Alfred Beach Sandal is the solo project of vocalist and guitarist Kitazato Akihisa. Having already gained experience in his previous band MOXA DELTA, he credits his current eclectic sound to influences from rock, Latin and African-American music. His latest single Honeymoon, released on April 22nd, is his first release since his second album Dead Montano in 2013.
Honeymoon is a slow burner of a song. Double bassist Iwami Keigo, one of the regular musicians lending Kitazato a hand, doubles as the keyboardist here. At first, it's all kept barebones with a moody keyboard bassline, which is joined by a super slow, sonorous drum beat and an equally scant vocal line. This basic set up, echoed throughout the track, creates an air of dejection. Luckily it picks up when the warmer chorus begins, where Kitazato's guitar has a greater presence and Iwami switches to the much more honeyed tones of the double bass. The volume is steadily cranked up until by the final minute it's become a melancholy rock elegy, full of crashing cymbals and distorted guitar wails. Kitazato possesses an unremarkable voice on first impression, but it turns out to be expressive enough to carry off the simple melody convincingly. The track is a good demonstration of the effective use of sound and silence, even if it's not quite the honeymoon that was expected.
The first B-side Dynamo Cycle is a much lighter track, more of a skippy, jazzy pop tune that was more prevalent on previous releases. The jovial nature is refreshing after the claustrophobic main track. Percussion has been boosted by guest "beat maker" STUTS in the laid-back Soulfood. The slow calypso beat blends nicely with the surf rock guitar for a seriously easygoing experience. Credit is due to Iwami for his flexible contributions to both tracks: a smooth and lively bowed double bass on the former and some reggae pizzicato on the latter make you consider whether or not it should be obligatory for all bands to include the instrument. The final track is Ningyo, a nostalgic track with hints of KIRINJI and Mr.Children.
Honeymoon alone probably isn't going to make any waves. Whilst giving us a glimpse of songwriting talent, it's simply too gloomy to get much attention. The other tracks do a good job of showcasing the variety and charisma of Kitazato's creations, so perhaps releasing this single as a mini-album instead would have done it more justice. Either way, the work shows promise and indicates that this diverse artist may have a second interesting album in the pipeline.
