151. Sennen Kofukuron／千年幸福論 (Review)

Info:
Title: Sennen Koufukuron (千年幸福論)
Band: amazarashi (アマザラシ)
Label: Sony Music Associated Records
Release Date: 2011.11.16

Tracklist:
1. デスゲーム (Deathgame)
2. 空っぽの空に潰される (Karappo no Sora ni Tsubusareru)
3. 古いSF映画 (Furui SF Eiga)
4. 渋谷の果てに地平線 (Shibuya no Hate ni Chiheisen)
5. 夜の歌 (Yoru no Uta)
6. 逃避行 (Touhikou)
7. 千年幸福論 (Sennen Koufukuron)
8. 遺書 (Issho)
9. 美しき思い出 (Utsukushiki Omoide)
10. 14歳 (Jyuuyon sai)
11. 冬が来る前に (Fuyu ga kuru mae ni)
12. 未来づくり (Mirai Dzukuri)

Review:
Although signed onto Sony Music, amazarashi is a name that most people have not heard of. Sennen Koufukuron (trans. Thousand-Year Happiness Theory) is the debut major album of the band, and wastes little time in getting started. amazarashi's sound is a cross between Sakanakushon and kariyushi58, with perhaps a weaker bass and a greater focus on electronica mixing. In track 4, "Shibuya no Hate ni Chiheisen", the band does an ambient techno mix for half the song, building an atmosphere of an early morning Shibuya, where the sun is just risen out of the horizon.

Creating an imagery with music seems to be an important element in amazarashi's work. Their hometown of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Honshu island in Japan, may be their greatest source material, as it is known for its sea coasts and scenery. In a later track, "Fuyu ga kuru mae ni", amazarashi again does a slow tempo spoken piece about "Before the winter comes". The subject matter seems to revolve around Tokyo. The juxtaposition of the Aomori quiet with the hustle-and-bustle subject of Tokyo creates a very nice album that sits well within the metropolitan music scene.

I would say the songs most representative of the band's style is track 2, "Karappo no sora ni Tsubusareru" (trans. Beaten by an empty sky), and track 9, "Utsukushiki Omoide" Both songs start out soft on vocals but build up to nice, un-annoying choruses that echo on and on. They are tunes that get stuck in your head in a good way.

Amazarashi's sound is simple but it seems to have a lot of embedded style and direction, and I would like to see them further develop their sound in future albums.

SS Rating: [87%]
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A review by micr0q, copyright 2011. Album art belongs to Sony Music Records, no copyright infringement intended.