+┌─────┐ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐+
│h! ┌─┼────┤ WE ARE HERE TO PROViDE GOOD █▄ MUSiC TO THE MP3/FLAC SCENE │
.└───┼─┘ └──────────────────────────────▀███▄▄▄─────────────────────┬─┘.
┌┐┌───┐│ ┌──────────┐ ░ ████▀▀▀█▓▄ ■ │┌┐
└┘│ACE││ │HQ SOUNDS!│ ░ ▄▄▄▄░▄▒▄▄ ▐██▓░ ███▓ ▀ │││
└───┘: └────┬─────┘ ▒ ▄ ▄▄██▀ ░ ░ ▀██▄▄ ███▓ ██▓▓▄ ▓▀█▓▄ └┘│
┌────+───────┼──:▄▄▓▓▓██████──────:░───████▐████─▄──███▓ ▀██▄▄:─▒───██▓──+┐
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┌──┘ ░ ▄▄▄▄░▄▒▄▄ ░ ▀▀█ ▒ ▀█ ▀███▄ ▐██████ ████ ▀▓▓██▄ │ │
│ ▄▄██▀ ░▓░▀██▄▄ ▀▓██▒█ ▓██▓███ ▄ ▀▀█ ░░▀███▄ │ │
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│ ███▓░ ░ ▄█▓█▓ ░▓██▌ ▓███ ░ ▄▄▓▓▓██ ▄█████▀ └─────┼┤ ├──┘ │
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│ ░░█▓░ ▄■▓▀▀ ████ ▐██▓ ░███▄▄░ █░█░░█ ▄░░▀▄▄ .p½²""~:│"²½p. │
│ ███▀▀ ▒ ███▓ ▐██▓ ▄▀███ ▒▀▓█████▀ ██████ a½@' ┌──┤│ │'$½,│
│ ██▄▓ ▒ █▓█▓ ▐██▓ ▄▓▓ ░███ ▒ ▓▓▀ ▄ ████▓▓░ {@$! │^^││ │ ;$@}
│ █▄█▓░ ░ █▓██ ███▓▌ ██▌ ░▓██▌ ░ ░░▄███ ▓▓███▓░ :$$½ └──┘│ │.$$²│
│ ██▀█ █▓██▐███▓█▄ ███ ░▓██▓ ███▓▓█ ███▓▓█ `½$$: `∙,_│.,a²" │
│ ████▀■ ████ ▓██▓▓▓█▓███████▒ ▄▄████▓██ █▓██▒██ ~"²@a,. │ │ │
│ ▀▀█ ┌──────┐ ▀▀█ ▒ ▀████▓██▓▓██▀▀▀ ▓▓██▓█░ █▒▀▀░▀ │ │ │
│ │OTAKUS│ ░ ▄ ▒▀▀░░ ▀▀ ▒ ░ ├──┘ │
│ │ 2017 │ ░ ░ │ │
│ └──────┘ ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │
└┬───────┬────────┤* DARKAUDiO PROUDLY PRESENTS ANOTHER QUALiTY RiP *├──────┬┘
._│_. │ └──┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┘ ._│_.
