Tracklist: Numinöse
Ⅰ. 哀悼 (Aitou)
Ⅱ. Pairidaēza Lost
Ⅲ. Blind Gold
Ⅳ. 棘と艶 (Toge to Tsuya)
Ⅴ. 苦海 (Kukai)
Ⅵ. 目醒めの未視感 (Mezame no Mishikan)
Ⅶ. Heat Haze
Ⅷ. 銀の砂漠 (Gin no Sabaku)
Ⅸ. Saints Ideal
X. 祷りの星 (Inori no Hoshi)
Ⅺ. 残滓 (Zanshi)
眩き展望 (Mabayuki Tenbou)
1. 幽玄の誘い (Yuugen no Izanai)
2. 憂き世 (Ukiyo)
3. 夢現 (Yumeutsutsu)
4. 暗礁 (Anshou)
5. 幕間劇 (Makuaigeki)
6. 餞 (Hanamuke)
7. Subliminal Sunrise
8. 有終の美 (Yuushuu no Bi)
9. 弛まぬ霊の相続 (Tayumanu Tamashii no Souzoku)
10. Mellow Sleep
11. 微睡みの魂 (Madoromi no Tamashii)
| 2016's first 'must have'.
After Vidya and a slew of experimental singles, it’s a fair assumption to say that most fans were surprised at the speed in which IX -Nine- released their first album. The fact that this would actually be a double album certainly piqued my interest. Following the same stylistic shift that followed Vidya, IX -Nine-‘s latest release is a veritable platter of progression. Evolving from Vidya’s use of traditional instruments and ethereal vocals, Nirdvandva integrates electronic elements to their trademark sound, as well as a sprinkling of industrial, classical, trip-hop and EDM. This culminates in a varied album, appealing to both fans and newcomers. While songs like "Blind Gold" have that familiar atmospheric, even viscous IX -Nine- denseness to them that fans will love, others such as "Saints Ideal" could easily be radio-worthy and a more welcoming invitation for new listeners.
While there is something here for everyone, there are times when the album feels too experimental, with sections seemingly added to tick off another genre from the hitlist. While the orchestral section of "暗礁" comes across as a tad bombastic, for example, the shifts between rock, metal and dancepop in "Heat Haze" come across as awkward, making for a jarring listening experience. This also seems to permeate into the second album’s tracklist, with a noticeably sporadic flow due to the number of instrumental tracks peppered throughout.
In spite of this, Nirdvandva otherwise shines in its experimentation. Previous singles "Pairidaēza Lost" and "Subliminal Sunrise" are a testament to the band’s skilful utilisation of electronic elements, whereas "餞" easily intertwines Eastern instruments with beat samples, leading into a full-on EDM rave. Despite some hiccups, IX -Nine-‘s ability to integrate new genres into their music and still make them their own is interesting to say the least and an effective way of keeping new and existing listeners hooked.
Nirdvanva’s first side, Numinöse, is a beautifully crafted album. As with Vidya, the atmosphere and emotions created by tracks like "棘と艶" are both haunting and palpable. The echoing piano that reverberates throughout the track is characteristic of most of the album. This is often punctuated by minimalist drumming, melodic guitarwork and beautifully-employed string instruments. "苦海" and "目醒めの未視感" are perfect examples of this, utilising large, vocal-free chunks of their play time to enthral the listener with such instrumentation. Dripping with emotion, the majority of this album welcomes you to simply sit and listen, analysing and appreciating each song’s intricacies.
That’s not to say that this is not an accessible album, however. "Saints Ideal" is a great example of how IX -Nine-’s electronic additions entice new listeners through more modern approaches. With fluid movements between catchy electronic music bordering on Oshare Kei and surprisingly heavier passages, this song is a welcome addition to the library of most Visual Kei fans. Similarly, "祷りの星" dances between attention-grabbing piano sections and drum-fuelled flurries highlighted by vocalist IX‘s first use of harsh vocals. A new avenue for his vocal work, this is yet another song on the album showcasing his abilities. Throughout most of Numinöse his ethereal voice is the highlight, moving from effortless high vocals to haunting softness. The minimal nature of songs like "Blind Gold" and "Pairidaēza Lost" allow for his plaintive delivery to affect the listener, demanding their attention. For the melancholic atmosphere of this album, IX’s voice is perfectly suited for the job.
In contrast to the delicate nature of Numinöse, the majority of Nirdvandva’s second side, 眩き展望, is dark, even menacing. With a focus on Eastern instruments, tracks like "幕間劇" and "幽玄の誘い" are markedly different from those found on Numinöse. Not dissimilar to Dir En Grey’s "Sa Bir", they show an entirely different side to the band whilst retaining that palpable atmosphere. Eeriness is peppered across 眩き展望, with an emphasis on traditional instruments ("憂き世" as an example) and ominous chanting ("夢現" and "幕間劇") to generate a presence almost. Like Numinöse, this album strives to be as evocative as possible, often resulting in vibes that are characteristic of Akira Yamaoka’s music. His mantra of silence also being a sound is seemingly employed across the entirety of Nirdvanva, with haunting vocal-less passages having just as much weight to them as the album’s many emotional choruses.
This oppressive atmosphere gives way to many displays of musical catharsis in the album, however. "弛まぬ霊の相続" shatters expectations by progressing into a straight up rock number, despite its opening. Previous single "有終の美" has a wonderful ebb and flow between acoustic and electronic instrumentation, punctuated with some fantastic drumming. This leads nicely to the drumming in "暗礁" which takes centre stage, literally hammering away the darkness at the start of the track via a sporadic and attention-demanding flurry on the skins.
Admittedly 眩き展望 is heavy on the instrumental tracks but each song is a worthy addition to the band’s library. "Mellow Sleep", for example, utilises that signature IX -Nine- atmosphere to create a pseudo-lullaby before leading into a powerful close. As with the EDM ending to "餞", the shredding guitars of this song’s climax is unexpected yet welcome. Like the rest of Nirdvandva, everything feels new yet familiar.
IX -Nine- have come a long way in their budding career, with a staggering amount of quality songs released in a short space of time. Nirdvanda proves that IX -Nine- are far from a one-trick pony and that they are a band who is willing to diversify whilst still retaining their trademark sound. Despite a few hiccups, Nirdvandva is a musical journey and one of the few albums that are truly immersive. With an array of new genres, themes, and atmospheres under their belt, I’m more excited than ever to see where their next release takes them.
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