AN CAFE – Hikagyaku ZiprocK: the Review

Hikagyaku ZiprocK is An Cafe’s first full length album in over four years. A lot has changed in the ‘Jrock’ landscape in those years, but this album shows that AN CAFE hasn’t changed a bit. If you liked them before, you’ll love the new songs. Similarly, if they irritated you before, we highly doubt any of the new offerings will win you over (but do listen to ‘O No Saki Ga Ienai’ just for the ‘lulz’.)

The album is  a mixture of styles. They have their ‘Harajuku’ high-tempo disco stuff with tracks ‘ROMAN’ and ‘Love Me Tender’ (our favourite on the whole album – and one of the European version’s three bonus tracks), Jpop-meets-Jrock with ‘Utsukushi Hito’, ‘Bee Myself Bee Yourself’, there’s some goofy chiptune fun with ‘Gendai Soldier Now’ and even a fair few ballads included too. Perhaps the most surprising element, at least for us, was the heavier approach on a few tracks. Just check out the video at the bottom of this review – that’s a little more ‘grr’ than we’re used to! And we’re liking it! Even if they do balance it out with a scary / cute girl-Miku.

Summary: Existing fans will love it. As for us, we’ve never been the biggest An Cafe fans (sorry Cafekko), and although ZiprocK certainly has its moments, it also has plenty more irritations. But that’s just us. 6/10

Hikagyaku ZiprocK is due for release in Europe from Friday 13 December (and 6 January 2014 in the UK, according to Amazon) and boasts three bonus tracks and an extra booklet with translated lyrics. Don’t forget the boys are also on tour in 2014. Click here for all the dates.

01. Juryoku Scandalous
02. ROMAN ~Let’s make precious love~
03. Hachimitsu+Lemon=?
04. Utsukushi Hito
05. Gendai Soldier Now.
06. O No Saki Ga Ienai
07. Shomi Kigen 2010.01.04
08. Itai Onna ~NO PAIN,NO LOVE ? JAPAIN GIRLS in LOVE~
09. Inazuma no Senritsu
10. Bee Myself Bee Yourself ~Jibun Rashiku Kimi Rashiku Umareta Story wa Hajimattenda
11. Kiminomachi ~5 person sing along ver.~
12. Itsumo no Kiss de / MaT [European Bonus Track]
13. Love Me♡Tender / Paku x2 Pakuchi [European Bonus track]
14. Merry Making ~Anti-aging ver~ [European Bonus Track]

Order from Amazon: Special European Edition, Japanese Limited Edition.

LM.C’s New Album Bringing All The Best B-Sides to Europe

How’s your alphabet? Got all your A’s, B’s and LM.C’s? They aren’t convinced. LM.C think you might be missing a few essential B’s, so they have brought their latest album full of B-Side BEST!! to Europe. How kind of them!

Starting as a live band project and finding major Visual Kei success in 2006, this electro-rock guitar duo have carved out a style of their very own with their loud, bright costumes and seriously complicated music. With all their experiments and adventurous sounds, it’s fair to say that LM.C are one of the most musically interesting Visual Kei units there is. Maya and Aiji are veterans of how to rock, and get a chance to show it off with this heavy B-Side party.

This seventeen track album collects B-Sides from throughout Maya and Aiji’s entire career together, including some contributed by their evil alter egos, THE MAD LM.C. We can see why LM.C have decided to make an album by collecting all these tracks together – it’s time they had their chance to shine. The chance to get whimsical and weird on B-Side tracks has always been a thrill for this band, and it has produced some seriously cool music.

Out of the seventeen tracks, it’s difficult to choose highlights, but the return of Haunted House make a Secret and …with VAMPIRE has got to be a big one. Two of LM.C’s debut tracks, these creepy, sweet songs will have you groovin’ in no time. The combination of electronic samba rhythms, rap vocals and super heavy guitar, which all became B-Side staples for LM.C, started with these tracks.

For a different sound, check out ningyo no namida, a ska driven track with a killer guitar solo in LM.C’s favourite gritty, tough guitar sound. It also features some random steel drum sounds which momentarily transport you to the Caribbean. Alternatively, try Bad Spider or Shibuya Cantabile for some super speedy riffs and curious lyrics. No matter where you look on this track-list, there’s something exciting.

The album closes with three of LM.Cs most recent B-Sides, contributed by evil reincarnate, THE MAD LM.C. It must be useful having an alter ego this good at writing B-Sides, their remix of ★Rock the LM.C★ will knock your socks off.

As an all ’round album, this album showcases a full timeline of LM.C’s best experiments, hard rock and the cutest vocals you’ll hear this year. Furthermore, how often do you stumble upon a band whose sole purpose in life seem to be to scare you with cuteness? Not often, so you should definitely consider acquiring it from our good friends over at GAN-SHIN immediately.

Title: B-Side BEST!!
Release Date: June 28th, 2013

Tracklist:
1. GEKI FANFARE (4:04)
2. @Funny Phantom@ (4:27)
3. mR. century (4:07)
4. Haunted House make a Secret (4:43)
5. marble-s (4:40)
6. maple leaf (4:46)
7. Tiny Circus (4:19)
8. …with VAMPIRE (3:38)
9. DAYS (3:52)
10. ningyo no namida (3:59)
11. A Blueberry Night (4:07)
12. YASHA姫 (PRINCESS YASHA) (4:11)
13. Bad Spider (3:36)
14. Shibuya Cantabile (4:48)
15. ★Rock the LM.C★ by THE MAD LM.C (4:37)
16. No Fun. No Future. by THE MAD LM.C (2:58)
17. MAD or DIE by THE MAD LM.C (3:59)

Available from: iTunes and Amazon mp3 NOW!