Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince ED
Tracklist:
1. Sayonara Tteiu
2. Sono Gyaku
3. Sayonara Tteiu (Off Vocal)
4. Sono Gyaku (Off Vocal)
1. Sayonara Tteiu
I haven't watched Majestic Prince past the first episode, but for a seemingly shounen-like and childish anime, Chiaki's new work is surprisingly dark and depressing. An irregular rhythm, just like in jazz and blues sets in with dragging, drawn out guitars, laying the ground for her deep vocals, on par with those of Kalafina. The arrangement can get quite strange and slow, even with the usual Western ballad melodies in the chorus, but I guess that some experimentation is due in such a long career. Accordingly, ambiental, playful tones stop in the middle eight sequences for some genuinely haunting chanting repeats of "miss, miss, miss", bringing the theme of the song in question, which restarts for a final chorus that isn't even slightly more optimistic than the ones before it, and strips to bare vocals slowly fading out. This isn't exactly my cup of tea, but acknowledgement must be where it's due, for a good track.
I haven't watched Majestic Prince past the first episode, but for a seemingly shounen-like and childish anime, Chiaki's new work is surprisingly dark and depressing. An irregular rhythm, just like in jazz and blues sets in with dragging, drawn out guitars, laying the ground for her deep vocals, on par with those of Kalafina. The arrangement can get quite strange and slow, even with the usual Western ballad melodies in the chorus, but I guess that some experimentation is due in such a long career. Accordingly, ambiental, playful tones stop in the middle eight sequences for some genuinely haunting chanting repeats of "miss, miss, miss", bringing the theme of the song in question, which restarts for a final chorus that isn't even slightly more optimistic than the ones before it, and strips to bare vocals slowly fading out. This isn't exactly my cup of tea, but acknowledgement must be where it's due, for a good track.
Rating: 8
2. Sono Gyaku
Continuing on with the experimental and progressive atmosphere, dysharmonic synths and filtered vocals chanting in another language (Kajiuran? Or at least a dialect of Japanese) open the track, never really settling for a tonality, until they unravel in several touching guitar riffs. This B-side retains the blues tint in it, but with added energy and tempo, while even sometimes managing to sound uplifting, although falling in the trap of cliche. Nevertheless, Chiaki's vocals are always something worth looking forward to, even when filtered and make for scary transitions within different sections of the track. When you have an artist do something unforgettable, then their every other piece is probably going to be compared with it, and so is this one; therefore, I must say that this does remind of "Uninstall", at least a little bit. That's a great compliment.
Rating: 9
Continuing on with the experimental and progressive atmosphere, dysharmonic synths and filtered vocals chanting in another language (Kajiuran? Or at least a dialect of Japanese) open the track, never really settling for a tonality, until they unravel in several touching guitar riffs. This B-side retains the blues tint in it, but with added energy and tempo, while even sometimes managing to sound uplifting, although falling in the trap of cliche. Nevertheless, Chiaki's vocals are always something worth looking forward to, even when filtered and make for scary transitions within different sections of the track. When you have an artist do something unforgettable, then their every other piece is probably going to be compared with it, and so is this one; therefore, I must say that this does remind of "Uninstall", at least a little bit. That's a great compliment.
Rating: 9
There's not really a point in discussing the future an artist might hold when it's an anison veteran like Chiaki Ishikawa. I know I'm rarely ever going to be disappointed by her work, so Sayonara Ttieu is just another addition to the list. My overall rating is: 8 ½
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