paradise lost

This is 12012’s first single after the release of their first major album DIAMOND. It is their 15th single overall and was released on 2008.04.16.

The title track Merry go world has quite a poppy feel, but still retains a dark edge. This song has an interesting feeling, going from light and hopeful choruses to a much darker sound in the verses. I really love the guitar part, and the rhythms are quite cool. Wataru’s vocals are good here too, packing a lot of energy into the song and adding enough emotion to bring out the most of the instrumentation. Overall, perhaps not something I would listen to regularly but still pretty damn good. I think it’s a little mediocre in some ways though, and a little repetitive. It feels long which isn’t a good sign.

The B-side Lovers is what really makes this single. It is like 12012’s old, emotion packed gritty works mixed in with their slow, soothing ballads and new mature sound. It’s fucking awesome. The song starts off really quiet and gentle with gorgeous instrumentation before the quiet and equally tender verses building up to an emotional, beautiful chorus filled with pain and longing. This is the sort of song you sit, put on loud and listen to again and again without getting bored. This song captures your attention and pulls on you’re heart. It’s so beautiful, with a fantastic arrangement, gorgeous rhythms and guitar solo and of course: Wataru’s beautiful, powerful vocals. Throughout the song Wataru’s vocals are filled with emotion, sounding so beautiful in a pained way as if saying goodbye to the most precious thing in the world. Especially the bridge, at which point you almost want to cry and the ending too which only makes you want to cry even more. The lyrics are even more beautiful, the poetry you expect from 12012. I don’t like to compare old 12012 and new 12012 but damn, this song is everything I loved about 12012. This song has the same heartbreaking emotion of “deep forest” and the tenderness of “want,want,want” showing 12012 still have it. This song makes me want to cry, and I didn’t expect that level of power from 12012 anymore.

So there are two more tracks after LOVERS (although at this point I just want to replay LOVERS again and again). 未来図(Miraizu), available on the regular addition, is a very calm and dark sounding song, where Wataru’s vocals take on a much different tone, one that works very well. The guitar part is really really nice throughout this song, and the song holds a very quiet power to it. Although not quite up to the level of LOVERS, this song has emotion. I really like the instrumentation, Wataru’s vocals are excellent and the song has a great arrangement so it doesn’t feel boring.

The next track I BELIEVE…, available on Type B, has a very dark tone to it, and the synth adds an unique feel to it. The whole song, contrary to the title, sounds very sinister. Almost in an over the top, in your face way though. Wataru’s voice, yet again, takes on a much different tone, almost speaking/shouting out in the verses. The chorus is very powerful, and once again the guitar part is awesome. The song does wash over you in a way, perhaps it is too in your face and packing too much in until it just becomes a bit whatever. But it’s still pretty great.

Overall rating: 5/5
Favourite Tracks: LOVERS, 未来図

This single is reminiscent of heart, with a gritty but slightly mediocre A-side followed by a beautiful, almost relaxing and highly emotional B-side. 12012 has matured and compared to their old stuff, their sound has changed, but I don’t think this is a bad thing. 12012 have finally found a good balance between their old sound, and their newer experiments in this single. This single is just brilliant, with some interesting songs on it. The tracks here are interesting and refreshing. MERRY GO WORLD is probably the weaker one here, being a little “meh” but LOVERS is heartbreaking, 未来図 has a subtle and beautiful power to it and the last track I BELIEVE… is very in your face but still, they are powerful songs. They are interesting. So, this is a fantastic single from 12012 and it’s sad that they couldn’t continue like this.