“Now & Then” showcases the Re:vale’s growth and evolution over the years, and it’s a stylish way to celebrate Re:vale’s 8th anniversary.
Title: Now & Then Release date: 15/04/2023 Label: Lantis Genre: Pop
Tracklist:
1 - Now & Then
Track analysis:
1 – Now & Then
Re:vale celebrates its 8th anniversary with “Now & Then”, song that brings the group’s debut sound and mixes it with its refined, robust pop and funk sound of now.
The intro brings those big EDM synths to create a wide soundscape however things get an interesting twist as those funky guitar riffs and jazzy piano glue together that part with the 1st verse.
The verses introduce a tight snare-kick beat leading the way as a fancy piano melody plays in the background, adding a layer of beauty to the soundscape.
The beat slowly shifts to a breakbeat leading up to the fancy chorus and while that is happening, the bass gets quite the boost that will be a treat for those fans of deep, bouncy songs.
When it comes to the chorus, Re:vale brings simple synth hits alongside strong, low guitar riffs that bring a bit of an edge to this song.
The mixing in here is a delight to listen to. You have the power in those guitars and tight hi-hat and snare beat but also the delicate twist in the piano and then the vocals panned slightly to the left and right.
Everything is as clear as day despite how busy the chorus is. This is top mixing right here.
The outro brings a self-contained synth-lead solo paired up with those low guitar riffs, it is brief and tasteful, smoothly leading up to a quiet part in which Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi sound pitch-perfect.
There are a lot of things I love about this song. When Re:vale debuted, their sound was intrinsically rooted in heavy EDM.
It was fast and intense, leaving no breather for the singers or even the listener. But as the group grew and time passed, it is noticeable in their repertoire the changes they went through.
As you get to “Now & Then”, you have a matured pop sound that takes inspiration from EDM pop, rock, and funk and blends it all in a stylish song that gives plenty of time for singers to shine and listeners to enjoy every single detail in the composition.
This clarity and maturity to Re:vale’s music is something I deeply appreciate and I’d love to see more groups, outside of the IDOLiSH7 franchise, do: grow and evolve their sound as the idols grow old. In this way, it really feels like you are following an active career and it is impossible not to feel excited about what’s to come next because you can’t predict it.
After all, the group is evolving with time.
This is a neat detail that tends to be overlooked.
As far as the vocals go, Re:vale then and now are almost like two different entities.
Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi took their time to find their comfort zone and be in harmony with each other. With time you got to notice them improving and by now – especially in the past two years -, they have been in perfect sync and performing on a high-quality level.
In this performance of “Now & Then”, you get an engaging, energetic performance that showcases their work in unison as well as the effort they put into their individual performances.
That, paired up with the fancy, mid-tempo instrumental, makes “Now & Then” a fantastic song by Re:vale, a perfect way to celebrate such an important milestone in their career.
As a reference:
Re:vale consists of Yuki (CV: Shinnosuke Tachibana) and Momo (CV: Soichiro Hoshi).
“Now & Then” was released digitally on streaming platforms worldwide.
“Now & Then” is available for streaming on Spotify.
Do not support piracy. Remember to support Re:vale by streaming via official outlets.
