author: Sarah

With an impressive line-up of support musicians including S.K.I.N. and solo guitarist Sugizo and La'cryma Christi bassist SHUSE, Janne Da Arc's yasu brings listeners his solo debut. SPELL MAGIC was released in two versions, one limited with an included DVD and one regular which is a CD only. This is a review of the latter.

SPELL MAGIC reaches out immediately with its low guitar chords to grasp ahold of the listener and drag them into the depths of its rock 'n roll soul. A solidly rock tune, yasu's vocals and the distinctive guitar craft a catchy chorus, layered over the almost pop-ish drum beats. It's the rhythm section that provides the unexpected kick in this song, giving it a base that's upbeat with guitar and vocals laying over it aggressively. yasu's vocals are well-suited to a song like this and the listener will no doubt find themselves soon singing along.

The second track is then a tune of an entirely different sort; firstly, it is a cover and not an original track by yasu and secondly, it features the vocalist, a lovely piano line, and a guitar. The song, originally performed by LOOK in the 1980s, has aged surprisingly well and yasu's performance of the tune is spot-on. For those who were originally attracted to Janne Da Arc for his vocals, this song will be an absolute treat. Listeners who were expecting more of the attitude displayed in the initial track may be slightly disappointed but one questions how anyone could truly dislike this tune as it sways gently between passionate and flirty, the strength and conviction in yasu's tone alternating to suit the malleable mood.

SPELL MAGIC is definitely a powerful, memorable debut. There is of course something of a 'Janne Da Arc sound' to the single but this fact is inescapable if only for the fact that yasu's vocals are so tightly tied to that band's unique sound. This is, however, no simple re-hashing of the band's music as yasu has struck out to create his own, bringing the listener a single with an extremely catchy title track and a mellow, moving b-side. The vast difference in these two tracks gives listeners both brand new to yasu and those already familiar with his voice just a hint of his musical range and what he is no doubt capable of bringing us in the future.