Dragon Ash - 夢で逢えたら

Posted over 5 years ago
UGH! I'm so freakin' pissed because I lost my review when writing this, so i'm RE-writing this while trying to remember what I even wrote.My single review will be similar to the style of my last. This is also a band I left behind when they changed styles but recently getting back into them after hearing this single.For those of you unfamiliar with Dragon Ash, they are a pretty popular Japanese band who originated in 1997 as a punk band. Over the years, their style has changed from hip-hop to now of a more alternative-rock style.When they changed their style in 2003 (to the later alternative), I quit listening, actually losing faith in them. I believe i'm not the only one but that doesn't matter. The fact is, I never really truly wanted to quit listening to them and after hearing they were releasing a new single this December, something inside of me just said to buy this single - and I did. I am so glad I did.Their style now is similar to My Bloody Valentine, mix in some baroque, Sigur Ros, and Coaltar of the Deepers (without the screaming).So you get the idea of their style and origin so let's go to the review.The single is titled 夢で逢えたら. My Japanese is horrible but the title has something to do with "meeting" and "dreaming". It fits the title perfectly. I found a romaji translation "Yume de ae tara". In this review, i'll call it "yume".There are 4 tracks total.1. 夢で逢えたら2. Rainy3. Ivory(UP, BUSTLE & OUT REMIX)4. few lights till night(UP, BUSTLE & OUT REMIX)The title track, 夢で逢えたら, which i'll call "Yume", is a beautiful introduction. Coming in around 4 min and 44 seconds, every second is beautiful. The song continues with their later style, softly mixing in hip-hop elements (like turntables and a quiet sleigh bell). What makes this track stand out is the easy synth and melody. The song moves you in closer as Kenji (the vocalist) sings his heart out. Half way into the song, it gets hard for a few measures, and if you're not into the song yet, you will be. This part just tears you into pieces and it gets pretty emotional. I really could go on forever with this track but i'll keep it simple. It's the main highlight of the single.The next track, Rainy, continues with the same elements of the last track but it's a little more up-beat having a reggae style now. I'm not fond of reggae (yet I like ska, go figure) so maybe this is one of the reasons I quit listening to them couple years back but I gave in to this song. The verses are pretty simple with not much going on in them . Actually, there isn't much going on in the song. Just the same looping-repetitive- style. However, near the end of the song, it gets a bit harsh but nothing too appealing.The last two tracks are remixes but having not heard the originals, I can actually review these last two songs as they hit me as if they were the actual originals.The third track is a remix of one of their earlier singles this year titled "Ivory". The song starts off slow and with a beautiful female vocal singing in the background. It's amazing - almost wants to make you shed some tears. Kenji's vocals shine here too. A little farther into the track, the female voice starts to sing in a foreign language, very haunting. I am unsure if the female vocal is in the original song but.. if it isn't, it was a great choice in this remix.The fourth and final track is probably my second favorite song on the single (the first being the title track). The song is a remix of their last single (before this one). The song is very upbeat, Kenji's vocals shine once again and, once again, the female vocal is in this song! She spices (I didn't really want to use that word, but I couldn't think of another) up the song. However, i'm loss at words here. It's similar to the style of the last remix but it's just more upbeat. The drums are very nice here and I recommend this song over the last remix.However, each track is different. Despite the similar styles, they are all very different and that is what made the single so enjoyable.If Dragon Ash continue this style of music, i'll most definitely continue listening to them.

Comments (2)

  1. rei says Thanks for posting this - I'll definitely check them out. If you're into shoegazer music, and if I might make a recommendation, give Brooklyn's Asobi Seksu a shot. The female vocalist performs most of the songs in Japanese. I recommend Citrus highly. Here's their site if you're interested in giving them a look.
    Permalink posted 12/06/2006
  2. JordanChaos says Yeah, actually i've been listening to a lot of Asobi Seksu lately. Recently found out about them this fall and like what I hear. The female vocalist has such a nice voice. I bet they put on great shows.
    Permalink posted 12/06/2006

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