Fancy and mature, Re:vale is sounding better than ever in “Re:flect in”, album perfect to greet new fans and please longtime ones.
Re:vale consists of Yuki (CV: Shinnosuke Tachibana) and Momo (CV: Soichiro Hoshi).
Review
Title: Re:flect In Release date: 03/08/2022 Label: Lantis Genre: Funk-Pop/Jazz/Pop-rock/Ballad
Tracklist:
1 - Re-raise 2 - Fly! More Liberty 3 - Storyteller 4 - t(w)o… 5 - ミライノーツを奏でて 6 - 永遠性理論 7 - 夢雫
Track by track analysis:
1 – Re-raise
A delicate piano melody and suggestive trombone melody create the greeting card for this elegant and mature jazz-pop tune. Brass plays a major role in making this classy jazz bar soundscape come to life.
The piano melodies are playful, and the synths are minimalistic but play an interesting role in making the song stand out. Funky guitar riffs, a groovy bass line, and simple, snary drums and Latin percussion fills completely this sound. A saxophone solo adds quality notes to this song.
On the vocal end, this is easily the best we’ve heard of Re:vale. They are charismatic, and fun and are singing with consistency and flair that will certainly stand out. Top marks for this classy track.
2 – Fly! More Liberty
To wrap up this release Re:vale perform, Fly! More Liberty. Muffled vocals introduce us to this playful jazz-pop tune.
Blues-y guitar riffs, classy brass, a funky bassline, and tight, snare-driven drums create a playful vibe. A note that those strings in the background – not that easily noticeable – add a cool layer of mystery to this track.
I am particularly fond of the dynamic in the verses. Strings, a Rhodes piano, and bass leading the way in that funky and intoxicating way is something that fits so well with Re:vale’s recent maturity in their music – and also sounds really good if you’re a fan of jazz and funk.
The vocals are powerful and in total sync in the chorus. When it comes to the individual parts, Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi go for performances filled with flair and a little bit of mystery.
3 – Storyteller
Reversed, glitchy piano melodies paint a bit dreamy, broken soundscape however what awaits you is… something completely different as Re:vale goes all out in the groovy vibes with an acid-jazz sound that is extremely elegant and addictive.
Guitars are funky, the Rhodes piano is dreamy and the beat + bassline welcome you to the dancefloor.
The verses are warm and quite intimate while the chorus is breathy, with the piano going on full reverb and painting the soundscape in orange and fuchsia hues.
With such a loungy instrumental and fancy vocals, Re:vale impresses in “Storyteller”.
4 – t(w)o…
It is not often that we get to listen to Re:vale performing a balladesque song. t(w)o… has an unmistakably holiday vibe, with bells, gentle strings, sweet acoustic guitar, bass melodies and slow-paced drums. It exudes warmth and gentleness that is not characteristic of this duo but that ends up fitting them well. Props for the strings solo that have a refined touch to this song.
Once again, Re:vale showcases strong teamwork and individual consistency. It is really the cherry on top of a good song to have a solid performance on the vocal end. Although its replay value might differ based on how much you enjoy listening to seasonal songs, it is an overall great tune.
5 – ミライノーツを奏でて
An emotional piano melody and violin melody – way further in the back – set a delicate tone for Mirai notes o Kanadete.
However, as we progress through the song and the 1st verse makes its entrance it is more certain that this won’t be a full-on ballad but a sweeter, more carefree take on the genre while embracing pop and rock elements.
Its dynamics change from the intro to the 1st verse but after that, the song follows the same comfortable tempo and counts with natural build-ups to the chorus, smoothly leading the way towards the beautiful and hopeful soundscape you find in the chorus.
On the vocal end, Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi showcase perfect teamwork as well as their skills when it comes to singing, as both performed this song with a lot of comfort and confidence. You can feel how gentle they tried to be with their performance and the results are here, this song will give sweet and warm feelings.
6 – 永遠性理論
Shifting a bit away from jazz, we are presented with Eiensei Riron, a pop-rock tune with a playful twist. This song is already well known to fans, having been first performed live at IDOLiSH7 2nd live REUNION. The song follows a simple formula, with a 4-piece rock band sound setting the tone for this song with fun melodies in the verses.
As the song progresses, brass makes its entrance, giving the song a bright layer. The guitar solo in the bridge is the best one in a Re:vale song, having the perfect length and being a valuable addition to this song.
On the vocal end, Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi deliver a fun and warm performance that makes this song all the more entertaining.
7 – 夢雫
“Yume Shizuku” wraps up this album on a dramatic note as solemn vocals, strings, and piano take you for one last dance.
Slowly, bassy synths, a simple bassy beat, and fancy guitar riffs add urgency to the song.
The energy levels are high for this song however don’t expect it to go ridiculously fast or anything of the sort.
The mid-tempo to this beat is comfortable and leaves more than enough space available for the vocals to shine. Within this fancy instrumental, there is time for a cool guitar solo painting this retro soundscape in a fancy way.
As far as the vocals go, “Yume Shizuku” is all about energy more than technicality, still, Shinnosuke Tachibana and Soichiro Hoshi deliver an engaging performance with solid unisons and individual parts that show the consistency and comfort the group now has.
Final considerations
Re:vale has undergone several changes to its sound in the past couple of years however they have never sounded as good as it now sounds.
Mature, elegant, and still cheeky and energetic, Re:vale is a fun group to listen to, and the songs that are included in “Re:flect in” are a perfect example of that.
This is an album that shows the group at its peak of quality, embracing jazz music while ditching heavy, pure EDM music.
This is a group that, on the vocal end, is sounding in perfect harmony and with a technicality that was lacking in its first album.
This is a group that has upped the ante and delivered a stellar bundle of songs in this album.
Out of the old songs “Re-raise” continues to shine as the group’s best song to date.
Out of the new ones, “Storyteller” is crazy good. Acid jazz is a music genre that the group had never explored before and with their improved vocals, as soon as the instrumental kicked off, I was certain it’d end up sounding insanely good. And what you and I get in here is, indeed, a good – awesome – a performance that you will want to listen to countless times.
Fancy and mature, Re:vale is sounding better than ever, and “Re:flect in” is the perfect greeting card for new fans as well as CD that will make longtime fans incredibly proud of their growth.
“Re:flect In” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
“Re:flect In” is available for streaming on Spotify.
Do not support piracy. Remember to support Re:vale by streaming via official outlets.
