After two successful tie-ins with popular anime Vampire Night ON/OFF return with their fourth single released on March 4th 2009, where once again they produce a song with a completely different sound from what they have done before.

It’s amazing how many different styles of pop they are tackling, and totally making their own. I think this also makes them interesting because they constantly surprise and give me a reason to fall in love all over again (cheesy, but true). These guys have gone from good to absolutely awesome, in my personal opinion. Oh, and the cover for this single is so pretty- despite the one twins expression which looks a bit “huh”, as if he was talking to someone and didn’t realise the camera had gone off. Then again the other twin looks vacant, with a cute smile but eyes that read he’s off some other place very far away. Hmm.  It’s still pretty- looks wise they have grown on me and I will now think of them as “cute” (I didn’t think they were so good looking before) Besides, they look amazing on the official site layout- especially as they actually look like they are paying attention : P

So anyway as I said this single is amazing and this is almost solely for the first track 花篝-ハナガガリ- which is like the pop version of Kagrra. I was NOT expecting this, but I’m so glad they did a song like this because it’s so damn beautiful. After a beautiful scale by a Japanese instrument the song starts immediately with the full instrumentation: grabbing your attention with the blend of piano, synth and Japanese elements. The song continues to be a beautiful traditional inspired ballad, with a gorgeous flow from beginning to end and barely any flaws. The boys sound fantastic, working well together like always and I really like how they overlap their parts in this song. I also love the rhythm of their part with the repeated words at the beginning of the chorus.  As I also mentioned, the instrumentation is beautiful. It sounds very acoustic (I mean the synth isn’t obviously synth) and it’s driven by the piano and traditional sounds, which makes it rather relaxing not to mention interesting and unique. The only thing that slightly bugs me is the high pitched whistle you can sometimes hear, otherwise this song is perfect <3.

The second track is not as good but not bad, it’s just after a track like Hana Kagari it really pales in comparison. And it would have been nice if they had continued with the traditional Japanese feel. But no, 跳ね返す勇気 is pop through and through, cheesy “woah” backing vocals and odd instrumentation included. OK, it’s lively and fun and the boys still sound great (I wonder if their vocals have improved or I just got used to it or I just don’t care anymore). Overall this is a generic, borderline obnoxious song but… it’s quite fun?

Overall rating: 082377854/5 (AWESOMENESS)
Favourite tracks: 花篝-ハナカガ

What more can I say? I’m totally in love with ON/OFF. They constantly surprise me with what the do, and I also love how with each single they improve so dramatically. Despite like, one flaw, 花篝-ハナガガリ- is such a pretty song. The boys vocals sound like they have improved, both in this song and the generic one they sound beautiful and expressive. Even with the B-side this single is a solid release. I am really looking forward to their first album despite the cheesy “legend of twins” name ^^

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…

This is ON/OFF’s second single- released on 2008.06.04. The title track, ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪 was used as the vampire knight ending theme. The single was released in three versions. A normal first press and a normal edition, then a vampire edition featuring Kaname and Zero on the cover and coming with a Vampire Knight version of the song (presumably a TV size).

After the disappointing Still Doll, I wasn’t really willing to give the Vampire Knight ending theme a try. However- ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪 is really good! It blends a Gothic sound with rock pop- it’s pretty decent. Ignore the cheesy, overall angsty/serious title and the laughable *this is a serious song that has to do with vampires* organ opening, and just listen to this song. As soon as the first verse comes the song transforms. The blend of Gothic organ, and pop rock makes for great instrumentation. The duo don’t have very strong voices, but it really works for the song. I love the repetition of the chorus bit, and they harmonize well. It all blends really well to make a great, nice to listen to and not to mention catchy song. It doesn’t have alot of emotion, but it does have a nice dark and heavy sound to it. The guitar solo near the end is pretty awesome too.

Unfortunately, the rest of the single isn’t as strong. Track two シグナル is an annoying pop tune with disco like instrumentation. I didn’t get past the introduction. Track three 朝焼け is a mundane, very average ballad. It opens with some strange synth, before the beat and the vocals come in over some soft instrumentals. The twins weak, pretty emotionless vocals let them down here- though they do harmonize well. It’s a very average song, average vocals, pretty but expected instrumentation: OK to listen to know and then but nothing spectacular.

サガシモノ is a nice laid-back, pop rock tinged song to end the single off. It’s reliant on the upbeat, happy little guitar part and light, joyful vocals from the duo. Once again their vocals are weak, a bit nasally- but it kinda works in this song. I quite like the overall laid-back feel too the song, and the use of the echo on their voices. It’s a very nice song.

Overall rating: 3/5 (Average)
Favourite tracks: ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪

Overall? The title track, ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪 has a very cheesy title but is a good Gothic/rock/pop fusion piece. Then it’s the required upbeat pop piece in the form of シグナル followed by the ballad 朝焼け and a nice laid back pop rock piece, サガシモノ.  ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪 is the only song that really caught my attention, and maybe サガシモノ. It’s clear these boys are  cute, and their voices aren’t bad but have room to grow. It’s very average singing, pretty nasally, monotone and not the strongest . On ふたつの鼓動と赤い罪 it works for the track, and it kinda works for the last track but they can’t pull of a ballad well. Track 2 had stupid,ridiculous instrumentation so I didn’t even bother. It’s decent. The first track is amazing, but the rest bar track 4 falls short. It’s pretty cool how they are twins though ^_^