[REVIEW] Plastic Tree - Hakusei

[Delkmiroph 1649]

 

 

"Hakusei the 13th Album of Plastic Tree band. 13 looks a good number to them when if think about 13th Friday   "

 

 

 

 

 

What talk about Plastic tree ? I think this is a great and biggest discussions to me. Anyway I just want to say about my impressions about the new album them.  First of all I will write about every detail and the highs of every song… (I will try, because I never wrote a big review in my view point that I can express my feelings about the music and I'm sorry if I commit some wrongs in English). I am not none specialist or an awesome reviewers like my friends that do a great work here.

 
After 3 years Plastic Tree released a new album with same proportions of last album entitled “Ink”.I can consider that “echo” is great to be a mini album and the one way to keep great songs to this new release. Some tricks were used to this new album in relation about audio editing and this isn’t a new for us. The tracklist was sinuously work to bring a new harmony to album (Happened with last album is really worked).  It comes to album Hakusei I can say that worked again with some imperfections that i will say in the end. I bought both versions to see how them work with the art of Doroinu (Gekidan inu curry) to try understand what is spectacular point this album both in view of beauty (aesthetics) as musically.
 
Leaving try to be too specific…  Let’s to review.

 

 
LET'S GO!

 
 

1 - ◯生物 (◯Seibutsu)
 
The album start with many sounds, since guitar sound to a relaxing atmosphere with little sound piano until back to guitar sound to next song. Special beginning that want  to say "the next songs are spontaneous and unique". I really like these beginnings of albums them, since release of Puppet show in 1998 they demonstrate the sign that the album is a new world that should be discovered and re-created the way of the listener.
 
2 -フラスコ (Frasco)
 
Following the way of first song we start with Frasco, the beginning is strong with instruments until smooth with the Ryutaro’s voice. Its great song to beginning and enjoyable and addictive follow of first song, I always think that two songs of parts is more addictive and great. For me its two songs and keep your sharp ears. This is a song looks for me a little remember of “Ink song” that is the second track of album “ink”, mainly the way that they work to this two first songs and this is the high for Frasco. I don’t have nothing against this, but do many times no looks so original/different. Anyway I’m happy with Frasco song.
 
3 -マイム (Maimu)
 
I have to say that Maimu is an awesome song that I have affection. The single "Maimu" already showed the new beginning for band, after the mini album "echo" and the beginning of art Doroinu on CDs. Now Maimu is in Hakusei album (Usually the singles prior to the album are always on the album, only the title track.) and make a break between the end of song previous and the end this song to next that made me a little uncomfortable. Isn't necessary for me that every song must have a anchor to connect to another song, but in my opinion the tracks need to be aligned to form a certain harmony. This always happens with me and eventually disappears. I always think that the highs this song is the moment of refrain and think of the small movements with a little dance of ryutaro hands that are very cute.
 
4 -ハシエンダ (Haçienda)
 
Started one of the new songs, Haçienda is very enthralling and amazing. I have a great impression that this song will play with a certain frequency in the concerts them, because the song just fit exactly in context of current music and previous them (For example of tracks: Dummy Box, GEKKO OVERHEAD and Tretis) that are amazing to endcores in live concerts. It’s wonderful hear with intensity kenken in drums that enchants me completely, most music plays perfectly with akira and Tadashi. Haçienda have your own high in all duration with much peculiarity with traits of being a great song that many people gonna love. Also brings this magic to give all harmony as the basis for the following song.
 
5 -告白 (Kokuhaku)
 
The best moment of all album for me. Kokuhaku is the most high of all album, the song is in one perfect way in all album (It’s the point central). In this song I can see “The Hakusei” of album like all. In all moment the song is perfect and so addictive, same I trying remember of another song similar… But until now I don’t found and I don’t want.  I would like this song like MUSIC VIDEO haha, maybe in a live DVD. Kokuhaku have own singularity of others songs in this album in my opinion. It’s the best song.
 
