The album “ATMOSPHERE” by UMake perfectly captures the duo’s laidback, cozy vibe and simple semi-acoustic rock sound.
Title: ATMOSPHERE Release date: 22/03/2023 Label: Art Sonic Genre: Rock / Acoustic / Funk-rock
Tracklist:
1 - ATMOSPHERE 2 - ユリイカ 3 - 六畳一間のエンターテイナー 4 - 花火 5 - UMake's Styles. 6 - Darling! 7 - Merry. 8 - drop 9 - Horror Night? Pleasant Party!! 10 - ブレイバー！！ 11 - AIR 12 - 栞
Track by track analysis:
1 – ATMOSPHERE
Muffled guitar riffs set the stage for “ATMOSPHERE”, uptempo pop-rock tune with a bright, ambitious undertone.
The verses are intense and boast an unusual uptempo for UMake’s songs. The drums are splashy, the guitars are unstoppable.
The piano appears as an accent that adds a layer of beauty to this performance. The bassline runs deep and groovily in the background, making sure the core of this song is powerful and punchy at all times.
The chorus doesn’t sound dramatically different from the verses, barely noticeable the transition between both. So what you get in this part of the song that is slightly different is the work on the drums – that are relentless – as well as the intensity of the piano.
Worth mentioning that “ATMOSPHERE” has one of the coolest guitar solos that UMake has presented so far. It is funky, intense, and powerful, all in good measure.
That guitar work continues to shine when the outro kicks in, shredding its way through the instrumental until fading away.
2 – ユリイカ
“eureka” carries over the excitement in the previous track however it brings in synths and strings to create quite the fancy song.
The verses count with atmospheric synths in the background as strings make their entrance in legato fashion, creating the perfect stage for the relentless drums, bass, and guitar combo to add a lot of speed and intensity to this song.
On the vocal end, UMake’s Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima go for a powerful and demanding performance. You can feel the drama in the vibrato parts by both, the crescendos as well as the slight raises in tone in the chorus.
I’m quite impressed at how dramatic the song turned out to be despite the motivational lyrics and uptempo instrumental.
And yes, do expect an awesome guitar solo with brass and drums as its backdrop. Do note as well – and this one is a detail – how the guitar is screaming on your left ear (if wearing headphones). It is in the background and screams at specific times to heighten the tension in the performance.
3 – 六畳一間のエンターテイナー
[AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED] A sweet acoustic guitar lullabies the listener through the verses. The verses slowly get new elements into the mix despite starting off in a stripped-down fashion.
Simple, hi-hat-driven drums, acoustic guitars, minimalistic synths, and a memorable bass line create a gentle soundscape to enjoy. The 2nd verse introduces pizzicato strings hits, something that further enriches the quality of the instrumental.
The guitar work on this song reminds me a little of 00s indie rock bands, something very reminiscing of Interpol, band that I love to bits. Of course, the rest of the song in nothing is similar to what the band in question is known for, this is UMake’s gentle brand of pop-rock in effect.
Ito and Nakajima went for a sweet performance for this song, taking the listener by hand to explore the beauty in the simplest details in it.
4 – 花火
[AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED] “Hanabi” carries over the gentle touch in the previous track however, tones most of the elements to give way to a bass-driven sound, richer and fuller despite its simplicity.
The piano melodies are, in a way, reminiscent of those in citypop, something that, alongside the funky guitar riffs and deep, groovy bass line complete this throwback. “Hanabi” paints a soundscape filled with neon lights and with a comfortable warmth to it.
The chorus is simple, to the point, and catchy, much in the tradition of pop music.
Something that I love about this song is the bass and piano work. The duality in this song caught my eye.
The bass is really punchy in this song, carrying the song around from start to finish. It is responsible for all the groove as well as fleshing out the citypop sound. The piano is delicate and crystal clear, contrasting with the bass’ slightly dirty groove.
Now, on the vocal end, Ito and Nakajima made sure they had their aces up their sleeves. Their performance is filled with flair, with both tackling their sections with a lot of comfort and confidence, something that translates into flashy flourishes, a bit of falsetto to accentuate certain sections and powerful harmonies.
