Kalafina – After Eden

Track Listing

1. Eden
2. sandpiper
3. Magia
4. Kugatsu
5. in your eyes
6. destination unknown
7. neverending
8. Koto no wa
9. magnolia
10. Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa
11. Mune no Yukue
12. snow falling
13. symphonia

1. Eden

My first thoughts with the members opening the album, it sort of reminded me of damn Glee.  It’s pretty light and fluffy and pretty upbeat like some of their folkish tunes (but not too cheery like “Hikari no Senritsu”).  WAKANA does lead this song with KEIKO as the secondary vocals while HIKARU follows behind.  It’s really pretty and the breezy feel of the song really didn’t make the song feel very long even though it was 5:40.  Still pretty awesome of a song!

2. sandpiper

Whoa, I love their more ethnic-based tracks and sandpiper fills that gap quite early on the album.  It sounds so mysterious and feels like an adventure in the Sahara or something.  KEIKO knows how do these kind of songs and mixing it with HIKARU, it’s an amazing palatte of colors.  Do I consider this a ballad?  Perhaps…but damn it’s quite beautiful and relaxing.

3. Magia

I think moving from the mysterious, yet slow “sandpiper” to the evil and aggressive Magia.  I have to say that this song has cemented a place in my all-time favorite songs.  First off HIKARU is definitely the leader of this song while KEIKO has a small solo in the middle.  I don’t know why HIKARU isn’t implemented more because her vocals are just powerful and deep and it’s always amazing in the songs she’s featured prominently like “progressive”.  There’s just no doubt that this song is going to be remembered for a long time because it doesn’t sound like anything in their A-side collection.  Oomph, it’s just epic and perfect!

4. Kugatsu

After all that excitement through the first three songs, Kugatsu puts a stop with the album’s first ballad.  Kugatsu is simple with piano and a twinkling background.  KEIKO and WAKANA takes the verses before HIKARU joins in the second part of it.  Problem of recent times though makes it that if you’ve heard one Kalafina ballad, you’ve essentially heard them all.  It does try to stand out with marching drums and flutes later on…then a choral section afterwards.  I guess it gets way better towards the end.  Does remind me of “Kagayaku Sora no Shijima no wa” I guess in a way.

5. in your eyes

It just seemed so random to put “Kugatsu” in between this and “Magia” but it wouldn’t help the rift that’s already there.  I don’t think I’ve heard an uppity and fun song and that was missing from “Red Moon” which I noticed.  It reminds me of “love come down” but a much brighter feel and mood and since WAKANA and KEIKO leads it’s still pretty awesome and they give the song a youthful sounding life!  Even HIKARU smooths it out as well!  It is long funny enough at six minutes though.  Why is this album surprising me?!?

6. destination unknown

I didn’t know what to expect out of this song because the title could mean so much.  It actually feels like “Mata Kaze ga Tsuyokunatta” from their first album with more of an rock-type arrangement and it’s fast-paced and aggressive (not so much like “Magia” though).  I don’t think this stands out as much as the previous ones.  I will say HIKARU did a great job keeping up and the other two members as well.  I think the drums are just a little much in the chorus but that’s my only disappointing factor in the song itself because otherwise this was pretty cool.

7. neverending

Strings begin our next song and it cools things down after the excitement (once again) but this isn’t as radical as it was for “Magia” to “Kugatsu”.  WAKANA leads again for this one and neverending is more of a mid-tempo folk song but I don’t seem to mind it much since it flows quite smoothly.  However, after a while I seem to forget what this one sounds like unless I play it and then I all of a sudden remember this is the mid-tempo folk song hahaha

8. Koto no wa

As the album’s interlude, Koto no wa sounds creepy for some reason but like other interludes, all three members sing together.  The arrangement doesn’t have a lot going on so it leaves a rather longing feel and yet feels sad.  Short but compelling…beautiful interlude!

9. magnolia

When I saw the tracklist for the album, I saw a certain was missing and that was “adore” from the “Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa” single and was disappointed at a heavy dance track would be missing.  However, I was surprised that there was one in a new song called magnolia.  I love this style from the trio + Kajiura.  Even better is HIKARU leading the song.  She always has the perfect vocals for dance tracks.  When the ladies clash their vocals together, it’s just heaven on earth and makes the song pop out at me.  LOVE THIS!

10. Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa

As short as this era has been, Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa was my least favorite (of only between two singles…).  Like I said earlier on the review, “Kugatsu” reminds me of this track because of the similarities with the instrumentation and mood going on.  I honestly don’t know which of the two I liked more to be honest…they’re clones!!!!  At least it’s known more because it was an A-side.

11. Mune no Yukue

I’m not sure what to think of Mune no Yukue, besides thinking it would make a good wintry entry.  KEIKO seems to be singing the most in this song and she once again proves that her vocals are one of the best in J-pop…even though she is underutilized on this album.  Funny enough the members take their time before making their presence known.  It kind of has this hopeful feel and I enjoyed that about this one.  I’m still happy that all three members have solos though ^_^

12. snow falling

Really?  snow falling over “adore”?  I’m not too big of a fan of this song since like the other ballads it’s just pretty basic with the same instruments and things.  It might be a little like the next “fairytale” with the operatic vocals, but I can never remember this song.  I guess since the ladies are singing so many parts it does show a little more color on the album…but I would’ve chose the other B-side tbh.

13. symphonia

Closing the album out is the promotional song for the album (funny…it’s the last song hahah).  It actually sounds really pretty for some reason and is it that whole epic factor.  I like that KEIKO kicks things off here.  It’s pretty grand and it doesn’t sound like anything I’ve heard beforehand.  Great way to end an album!

Tracks Recommended

• Magia
• magnolia
• symphonia
• Eden
• in your eyes

Song of Avoidance

• snow falling

Kalafina’s 3rd album and we still don’t see them losing their spark any time soon.  To me it’s not as spazzy as “Red Moon” but comes off more like “Seventh Heaven” in the way that there’s a lot more soft songs than energetic epic tunes.  The only thing I wish for is that there needs to be more KEIKO-led tunes.  It was like she ceased to sort of exist on this album and left it for WAKANA and HIKARU to pick up the songs for the most part.  Still, it’s another entry in the top 10 of the year for sure ^_^