6 - インソムニアブルース (Insomnia blues)
 
After the amazing "Kokuhaku" the high of all album comes in a balance with Insomnia blues. Its a nice song and quite solid in own effects. It is like was hearing the song "Elegy" of album "Nega to poji" completely. I really appreciate this great memory, but in Insomnia blues is a new sense that will conquer you with each new music and this track already made it obvious that this album is already wonderful. The highs of Insomnia blue is in own solid beat and enjoyable with Ryutaro on vocals. I can say that this song is a one of the best of all album.
 
7 – float
 
Float song already start so quiet and wonderful to bring delicacy of album. I just want say that this song is so "yummy" to hear. peaceful to listen while I drink a tea in afternoon (my way). float already have own meaning from the title to have a first impression to the listener. Same i dont understand the song i feel that is a great poem inside this song. Its good sensation and this float do all the time.
 
8 - 落花 (Rakka)
 
Rakka makes the restart of lively songs after float. Rakka is a the end of singles this new “era” them, mainly about the art of Doroinu (I think). Talk about rakka… I like this song, is addictive. But I don’t have nothing special, because I just think in “doukou”song already have this identity of song lively in perfect harmony and make the same way sometimes is boring and this is case of rakka. Like always they put songs of singles on album its okay to me. My focus is in new songs.
 
9 -スラッシングパンプキン•デスマーチ (Thrashing pumpkin death march)
 
WOOOW…. Was the first thing that I thought about this song. Its a mixture of consent with Bermunda Triangle (in the first time that I heard). *** is a song that i have emphasize on several points. The music has a attractive beat with wonderful effects that were already used in other songs (beyond what I already quoted). Thrashing pumpkin death march is one of my favorite songs after Kokuhaku. I can risk that this music will play so much in many concerts them as well as Haçienda. The highs are the aesthetic of sounds that impressed me a lot, actually I am so happy and with feeling that I needed to hear this song... The title that gave me tips of how it could be. Because the album itself was already showing to me all this strength and twinkle alive, contagious that Hakusei behind.
 
10 - スロウ (Slow)
 
The penultimate single before the new album, "slow" bring the melancholy and poetry that is a own identity of band. Particularly i like of songs this way that bring a sad way with a reflection inside that sensitize every minute. The position of song in tracklist is great to rhythm end of album, besides being enjoyable with a strong ecstatic feelings between beats together with the Ryutaro’s voice. The high this song is in poetry that  passes to the listener, is a song that proves that them still write the same songs with poetry and expression feelings sad, but have a single true. This is one reason that I love this band.
 
11 - 剥製 (Hakusei)
 
The title track of album was a surprise to me when I heard the album the first time. Because Hakusei was the first song that played on the radio, however only half song without intro that start with Ryutaro's voice grumbling about the song and the amazing 2 minutes remaining that I got hear when I was with my copy. 

I was already thinking that the radio version was not complete, maybe because the duration of the program or intentionally like a order from label... cruel doubt. However I enjoyed quite this (Radio Edit), but doesn't compare to the full track that made me fall in love for gentleness and relieving the rhythm that "slow" brought before of end album. The highs of Hakusei is light and giving the impression relaxing after a flurry of amazing songs and giving the place to the last song.
 
12 - ●静物 (●Seibutsu)
 
The title of the last song is similar with the first.  Exist serenity between both, ◯Seibutsu start flourishing with other sounds to connect with the second song. While ●Seibutsu comes with peace of mind and goes fading with light of piano together with a sound it seems with the space. I love songs this way with a impression that the sounds begin in a way and inside them exist a world with many these sounds to the end that of all is nothing more than that silence from the beginning. Where it all starts is the same as where it all ends.
 
 
Overall:
 
I must admit that the album has a great performance in all new songs that too have strong individuality and some similarities with other songs them. The album have a fluidity in all moments with the good position in the playlist, because exist a link between the first track and the last giving an infinite loop in album and i like so much this. Also have a certain division in the album of first six songs to six latest as reference the first track show a clearer contrast alive to a contrast more obscure to latest track. Therefore exist differences in the art of booklet, like Yin-Yang like reference.
 
