Romantic Energy

AMG Review of Romantic Energy

David Jeffries
All Music Guide

At first it seems Romantic Energy is interchangeable with Twelve Girls Band's other releases, but dig a little deeper and you'll notice the album makes less concessions to America and Europe. The big difference is the ambitious cover this time isn't a Coldplay track but the romantic "Flower" by Japanese popsters Orange Range, a song mostly unheard of in the West at the time of this album's release. With a beautiful, strolling melody, "Flower" is one the band's best efforts to date and surrounded here by slightly less sugary, more sensible choices than usual. "Whispering Earth" by Domo labelmate Kitaro fits the band's ancient Eastern instruments meets modern music style perfectly while the title track utilizes all Twelve Girls without the forced theatrics that made their other albums less and less interesting with each listen. Skip the sappy take on "El Condor Pasa" and you've got a more rewarding album than expected from the borderline gimmicky outfit. Even if these little baby steps toward substance won't win over the snobs, Romantic Energy points the band in the right direction and suggests they'll outlive Riverdance and the other adult contemporary spectacles.