Is it strange that I haven’t seen the first broadcast episode of Macross Frontier, but I’ve listened to Triangler? The brand is strong with MS, and YK to a lesser extent, so while spare time is…spare, a bit of multi-tasking keeps me tuned in.
Feelings about the song are mixed. A bit of movement in the verse and a nice contrasting bounce in the bridge are pretty much negated by a chorus that is typical (as in middling) and tight (as in uptight). Given that the song opens with the chorus, the first thought was that Maaya was trying to do energetic rock, which for me has been a dicey hit-or-miss proposition in the past.
After the song was over not once, but five times, that impression still remained. Triangler is an imperfect trinity at best. But at least the lyrics rhyme at the beginning of both bridges.
Kotomichi is not a Yoko Kanno track, if that is a factor in anything. I think it’s been hammered into my head that airy voices are something to avoid, and there are a number of passages where Maaya’s voice is a weak whisper. But there are other places with signs of life strength, and on balance this is a decent ballad. It’s just that there are so many decent ballads, all very noticeably similar in style.
3 Comments
…what? This is definitely Yoko Kanno pedigree, with all of her trademark hooks and melodies. The instrumental passage and bridge are especially unmistakable. See Scrap - Wakare no Shi for more details.
Your Maaya-fu is weak, young grasshopper. (:
(because Owen asked me to do it)
I think Triangler’s one of the better songs by Maaya if compared to her recent works, but it’s not the best of hers of course (that’s still Platina for me, till now)
I think the “imperfectness” you say might be more of Maaya and Yoko Kanno still working out the kinks after a years of separation. But still, I would be more inclined to see it as Maaya trying to apply a more independent style to her singing, instead of following fully to Yoko Kanno’s dictation. Maa~ it’s just my opinion at the least, it might not be correct at all, but I just feel that way.
Can’t comment on the second song, I can’t remember it. I’m looping the Diamond Crevasse single now.
@ Owen: I’m not disputing that the A-side is by Yoko Kanno. All the same, I’m not taken by the chorus.
@ Kuro: Boo, peer pressure. But yeah, the prospect of Maaya going it alone was the root of the negative impression.