Hakusei has a beautiful visual content in both physical versions, the band used all the art Doroinu in booklet. This is the best covers and content in all releases them. By the way the singles that previous the album showed that the album would not be different and at that point and I must congratulate them.
 
Although Hakusei have all this quality performance exist also some problems: the first is that the album doesn't have a PV or an extra digital content that left me disappointed. I've been thinking that they have chosen not to make a PV because of the high cost of own album as a whole since only the regular edition costs 3000 yen and limited edition box and more the art of Doroinu costs 5400 yen, paper quality in the limited version should have increased the cost of this version. Supposing that if there one PV together with one Type C Limited Edition would be quite expensive because of all production and unmistakable art Doroinu or same if there in this Limited edition BOX would be expensive. This makes us think that the release of "Ink" there was a version with 2 DVDS due to the rebuilds that cost almost 10,000 yen. I think that the label didn't want some loss by this album's performance if compared with previous album. It is possible that they release one new DVD after Hakusei with a live pv with some song from the album giving reference to the extra digital content that is missing on the album or same one PV. It is possible that they release one new DVD after Hakusei with a live pv with some song from the album giving reference to the extra digital content that is missing on the album or same one PV. The second problem is that i have in particular is the number of singles in album, i think that must have only 2 songs from the singles. But isn't today that they do this, just to have a normal amount of tracks for the album.
 
In relation with other albums, Hakusei has similarity with the previous album as has already said at the beginning of my review. The loudness of "Ink" is present in Hakusei at some moments with addictive beats and songs that conquer the listener. I couldn't left out a few others like "echo" that could disregard, but has a small reference of ammonite in songs and is different from Hakusei without intro in much details. While ammonite is a solid album with shoegaze in the wonderful song 13th Friday and with references to previous releases about this old plastic tree also is the last album without seal of FlyingStar/ CJ Victor Entertainment that happened in 2012 in the same period of release of "Ink" that makes me with one possible doubt about way the label. Possibly "tried" change the way of how the band works, because ammonite is different of Ink and Hakusei that left obvious these albums. Also I think that they can be out of comfort zone for do something different during these releases as a certain interference from the label that has a good and bad side.
 
However my rating about Hakusei is very fair for performance and quality aspects that the album behind. I hope that the next releases dont have much similarity with other albums and I would like to see more the art Doroinu on the covers of CDs them. Also I would like to see a fully shoegaze album of them, not wanting them to be just a shoegaze band but with a moderate form of each sub-genre in his songs.

 

 

 

[Licio123 181]

I still have to listen to the album a bit more, but I really don't think this one is on par with ammonite or ink. Hacienda and Kokuhaku are great, the single songs are good, but the rest is kinda meh. A 7/10 for me.

[beni 2149]

YES DELKI YES! I've only given the album two listens but it's already up there for me with Träumerei, Dona Dona and ammonite. There's only two songs on the album I don't completely adore (告白 (Kokuhaku) and スラッシングパンプキン•デスマーチ (Thrashing pumpkin death march). A beautiful album beautifully done, or maybe I'm just hella biased, lol. When looking at it compared to the rest of their discography, it's easily one of their best imo. A coherent album that keeps at it throughout its whole run. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be one of my favourites of theirs, since their recent PVs didn't really cut it for me at first. I'm glad I could enjoy them as much as I always have in the end. 

 

omg one of my not so favourable songs is your favourite. XD Still, awesome review! I was so excited for this!

[Jigsaw9 6783]

I was really happy that Pura were releasing a new album (they've always been an 'album band' for me), but I couldn't even finish it on my first listen. So terribly flat and boring, it's like nobody really plays what they play with any sort of active interest and Ryuutarou's vocals are like "I'm getting too old for this guys, I don't rly give a damn anyway."