\ ║ / ║ ║ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ║ \ ║ /
\│/ │ ╔═══╧═════════════════════════════════════════════╧═════╗ \│/
:╔══════╧═════╗ ║ JAPANESE MUSiC, ELECTRO, TECHNO, DRUM N BASS, ║ :
┌─╢WE BRiNG YOU╠═╣ GAME OSTs AND MORE !! ╠═╦═╗
│ ╚╦═══════════╝ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ╚╦╝
│ ╔╩╗ ╔╩╗
├:╚╦╝ Momoiro Clover Z-Amaranthus ╚╦╝
├──┼─────────────────╥───╔══════════════════════════╗───╥─────────────────╥─╨┐
│ ║░█▓ ║ ║ █▄▀▀█▄▀▀█ █▀▀▀▄ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▄ ║ ║ ▓█░║ │
│ ║░█▓ ╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗╔╩╦══║═█ █ █ █▄▄▄▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▄═║══╦╩╗╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗ ▓█░║ │
│ ║░█▓ ╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝ ║ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓▄▄▄▄▄▓ ║ ╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝ ▓█░║ │
│┌─║░─▒──────────────────╚══════════════════════════╝──────────────────▒─░║─┐│
││ ║░█░ record label..: King Records quality.......: avg. 257kbps ░█░║ ││
│║ │░█░ catalognr.....: KICS-93308 Joint Stereo ░█░│ ║│
│║ │░█░ genre.........: Jpop 44.1kHz ░█░│ ║│
│║ ║░█░ language......: Japanese encoder.......: Lame 3.98r ░█░║ ║│
│║ ║░█░ street date...: 2016.02.17 trax..........: 14 ░█░║ ║│
│║ ║░█░ release date..: 2017.09.07 playtime......: 63:15 ░█░║ ││
││ ║░█░ source........: CDDA size..........: 117.25 MB ░█░├─┘│
││ │░█░ type..........: Album supply........: DARKAUDiO ░█░│ │
││ │░█░ format........: MP3 rip...........: DARKAUDiO ░█░│ │
│└─┤░█░ url...........: momoclo.net ░█░│ │
└┬─┴░─░────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────░─░┘ ┌┘
┌┴┐ ░█░ ░█░ ┌┴┐
│║│ ░█░ ▓ ■______________________________________■ ▓ ░█░ │║│
│║│ ░█░▓ ▓█▓ ▓ ╔═════════════════════════╗ ▓ ▓█▓ ▓░█░ │║│
│║│ ███▄▓▓█▀█▓▓ ▓▓█▄▓▓▓║ ▀ █ ██ █▀▀▀▀ ▄▀▀▀▄ ║▓▓▓▓▓█▓▓▓▄█▀█▓▓ ▓▄███ │║│
└┬┘ █████▀░░ ██▓▓▓▓▄█▀█▀█▄▄ █ █ █ █ █▀▀▀ █ █ ▄▄▄▄▄█▀█▄▄▀░░░▀█▓█████ └┬┘
┌┴──███▀░░■■■░██▄▄█▀░░■░░░║ ▓ ▓█ ▓ ▓ ▀▓▄▓▀ ║░░░■░░░▀░░■■■░▀█▀░███──┴┐
│ ██▀░░ ░██░ ╚═════════════════════════╝ ░ ░█░ ░███▄ │
│ █▀░░ ░█░ ░░ ░▀▀█ │
│ ▀▀▄░░░ ░ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ░░ ▄▀ │
│ ┌┬░─▄░░──┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ░░▄─▒┬┐ │
║ ││░█░░ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ │ │ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘░░█░││ ║
║ │║░█░░ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ ░░█░║│ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ When Momoiro Clover Z started to mature their sound back in ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 2012 with "Mugen no Ai" this was the first time they caught my ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ attention. When I realized later in that year that they'd be ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ continuing that trend of maturing and expanding their musical ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ style and complexity, I started to follow them more closely and░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ actually anticipate what they'd do next. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The subsequent years had many ups and downs, with the wonderful░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and innovative but flawed 5th Dimension album dropping in 2013,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and a slew of singles that ranged from bad and boring to quite ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ good leading up through 2015. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ This current set of double albums was announced late in 2015 ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ for early 2016 release and after seeing how many conceptual ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ideas were going into it, I was interested to see if they could░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ make the improvements that needed to be made to the 5th ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Dimension sound and concept to make these albums truly great. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ They pooled together a plethora of high-profile musicians and ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ producers to assemble these albums and work together to follow ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the overall concepts, and it's something that hasn't been done ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ many times before, so it was especially interesting to see if ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ such a feat could be properly executed within the idol ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ industry. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Both albums feature 14 tracks, and are meant to be very ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ symmetrical, both having a prologue intro track for the first ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ song, and a number of other links between the two along the way░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ that we'll get to later. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The two albums actually follow a sequential format for the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ concept, with AMARANTHUS being the first of the two, so we'll ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ begin with that, track by track. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ AMARANTHUS Review ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 1. Embryo -prologue-: The album starts with a mostly ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ atmospheric track featuring sparse piano, heartbeats, babies ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ crying and other sounds that represent "birth" in some form or ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ another. It's interesting in that it sets up the theme to ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ follow through the albums (birth, death, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ reincarnation/fantasy,) but not much is accomplished here ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ musically. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 2. WE ARE BORN: Starting off the real meat of the album, "WE ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ARE BORN" is a classical piano infused bombastic rock track ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ with lots of loud guitars/drums and is what I'd consider a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ slightly more mature version of an old-school MomoClo rock ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ song. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ There's some twists and turns to keep an element of relative ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ "surprise" or unpredictability with the listener (something ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ I'll mention a lot throughout these reviews) but those moments ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ feel a bit forced into a track which is just a basic, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ uninteresting idol rock track at its core. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The song ends up being boring and a little bit of a mess, and ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ this may appeal to some of MCZ's older fans (which seems true ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ from the impressions from fans that I've read online) but it ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ fails to accomplish anything valuable to my ears. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 3. Monokuro Dessan: "Monokuro" is a track that has almost ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ nothing in common with the previous track, as the style is a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ polar opposite from the loud and messy elements of "WE ARE ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ BORN" and opts for a more cute and delicate style with lots of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ playful piano and lighthearted melodies. The arrangement and ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ instrumentation here is done very well and sounds very bright, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ but the composition falls a bit flat here, especially in the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ chorus ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ It basically sticks to the same formula throughout, only ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ speeding up a little in the bridge, so even though it's one of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the most enjoyable tracks on the first half of this album, it ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ doesn't do a lot to make subsequent listens very interesting or░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ enticing. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 4. Gorira Panchi: Here we have another song that's pretty ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ similar to "WE ARE BORN" in many ways, being a loud rock track,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ but this one brings in an interesting element, in that it ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ features the lyrics and guitar work of ANCHANG from the awesome░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ SEX MACHINEGUNS as well as work from AKIRASTAR (Kusumi Koharu, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Buono!) ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Unfortunately, even with such cool guest features on this ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ track, it has a lot of other elements to bring it down. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Firstly, it also has a large amount of ADD in the composition ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and structure here, so it never really seems to flow together, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ with more effort seemingly given to the "surprise" element of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ it than actually writing a cohesive and interesting song. Many ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ parts seemingly crushed together haphazardly without any real ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ sense of movement or overall feel to tie it all together, even ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ if a few of the hooks are cool, they don't last long and are ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ compressed between a bunch of other contrasting musical ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ passages. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The other major down side is that it's a Momoka-featured track,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and this girl has one of the absolute most grating singing ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ styles in the idol industry to me (DARKAUDiO Note: I just ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ google revievs to fill out my nfo's and this reviewer is a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ retard, MOMOKA IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED GIRL IN THE ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ WORLD, FUCK THIS REVIEWER). While it is apparent that the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ production on her vocals is well done, they've purposely made ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ her sing it in a way that manages to surpass good production ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and still be annoying. Fans of older MCZ music or Momoka will ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ probably eat this up, but it's not for me. