[Jpop] Rurutia- Ｒ°
Ｒ° was Rurutia’s first album released on 2002.03.06.
The album stars ominously with dark sounds and chanting before Rurutia’s breathy adlibbing comes in. エレメンツ(elements) is a very light, airy track but with a darker feeling. The song is slightly repetitive with the constant unchanging beat and the same types of sounds coming in every now and then, but I really like Rurutia’s vocals here and just how well they fit the song. Then again, Rurutia’s music tends to work with her voice. Her childish, breathy tone can actually be pretty dark, sometimes creepy.
知恵の実(fruit of wisdom), is next. A high pitched constant synth first drives the song with Rurutia’s emotional vocals and it sounds very soft and subdued. Although, just like エレメンツ before it, there is something dark and ominous about the song. I really like the instrumentation here, and how it starts so quietly before mid-way into the song it breaks out into hard, angry rock. The dynamics in this song are really awesome and add something totally furious to it. This is a really great track.
The album just gets better and better with the decidedly creepy 愛し子よ(beloved child) next. A single electric guitar starts the song over synth and breathy adlibbing, before Rurutia’s vocals in. The song remains soft throughout, with the guitar dominating it. 愛し子よ is really dark and bordering on disturbing, in that beautiful and interesting way. Once you read the lyrics you know why this song is so creepy. And those lyrics being sung by Rurutia, with such light and airy instrumentation is…creepy. The instrumentation doesn’t stay like that forever, by the chorus it builds up into soft-rock. Still, though there’s that dark edge its very light, airy and Rurutia’s childish, upbeat vocals don’t help. A gorgeous, but shocking song.
The album continues with it’s light and airy feel coupled with darker lyrics with ロスト バタフライ(lost butterfly) up next. This was my first Rurutia song and it’s still a favourite: literally it feels like a breath of fresh Air. Rurutia’s adlibbing starts the song immediately setting the light breathy atmosphere before the synth strings come in over a heavy beat. In the verses Rurutia’s voice is so breathy, so childish and filled with such hope. Although the lyrics are dark, overall ロスト バタフライ is a more hopeful and upbeat song- and you can really feel it. It has a very uplifting feel- like flying. The instrumentation is gorgeous and relaxing and Rurutia’s vocals bring out all the right elements in the song. A very refreshing song.
So far there’s been angry, calm and creepy soft rock and a light uplifting track and R has proved to be rather relaxing. Now time for a bittersweet ballad 赤いろうそく(Red candle) next. Soft rock instrumentation coupled with pretty synth make the instrumentation gorgeous and like always Rurutia gives a lovely vocal performance. A very soothing song, although there’s nothing that really stands out.
Back to the angry, dark sounds with 雨の果て(The end of the Rain). Starting with guitar chords and Rurutia’s deep angry vocals (which are very cool by the way), the chorus is where it gets really good as it breaks out into angry rock coupled with Rurutia’s desperate vocals. It has that same obsessive feel of 愛し子よ- which again, is very creepy. The instrumentation is much grungier rock with some awesome dramatic synth. Overall, 雨の果て is dark and emotional rock number. I love the overall feel of the song. Both the instrumentation and Rurutia’s vocals are totally awesome.
Very beautiful piano starts the next track, which quietly builds up: having that same light feel that earlier songs did. 僕の宇宙 君の海(My cosmos, Your sea) is a very soft and romantic song. I feel that is it very soothing and would be great background music, but to actually have to listen and focus to it the whole way through it drags slightly as it’s pretty repetitive.
Track 10 僕らの箱庭(our minature garden) sounds pretty similar to lost Butterfly at points, but then you can say it’s the darker more ominous version of it (it was the B-side to that single after all). It’s very pretty; I like the instrumentation and Rurutia’s vocals. And, just when I was getting bored the song builds up complexly, breaking out to the full instrumentation and becoming very awesome. The lyrics are pretty bitter too. This song has a beautiful, sorrowful feeling to it and I think that’s what makes it so subtlety powerful and absolutely gorgeous.
Twinkling sounds over simple guitar chords start the next song, and Rurutia’s vocals are even breathier than usual. 銀の炎(silver flame) has such an innocent feeling to it. Of course the simplicity of the song doesn’t last long, with a heavy drum beat coming in and the song slowly builds up to be a soft rock number. It is a very beautiful ballad with a wonderful romantic feeling to it, at some point it loses that innocent feeling although it’s still there lurking with that twinkling sound. I think that twinkling is probably meant to represent that stars though… Anyway it’s just very pretty and calm.
Lastly the album ends with ハートダンス(heart dance). I’m not sure how to phrase this, but the plucked string instrumentation and the overall feeling is definitely waltz like, and the airy feel gives it a fantasy feeling. This short instrumentation piece, with only one voice and much breathy adlibbing is gorgeous and the perfect way to end the album. It ends it with hope and a light feeling, compared to some of the darker tracks present on Ｒ°.
Overall rating: 10/10 (Awesome. Highly Recommended)
Favourite tracks: 愛し子よ, ロスト バタフライ, 雨の果て, 僕らの箱庭
It’s hard to talk about Rurutia’s music. I decided to give it a try, after re-falling for 愛し子よ as I stumbled upon the PV today. What I love about Rurutia the most, what makes her music so beautiful: is the feel of Rurutia’s music. Each song contains emotions, often it’s deep and serious but sometimes it’s hopeful or romantic. I love these lyrics; I love the imaginary in them and how often the darker lyrics too are often disturbing but interesting. These lyrics coupled with amazing instrumentation and Ruruti’a breathy childish vocals that somehow manage to be powerful and emotional is what makes her music unique. This album is one of my favourites by her. There are some powerful and dark songs here, some soothing ballads and uplifting numbers like ロスト バタフライ. It is in a strange way relaxing to listen to and to be honest, very beautiful.
Tags: Japanese pop, Rurutia