I'll try my best to re-listen sometime in the future, but the urge isn't too strong...

On a positove note, I liked the sounds of Insomnia Blues. Cant remember the actual song for the life of me tho, only that it was pleasant.

[Delkmiroph 1649]

YES DELKI YES! I've only given the album two listens but it's already up there for me with Träumerei, Dona Dona and ammonite. There's only two songs on the album I don't completely adore (告白 (Kokuhaku) and スラッシングパンプキン•デスマーチ (Thrashing pumpkin death march). A beautiful album beautifully done, or maybe I'm just hella biased, lol. When looking at it compared to the rest of their discography, it's easily one of their best imo. A coherent album that keeps at it throughout its whole run. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be one of my favourites of theirs, since their recent PVs didn't really cut it for me at first. I'm glad I could enjoy them as much as I always have in the end. 

 

omg one of my not so favourable songs is your favourite. XD Still, awesome review! I was so excited for this!

 

Its funny that Kokuhaku for me is awesome XD. but its fine  

 

I am happy that you like this new album them.

[plastic_rainbow 2162]

Nice review! As always I enjoyed Plastic Tree's new album too, but it would never top Nega to Poji. My absolute favorite from the album would be Insomnia Blues. It's upbeat and light, and it makes me feel like swaying from one side to another. I also really like float and I think it reminds me a lot of their older songs when their The Cure influences showed strong. Like you said, it's peaceful and expresses the essence of "float". Hakusei is an enjoyable track too; it's relaxing and I like the soft swinging guitars along with the prominent basslines. Plastic Tree are always good with album closers and without a doubt I enjoyed this one too, even though it's a very short track. With the piano notes it fades out just perfectly.

 

Love the guitar riffs a lot in frasco too!

[Delkmiroph 1649]

Nice review! As always I enjoyed Plastic Tree's new album too, but it would never top Nega to Poji. My absolute favorite from the album would be Insomnia Blues. It's upbeat and light, and it makes me feel like swaying from one side to another. I also really like float and I think it reminds me a lot of their older songs when their The Cure influences showed strong. Like you said, it's peaceful and expresses the essence of "float". Hakusei is an enjoyable track too; it's relaxing and I like the soft swinging guitars along with the prominent basslines. Plastic Tree are always good with album closers and without a doubt I enjoyed this one too, even though it's a very short track. With the piano notes it fades out just perfectly.

 

Love the guitar riffs a lot in frasco too!

 

I agree with you. Nega to Poji is the best album to me too

[YuyoDrift 1540]

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the album. Love the cover on the album.

 

Some songs give off a fun, summer feel. Others feel like you took a time machine to the sounds of the 80's/90's. It's weird.

 

Favorites:

 

5. 告白 (Kokuhaku)

7. Float

9. スラッシングパンプキン•デスマーチ (Thrashing pumpkin death march)

 

 

No rating since this is my first time actually listening to Plastic Tree (Yeah, I know. Wtf.)

 

In my experience, this is a great album to study to.

[Delkmiroph 1649]

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the album. Love the cover on the album.

 

Some songs give off a fun, summer feel. Others feel like you took a time machine to the sounds of the 80's/90's. It's weird.

 

Favorites:

 

5. 告白 (Kokuhaku)

7. Float

9. スラッシングパンプキン•デスマーチ (Thrashing pumpkin death march)

 

 

No rating since this is my first time actually listening to Plastic Tree (Yeah, I know. Wtf.)

 

In my experience, this is a great album to study to.

 

 

Im happy for read this

 

I was looking in internet about Hakusei, In wikipedia in japanese say some details about every track.... 

 

 告白 (Kokuhaku) took 2/3 years to will be done.

