A powerful lineup and stunning performances make “THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 01” a great start for this WORLD TRE@SURE series
Title: THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 01 Label: Lantis Release date: 09/05/2018 Genre: J-Pop
Tracklist:
01. 永遠(とわ)なる四銃士 02. MEET THE WORLD!(FRANCE Ver.) 03. 永遠(とわ)なる四銃士(off vocal)
Track by track analysis:
01. 永遠(とわ)なる四銃士
“Towa naru yon jushi” opens this single in a dramatic tone. Contrary to most music found in the SideM franchise, this song fully embraced orchestral instrumentalization. Strings (mainly violins and cello), timpani, chimes, harpsichord, brass and percussion are at the heart of this instrumental, with electric guitars and bass joining in to give a boost to its imposing sound. This instrumental gives off a triumphant and grandiose vibe that is certainly new in this franchise. On the vocal end we have an equally grandiose performance. This shuffle unit had the power and control to tackle this song without any issues. Jun Kasama‘s performance is outstanding. As the resident baritone, his lower register was a perfect fit with the tone and urgency of the instrumental. Regardless if it were individual or group parts, his vocals were always in the spotlight. Not with the same power but still impressive were the performances of Shugo Nakamura, Kentaro Kumagai and Takeaki Masuyama that, despite having different voice colors, managed to match Kasama‘s emotional performance and make this song sound even more imposing than it initially did. 5/5
02. MEET THE WORLD!(FRANCE Ver.)
Orchestral instrumentalization is set aside to give way to dance pop. Built around a playful piano melody and groovy bass line, MEET THE WORLD! takes pride in its upbeat and danceable sound. Atmospheric synths, strings and simple bass-driven drums add the finishing touches to this instrumental, creating an addictive and, at the same time, inspiring sound. Paying close attention to this song, it actually sounds like a throwback 80’s pop tune – mainly due to its piano melody. Matching the instrumental’s tone and pacing, the vocals are energetic and groovy, breathing life to this song. This time around its was their teamwork and sweet harmonies that stood out, not an individual. Their work in the chorus made this song all the more enjoyable to listen to. 5/5
Final rating:
The Idolmaster SideM franchise doesn’t delve much into classical/orchestral music (exceptions being Altessimo and, at the peek of their eccentricity, Café Parade), other than that, this franchise is known for its upbeat pop sound and occasional pop-rock tunes.
Changing things around, the first release of the WORLD TRE@SURE series went all in with an orchestral sound in “Towa naru yon jushi” that worked perfectly with this lineup and within their France theme. This is a thrilling and rich instrumental that was crafted in such a way that the listener won’t help but to feel emotionally overwhelmed.
The tie-up song is MEET THE WORLD!, song that brought to the table an 80’s inspired pop tune filled with upbeat melodies, groovy bass goodness and simple synths. I found the contrast between the first and second track to be quite interesting as it has two completely different takes on emotional performances. For MEET THE WORLD!, the focus was on making a sweet, inspiring tone come to life as opposed to the grandiosity of “Towa naru yon jushi“.
This shuffle unit is packed with great vocals, some of those among the best in the SideM franchise. Shugo Nakamura (DRAMATIC STARS), Jun Kasama (Legenders), Kentaro Kumagai (FRAME) and Takeaki Masuyama (Shinsoku Ikkon) showcased great teamwork and chemistry with rich performances filled with flair.
As a whole, powerful lineup and stunning performances make “THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 01” a great start for this WORLD TRE@SURE series.
This review was possible thanks to MALLARD084’s sponsored copy.
“THE IDOLM@STER SideM WORLD TRE@SURE 01” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