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 5. Buryoutougen Nakayoshi Monogatari: Next we get to the first ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ track on these albums written by the one and only Hyadain ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ (Maeyamada Kenichi,) who used to be one of MCZ's biggest ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ musical contributors, but actually hadn't worked with them in ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ over 3 years until this album came out. The caveat here is that░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ he only wrote the song, and did not arrange it, which may have ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ a bigger effect on the song than you'd think. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The song (like many of his,) is a quirky "storytelling" type ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ song based around the concept of people stealing food from each░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ other backstage at a concert, but then making up and staying ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ friends in the end. Similar to most of his storytelling songs, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the composition is full of abrupt changes in style, but ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ unfortunately I don't think it works very well in this case. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The arrangement is a kind of corny and artificial sounding ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ swing/big band or Broadway musical arrangement. There's a few ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ of the musical hooks here that really shine, but they're ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ crushed in the middle of other passages that don't fit at all, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and they usually only last for a few seconds at a time before ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ switching to another passage that usually doesn't follow a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ progression very well. In the end, the song doesn't accomplish ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ a whole lot besides being a musical mess. Again, we have ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ another case of a song feeling too much devoted to a "surprise"░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ element than a well produced musical product. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ It's hard to tell if this style's inability to work here is ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ because Hyadain didn't arrange the track himself or if it was ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ innate in the songwriting, but I'd guess more towards the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ former, since many of the songs he's written but not arranged ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ for various artists often fall flat, while the ones he arranges░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ shine like diamonds. He seems to work best by arranging his own░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ music, but he's a pretty busy guy nowadays, so he can't do ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ everything like he used to. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 6. Katte ni Kimi ni: This song was used as another musical ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ theme played before baseball games for Japanese player Masahiro░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Tanaka (New York Yankees player, also married to Satoda Mai of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Country Musume) for whom MCZ has written before, so it's a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ fairly safe kind of animeish "anthem" song that doesn't ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ accomplish a whole lot musically. The members of MCZ actually ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ contributed to the lyrics here, the credits say, which is ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ slightly interesting, even if fairly anecdotal. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The previous song they did for him, "My Dear Fellow" from their░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ "Naitemo Iin da yo" single was a much better song in every way,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ so this one just lacks uniqueness or quality, especially ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ knowing a better song has already been made for the same ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ purpose and somewhat similar style. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 7. Seishunfu: "Seishunfu" was released as a movie tie-in ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ single last year, and it's one of their most boring songs to ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ date. It features a lot of Japanese choral singing and piano, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ sounding close to a typical "sakura" or graduation themed song.