Rozen Maiden: Zuruckspulen ED
Tracklist:
1. Alternative
2. Ao ni Tokeru
3. Alternative (Instrumental)
4. Ao ni Tokeru (Instrumental)
1. Alternative
A quiet, impending single frequency opens the first track before dissolving into a slow, serene but a bit creepy instrumentation with the constant company of unusual pulsing synths in the background. All while Annabel is singing with her whisper-like voice, not increasing her volume even when the arrangement is threatening to overwhelm her, the atmosphere gains a more powerful violin background similar to ALI PROJECT, although still retaining the dark spirit of the Rozen Maiden anime. Even though the melody is entrancing, clear classical music influences can be heard, especially in the middle eight, pairing high violins and the deep double bass, as the song ends with a silent harp, leaving a dreamy aftertaste. Alternative is an excellent impression, especially as this is my first time listening to a song of hers.
Rating: 9
2. Ao ni Tokeru
Changing things up from the haunting ambient we've been able to hear, Ao ni Tokeru appears with a silent flute and a quirky xylophone, as it slowly achieves a much faster tempo and becomes a catchy mix of anison and J-pop in the chorus. That being said, aside the arrangement, the melody sounds too frantic, random and disharmonic the whole time, losing on the laid-back and relaxing aspect of it in the beginning, while, surprisingly, being quite boring. The B-side doesn't come near the quality Alternative had.
Rating: 5
Annabel's style, at least how I see it in this single, is very similar to Nagi Yanagi, which is perhaps brought up by the fact that they were a musical duo once. Despite the somewhat failed Ao ni Tokeru, I am looking forward to reviewing her further works. My overall rating is: 7.
The comment box doesn't bite; be careful when feeding it, though.
A quiet, impending single frequency opens the first track before dissolving into a slow, serene but a bit creepy instrumentation with the constant company of unusual pulsing synths in the background. All while Annabel is singing with her whisper-like voice, not increasing her volume even when the arrangement is threatening to overwhelm her, the atmosphere gains a more powerful violin background similar to ALI PROJECT, although still retaining the dark spirit of the Rozen Maiden anime. Even though the melody is entrancing, clear classical music influences can be heard, especially in the middle eight, pairing high violins and the deep double bass, as the song ends with a silent harp, leaving a dreamy aftertaste. Alternative is an excellent impression, especially as this is my first time listening to a song of hers.
Rating: 9
2. Ao ni Tokeru
Changing things up from the haunting ambient we've been able to hear, Ao ni Tokeru appears with a silent flute and a quirky xylophone, as it slowly achieves a much faster tempo and becomes a catchy mix of anison and J-pop in the chorus. That being said, aside the arrangement, the melody sounds too frantic, random and disharmonic the whole time, losing on the laid-back and relaxing aspect of it in the beginning, while, surprisingly, being quite boring. The B-side doesn't come near the quality Alternative had.
Rating: 5
Annabel's style, at least how I see it in this single, is very similar to Nagi Yanagi, which is perhaps brought up by the fact that they were a musical duo once. Despite the somewhat failed Ao ni Tokeru, I am looking forward to reviewing her further works. My overall rating is: 7.
The comment box doesn't bite; be careful when feeding it, though.
Since you didn't review them, what are your thoughts on Annabel's older works like Signal Graph?
ReplyDeleteI still haven't listened to any of her other music except Alternative, so I'll be sure to start from Signal Graph. Thanks! :3
DeleteSignal Graph was from the last era and was the last single. In this case, you can start in the new era with Small Worldrop. I plan to better review the album where all the singles were included miniascape
DeleteI love the creepy atmosphere of Alternative. Love. :D
ReplyDelete... but that B-side was too random and messy for me.
Above your hand was the first single I heard from Annabel. I quite liked that one, and though the B-side is also a bit messy, it's not to the same extent as Ao ni Tokeru. The A-side is very nice though! :)
Precisely; the creepy atmosphere is what immediately drew me to like the song :3
DeleteRight now I consider her best B-side to be Shihyou and below is Ao Ni Tokeru, because, if you check Annabel's music you will see that Ao ni Tokeru is normal compared to other songs she has released xD
DeleteYay... I must be in for a treat... xD
DeleteYou will hear a lot of variety in the album of Annabel (miniascape)
DeleteEven anison like Signal Graph and such mysterious tunes like Akashi, but damn, I think some of the new singers that can reach great potential are her and Nagi Yanagi, as they have a lot of experience.
Hi great reeading your post
ReplyDelete