FLOPPY – GREENWORLD July 10, 2012

Track Listing

1. GREENWORLD
2. Longinus
3. Hoshi wo Miru Hito
4. Kanashii Ame
5. Kioku Soushitsu no Asa
6. the music
7. Lost Planet

1. GREENWORLD

Our album begins with a two minute intro with the title track, GREENWORLD.  Their signature 8bit sound is present and it sounds really good and kind of has this awesome NES feel to it!  Hiromu’s arrangement’s always seem to be captivating and it really stood out with this intro!

2. Longinus

It conyinues with the first track on the album, Longinus.  I kind of enjoy the style here as well even when Sharaku starts to sing with the track.  It’s weird that the arrangement does overpower his vocals a bit but otherwise it’s a bit cool.  I will say that it lacks a direction and I don’t think there’s a chorus…so it gets a bit boring after a while.  Not bad but could’ve used a bit more spark to it.

3. Hoshi wo Miru Hito

I kind of hope our next song is a bit more interesting.  I was kind of right because Hiromu really outdid himself in the arranging of the song.  Sharaku however is once again is quieter than normal which does put more emphasis on Hiromu’s work which could be a bummer to some people.  It’s a song that has a LOT of triplets in use, which is weird…but it’s passable

4. Kanashii Ame

Adding piano to their crazy 8bit style might be just adding salt to the wound but Kanashii Ame is more of the same that I’ve heard so far in this album.  I mean I could barely tell what Sharaku is saying until the filters get a bit louder in the song.  I mean it’s no different from the previous two tracks besides the piano melody.

5. Kioku Soushitsu no Asa

I’m starting to wonder if this album has anymore life to give at this point but Kioku no Soushitsu no Asa includes strings aside from the normal electronic arrangement.  It sounds pleasant and probably is the best of the songs on here which isn’t much when you really look at it.  Sharaku is just tough to hear on this track…

6. the music

I was surprised getting into the sixth track that it doesn’t really sound like any of the previous track because I hear guitars and some grittier sounds and HEAVY vocoder action which sounds fresh and unique,  though I’m also thinking it was a longer instrumental because the only lyrics I can point out is ~I love the music~ over and over.  It’s a cool track though.

7. Lost Planet

The final track is a bit more of what I would’ve heard from “Over Technology” but also follows alongside most of the other tracks on the album which is a little disappointing.  However, I can hear Sharaku just fine and it sounds really pleasant.  Probably my favorite of the vocal tracks…hmph…

 

 

I’m not sure how to take GREENWORLD.  I mean I enjoyed “Over Technology” a lot but this kind of dove into the “PROTOSCIENCE” field.  I just can’t seem to get into this album.  The tracks seemed to flow into each other but they have sameish arrangements and Sharaku was just too quiet here.  The instrumental songs were the best things off here TBH….I’m just disappointed in this.

FLOPPY – Over Technology December 22, 2011

Track Listing

1. Over Technology
2. low-bit Disco
3. Meteor Strike
4. Horobi no Ido
5. Jikuu Holon
6. Everyday
7. Bokutachi wa Nanika wo Mezasu
8. low-bit Disco “Don’t Be Tricked Remix”

1. Over Technology

As the introduction to the album, it begins with 8-bit pulses of sound and a little wavy synth…almost like an 8-bit game which is pretty awesome to see happening here.  No lyrics though and it’s a short one being 2 minutes long in length.  I say it did well and put my hopes up for the rest of the album!

2. low-bit Disco

As the main song promoting the album, low-bit Disco kind of takes me into this rather interesting mix of 8-bit synths and Sharaku’s guitar playing which is always great to see.  While in the vocal department, Sharaku is covered by who I think is Hiromu under filters.  Though I’m surprised to learn that this song was known back in 2009…back in the “Deus ex machina” days…interesting that it found its way here.

3. Meteor Strike

The clicky synths found their way into Meteor Strike and I was actually looking forward to this one just from its title.  I must say that I kind of like the song actually since it’s a little more melodic altogether and I hear more of Sharaku which is awesome. Though I will say that it’s a bit cluttered in musicality but it’s still pretty enjoyable nonetheless.

4. Horobi no Ido

The intro to Horobi no Ido is so bizarre and oddball that I actually thought I was listening to someone else.  That is before Hiromu’s synths (which actually isn’t chiptune this time around!).  It’s a bit darker and mysterious sounding and I really like Sharaku’s filtered self.  It’s my favorite on the album so far which is a good sign I say!

