Rin & Len - Frienemy / Wreath

Twins attack! The two songs released by NexDart are far from being twin-like identical but both are awesome in their own kind. ‘Frienemy’, sung by Rin, is a jaunty nasty yet somehow enticing piece. ‘Wreath’, sung by Len, is quite a serious, lyrical and deep thing. Why, a smart trick to please every crowd :)

‘Frienemy’ Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm30425588
‘Wreath’ Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm30425671

The producer has released an album not a long time ago, available on Bandcamp. Be sure to check it out!


Sweet child, isn’t she?.. ;)

Art by Takka.

Hatsune Miku - If you were here

While the new song from Vocaloid post-hardcore guru Okame-P may be slightly inferior to ‘Reminiscence’ in the vocals field, it manages to beat the late Shichiya’s track in energy content and definitely overwhelms it in terms of emo. It’s fucking emo Godzilla, no less! Besides, since when have we started to care about the quality of Vocaloid singing? ;)

Youtube: (unofficial)

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29412031


So basically for the first half of the video you’re staring at her skirt… :p

Video’s art by Ruuya, naturally.

Lily - Rem

A beautiful lyrical ballad by Nora and Ram. A lot of melodic acoustic guitar play, quite a little heavy distorted parts… And Lily who sounds surprisingly good (now that’s a real marvel ;)

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm29131974

Tohoku Zunko - Often coating system

The title says it all. What’s with ‘it doesn’t make sense!’ If there isn’t any sense, what else do you want? :)


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23661371


Video’s art by Ocha.

Yamine Rei - the end

Slow and moody music by Haruki Kuroi. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first original song for Yamine Rei, though the voicebank was created more than a year ago…


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23599403

Hatsune Miku - Ecclesia

Just two weeks have passed, and we have an update from Okame-P. Well, the update we’re interested in, for he makes lighter stuff as well :) “Ecclesia” is firm Okame’s post-hardcore, smooth (as always) and tender (as usual).


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23559071



Video’s art by Ruuya.

Lily - Oboe

A masterful and soulful grunge from Reset. Lots of instrumental lines, complicated effects and excellent Lily’s vocals. She seems to be a little off the spotlight, but she rocks anyway!

The title translates as ‘remember’.


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23548932
MP3 download & Lyrics (JP): http://piapro.jp/t/8p6E


Nice bra…

Video’s art by Amakura.

GUMI - Serenity

I can't say that the title says everything about the music, but it suits it undeniably. From tranquil piano intro to the final chords - the song keeps its distinct style. Yunyunsae-san has created compelling atmosphere, and Gumi is one of its key elements. This work is a remastered version of the song that Yun posted a year ago (with Luka’s vocals). Strangely enough, that version has vanished and cannot stand before our critical eye. My wild bet the reason is Yun’s ashamed how’s the old version sounds compared to the new :) Why, perfect always was the enemy of the good :)

The mixing is done by our old friend ensou.


Youtube:

Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/yunyunsae/gumi-serenity



Video’s art by Kirby.

GUMI - Kazari

I feel overwhelmed. The sound flows through me like electricity through a wire. And I’m the happiest wire in a whole universe…

Fuck, guys, what are you doing to me?..


Bilibili link: http://www.bilibili.tv/video/av1097816/



Video’s art by Yoisy.

Yuzuki Yukari - Distance

A beatiful song from Yokomin. A bit off his usual style, this sounds more like grunge but still keeps subtle post-hardcore flavor. Low tempo, deep and rich bassu, acoustic guitar and piano entwining melodies make this song distinct and soulful. No need to say Yukari’s vocals add to the sound perfectly, bringing the touch of magic that breathe true life into the work.

The song is from the upcoming Yokomin’s EP. The name isn’t yet defined. The album will be distributed on C86 Comiket event (sometime in August).


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23467773

Hatsune Miku - Craspedia no yuuutsu

Another excellent work from Okame-P. Miku’s singing this time. V2, of course. I believe Okame is reluctant to upgrade to V3 because the vocal might lose, you know, his special sounding, melancholic and a bit distant. Or maybe he thinks that we, the fandom, do not deserve it. I hate to admit it, but we don’t deserve it indeed ;) Anyway, Okame’s ‘special sounding’ is present in “Craspedia...” in full strength, with slow and immersive tempo, lots of instrumental sequences and exquisite atmosphere. The piano part, well, isn’t challenging Muryoku-P yet, but it’s got dangerously close :) The really unexpected element for me was the breakdown, sounding sickly brutal in contrast with the main mood of the music.

Okame says that the song was inspired by the movie “A Beautiful Mind”. Also JFYI, craspedia is a kind of flower, native to Australia. And ‘yuuutsu’ means ‘depression’.

Oh, and good news: Okame-P has noted he’s working on a second LP!


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23459382


The color scheme must’ve been chosen to match craspedia…

Video’s art by Ruuya.

