Art-School - Scarlet

Japanese indies band Art-School has released an array of EPs and singles since their incarnation in 2000. Among the most noteworthy of these releases is 2004's Scarlet EP. With its seven tracks, Scarlet is a great representation of what makes Art-School so unique and enjoyable.

Scarlet begins with the self-titled track. The intensity and high energy emitted really get the listener moving. As the song progresses, Riki Kinoshita's vocals come to life, especially in the chorus. The track provides for a great footing for the rest of the CD.

Proceeding Scarlet is Rain Song. This presents a bit of a different vibe. Suddenly, Art-School takes on a more sullen and mellow attitude. But uniquely enough, all the intensity presented in Scarlet still remains. That is the seemingly enigmatic thing about Art-School and their music. No matter the speed or melody of a song, the band maintains a comparable degree of passion and sentiment.

A song such as Kuroe stands out as being very catchy and "bouncy" whereas the likes of Tarantula and Apart seem very driven and smooth. This release impresses the listener by being dynamic and diverse.

Every element comes together to create a flowing EP that rarely lets down. One complaint though is that it seems a bit one-sided. It starts out full of energy and life, but that slowly fades away towards the end of the release. That is possibly by design and that acknowledgement does not take away from the individual songs.

OVERALL SCORE: 9/10. While a bit off-balance, Scarlet by Art-School maintains great composure and, arguably, features many of the band's best songs.