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Blotto
Singles Collection 2004-2007 |
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Tracklist |
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01 - ある証明 (Aru Shoumei)
02 - human traffic
03 - SOL(inst) |
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Review |
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Last year's release of Acidman's third album, Equal, brought them critical acclaim from both long-time fans and newcomers. A culmination of all their previous work, Equal showcased the immensely talented three-piece band at its best, with soaring epic soundscapes and rocking riffs jam-packed into one disc. After this, fans anxiously awaited their next single, titled Aru Shoumei. But really, what could this band do to better their sound, especially after such an excellent album?
Truth be told, Aru Shoumei covers no new ground at all. All three tracks sound like bits and pieces of Equal, molded into newer, individual songs. If Equal's twelve tracks could be condensed into a three-song EP, this would be it. And while the songs aren't bad in any sense of the word, the amount of rehash leads me to believe that Aru Shoumei is just Equal-Lite.
The title track, "Aru Shoumei", should sound familiar to even the casual Acidman fan on first listen. In fact, anyone who has listened to Equal should feel right at home here. Musical phrases lifted straight from Equal's "Akatsuki wo Nokoshite" are interwoven with newer melodies, the end product having more than a passing resemblance to another Equal track, "migration 1064." More of Acidman's usual techniques are also present, such as the laid-back bridge with gentle strums of the guitar and the frantic pause that leads into Ichigo's manic drum rolls. "Aru Shoumei" isn't a terrible song. On the contrary, I enjoy it very much, but after Equal, sky-high expectations are justified. However, instead of meeting these expectations with leaps into innovative musical territory, as Acidman is accustomed to doing, they treat us to the same sound from their previous album.
The other two tracks are no different in the sense that they do not take any bold steps into new territory. "human traffic" sounds like a jazzier and more laid-back "Furu Aki" from Equal without the passionate chorus, replaced instead with something more repetitive and uninteresting. The song breaks the formula down in a good way halfway through, upping the pacing and giving the song that extra kick that it needs to come into its own. Not a bad song, but it fails to deliver as an individual entity. The third track, "SOL" is my favorite of the three songs on this EP. A typical Acidman instrumental, "SOL" brings nothing new to the table in terms of innovation and sound other than showcasing the band's talent at using restraint to its advantage. "SOL" is a very simple song, and compared to Acidman's other instrumentals, it does not really stand out much on first listen. However, it quickly grew on me and became a favorite. An absolutely gorgeous guitar melody is repeated over the backing instruments, building up to a climax that brings back memories of Equal's epic "Mawaru, Meguru, Sono Kaku he."
After this single, one can only hope that Acidman find a new muse other than the one that inspired them to write Equal. While musically sound and exceptional, Aru Shoumei still sounds like a diet version of Equal, with no new quirks or ideas. It will be interesting to see how the next singles match up with this one. |
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