Ra*bits “Ensemble Stars! Unit Song CD 3rd Series vol.7 Ra*bits” (Review)

Ra*bits‘ Ensemble Stars! Unit Song CD 3rd Series vol.7 Ra*bits is officially out. This unit brings to the table a release filled with simple melodies and sweet performances that will put a smile on your face.

The unit consists of Yuki Yonai, Junya Ikeda, Shunya Hiruma and Kosaka Tomoya.

Title: Ensemble Stars! Unit Song CD 3rd Series vol.7 Ra*bits
Label: Pony Canyon
Release date: 08/11/17
Genre: J-Pop

Tracklist:

1 - Milky Starry Charm 
2 - Dream Collection 
3 - Milky Starry Charm (off vocal)
4 - Dream Collection (off vocal)

Track by track analysis:

01 Milky Starry Charm

“Milky Starry Charm” shines immediately as it starts playing. Laidback instrumentalization is the heart of this song. The intro is ethereal, the verses are funky and slow paced, resorting to minimal triplet drums and dreamy synths, all of this while the pre-chorus and chorus pick up the pace to deliver a danceable and relaxing pop tune. If the instrumental wasn’t enough to put us in a good mood, the vocal performances were sweet and consistent, with everyone shining without stealing the spotlight from each other. 5/5

02 Dream Collection

“Dream Collection” follows a completely different structure in comparison with the previous song. Presenting us with an acoustic driven sound, incredibly slow paced and quiet in the verses, this song feels more personal and emotional. Acoustic guitars, slow paced snary drums and a simple piano melody complete this quiet and natural instrumental. However, the vocal performances were a bit inconsistent. For the most part, the choruses were performed comfortably but whenever there was a need to go higher on the scale, almost everyone would struggle, it’s safe to say that Yuki Yonai and Shunya Hiruma’s performances were the most complete as they were, from start to finish, showcasing vibrato, leveling everyone during the chorus and covering for the other members’ minimal mistakes. For a song that focused more on the vocal performances as opposed to the instrumental, it was a little bit disappointing to have such inconsistencies on it, especially when on the previous song everyone was performing well. 4/5

Final rating:

Ra*bits are yet another interesting unit part of the Ensemble Stars! franchise. Although they might, on a first look, give an air that their music is overly bright, upbeat and uptempo, in reality what we get is something slightly different.

There is some brightness on Ra*bit’s songs but that goes mostly unnoticed as it just an underlying feeling on their songs. However how underlying that feeling is, we couldn’t help, for example, to feel that “Milky Starry Charm” was an incredibly sweet song, one that puts a smile on your face before you know it. “Dream Collection” came as a surprise, especially due to its heavily acoustic oriented sound and slow, quiet pace. That song demanded strong vocal performances but the unit couldn’t keep their consistency for that track. The vocal highlights lie with Yuki Yonai and Shunya Hiruma, the most consistent performers on Ra*bits. Their singing skills came in handly to embelish some parts of the performances and were essential to level everyone in the group or even hold everything together when some members were struggling with high notes.

As a whole, Ra*bits‘ take on the Ensemble Stars!’s Unit Song CD 3rd Series is extremely positive. For those fans of a melodic and quieter pop sound with some cute and bright undertones as well as entertaining performances, this release needs to be on your “must listen” playlist.

“Ensemble Stars! Unit Song CD 3rd Series vol.7 Ra*bits” is available for purchase on CDJAPAN for all overseas fans.

Ensemble Stars! Unit Song CD 3rd Series vol.7 Ra*bits

Ra*bits (Nazuna Nito, Mitsuru Tenman, Tomoya Mashiro, HajimeShino)