5 – UMake’s Styles.
Well, hello to one of the craziest songs by UMake. “UMake’s Styles.” puts the duo’s versatility to the test.
The instrumental is fast and intense, with electric guitars leading the way as snary drums set an intense tone and tempo for this song.
The verses feature the duo rapping at an insanely fast speed and it is mindblowing how groovy their flow is.
However, when you get to the pre-chorus, the rock influences kick in and you get screaming and vocalization in 80s rock style, bringing some drama to this performance.
When this song wraps up, you’re left wanting more from the duo. This is too good yet too brief.
6 – Darling!
[AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED] An emotional piano melody and strings paint the soundscape in a gentle way. The verses feature pizzicato strings and funky guitar riffs on top of a groovy bass line and simple drums.
The build up to the chorus is pretty soft, and very on-brand with the song’s sweet, cozy vibe. The pacing is really comfortable, riding on top of the deep bass line.
The chorus picks up the pace while strings and the bass take the spotlight, creating catchy yet sweet melodies.
Listeners are also presented with a fancy guitar solo in the bridge, leading up to a quieter section in which pizzicato strings accompany the vocals by Ito and Nakajima.
As far as the vocals go, Ito and Nakajima are on top of their game yet, keeping things simple.
The performance requires a certain care instead of flashy flourishes or the sort. What you get is a really simple performance that does the job of engaging you in a rather warm and cozy way.
7 – Merry.
[AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED] Festive bells make a big entrance to “Merry.”, giving way to the fun, fast-paced pop-rock sound in the verses.
Fast-paced guitar riffs, delicate strings, an upbeat piano melody, and a punchy bass line are joined by melodic guitar riffs and simple, snare-driven drums in the verses, creating a carefree and sweet soundscape for you to enjoy.
The energy and pacing keep up the chorus, flourishing into a catchy tune that you won’t get tired of.
On the vocal end, Ito and Nakajima deliver an entertaining performance with a lot of power on top. Their harmonies stand out in this song and, in their individual parts, each member delivers his lines with their unique flair.
8 – drop
Things change around for “drop”, song that brings to the spotlight an interesting mix between relentless rock and jazz.
The verses ride on a comfortable tempo, with occasional guitar riff busts playing on top of the jazzy piano melody and splashy drums.
And if you pay close attention to the punchy bassline in the verses, you will notice just how groovy this song is while having a cool edgy rock twist to itself.
But have you heard this chorus? “drop” doesn’t only have an amazing intro and intermission – led by a groovy bassline and funky guitar combo – but it also has the best chorus in the whole album.
The way the tension rises in the verses, with the piano helping out, and then the way the funky guitar riffs play through the soundscape as Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima raise their voices and harmonize with each other is something you just have to listen to experience it in full.
For the bridge, listeners are gifted with an instrumental part that feels so good. The atmospheric synth and jazzy piano combo create a dreamy soundscape that you won’t want to hear end.
On the vocal end, the duo has a tricky performance to tackle in “drop”. This song is not only overflowing with drama but it is also groovy and fast-paced. The mix between rock, jazz, and funk made the instrumental demand a lot from the vocal end but the duo sure knew how to deliver.
Their performance is overflowing with emotion, something they highlight with the strong presence of vibrato as well as those crescendos in the high notes in the chorus.
When “drop” wraps up, you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to it again and sing along to the addictive chorus.
9 – Horror Night? Pleasant Party!!
Things change around for “Horror Night? Pleasant Party!!”.
The duo goes all out with a mysterious jazz sound led by a punchy bassline and playful guitar riffs. In the background, brass, splashy drums, and a jazzy piano add depth to this exuberant tune.
While the verses are mysterious yet quite cheeky at the same time, put the bass and brass in the spotlight, things get intense in the chorus as the guitars and piano go crazy, creating a fancy yet quirky sound that will make you want to dance along to it.
The contrast between the sweet vocals by Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima in the verses and the rougher, dramatic – overflowing with vibrato – vocals plus the riffing, make this performance stand out.
