paradise lost

This is ON/OFF’s third single released on 15th October 2008. The title track was the second ending for the Vampire Night-Guilty- anime.

The title track 輪廻 -ロンド- is not as good as ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪. It starts abruptly with dramatic strings and fast vocals from the boys before the rest of the frenzied, somewhat messy intrumentation comes in then slows- going back and forth between the different dynamics often introducing new instruments and sounds. There are prominent strings throughout though, and some interesting vocal effects at times (umm,possible once…). The vocals themselves still aren’t amazing, but nice and they keep up with the fast rythmns well. The intrumentation is interesting and I admit the use of strings, piano and that midi thing near the end are cool. It still has that dark feeling to it, yet this one is rather upbeat and hopeful in a way. Overall something about this song feels disjointed, so it’s nice but the way it abruplty chops and changes and the messy intrumentation and stilted rythmns don’t do much for me.

The second track doesn’t get much better although it is an improvement. Rainy Lady does a 360 from the last track to be a bright and happy pop number. It’s got that stilted feeling the last one does, sounding quite dragged out as if everything about the song is forcing itself to be slower than it wants to be (does that even make sense? Listen, it fits right?). But otherwise in some ways I prefer it. I mean it is that sort of they-can’t-sing-but-it’s-not-obnoxious-so-it’s-ok sort of pop music. Oh and their english is really good!!

The third track out of four is GO∞2 which is another pop number, but leaning more towards a sort of rock/techno thing. Hey, it’s pretty cool- all dark and edgy and their vocals work here even without being too distorted. The chorus lifts the song into clear pop land although still with that dark edge and the heavily synthesised instrumentation which I really like. The instrumentation really makes this song what it is- you know, interesting and unique. Sounds familiar in a way, like it should be the theme for something? Well, either way GO∞2 is one of the best on the single so far, and I could imagine myself listening to it frequently without growing bored.

Lastly is 幾千の眠りの果て which starts like a relaxed ballad, then introduces some rather dramatic instrumentation. Like the other tracks it has a noticeable dark, edgy feel to it. And it borrows alot from 輪廻 -ロンド in terms of instrumentation, but uses the strings, effects and piano in a much nicer way. It has a beautiful flow to it, and their vocals still aren’t amazing but again work.  This song is beautiful in it’s own way, and makes the perfect ending to the ingle.

Overall rating: 4/5 (Hell, the B-sides are GREAT…)
Favourite track: GO∞2,幾千の眠りの果て

This is a great follow up to ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪. In some ways actually this single is better, because although the title track ain’t so cool the B-sides are really nice!  The single has a noticeable dark and edgy feel and in the case of the B-sides, especially the last two, the songs had great instrumentation and flow to them which also worked well with the boys average vocals. Skip Rinne-Rondo and there are some lovely songs to listen to on this single.  And… I have no idea why but somehow I’m loving ON/OFF. The single that followed this one would again be fantastic…