 

 

 

収録内容は全タイプ共通。 全曲編曲：Plastic Tree。

 

○生物 [1:12]

 

作曲：Plastic Tree

インストゥルメンタル曲。

このアルバムのサブタイトルのような位置づけの曲[6]。アルバム最後の曲「●静物」と対になっている。「○生物」「●静物」をアルバムの最初と最後に置くことで、「生き物が静かな物体（剥製）になるところ、「生物」が「静物」になるところ」が表現されている。

 

フラスコ [4:57]

作詞・作曲：ナカヤマアキラ

タワーレコードの音楽サイトMikkiでは「開放的にドライヴするバンド・サウンドに光の乱反射のようなエレクトロニクスを重ねた曲」とし、唐突な設定が敷かれた詞世界をもった楽曲と評された。

 

マイム [4:58]。

作詞：有村竜太朗、作曲：長谷川正

35thシングル。本作の楽曲の中では、最も早く完成していた。

ライブでも盛り上がる重要な曲で、今のPlastic Treeを代表する曲。

 

ハシエンダ [3:42]

作詞・作曲：長谷川正

パンク経由の豪快さを持つ楽曲。

タイトルの「ハシエンダ」は、イギリスのレコードレーベル、ファクトリー・レコードが経営していたクラブ「ハシエンダ」からとられている。本楽曲を製作した長谷川は、自らの音楽的ルーツが「ファクトリー・レコード」や「ハシエンダ」にあるとし、自分が憧れている世界の象徴として「ハシエンダ」というタイトルがつけられた。

 

告白 [3:59]

作詞・作曲：佐藤ケンケン

曲の原型は2、3年前に作られていたが、アレンジの方向性を決めるまでは時間がかかった[6][7]。歌詞は悲しみを象徴する内容になっており、悲しいことを集約した言葉として「告白」をタイトルとした

。

インソムニアブルース [4:59]

作詞・作曲：長谷川正

M4「ハシエンダ」と同じくベースの長谷川正の作詞・作曲曲で、同じく長谷川の音楽的ルーツへのオマージュ要素が入れられている。本曲は1990年前後にブームとなった、マンチェスターシーンのバンドをイメージして作られており、 生楽器と電気的な音を混ぜる手法が用いられている。

 

float [4:28]

作詞：佐藤ケンケン、作曲：長谷川正

アルバムの新規曲としては唯一作詞者、作曲者が異なる。歌詞、曲ともに「浮遊感のある楽曲」を目指して製作された。

 

落花 [4:07]

作詞：有村竜太朗、作曲：長谷川正

37thシングル。

TOKYO MX『ジャパンカルチャー情報番組【ディープJルーム】』2015年12月度オープニング・トラック。

 

スラッシングパンプキン・デスマーチ [4:27]

作詞・作曲：ナカヤマアキラ

電子音を取り入れた狂想曲。歌詞に登場する主人公は、正義の味方であろうとするが、極端な手段を用いて後戻りできなくなってしまう、という内容になっている。

 

スロウ [5:37]

作詞：有村竜太朗、作曲：有村竜太朗・長谷川正

36thシングル。

ベースの長谷川は、「スラッシングパンプキン・デスマーチ」の狂騒が明け、スローテンポな本曲という構成が、アルバムの流れとして映えた、と語っている。

 

剥製 [5:24]

作詞・作曲：有村竜太朗

アルバムの実質的なラストナンバー。「沈み込むような終わりのときに目を向ける、メランコリックな」楽曲と評された。

もともと楽曲の基本的な部分はできていたが、有村の中で完成形が見えておりらず、当初はアルバム収録予定ではなかった。長谷川がアルバムに入れることを提案し、以降楽曲への追及を続けた結果、現在の形にまとまり収録されることとなった。

 

●静物 [1:28]

作詞・作曲：Plastic Tree

インストゥルメンタル曲。

1曲目「○生物」と対をなしている。この曲をもって作品が綴じられる、本で言えば裏表紙にあたる曲。

 

 

Someone can translate pls ?

[TetsuAkira 289]

Awesome in depth review!

 

Loved the album myself a solid effort form the guys and will be staying in my current playlist for a while!