░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ It never picks up much from there, keeping the slow, ballad- ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ like pace throughout, so there isn't much of value here for me.░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 8. Saboten to Ribon: This song is an Ayaka featured song and ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ sounds more like a song from a Disney cartoon or children's ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ anime, with lots of circus and marching band sounds in the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ arrangement. The song wears out it's welcome within the first ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ minute and a half, but continues to plod on for almost 5 ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ minutes with the same passages. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ There have been lots of idol songs done with this style that ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ turned out well, but this one just feels boring and contrived. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Not much of note here unless maybe you're an Ayaka fan. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 9. Demonsutoreshon: OK, this is where the album really takes a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ turn for me, and I'm just gonna say it now: "Demonsutoreshon" ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ is probably the best song I've heard in all of 2016 and might ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ be the best one I hear all year. This track brings in relative ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ newcomer to the mainstream idol scene, Kiyoshi Ryujin ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ (Dempagumi.inc, Horie Yui, Kiyoshi Ryujin 25,) for writing, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ arrangement, and production duties, and I'll be damned if this ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ isn't one of the most unique, powerful, and exciting songs I've░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ heard from this industry in years. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The best way to describe this song is a prog rock epic mixed ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ with an orchestral symphony, with constant crescendos in each ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ passage and a perfect element of build up and climax throughout░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the whole song. There's constant rises in pitch with these ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ crescendos, giving a certain sense of floating or flying as it ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ goes, which makes sense, since the lyrical themes are about the░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ universe and the cosmos. The complex drum patterns carry the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ song from passage to passage, accompanying the strings in a way░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ that makes every orchestra hit feel like an emotional punch in ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ your face while the guitars soar above it all. This is my idea ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ of bliss in musical form. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ This is also the first song on the album that starts to ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ showcase the improvement MCZ has made on their vocal ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ performances and production since their last album that pushed ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the envelope for composition and vocal performances. The lines ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ they're tasked to sing here are extremely complex and showcase ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ a huge range from very low notes to jumping octaves higher ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ within the same passage. I'll talk more about the improved ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ vocals on the other songs which showcase it the best throughout░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ this review. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The level of layering, classical composition, complex melodies,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ orchestral string arrangement, and vocal harmonies make this ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ stand out unlike any other song I've heard lately and it was ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the first song that truly made me think something special might░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ be waiting in the remainder of the music on these albums. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ This track is also linked in some ways to the 9th track on the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ other album of this, it also being produced and written by ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Kiyoshi. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 10. Bussouge: Here we have a track that MCZ hasn't really done ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ in a studio setting before, which is a classical 1950s-1970s ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Japanese folk style. This is a style I personally love and they░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ got musician Kenji Kondo to work on the track, so everything ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ flows perfectly here. