ZAQ - Extra Revolution

Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita OP

Tracklist:

1. Extra Revolution

2. Namida Note

3. Candy Rain

4. Extra Revolution (Off Vocal)

1. Extra Revolution

Chaotically disharmonic synths open the song, untangling in a really light, cheerful electronic-pop track. Even for a pop song, the instrumentation is surprisingly simple, with only a thin piano following one or two lines of synths, but perfect for the cute and upbeat melody. ZAQ's voice is, accordingly, much higher in pitch, and successfully avoids nasal channeling, present with many singers who badly attempt to sing like this. Although the arrangement somewhat widens afterwards, it still retains the same character for the remarkably catchy chorus, and the heavier middle eight section, with a trance buildup to another burst of liveliness.
Rating: 9

2. Namida Note

A single ambiental synth and drop sounds start off, with a piano joining in coupled with ZAQ's distant voice, and soon turbulently circulating into a mid-tempo track. Compared to Extra Revolution, the vocals are much deeper and more dense and expressive, also doubling as a support at the final chorus in a jazzy manner, which makes them even more enjoyable than usual. Only one listen will give the impression of your usual pop arrangement, although, when cleared up, the instrumentation is much more exotic, with quiet synths in the background following an acoustic guitar, all while the violin joins in the middle eight section to the slow, marching tempo. Namida Note is, with its laid-back tone quite relaxing, and is another great track.
Rating: 9

3. Candy Rain

Finishing up the single, an acoustic guitar once again starts, but this time in almost a dubstep manner, and as if it were a background to a rap song, until it unravels into another ambiental, deep and relaxing arrangement, but with ZAQ singing an unusual mix of silent and very cute. The combination of the two sounds quite J-pop and like something Perfume might release, but, unfortunately, it's not as inventive in its cuteness, although interesting rhytmic figures and chromatic progressions are stretched out through the whole track. With the melody lines being somewhat generic as well, I'm not a big fan of the third track overall.
Rating: 6

This time around, we get another great release from the singer who actually writes and composes her own tracks; a very rare thing in pop music, and succeeds in it. With several singles already out beforehand, I'm hoping for an album soon as well.
My overall rating is: 8
Will I return for an another listen: Yes.

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