BAISER - hana

BAISER was a popular band of the late 1990's, musically crossed between European influence and Japanese oshare rock. They were best known for their bright, colorful costumes and predominantly upbeat and peppy songs. BAISER became one of the first bands of their time to influence the future pop side of the visual kei scene. Hana was released towards the end of BAISER's career, and was an accumulation of years worth of perfected sound wrapped up into an 11-track album.

kimi no inai sekai gives us a taste of ancient Japan with the koto in this gorgeous instrumental opener that sets the moods for the album. With a mysterious edge to the sound as the composition builds, we never reach a high point and the song tapers back off quietly, sending us right into the first track, Prism. The scene is set for the upbeat flowery music to come by Prism, with Yukari's cheerful vocals, and the friendly musical composition. It's a great starter track with an addictive beat, a great guitar solo and fun lyrics.

BAISER proves in doku that flowers and sugar aren't all they can produce. With the addition of symphonic instruments, we're given a romantic visual sound, one comparable to that of Lareine. Program isn't a far cry from doku, with the same style of sound but a new twist on vocals. This song sounds very aged compared to its date, with machine manipulated vocals and early synthesizer additions. The big difference between the tracks is the powerful and catchy chorus and composition Program provides, making it the stronger of the two tracks.

Flora screams sugar and spice, and it's quite nice! This song is one of BAISER's best, and there's no question why - with super peppy vocals and a lighthearted composition, Flora makes it hard for any listener to not want to dance around and sing. The song maintains rock undertones while keeping the theme of the music very bright, appeasing listeners of all audiences.

The obligatory ballad of the album is nemuri no shunkan, and it rivals Flora for the strongest piece. You can truly feel the soul of BAISER in this track, and it shows their experience and elegance in creating a moving melody. Yukari pours his heart into the vocals of this song, and combined with the beautiful arrangement, it tugs the emotional strings of your heart, and could bring tears to even the toughest of listeners.

Replica wipes our tears as it bounces us back to a more animated sound, starting out with a rich guitar opening that cascade into Yukari's crooning vocals. This is the first track on which we can clearly hear background vocals, and they're an enjoyable addition to the song. Laguna rock is the first oddball song we're delivered, which is a synthesized rock song that is terribly out of place, sandwiched in between two very cheerful songs. Frankly, it sounds like An Cafe joined a concert with D'espairs Ray. The song produces a baroque goth sound, with screamed and raspy vocals spaced throughout it and a dark, fast paced chorus that is accompanied by an organ melody. The song isn't an unwelcome one - just very unanticipated.

As quickly as the dark rock came, the sunshine reemerges with akai hahen. It's a slower track with a very simple composition, but its pleasant beat and appealing vocals make the song memorable and one that can be listened to repeatedly, with the enjoyment increasing each time. BAISER ends the album with Angel, which is a song that made its first appearance three months earlier on a single. Angel is one of the most sanguine songs on the track, and you can't help but smile and sing along with this song. It just makes you happy, which was probably BAISER's intention when they created the upbeat melody and lively vocal range. You can picture the band bouncing around during the chorus and quick drumbeat stretches of this song. The mental image really adds to the energy that already emanates from the track.

As Hana was made in 1999, technology wasn't as it is today, and hidden tracks were a little more obvious - namely because the CD registered 99 of them when it was in the player. From track 10 onward, the album skips 88 tracks every four seconds to track 99, which is a six minute reprise of kimi no inai sekai: This time with vocals. The new addition is a welcomed change, as we're finally delivered the high points the song was missing the first time. The hidden track is a great surprise to end the CD with a bang, and well worth the wait.

If you are an oshare fan of today and really can appreciate an old school happy sound, Hana is a great album to listen to. With this CD, BAISER is like Malice Mizer on a sugar overload, and their sound is sure to brighten anyone's day. You won't be disappointed.