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ It's full of swaying rhythm reminiscent of even 1950s American ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ music, with lots of acoustic guitars, mandolin, piano, strings,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ harp, harmonica, slide guitar, and even banjo and flutes to top░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ off the classic arrangement. The whole song is a perfect ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ representation of this style, and the vocal production is up to░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ standard, with all the girls sounding very pleasant even in the░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ most difficult of the vocal passages. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 11. Naite mo Iin Da yo: Next we have my personal favorite of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ all of MCZ's singles since their previous album, the dramatic ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ rock song "Naite mo Iin Da yo" The song features frequent key ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ changes, a great string arrangement, a saxophone solo, tons of ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ acoustic and electric guitars with all sorts of embellishments ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and harmonies with the instruments. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The song repeats the main chorus many times throughout its ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ running time, but is constantly changing key between the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ repeats, which keeps it fresh each time. This is definitely a ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ welcome addition to the album, making the 2nd half of this one ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ loaded with quality songs, even if previously released. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 12. Guns N' Diamond: This song ends up the sore thumb in the ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ end of this album's tracklist, featuring a really boring ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ attempt at a dramatic jazz/rock arrangement. The whole song has░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ really uninspired vocal melodies with brass instrument accents ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and some jazzy piano throughout, but neither the songwriting ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ nor the arrangement do anything to stand out here. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 13. Bai Bai de Sayonara: Here's another interesting track for ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ this album, even if it starts out a little rough with some ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ strange piano and vocal passages along with some really loud ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ chanting parts. It soon gets into a slightly more jazz/rock ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ arrangement for the chorus and gets a much needed boost in ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ songwriting catchiness. The middle and end parts have a group ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ chant "na-na-na" chorus reminiscent of songs like "Hey Jude" ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ from The Beatles, which is a fun change. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ The subsequent passages change up the arrangement even more, ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ adding harpsichords, more percussion, and some layered guitar ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ leads reminiscent of the Queen/Beatles style. I wouldn't say ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ this is a great track, but a pretty good one compared to many ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ others here. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ 14. HAPPY Re:BIRTHDAY: This track starts out with a delicate ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ piano passage straight out of a stadium rock ballad, but soon ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ calms down into a quiet verse with strings and more piano. This░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ track also showcases very well how much the vocal production ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ and performances of the group have improved over past attempts,░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ with some of the vocal passages being very emotive and ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ beautiful with no trace of the grating or shrill elements ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ commonly heard in MCZ recordings. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ I wouldn't quite call it a full on ballad, even though it has ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ many elements from that style, since it changes things up a few░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ times. About half way through the track, it adds a lot more ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ elements to the arrangement to liven things up a little. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ Similar to the previous song, there's a repeated chant chorus ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ that closes the song out, and it ends with a quick "Mata Ne" ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ from Kanako, signaling that the album is ending and "See you on░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ the other side" meaning the other album. ░█░││ ║