Not only is the instrumental giving off a sense of elegance and mystery but the vocals are also adding a lot of quality to them, further fleshing out this luxurious soundscape unveiling in front of us.
10 – ブレイバー！！ (Braver!!)
Rock is back in the spotlight with “Braver!!”. In a way, this song gives strong 80s rock vibes. It has a classic vibe to it with the legato strings in the background as funky guitar riffs and a groovy bassline blast on top of them.
And despite how fast-paced are the verses, the pre-chorus slows things down, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions as tension rises yet again to “Braver!!”.
The chorus is upbeat, focusing on its snary drums to deliver a liberating, fun performance. This part will work especially well in a live setting as it features chant-like vocals that are perfect for a call-and-response type of performance in a live performance.
“Braver!!” ends up being a solid tune, creating a solid bridge for its remaining 2 songs.
11 – AIR
[AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED] Overdriven guitar riffs serve as the greeting card to “Air”. The verses have comfortable pacing, bringing to the table a melodic bassline, simple hi-hat-driven drums, and bright piano melodies.
The verses build up in a rather soft yet fast fashion, transitioning in an almost seamless fashion to the upbeat chorus.
In the bridge, UMake goes for a unique two-part guitar solo that is more about technicality and slow pace than shredding and high tension.
As far as vocals go, Nakajima and Ito delivered a solid performance with quite a bit of energy on top.
Simple and to the point.
12 – 栞 (Shiori)
Wrapping up this album is “Shiori”, song that instantly shows delicate vocals by Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima, performing in a higher key than usual.
After the almost acapella intro, the song slowly embraces a characteristical citypop sound that is both stylish and passionate. The soundscape is beautiful, with the organ, trumpet, and atmospheric synths enriching it.
When the chorus arrives, a punchy bassline, delicate legato strings, and funky guitar riffs take center stage and dazzle you with a groovy sound that will put a smile on your face.
Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima are quite impressive in the chorus, delivering a perfect unison that heightens the tension leading up to the feel good, bass goodness in the verses.
Their performance is quite technical, with both bringing vibrato, falsetto, and some high notes into the mix while perfectly harmonizing with each other.
As “Shiori” wraps up, I know I want more, much more of this warm yet nostalgic soundscape in which citypop is king.
Final considerations
UMake encapsulates its laidback, cozy vibe and simple semi-acoustic rock sound in the relaxing album “ATMOSPHERE”.
Honestly, there isn’t any album title that would fit UMake better. Their music is ethereal at times, dreamy at others, cozy, and warm at times. It feels like a warm blanket over my shoulders on a cold day.
And Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima’s vocals are perfect for making that whole vibe come to life through their tenor voices and emotional performances.
They are a really balanced duo with fancy compositions by Kent Ito and vivid lyrics by Yoshiki Nakajima. When both come together, you get the feel-good tunes you have in this album.
Among the new songs “ATMOSPHERE” and “drop” are the winner for me.
“ATMOSPHERE” perfectly encompasses who UMake is as a duo and it brings to the spotlight a fancy performance with ridiculously good guitar work in there, not to mention powerful vocals.
“drop” is all kinds of groovy bass goodness, having one of the best choruses in UMake’s career so far. It is powerful, the drama is perfect on the vocal end and the tempo – not to mention the composition – feels incredibly right.
Also, I must mention just how cool “UMake’s Styles.” sounds like. This song is a good example of how talented and versatile Kent Ito and Yoshiki Nakajima are as performers. They deliver a dual performance that includes insanely fast rapping with an 80s style of singing. This song arrived as a surprise, especially taking into account the tone in this album up until it arrived, yet crazy moments like this are more than welcomed in their albums.
I will not extend my analysis much longer because I’ve already talked extensively about all the other songs above, but “ATMOSPHERE” – the album – is fancy, laidback, and incredibly sweet, being the perfect album to play whenever you want to feel loved or just want to relax a bit.
“ATMOSPHERE” is available for purchase at CDJAPAN.
“ATMOSPHERE” is available for streaming on Spotify.
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