Makimiya Fuuki - Disposed Virtue

A fresh song from Yuto. The producer continues to use Makimiya Fuuki’s voicebank – and continues to work in classic heavy style. “Disposed Virtue” is an interesting low-tempo grunge with pronounced, dense bassu line and some use of lighter-tuned guitar sound. The song has a nice atmosphere. Fuuki is good too, if only Yato hadn’t pitched his voice from time to time somewhere one and a half octaves higher than needed :) Poor UTAUs, a mere toy in hands of blood-thirsty producers :)


Youtube:

Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/rampstudio/disposed-virtue

GUMI - Rest In Peace

A pure gem of a song by Okame-P. That’s Okame as we know him: sharp, rich and undoubtedly masterful. The music is gentle, almost fragile, yet it possess inner strength, some unbending  emotional character. Gumi’s vocals match with the music perfectly.

This is the track from Okame’s last year’s web album “Cockatiel”. The album is free, the download link is below.


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23187623
“Cockatiel” album download: http://dis-works.biz/dl/hcnt4.cgi/il-cockatiel_01@http://il-cremonese.net/data/il-cremonese_Cockatiel.zip



Video’s art by Tanaka.

Kimi no uso - cover by Utatane Piko

“Kimi no uso” (which translates as “Your Lies”) is a beautiful post-hardcore song by Jiwataneho-san. It was released initially in the end of 2012 with Gumi’s vocals.

As for Piko, he is not extremely popular nowadays, so I’ve decided some attention wouldn’t hurt. The cover is made by Saya-san. Saya has created excellent vocals, I couldn’t believe this is sung by V2 Vocaloid! Piko sounds very impressive and very convincing.


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm23187182

Kagamine Rin - Brightest

More than a month has passed since I've last posted Rin's s song. Too much, I think. I hope we’ll meet Rin more often, she certainly deserves better. For now, Jan=Junkyard saves the day. I praised his debut work, “Horizon”, if you recall. “Brightest” is a little different story. Low-tempo, more thoughtful, it still has convincing force and depth. The music style leans to grunge mostly. The mix quality improved a bit from the first work – a quick progress, I have to say. Instrumental part turns out to be more impressive – guitars, bassu, drums... But vocals lack something (sigh…) :(


Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm23036498



Video’s art by mokoppe.

GUMI - Ryuusa

A plain yet nice song from gen-san. I don’t know why, but such low-tempo pieces are quite rare for Vocaloid scene. Well, “Ryuusa” (translates as ‘quicksand’) shows us the sheer distortion level isn’t necessary to make a good song. Though it’s harder for Gumi, she has to carry the entire song on her shoulders. But I suppose she does very well!


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm22859709
MP3 download: http://piapro.jp/t/d_oa

Hatsune Miku - Sono hikaru ao ni

A beautiful song by Okame-P (lyrics by Koyo). The producer keeps his distinctive style. The music is very lyrical, almost translucent, yet it’s still post-hardcore, able to deliver a nice load of energy. Intricate guitar melodies together with a clever use of effects create quite convincing atmosphere. Okame-P makes Miku sing as tragic as the bitch can, and he is rather successful :)


Nicovideo link:

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm22857332

Hatsune Miku - Synthesized Feelings

A fresh work from Okame-P, made in his traditional style. I would define it as ‘post-hardcore’, if it hadn’t been yearning so much for ‘softcore’ instead. So yes, synthetic sound for “Synthesized Feelings”, no one will be shocked I suppose :) . Anyway, these parts are made emotionally intense and appealing in a certain way... Vocaloid’s singing is… well, ‘traditional’ again for Okame-P. So Miku IS present, and let’s do Okame a favour and consider it as the only possible benefit ;)

Youtube:

Nicovideo link: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm22600393

MP3 download: http://nicosound.anyap.info/sound/sm22600393

GUMI - Call my name

If you dealt with ‘experimental’ metal before, you might know that usually this word is a shy equivalent of ‘frustrating’. Or ‘mind-fucking’. Or, in some cases, ‘pathetic shit’… You may wonder why I’m telling you that. The context, guys, the context! So that when I present you the Odd Sun’s new work, “Call my name”, you already know that everything could be much worse ;)

Well, the song isn't *that* experimental, and this is good. Because it’s running right on the edge, dangerously close to falling into the mentioned above categories. And I have to admit this is quite an appealing run… Worth much more than marching like zombies on the mainstream highway. So, leaving the trolling aside, I believe Odd Sun’s done an impressive work. It looks even more impressive when we take into consideration the fact that it’s the first his attempt in the heavier music. I hope it isn’t the last.

Complicated, layered sound driven by blithe guitars is alternating with minimalistic parts where Gumi’s supposed to play key role. Coming back to that ‘experimental’ characteristic – there is a substantial contribution of vocal part to this mark. The vocals are a way unconventional, allowing to express finest emotional shades. Believe me, it’s hard to perform even for a flesh-and-blood singer. For Vocaloid programming, it’s a nightmare. Sadly, Gumi sounds here even bleaker than on average... Yet, with all that imperfections, “Call my name” remains a charming piece of a ballad.

Nicovideo link: 

Nicoviewer link: http://nicoviewer.net/sm22557093

MP3 download: http://nicosound.anyap.info/sound/sm22557093