5. Jikuu Holon

I guess this could be considered the album’s interlude and it’s a bit shorter than “Over Technology”.  This was pretty messy to be honest since it’s Sharaku singing (or trying to) with Hiromu’s 8-bitness.  I could barely hear what he’s saying and it just gave me a headache to be honest.  Only a minute and a half…it felt longer!!

6. Everyday

I was also intrigued by this because by the title, I was thinking of “everything” when I saw this.  Unlike that great song, Everyday is more laidback and chilled out than any other song on the album and I’m happy for that.  Sharaku might not have changed out of the filter/auto-tune but the song’s addition of violins (though prolly computerized) is a nice touch and to hear more of Sharaku’s guitarwork also helps.  Ok, now this is my favorite on here!

7. Bokutachi wa Nanika wo Mezasu

The final main song is actually probably the song with the least amount of synthage (but there’s still a bit to be found).  Once again, hearing Sharaku’s guitar in the song is great and Hiromu’s keeps things on the downlow but makes the song sound like a dream.  Though, would it kill Sharaku to not use the vocal manipulators once on this album?  I think it would’ve made the song so much better!

8. low-bit Disco “Don’t Be Tricked Remix”

Closing this rather short album is a remix of low-bit Disco which is cool but it doesn’t seem much was changed.  Sharaku I don’t think is present (though he has a small part) in the song which left us with Hiromu and little vocal clips from DEVO’s “Whip It”.  It was humorous to be honest and the arrangement has a different 8-bit melody which is great.  It’s short though at 2:25 in length…not enough to leave a mark TBH.

Tracks Recommended

• Everyday
• Horobi no Ido
• Bokutachi wa Nanika wo Mezasu
• Meteor Strike

Song of Avoidance

• Jikuu Holon

I have to say, I didn’t have high hopes for this album after how bad “PROTOSCIENCE” turned out but I have to say, this album actually had more good tracks than bad this time and that’s good given the rather lengthy time they had between the two.  I think if they move a little away from the gritty chiptune/rock they have done since their debut, I think they can get better that way TBH.

FLOPPY – Slow Motion August 17, 2010

Track Listing

1. Slow Motion
2. VOID
3. Slow Motion (remixed by Hajime Fukuma)

1. Slow Motion

You know I’ve been liking this era so far and Sharaku and Hiromu keeps going different directions with their electro/8bit style they’re utilizing.  I really liked the beginning of Slow Motion since it sounded like something you would hear in a game which is great.  Now Sharaku isn’t as vocally interesting as he was back on “everything”, but with the amount of auto-tune and vocoder used, it was keeping things interesting.  I still was finding myself drowning out of the song.

2. VOID

I did however like the B-side of the single a whole lot more seems it felt more like “everything” did.  There’s a lot of 8bit noises mixed in with Sharaku’s guitar-playing.  I think there’s just something about this duo that makes me smile when they do do more energetic and fast-paced tunes.  This is pretty awesome!

3. Slow Motion (remixed by Hajime Fukuma)

Just like the last single, Slow Motion gets remixed by a different person.  To me, Slow Motion sounds way different and the added strings and beeps is keeping afloat, even then Sharaku’s vocals are even further computerized as well.  Most of the time I was kind of weirded out because of the vocals and weird stuffs.  Strange remix if you ask me. 

 

 

Ending out the “Deus ex machina” era, Slow Motion is kind of like “everything” but a bit topsy-turvy in which the B-side was fueled by the 8bit and strong arrangement while Slow Motion was just a bit underwhelming as an A-side.  The remix though is just not worth, unless you’re that curious about it.

FLOPPY – PROTOSCIENCE March 18, 2010

Track Listing

1. Reimei
2. Harukaze
3. Papopi
4. meta Iro Toiki
5. Surf Toronica
6. Tetsugakudou Shinjuu
7. PROTOSCIENCE
8. meta Iro Toiki (Remix)

1. Reimei

Reimei begins the album off with a pretty interesting xylophone and synth beat before Sharaku comes in with his layered vocals.  I actually kind of like the way he’s singing here because it’s a bit airy and a little mysterious when mixed with the beats.  When the chorus it does become music heavy, but it’s not that bad actually and the arrangement is quite solid.

