Makoto Furukawa’s “Kaleidoscope” marks a new chapter in his solo career, deviating from his usual jazz-rock/acid-jazz sound.
Title: Kaleidoscope (カレイドスコープ)
Release date: 12/06/2024
Label: Lantis
Genre: Pop/Rock
Tracklist (regular edition):
1 - Kaleidoscope
2 - マーガレットの沈黙 [THEME "WINTER"]
3 - Kaleidoscope (off vocal)
4 - マーガレットの沈黙 (off vocal)
Track by track analysis (regular edition):
1 – Kaleidoscope
Makoto Furukawa kicks off “Kaleidoscope” a song that captures the delicate and magical feeling of a new beginning.
The intro brings to the spotlight delicate legato strings and an acoustic guitar – playing in the background. As the strings swell, the song tones down, creating an airy, comfortable stage for Makoto Furukawa’s vocals to shine.
The tempo is slow and comfortable, flowing in a relaxed way. You will notice the strings in front and to your sides, painting a blooming soundscape around you, with the violin lead in the chorus feeling like the wind blowing towards you.
Acoustic guitars, drums, and bass are emotional and lower-toned, adding a layer of sweetness and warmth to this song. A piano (and even a rhodes piano) is noticeable at times but it doesn’t take the lead, something I was not expecting.
The chorus is genuinely beautiful with the violas adding a layer of drama to the performance I was not expecting. You will also find vibes or a glockenspiel-style instrument in the background adding a dreamy twist to this song.
When we arrive at the bridge, an acoustic guitar takes the lead and goes for an emotional solo leading to a quieter part in which Makoto Furukawa’s vocals are muffled – as if in a call with you – and then we get the strings in a riveting tremolo that felt like a beautiful accent to this song.
On the vocal end, this song is a treat for Furukawa’s fans. One thing I immediately noticed was how he has reigned in his vibrato, showing much more control over it.
As a result, instead of the performance coming with his usual power and presence, he sounds softer and gentler, matching the song’s sweet tone. At the same tone, he brings a bit of air to his performance, delivering a dreamy falsetto that blends smoothly into his performance.
2 – Margaret no Chinmoku (マーガレットの沈黙)
And wrapping up this single is the winter-themed song “Margaret no Chinmoku“. This song puts rock at the forefront with an indie twist.
The tone is laidback and comfortable, with the focus being on the deep bassline, the bassy, riveting drums, and the crazy piano runs in the background, the perfect balance to such a bassy song.
The guitar work for this song is crazy with tons of muted notes and fast transitions and riffs, almost giving the sense of urgency to this track is a nice contrast to the quieter, muted parts in the verses.
The chorus brings a lot of energy to the spotlight, with the instrumental changing dynamics, making the sound not as close to the listener, taking a bit more space in the soundscape.
One thing I find odd about this song is the mixing of Makoto Furukawa’s vocals. I was expecting his vocals to be more obvious and with more “dryness” to them. When I mention “dry”, I’m referring to the vocals sounding as if they didn’t get any treatment to give them dynamic.
Most of the time, vocals have a “wet” twist either by adding reverb (which you may call an “echo”) or any other effect or are cleaned but given some breathing in mixing. In this case, the choice for Furukawa’s vocals to be “dry”, almost as if what he sang in the recording is exactly what you get, not treatment whatsoever is interesting.
I just find the lack of dynamics in his vocals to be odd, especially when you come from “Kaleidoscope”, as a song in which his vocals were almost “floating” in it. But this is me going on a big tangent about a very small detail. You may not notice it or even if you do, it may not bother you at all.
All in all, this is a good song however I feel it lacks the usual punch that Makoto Furukawa has in his music, especially in songs of similar tone.
Final considerations
In this version of the CD I reviewed – regular (which is similar to the one you’ll find on streaming platforms) – we have a good look at “Kaleidoscope” which evokes “spring” as well as “Margaret no Chinmokku”, a song evoking “winter”.
“Kaleidoscope” is hopeful, beautiful, and blooming as an intro to this CD and strongly captures “spring” as a season. It’s a season of beginnings, ends, and exciting new experiences as life blooms. Through the use of strings – leading the way – and Makoto Furukawa’s sweet, gentle performance, putting aside his vibrato and bringing to the spotlight falsetto.
His performance is less charismatic than usual – which may feel a bit odd at first – but the gentleness that he usually doesn’t have in his music is refreshing to find here.
On the other end, we have the contrasting season, winter. “Margaret no Chinmokku” has a layer of nostalgia but I still found this song to feel more exciting than nostalgic itself.
Such a deep brand of rock – with indie vibes – suits Makoto Furukawa’s vocals and, in a way, the feeling of winter as well.
Still, I can’t shake off how odd was the choice for extremely dry vocals for Makoto Furukawa. The vocals lack presence in the mixing – and would heavily benefit from being brought forth a bit more as the piano and electric guitars are burying him in the chorus, for example.
This choice for a less “produced” type of track enhances that indie rock feel of this song but ended up being an odd choice as Furukawa’s vocals are naturally bassy, the instrumental is really bassy and then his vocals are just there, dry at front and center, being buried by all other instruments (which have the dynamic his vocals mix lacks).
I would have loved to check out the Summer and Autumn songs but alas, those versions aren’t on streaming platforms at the time of writing this review and I only got the regular edition.
Still, looking at this single, Makoto Furukawa’s “Kaleidoscope” is, for sure, the start of a new chapter for him. It has a different vibe to all the jazz and rock he’s done so far and strays a bit away also from the ballads he performed.
I don’t know how different his music will be from this point on, as Furukawa mentioned this is a new chapter so we will have to wait.
But for sure this is a sweet, soft entrance to that chapter that makes me curious about what he can deliver next.
“Kaleidoscope” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN. You can also find this single available at Amazon Japan (they ship internationally).
“Kaleidoscope” is available for streaming on Spotify.
You can find this CD on YouTube Music.
Do not support piracy. Remember to support Makoto Furukawa by streaming via official outlets.
