Since reuniting in 2010, Japanese-Hawaiian duo
Def Tech have once again achieved enviable commercial success with their unique, island-tinged blend of hip-hop, pop and electronic music. Still,
Shen and
Micro prove that they have no intention of coasting along on the same formula with their diverse follow-up to 2011’s
UP,
24/7.
Unfortunately, the album starts off on, arguably, a bit of a weak note with
Anniversary. It begins as a tooth-achingly sweet ballad, with lyrics describing holidays couples spend together each year, but then suddenly breaks down into a much more aggressive dubstep section filled with drill-like noises and pounding beats. While it certainly shocks you awake, this heavier part still feels like a mismatch with the almost cartoonishly sugary lyrics and vocals of the rest of the track.
Anniversary also features many of the most awkward lines of the album, the worst of being “October fest, loving beer and taking it extreme with your Halloween costume”.
Thankfully,
Shen redeems himself for that line on the next track,
The Best Time, a clap-along vacation song with much smoother lyrics and a memorable chorus that lets his voice shine. In fact,
Shen steals the spotlight from his partner on much of the first half of the album, particularly
The Key, a mature ballad about the importance of forgiveness. His voice is complimented beautifully on it by that of jazz singer-songwriter
Emi Meyer creating a cool, adult feel that is a refreshing surprise next to the more light-hearted beach tracks.
On the other hand, the Red Cross tie-in songs,
Be The One and
Bolero, both follow in the style of fan favourites
My Way and
Irie Got ~Arigatou no uta~―optimistic hip-hop/pop songs urging listeners to look inwards first in order to improve their surroundings. While this message seems to resonate even more with the members since their reunion, the new songs aren’t quite as catchy as the older hits. However, they are both very inspiring, avoiding becoming preachy due to the smooth flow of the duo’s lyrics and the obvious sincerity with which they’re delivered. Although, in terms of atmosphere, the two songs are very different, as
Bolero, which is built around a striking drum roll by
RIZE drummer
Kaneko Nobuaki, has a dramatic marching feel, as if pushing people to rise up, while
Be The One prods the listener gently to fulfill his or her full potential with a softer, more serene vibe.
Another inspiring track,
Marathon, is one of the stranger moments of the album, somehow managing to successfully combine a grand, sweeping ballad with upbeat, almost techno sections. Like
Anniversary, it’s a little shocking to hear coming from
Def Tech at first, but the subject matter and music work together far better, and it’s definitely one of the strongest tracks.
He’eia ~Jawaiian Mix~ is also rather bizarre. Surprisingly political in places, yet joyous, it sees
Shen attempt to reconcile the darker side of Hawaiian history with his appreciation for the beauty of the islands. The soothing Hawaiian chorus gives it an almost hymn-like feel that balances out the outrage of the first verse very effectively.
While the majority of the album explores the more laidback part of their sound,
Def Tech’s more aggressive side also makes an appearance in the swagger-filled party tracks
Flow and
Summer Steppin’. Both are fun and energetic from start to finish, propelled by intense raps from
Micro, handclaps and pounding beats.
Overall,
24/7 shows that
Def Tech still aren’t afraid to take risks. While the sheer variety of the album makes it feel a bit disjointed at times, and it has its share of flaws, every song has something interesting to offer. More importantly, each track glows with their usual warmth and sincerity. Highly recommended for anyone in search of some upbeat summer music.
The full PV for
Marathon and a preview of
Be The One can be viewed below.