║ ││░█░ ░█░││ ║
│ └┘░█░ ░█░└┘ │
└───░█░──────────────────────────────────────────────────┬──────────▓──░─░──┬┘
┌───░─░──▓──────────╥─╥───────────────────────────────╥─╥┘ ┌┐┌┐ ▓█▓ ░*░ │
│ ███▄▓█▓▓ ╔══╩═╩═══════════════════════════════╩═╩═══╗└┘└┘▓▓██▄▓███ │
│ █████▀██▓ ▓║ ▄▀▀█▀▀▄ █▀▀▀▄ ▄▀▀▀▄ █▀▀▀▀ █ ▄▀ ▄▀▀▀▀▀ ║▓▓▓▓▓█▀░▀████ │
│ ▄███▀░░░▀█▓▓▓▄▄▄ █ █▄▀▀ █▀▀▀█ █ █▀▄ ▀▀▀▀▀▄ ▄▄█▀██▀░ ░░▀██▄ └┐
│ ▄██▀░░ ░░█▄█▀║ ▓ ▓ ▀▄ ▓ ▓ ▓▄▄▄▄ ▓ ▀▄ ▀▄▄▄▄▄▓ ║░░░░░░ ░░░▀██ │
│ █▀░░■■■■■■■■■■■╚═╦═══════════════════════════════════════╦╝■■■■■■■■■■■■░░█ │
│ ▀▀▄░░░ ╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗╔╩╗ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ┌─┐ ╔╩╗╔═╗╔═╗╔═╗ ░░▄▀ ┌┘
│ ░▀▄░░╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝╚╦╝ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ┌─┐ │ │ ╚╦╝╚═╝╚═╝╚═╝░▄▀▒ │
│ ┌┬░─▒░───────────╨──┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ └─┘ │ │ │ │ └──╨──────────░░─░──┤
║ ││░█░░ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ └─┘ ░░█░ ┌┴┐
║ │║░█░ 01 Embryo Prologue [01:31] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 02 WE ARE BORN [04:21] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 03 Monokuro Dessan [05:54] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 04 Gorira Panchi [04:37] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 05 Buryoutougen Nakayoshi Monogatari [04:30] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 06 Katte ni Kimi ni [04:45] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 07 Seishunfu [05:18] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 08 Saboten to Ribon [04:45] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 09 Demonsutoreshon [04:45] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 10 Bussouge [04:38] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 11 Naite mo Iin Da yo [05:07] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 12 Guns N' Diamond [04:05] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 13 Bai Bai de Sayonara [04:44] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ 14 HAPPY Re:BIRTHDAY [04:15] ░█░ │║│
║ │║░█░ ------- ░█░ │║│
║ ││░█░ 63:15 min ░█░ └┬┘
║ └┘░█░ 117.25 MB ░█░ ┌┴┐
│ ┌┐░█░ ░█░ └┬┘
│ ││░─░▓ ▓ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────▓░─░─┬┘
│ └┘░█░▓ ▓ ▓ ╔════════════════════════════════════╗ ▓ ▓░█░ │┌┐
│ ███▄▓▓▄▓ ▓▓▓ ║ ▄▄▄▄ ▄▄▄▄ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▄ ▄ ▄▄▄▄▄ ║▓▓▄▓ ▓▓▓██████ │└┘
│ █████▀█▄▓ ▓▄█▄▓▓║ █ ▄▄▄ █ ▄▄▄█ █ █ █ █ █▄▄▄▄▀ ║█▀█▄▓ ▓▄█▄▓▓████ └─┐
│ ▄███▀░░░█▄▓▄█░▀▀▀▀ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▀▄ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▓ ▀▀░░░█▄▓▄█░▀▀▀▀░░▀█▄ │
│ ▄██▀░░ ░▀█▀░ ░░░║ ▀▀▀▀ ▀ ▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀ ▀ ║ ░▀█▀░ ░░░ ░░░█ │
│ █▀░░ ░▀░ ╚════════════════════════════════════╝ ░▀░ ░█ │
│ ▀▀▄░░ ░ THiS iS DARKAUDiO... HERE TO BRiNG YOU ░ ░ ░▄▀ │
├──┐░▀▄░ ░ RELEASES WE FEEL ARE MiSSING iN THE SCENE ░ ▄▀▒ │
│┌┐│░█░░ LATELY! iN OUR EYES ViNYL>CD>WEB ░ █░┌┐·║
│└┘│░█░░ ░░█░││■║
└┬─┘░█░ iF NO OTHER SOURCE iS AVAiLABLE AND MUSiC iS GREAT THEN WE ░█░└┘·║
│ ░█░ WiLL GLADLY DO WEB, BUT OUR MAiN FOCUS LiES ON RETAiL. ░█░┌┐·║
┌┴┐ ░█░ ░█░││■║
│║│ ░█░ WE DONT WANT OUR RELEASES TO TORRENTS OR ANYWHERE OUT OF ░█░└┘·║
│║│ ░█░ SCENE,BUT THERE SADLY iS FUCKERS WHO LEAK OUR AND OTHER GRPs ░█░┌┐·║
└┬┘ ░█░ RELEASES. SO BiG FUCK YOU TO ALL LEAKERS.. TO REGULAR TORRENT ░█░││■║
│ ░█░ USERS WE WANT TO REMiND THAT OUR RELEASES ARENT REALLY MEANT ░█░└┘·║
┌┴┐ ░█░ FOR YOU! ...BUT iT iS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT THEY END UP iN ░█░┌┐·║
│║│ ░█░ PUBLiC. LEAKS COME SOMEWHERE iNSiDE OF THE SCENE, AND THATS ░█░││■║
│║│ ░█░ A BiT SAD THiNG.. iTS LiKE HAViNG RATS iN YOUR HOUSE! SO HUGE ░█░└┘·║
└┬┘ ░█░ "FUCK YOU" TO ALL WHO LEAK STUFF TO PUBLiC! ░█░ │
│ ░█░ ░█░ │
└┬─░─░────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────░─░─┬─┘
┌─┴┐░█░ *WE ARE LOOKiNG FOR SKiLLED ViNYL RiPPERS FiRST AND FOREMOST* ░█░┌┴─┐
│■■║░█░ *HAVE ACCESS TO DiRT CHEAP PHYSiCAL MEDiUM MUSiC?* ░█░║■■│
│■■║░█░ *iNTERESTED iN GETTiNG MORE .JP MUSiC AGAiN TO SCENE?* ░█░║■■│
│■■║░█░ *HAVE A BiG COLLECTiON OF UNPRED OSTs, CDs OR ViNYLs?* ░█░║■■│
│┌─║░█░ ░█░║─┐│
││ ║░█░ *Don't hesitate to get in contact with us!* ░█░║ ││
│║ │░█░ ░█░│ ║│
│║ │░█░ : ╔═════════════════════════╗ : ░█░│ ║│
│║ ║░█░ +*+*+╠════╣ DAUDiO@PROTONMAiL.COM ╠════╣+*+*+ ░█░║ ║│
│║ ║░█░ ═════╝ ╚═════════════════════════╝ ╚═════ ░█░║ ║│
│║ ║░█░ ╔═══════════════════════════════════════╗ ▓ ░█░║ ││
││ ║░█░ ▓▓▓ ▓ ║ ▄▄▄▄ ▄▄▄ ▄▄▄▄ ▄▄▄▄ ▄ ▄▄▄▄▄ ║ ▓ ▒▓▓▄▓░█░├─┘│
│└─┤███▄▓▄█▄▓▓ ▓▄▓▓║ █ ▄▄▄ █▄▄▄█ █▄▄▄▀ █▄▄▄▀ ▄█▄ ▀▄▄▄▄▄▄ ║▓▄▓▓▒▓▓▄█▀████│ │
│ ├████─█░─█─▓─█▀▀▀─▓───▓──▓──▀▄──▓─────▓─────▓──▄──────▓─▀▀▀█─▓──▀░░░─██┤ │
└┬─┘███▀░░ ░░███░░░║ ▀▀▀▀ ▀ ▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ║░░░▀█▀░░ ░░▀└──┤
└───▀░░├──┼─░─░───╩═══════════════════════════════════════╩───░─░╥──┬───░░──┘
█▀░░ │■■║ ░ WE GREET OUR FRiENDS iN ░ ║■■│ ░░█
▀▀▄░░ │■■║ JRP - PRESCRiPTiON - wAx - z0ne ║■■│ ░░▄▀
░▀▄░│■■║ ║■■│░▄▀▒
░█░░│┌─║ The Guy on your right and all who think same: ║─┐│░░█░
░│░ ││ ║ ViNYL>CD>WEB-REGARDiNG PRE ║ ││ ░█░
░│░ │║ │ │ ║│ ░█░
░│░ │║ │ │ ║│ ░█░
░├░─┤║ ║ Personals: !a9 - h! - all who made this possible!!!! ║ ║├─░┤░
░│░ │║ ║ ║ ║│ ░█░
░│░ │║ ║ All others who do .jp Stuff in scene! ║ ││ ░█░
░│░ ││ ║ ├─┘│ ░█░
░│░ │└─┤ All who do rip ViNYL regardless of genre! │ │ ░█░
█│█ │ ├─┬──────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─┤ │ █│█
▐│█■└──┘■└──────\ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ /\ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ /────────┘■└──┘■█│▌
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\_*....._* * *_*_*\/*_*/*_^---------^_*\*_*\/*_*_* * *_......*_/
/_/////___/\\\____/"dArKAuDio"\____///\___\\\\\_\
\_\\\\\)__)■\\■■■_\___________/2017//■(__(/////_/
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