2. Harukaze

Harukaze is kind of strange for FLOPPY since there’s more emphasis on the natural instruments, but there’s still that 8bit and synth touch that makes it stand out.  Otherwise, it doesn’t fully make an impression on me, but I guess it will after a while.

3. Papopi

Ok, I even knew this was going to make me giggle somewhat because of the strange title.  Papopi has a long opening with a lot of the title being said and variants of it.  I do love the use of vocoder in the song and Sharaku is sounding good as well.  A bit more interesting than “Harukaze” that’s for sure.

4. meta Iro Toiki

I get a sense of nostalgia with this song because it reminds me of how wild and frenetic “everything” was and meta Iro Toiki is just as crazy, but not as lenient on guitarwork like the previous song was.  There’s a lot more emphasis on the music rather than on Sharaku, but this isn’t too bad since his parts are pretty good.

5. Surf Toronica

With an album that has been somewhat playing safe so far, Surf Toronica finally steps their game with a pretty funky 8bit and guitar arrangement that kind of sounds like it could be used in some racing game and I ended up liking it.  Even Hiromu has some lyrics as well, actually he prolly has the most lines in the song which is a plus because it’s not bad and Sharaku taking a break was a good idea.

6. Tetsugakudou Shinjuu

Out of the songs on the album, Tetsugakudou Shinjuu sounds closely to something back on “Deus ex machina” and I heard a reuse of a certain bloop from “everything”.  I thought how it opened was pretty cool and sounds like something that came off of an Initial D soundtrack.  Sharaku comes back in as well, but under some heavy auto-tune.  Not too bad, but it feels somewhat lacking in something…but it’s consistent so I can’t bag too much.

7. PROTOSCIENCE

As the album’s title track, PROTOSCIENCE is exciting for sure.  I mean it has the most 8bit like sound of the entire album and it really sounds like it could’ve been from a NES game or something.  I was pretty much hooked to the track…that is until I figured out that it was just the ending interlude…WTH FLOPPY…They could’ve done so much with this but they failed to even try here…For an interlude though, it’s actually pretty spiffy.

8. meta Iro Toiki (remixed by Teruwa Nakano)

So as a bonus, we get a remix of what I’m guessing is the album’s promotional song and instead of the synth-based arrangement, we get some strings played on keyboard and some weird clipping as well.  Sharaku also was given an echo to make the song stand out a lil more than normal.  It’s an interesting remix, but nothing is really standing out for me…

Track Recommended

• Reimei
• Papopi
• Surf Toronica

Song of Avoidance

• Harukaze

So PROTOSCIENCE did fail to top “Deus ex machina”, but you can’t say that they’re trying to because they are and this rather softer side and less energetic FLOPPY isn’t a nice welcome, I just wish they had more electrifying music on this album to even out the more mid-tempo songs…it’s alright for now.

FLOPPY – everything October 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. everything
2. Setsugekka
3. everything (Remixed by Shunichi Miura)

1. everything

Oh, so this is what Sharaku from metronome has been up to.  Well, for something that’s from Sharaku, I was happy to see that everything was even more 8bit love from him and his partner in crime, Hiromu.  About the song itself, it’s a flurry of 8bit arpeggios that oddly work here.  Sharaku sounds pretty sad here and kind of throws a paradox in the song and to me that was a great idea.  It does become an irritating song after listening to the song repetitively, but it’s still nice overall.

2. Setsugekka

The B-side is quite calming when compared to “everything”.  Instead of the crazy use of 8bit and synths, they actually went for more of a natural sound for their music.  Sharuku is under auto-tune and is also filtered for the track. Back to the music, I’m liking the inclusion of strings and electric guitars to mix in with the music.  I’m already liking this tune.

3. everything (Remixed by Shunichi Miura)

To me, this rearranged version of everything took out the 8bit overload and gave it a more metronome-like version and seriously, I might like this more than the original because there’s more focus of the guitars and Sharaku’s vocals here.  To be honest, the song sounds more together and not as freaky as before.  Though I love what they did with Sharaku’s vocals in the 2nd verse, that was nice.  Good remix.

 

 

I now understand why metronome hasn’t been releasing anything recently because Sharaku is now paying more attention to FLOPPY.  The only single to represent the “Deus ex machina” era, everything showed me what theywere like as a duo and surprisingly showed that they can do 8bit as well as POLYSICS & YMCK, but can do good ballads as well.  It’s one of the bands I’ll be keeping my eye on from now on.