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When you get a new piece of Musical Gear... Be it hardware, software, rack-mount, stomp box, and so on... Put away the instructions aside from the set-up and throw the troubleshoot guide into the trash... Accidents and ignorance creates beautiful mistakes... (Jaco Pastorius : 1951 - 1987)

Friday, February 21, 2003

Hyde's First Solo Album

I've wanted to review this album for a while, but up until now I couldn't find the time to write a really in-depth review. Hyde is the lead singer of L'Arc~en~ciel, a japanese Hard Rock band, a Visual Band which is the term they use to call that type of music in Japan... I was really excited about this solo project. I'll try to be unbiased in this review ...

1. Unexpected
This intro track begins with some piano, then hyde comes in with an acoustic guitar. He sings "Unexpected... promises woven" for a while, then the percussion kicks in. Throughout the first couple minutes, these are the only words he sings. As a saxophone, and electric guitar come in, still he repeats these words. You might think this would get boring, but when he does sings new lyrics, it is so, well, unexpected, that your breath catches. Of course, hyde's voice is beautiful and rich. This is an uncommonly good intro track.

2. White Song
White Song is, as you might expect, a seasonal song. That said, I can listen to it anytime of the year, and I don't normally like winter songs. This song is almost entirely in English, so for once I can trust my own interpretations. "Snow covered tree tops are bright ... shimmering silver tonight." This is great, poetic imagery. I love the way he equates winter with rebirth, usually a metaphor reserved for springtime. There are lots of strings in this song that give the impression of snow falling to the ground. This is brilliant on so many levels. Even the one line of Japanese seems to fit perfectly. This is one of my favorites on the album; it is so soothing.

3. Evergreen
This is the first single from Roentgen, and it is absolutely phenomenal. The accompaniment is mostly acoustic guitar and saxophone; there is virtually no percussion, except in the second half. It is so relaxing and heartfelt... I just can't describe the way hyde uses his voice to express emotion. By the way, this song is in Japanese, but I won't bother translating it because the music speaks for itself so well. Everything, the orchestra, hyde's voice, blend together perfectly.

4. Oasis
This song creates the feeling of a desert, appropriately, and the percussion reminds me of a rattlesnake. The verses are very laid back, as if it's too hot for hyde to sing any more forcefully. This is very effective. The verses are more energized, but not much. There are some keyboards that are kinda funky, and hyde's voice sounds wonderfully bored. This is a good track, it's just my least favorite. Listening to it carefully, I can appreciate the use of music to create a vivid picture.

5. A Drop of Colour
This song has been used as the opening to a Japanese drama or movie; I can't remember which. This song has kind of a slow jazz edge, but it is also a ballad of sorts. hyde's vocals are sweeping and hold just the right note of pain. He sounds as if he's begging or pleading for someone to listen to him. The lyrics, though English, seem very Japanese in flavor to me. This song is wonderfully artistic, even if hyde says he couldn't really connect with it.

6. Shallow Sleep
This was the third single from Roentgen. Shallow Sleep is the kind of song you might expect to hear from Laruku, with more guitar and percussion than the other songs on the album. This is also one of 4 songs on the album completely in Japanese. I love the way the verses are quiet and restrained, and the chorus bursts to life. To put it plainly, this song ROCKS! The bridge, where hyde sings "I see you until I wake...from shallow sleep" is the high point of the song, and makes me want to swoon. Ahem, anyway... this is easily one of the best songs on the album.

7. New Day's Dawn
I've know for a long time that hyde had a kind of horror movie fetish, but this song proves it. It opens with some creepy horror/industrial sounds, and then some equally creepy guitar. hyde sings very deeply and in a dark tone that is chilling. "Why pray to the light when darkness conceives it ?"That is disturbing stuff, hyde. Wonderfully so! I don't know what to say about this song, other than you have to hear it to understand. There are so many levels of sound and imagery. Great stuff!

8. Angel's Tale
Now, to completely switch gears, we come to Angel's Tale, the second single from Roentgen. This is a soft, prayer-like song with very simple guitar and some strings. hyde's voice is very pure, and he doesn't try to overdo even the louder parts. He truly does have the best voice in pop music anywhere. This is one of the few songs that can make me smile and cry at the same time. I can't describe how gorgeous it is, you just have to hear it.

9. The Cape of Storms
Of all the songs on this album, this on is perhaps my ultimate, all-time favorite. I love hyde's dramatic, painful songs, and this one definitely fits the bill. "So where can I sail... a ship losing control... my cries swallowed down... lost in the raging sea." This song has lots of strings and percussion, giving it a layered, complex feel. The verses, however, are quiet and simple. This only adds to the tapestry of this song. There is even an accordion at one point. Wow. hyde's voice ranges from seductively accusatory (figure that out!) to anguished. How can one man be so talented? I also love the center section with a violin that for some reason reminds me of the soundtrack to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This song builds in waves until the climax, which does not disappoint. Everything about this song is perfectly planned and executed. The highlight of the album.

10. Secret Letters
Alas, we have come to the last track on the album. All good things must come to an end, I guess. Well, this song is in surprisingly in Japanese, and features more accordion and strings. This song seems like a repeat of others on the album, kind of like a combination of A Drop of Colour and The Cape of Storms. It also reminds me of Laruku's Anemone. In other words, it doesn't feel completely original, even though it is a good track. hyde really shows off his range in this one, and the accordion is prominent enough to give the track some uniqueness. However, I don't think it was the best choice to close the album, and would have seemed stronger placed in the middle somewhere. Ah, well. I still like it.

words by RiesAp 4:01 PM

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RIESAP : an ordinary introvert, former slide-41ers photographer, former jam session musician & laidback bass player, anime & manga buff and definitely a music geek...

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