
Track Listing
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phonon
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Cyclation
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Hiyoku no Hane
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Mana
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Kirari Kururi
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Yuki na Miki
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fugace
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Bunkainou
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Namida no Kioku
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Kirakira
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My Smile
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Hikari no Fillment
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Haruka na Hibi
1. phonon
Opening the album is an introduction to the album and it’s kind of simple and yet interesting for the intro. It’s got this kind of video-game-ish arrangement mixed with riya singing under some filters for a bit before it opens up with more drums and clearer vocals. Interesting intro…
2. Cyclation
Moving into the first full song, Cyclation is just as interesting as the opening since it’s poppy but has many little quirks about it that I really enjoyed about it. Though with a title like that, I was expecting something dark, but this worked as well since it sounds like fantasy music and I loved every second of it. Reminds me of “Aletheia”…
3. Hiyoku no Hane
Makes sense that this album would have two A-sides released in the era for it (though strange to leave off “Confetti” and “Literal”). Hiyoku no Hane was the second A-side released in the era and continues this rather dance-ish anime fluff pop that eufonius accels in. While I don’t think riya’s vocals are much to write home about, the song is stronger and really shows why it was an A-side. Overall, I enjoyed this song, but “Cyclation” was better.
4. Mana
Since everything else but the last track are new songs, I was curious to what we were going to get. Mana takes a much more minimal outlook for its arrangement and to me that kind of pulled me out since it kind of was just a little too bare. riya does sound quite nice however and the instrumentation we did get gave off a Haruka Shimotsuki kind of flavor. It gets more interesting the longer the song goes. It’s nice for being the album’s first ballad.
5. Kirari Kururi
It’s nice that at the fifth track, we get something that’s natural sounding (this being mostly an acoustic track). It’s light and fluffy and just is all-around positive. I mean if YUI sang this it would make sense (well the use of accordion would be something new). Still, it’s pretty basic for me and it doesn’t really stand out to me besides sounding like a closer for an anime.
6. Yuki na Miki
Which is weird because Yuki na Miki has this anime-sound down tight. There’s not much to really say about this song that I haven’t mentioned from “Kirari Kururi” which is sad because there’s a little more music here, well piano and more percussion, but still. I thought it had a strong introduction but the rest was just mild and not very memorable.
7. fugace
Things seem to slow down once again for our next song fugace. I enjoyed the piano-only arrangement of the song since it makes for a nice middle to the album. However, I’m once again finding myself not being a fan of riya’s vocals since they’re high-pitched and she hits some not-so-good notes. If she could sing in a deeper tone, I think the song would’ve sound so much better.
8. Bunkainou
The direction of the album is staying at a ballad to mid-tempo feel for me at this point and I’m starting to get a little bored here. Bunkainou is one of the mid-tempo tracks and while I praised the fact that we get some natural instruments once again, riya still can’t find her place since her vocals definitely have problems fitting in the arrangement. She’s trying but her voice is too thin here…
9. Namida no Kioku
Bah, I’m just kind of at this point where I’m starting to doze off from the album and trying to finish this review up lol. Namida no Kioku is the exact same sentiments I had with “fugace”. Piano/acoustic guitar arrangement but some after it gets this rush of sound that includes marching drums…which is the chorus basically. It does kind of interest me, but I’m still very bored of the verses.
10. Kirakira
I’m so happy that Kirakira picked up my senses in a very unorthodox kind of way. Kirakira doesn’t sound like anything else on this album primarily because the music is very 8bit and mixed with the groups normal string-pop. It’s definitely the epitome of sore thumb since it’s different from anything else, but it woke me up from that long series of songs prior.
11. My Smile
Sadly, the boost of interest in the album quickly fades away again when My Smile starts up. It fits with “Kirari Kururi” and “Bunkainou” in the way that there’s acoustic guitar and light instrumentation. I’m starting to find that these songs are just not comfortable for riya since those songs have vocal issues. Just not my kind of tune from the duo.
12. Hikari no Fillment
Is it weird to cover something that’s only been out for roughly a year? I’m not sure why they’re covering Ayahi Takagaki’s song but I’m sure Hajime was the reason since he’s the group’s essential producer and musician. I will say that riya doesn’t do as a good job as Ayahi did (simply because the latter has a deeper and fuller voice). Musically, it’s not changed so there’s not much to be said about that either. It’s an alright cover but doesn’t beat the original.
13. Haruka na Hibi
Closing this dreary album is the era’s first A-side! Of course unlike the boost of energy from “Hiyoku no Hane”, this A-side was a ballad and quite a quiet one too since it was hard to hear the music at first. Song does gradually get better and has a bit more going for it which is nice to hear and the chorus is relaxing to listen to. It’s a nice way to close the album at least!
Tracks Recommended
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Cyclation
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Kirakira
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Mana
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Hiyoku no Hane
Song of Avoidance
At first I thought Phonon was going to be pretty solid of an album, but after Mana, things swiftly went downhill with blips of good stuff. eufonius I think seems to be stronger when there’s singles and no album since their music seems to get more boring when there’s more of them. Of course the good songs on the album did very well but ballads and pop/rock doesn’t do well for them when it’s back and forth. Ehhhhh….