Japanese electronic and classical music deo The Eccentric Opera, often described as a "Japanese techno opera", did their take on a sampling of Christmas songs on their 1997 album Noël. The seven tracks include songs rearranged for the two's vocal-keyboard sound, as well as some original composition by the group, with full instrumentation.
The album initiates with the track The First Noel, familiar to many as simply Noel, which has a bubbly keyboard background, with Nami's excellent vocals over top. Her soaring range covers the song beautifully, and is complemented by Nahoko's talent on the keyboard. Masterful inclusion of ethnic drums, including a drippy djembe, round out the sound of the track.
The second song, sung in French, Sonatine is a track by Maurice Ravel and Charles van Lerberghe, which works with a heavy amount of pizzicato strings, as well as lofty, layered vocals, giving vast depth to the song. The string arrangement is strong, but not overbearing, and carries the song nicely to the last falsetto. After a brief pause, O Holy Night begins, with a soft harp strolling behind Nami's smooth singing. Nami's vocal diversity in the track is the highlight, with fluttering chants walking the song out with the ding of a chime.
The mid-point of the album, composed by Nahoko Kakiage herself, Salve Regina is a deep, electronic song, with a strong bass and an almost hidden organ. The synthesized sounds brought by Nahoko are voluminous and wrap together and bind male choral vocals, more harp, chimes, and an array of other instruments. The ominous rumble of the track is pushed with hopeful vocals, producing a nice contrast between dark and light, creating a track full of emotion.
Boys Chorus from "TURNADOT" is significantly more airy than its predecessor, with minimal instrumentation and soft intermittent vocals, the track fills up later, with the addition of strings, which punctuate the body of the song, before it exits softly and quietly. Gloria, the sixth track, is mid-tempo song sung in Latin. Stern string arrangements are pierced by Nami's stellar rendition of the track. The track breaks from it's sharper tone for the smoother verses; the musical fluctuation is pulled of nicely, and the finale of the song, in the last minute of the track, drives the track powerfully into its last notes.
The final piece, Kyrie, is another track composed by Nahoko, enters with a staccato background, and binds the instrumentals closely with the vocals, Nami being as much of an instrument as a singer. The ethereal mood of the song includes more subtle instrumentation, and lets the album end itself softly.
The Eccentric Opera lives up to their reputation, even working with such a narrow theme of "Christmas". The two musicians flaunt their talents, each bringing a definitive style. Noël has all the makings of a masterpiece.
