Gimikku - Crowd

Visual band Gimikku was only around for a couple of years, but they managed to leave behind some noteworthy music for posterity. Crowd, a single from 2005, is this group's last release.

Of the two tracks on the single, the first song Shyness lesson is the strongest and gives you a taste of the infectious vitality that made Gimikku's music popular. With a complex interweaving of Ayano's and Tetsu's guitars zipping in and out, Takumi sings along to the catchy beat; his vocals are not with especially memorable talent or skill, but they are beautiful nonetheless. Building up to the chorus, the instrumentals grow louder and the introduction of violins builds the emotion of the song. The chorus itself is danceable and liberating, and the guitar solo following is one of the highlights. Also of note are Kasumi's constantly shifting beats, which play a large part in directing the song.

renders is a more aggressive tune, with harder drums and guitars. Takumi's vocals are distorted, and the driving pace would make it an excellent number to experience at a live. Unfortunately, on CD, the chorus feels fairly weak, particularly after Shyness lesson. The vocals don't sound very strong, though the song isn't without its good points: the guitars skittering through the refrain at the high end of the scale is a nice device. Then as an interlude, bassist Nell plays an intriguing dream-like duet with Takumi, who sings in falsetto.

Even though Gimikku had a short run, don't be fooled into thinking their music doesn't have something to offer. Musically, they had all the makings to be in it for the long run, and it's a shame we can't experience these songs live anymore. But visual kei aficionados should be encouraged to check out their releases, as this was a group that contributed substantially to the fabric of the visual scene in the early years of the new millennium.