Review | Daisuke Ono “Deep & Holic”

Daisuke Ono shines in his own turf with “Deep & Holic“, showcasing charisma and improved singing skills that will dazzle you.

Title: Deep & Holic
Label: Lantis 
Release date: 04/12/2019
Genre: Jazz/Funk/Disco

Tracklist:

1.Deep & Holic
2.SHAKE IT!!
3.雨音-Refrain-
4.Deep & Holic (off vocal)
5.SHAKE IT!!(off vocal)
6.雨音-Refrain-(off vocal)

Track by track analysis:

1 – Deep & Holic

The single kicks off with the jazz-disco tune, Deep & Holic. The beat is playful, riding on a Rhodes piano, a groovy bassline and brass add a unique flair to this tune that, with strings on top, is a tasteful take on disco and jazz.

The second verse introduces jazz drums, the last element needed to take the listener to the classy, jazz-bar soundscape created.

The outro introduces a bit of electronica mixed with a brief guitar solo that does not make any sense while listening to it. However, that outro will work perfectly as a dance break in a live setting.

Vocally, Ono delivers a consistent performance riding on his energetic mid-tones and improved falsetto to make this track a close to perfect intro. 

2 – SHAKE IT!!

SHAKE IT!! keeps up the consistency in this release by continuing to explore funk and disco. The instrumental rides on top of the groovy slap bassline and the danceable touch is added by the background brass melodies and funky guitar riffs in the chorus.

The verses have an interesting duality, shifting from a minimalistic bass sound with atmospheric synths in the background to a suggestive, slower, and stripped-down version that features slower, deliberately enticing vocals.

Although without much content, the chorus is incredibly addictive and the beat is exactly the type to have you jamming along. Ono’s vocals go from energetic in the chorus to groovy and alluring in the verses, add to this the R&B-ish backing vocals that are featured in the outro and we have ourselves the best song in this release. 

3 – Amaoto-Refrain-

As it is known, Amaoto is a ballad-pop tune that was released in 2008, featured on Ono’s release of the same name.

This take on the track revisits the nostalgic track and breathes its new life with an acoustic R&B arrangement. The beat is minimalistic and slow-paced, leaving the spotlight on the acoustic guitars and sitar (in the background) to create a soothing, warm soundscape.

Vocal-wise, Daisuke Ono has gone a long way since his debut, having evolved into a solid singer with control over his vocals and the emotions he wants to convey in his performances. As a result, Amaoto gets a new life and shines in this release. A sweet take on a classic of his. 

Final considerations

Daisuke Ono continues to explore the unique blend of jazz, funk, and disco that has been following his latest releases.

In Deep & Holic we find a playful yet alluring Daisuke Ono shinning in his own turf, comfortable with the sound that accompanying his songs and the mature imagery created around those.

The classic, gentleman image he now dons and his mature take on jazz/funk music is working wonders for him. As a release, Deep & Holic only comes to accentuate that.

He is a performer confident of his capabilities however, never settling for not trying to improve. Proof of this is the massive improvement in his vocals on his take of the 11-year-old track, Amaoto.

SHAKE IT!! stands out in this release for being a classy and funky take on disco and funk music. It is tasteful and the instrumentalization never sounds too overwhelming to deal with. The vocals were solid and how much do we love those backing vocals in the track!

All in all, Ono’s newest single is what you could expect of him: fun and entertaining, meant to dance along and enjoy. His music matured into this jazz/funk-disco sound that is addictive. His performances continue to be a lot of fun, filled with an energy that puts a smile on our faces.

Deep & Holic is a great entry in his repertoire, predictable – especially taking into account his previous releases – but also the bundle of fun and mature vibe we were in need of by the end of this year.

Deep & Holic is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.

Deep & Holic [Regular Edition]

Daisuke Ono

Deep & Holic [w/ Blu-ray, Limited Edition]

Daisuke Ono

Deep & Holic is available for streaming on Spotify.

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