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Tracklist |
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01 - WOMAN RECORD
02 - 不思議なイト
03 - ヌルイ雨
04 - いけないところで
05 - ポストマン
06 - モーターガール
07 - �SO�CHIME IN
08 - 眠たい電車
09 - パンとホープ
10 - 幻想港町 |
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Review |
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ANATATAKIKOU's first few efforts had a real charm to them. It wasn't that the songs were terribly ground-breaking or "important," but there was definitely something to those melodies. There was an airy charisma surrounding those singles, one that's been missing from far too much of pop music since the sixties.
The only thing that I had expected from this album was a few pleasantly charming melodies like the ones I had enjoyed on their singles. For the most part, sweet montage A delivers just that same listening experience. "Woman Record" starts it all off on an unexpected, slightly harder note, adding a new volume to the band�s sound. "不思議なイト (fushigi na ito)" follows and quickly sets any fear of change to rest with acoustic guitars and the wonderful, wonderful harmonies so characteristic of the group.
The record continues much in the same way with great parts spread expertly across the whole. There are a few surprises and diversions as well; not all of the songs exude the same relaxing quality as the ones that made ANATAKIKOU�s early fans. "いけないところで (ikenai tokoro de)" has some great backing harmonies but the lead vocals and guitar hook are a little more discordant. The solemn tone doesn�t sound natural or as well thought-out as the other tracks.
I suppose that I should be grateful that ANATAKIKOU are not content to let themselves become stagnant by playing the same style into the ground but most of the departures from their natural sound are generally less successful."'SO' Chime In" stands out as the most noticeable case of an ill-fitting experiment, interlude or not. There are definitely some successful ideas though - "Postman" is a remarkable example of a traditionally up-beat band playing a slower song with style intact and unharmed.
While the album stumbles in a handful of places, the strength of perfectly plodding songs like "Motor Girl" save the record from faltering into obscurity. sweet montage A may be far from perfect, but it is a sublime listen and a refreshing example of what both the band and the genre can accomplish. |
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