10 years, this is actually her debut album, so there was a lot of speculation at how good she’ll be doing the J-pop stuff, cause most of the stuff she’s done is trance and dance stuff.  My thoughts are is that this album is a good album.  There were some tracks that were pretty bad (kicks! and Virgin’s high!).  The new tracks were pretty cool though.  It’s not the best album of the year, but it stands in its own way.

MELL – Virgin’s high!/kicks! November 5, 2008

Track Listing

1. Virgin’s high!
2. kicks!
3. Virgin’s high! (instrumental)
4. kicks! (instrumental)

1. Virgin’s high!

I’m pretty sure to say that this was trying to be more like “Red fraction” but this is just isn’t that good.  The chaotic music really doesn’t fit, but at least the chorus is really good.  Though she says ~Sky Girls~ a lot, which is because the song is a tie-in for the anime of the same name.  Sadly, the song just sounded really messy and didn’t make an impact.

2. kicks!

kicks! is a little more to my liking with all of the synths.  Sadly, I didn’t like MELL’s vocal through it until she comes in.  Sadly the vocals are everywhere this time and it just wanted me to shut the song off about half-way through. 

 

 

Why is she losing steam here?  I mean last single had one song that I didn’t really like and this one was just bad IMO.  Even though the music was cool only in kicks! everything else faulted on MELL’s singing.  Hope her album is good at least.

MELL – Proof/no vain October 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. Proof
2. no vain
3. Proof (instrumental)
4. no vain (instrumental)

1. Proof

Uhm, this is definitly a drop-off from last single “Red fraction”.  It’s very pop and less aggressive than that track.  I think it’s a pretty obvious pop track, and MELL sounds pretty different as well.  Proof to me was her odd track because it just didn’t carry the anger and power, but left us with the odd pop track that didn’t do anything for me.  Though it is a Japanese track and not in English. 

2. no vain

That’s where no vain comes in.  It’s a kind of middle track between “Proof” and “Red fraction”.  There’s a lot of synth here, but it’s also has the same dark vein that made the latter track really good.  MELL’s vocals are pretty smooth and very nice to listen to.  I actually enjoyed her a lot in this song and shows a more versitile side to her music. 

 

 

MELL’s 2nd single was odd since I’m new with her music.  I was expecting something terribly dark and powerful like her debut was.  Then when I started the single up I was surprised that Proof was actually a very pop-like tune that was bordering a ballad.  no vain though was more close to what I expected but she added some graceful vocals to a pretty synthy beat.  Funny that Proof doesn’t appear on the album while no vain does which means that the album is gonna be a dark one.

MELL – Red fraction September 10, 2008

Track Listing

1. Red fraction
2. Red fraction (instrumental)
3. Red fraction (G.M.S. remix)

1. Red fraction

Talk about a dark debut.  When a song has a dark beat and so catchy, it’s considered awesome in my book.  MELL is actually speaking English the entire song.  She does have some pronunciation issues, but with all the angry lyrics, it’s bound to happen.  To me she reminds me of a hardcore Tsukiko perhaps?  The song is different from many of the songs I’ve heard.  It’s quite new to me.  What a debut track. Best line of the song is ~You made a mess, For Christ sake, this rotten world.  Shit out of luck. Go with my vision, light up the fire, right on the power.  Weapon…I have it all~  Friggin cool

2. Red fraction (G.M.S. remix)

They took the song gave a trance sound and sounds so cool.  The beat is aggressive and the song sounds more robotic and cybernetic it’s definitly another worthy remix.  MELL sounds sexed up this time, which blew me away.  This remix is definitly a great one I’ve heard in a while.

 

 

MELL’s first single definitly was awesome.  Red fraction has become a lot of people’s favorite song from her today and I can see why.  The remix was just as good too having a great sense of trance.  Definitly worth checking out.  Funny that it won’t be until practically a year later til we see a new single from the “MELLSCOPE” era.