An Cafe - Koakuma USAGI no koibumi to Machine Gun e.p.

author: Lara Garnermann

Koakuma USAGI no koibumi to Machine Gun e.p. is a truly iconic release by An Cafe. It is the first time the band has tried so many genres, one after the other - pop, rock, jazz and dance can all be found on this single. Trying a new genre is one thing, but can the band famous for ‘Harajuku dance rock’ pull it off?

The single starts with the title song, MY HEART LEAPS FOR "C". Everyone’s hearts most likely leapt for ‘A’ when they found out what the meaning of the song was and, more importantly, who it was sung to. It’s hard to find a fault in a song that’s dedicated to the fans, and many people probably haven't found any. Of course, An Cafe's songs have always been professional, but this song takes it to a whole new level, so it seems as if the band has grown up a certain extent. The song starts out with a somewhat soulful piano introduction which lulls people into thinking they’ll be hearing a ballad; yet when the electronic keyboard and pounding drums come into play, it’s obvious that what will be heard is the same bright, fun, playful energy that An Cafe is famous for. The beat continues in such a melodic way that even if one doesn’t understand a word of the lyrics, one will know what the song means. With an astounding solo from takuya and a powerful ending, MY HEART LEAPS FOR "C" definitely has the potential to be a classic love song.

The next song, Kawaiyu's ЯocК, has an almost opposite feeling as An Cafe now takes on the rock genre. The song starts with an incredible, heart-pounding drum and guitar intro which continues throughout the song. Miku tries out various voice techniques that work to his advantage, with long, melodic notes, filtered vocals and screaming all rolled into one. At a relatively short three minutes, this is one song that everyone would want to continue on for much longer - the solo in the middle is so mind-blowing that one is literally speechless! Kawaiyu's ЯocК alone makes the CD worth the purchase, if not for the sheer brilliance of the music, then to understand what Kawaiyu's Яock truly is.

For ZETSUBOU, An Cafe tries out a completely new genre. The title, meaning ‘despair,’ sums up the piece entirely, and the lyrics will leave one feeling close to tears - or at the very least longing to be close to Miku, just to console him. However, An Cafe still manages to deliver this sorrowful song with a feeling of courage and epic quality. As an extra treat, one gets to witness Yu-ki’s awe-inspiring musical skill, as the piano seems to carry the whole song single-handedly! To a much larger extent than tracks like Koi no Dependence, An Cafe delivers a song that most jazz musicians would envy.

Finally, the last song is the dance number of the single, the long-awaited NYAPPY in the World 4! This track could go down as one of the best dance anthems performed by a visual kei artist ever. The sound effects might seem a tad overwhelming at first, but be assured that it only makes the song a more exciting experience: even Miku seems to be shouting out the lyrics. Switching from rap-like verses to a pop-sounding chorus gives it perfect balance, and the famous Nyappy Bunny even makes an appearance in the intervals between Miku’s vocals. Again, An Cafe displays their self-made ‘dance-rock’ perfectly.

All in all, this single is an amazing showcase of An Cafe’s talent as musicians and will convince anyone who is in doubt of their ability that they are shining examples of the visual kei genre. This is a collection of tracks that secures An Cafe’s place in the music industry and will be hard to top, even by the band itself.