Short but sweet.
Kagrra,'s first original album in nearly two years, Shizuku is also their first release of 2007. After giving their fans only two singles last year, the band sets out to prove that this release was worth the wait.
Kagrra, opens their album with a previously released single, Utakata. With its lovely and relaxing melody, it may initially seem like a strange choice of first track but its mixture of traditional Japanese elements and rock music ends up making it a a wonderful tune to introduce a new listener to this band. The next song is Sayonara, which is quicker with a bit of an unexpected kick. One would not normally associate the sound of vinyl scratching with Kagrra, but the balance is maintained perfectly with the scratches never taking on a full blown hip-hop feel, simply decorating the light rock and roll beat.
Kaze and Ishin follow, both dropping the extra frills and getting back to some catchy rock music. Kaze's simplistic but upbeat bass line provides an interesting foundation over which the rest of the band layers wonderfully, in particular the guitar work of Akiya and Shin. Together, they create a pleasant mood which brings to mind the spring and summer days lurking just around the corner. Ishin is a bit slower and while a decent song, it unfortunately sounds a touch generic and familiar.
Hakai, however, will immediately strike the listener as something entirely different from anything else on the album. Between the filtered vocals and the funky bass line, the song toes the line separating rock and dance music. While it may throw off the listener who was becoming familiar with their use of traditional instruments in Utakata and light rock in the other tracks, this unexpected sound is part of what helps Hakai work so well. However, the shock factor is only but a small component of what keeps this tune in the listener's mind long after it's over; the bigger picture involves plenty of cymbal riding, an absolutely amazing bass line by Nao, and some fun and funky guitar work.
The sixth track, Unmei no Ito, is a song that runs close to the same musical vein, although this is not initially clear as it opens with a pretty acoustic guitar melody. It soon begins to exhibit a bit of a flirtation with disco; not enough to drive Unmei no Ito into a full-blown dance song as this tune is a slower one than its predecessor. Still, the gentle hints and outstanding bass line help it flow nicely after the surprise that was Hakai. Sakebi, a previously released song, slips in after Unmei no Ito and bridges the musical differences between it and the eighth track, Kasun da fuyu no mukou ni... which captures the same light rock sound heard earlier in the album along with some interesting use of both synthesizer and piano.
Shizuku's final track is the one that shares its title. Opening with an odd guitar line, it builds gently, the melodies overlapping prettily, until the swell of the chorus. Unlike the tracks before it, Shizuku's strength comes mainly from its guitar, letting the rhythm section melt effortlessly into the background to support the rest of the band. Isshi's vocals fit the slightly grandiose mood of the song well, building alongside the instruments. Clocking in at roughly five and half a minutes, Shizuku ends on a sudden soft note, gently leading the listener back out into reality.
While a rather shockingly short album with only nine tracks, Shizuku makes up for what it may lack in numbers by having every single song count. Each tracks flows well into the next, creating a cohesive album that still manages to show an interesting range. While some songs hint at Kagrra,'s continuing love of mixing traditional Japanese sounds with rock music, such as Utakata, others go in a fresh direction, such as Hakai. The band's fans should find comfort in that while Kagrra,'s release schedule can seem to be aggravatingly slow, their patience has paid off in the gem that is Shizuku.
