BLOOD - BRUMES ET PLUIES~mist and rain~

BRUMES ET PLUIES~mist and rain~, BLOOD's third maxi-single and second release in their [LES FLEURS DU MAL] concept series, is an enjoyable single that features a brand new song, a newly recorded version of a 2nd Period BLOOD track, and a remix of the title track.

BRUMES ET PLUIES opens with a simple piano melody and quickly turns into a more upbeat song with a heavy bass line. Without sounding overly dark or emotional, this song brings forth a lot of feeling due largely in part to fu-ki's powerful vocals. Kaede's bass stands out, a prominent sound even behind the other instruments, and a short solo about half way through allows the listener to enjoy it even more. An additional guitar solo rounds out this solid track, which displays what each of the members can really do.

SAKURA, a song that originally appeared on the mini-album BLOOD, was re-recording with fu-ki's vocals for the second track. With soft, flowing verses followed by a livelier chorus, this song sounds much the same as it did in its first recording, including a spoken break by a woman named Lauren. The difference lies in the vocals. fu-ki's rich and powerful voice brings the song to a whole new level, making it a beautiful piece of music to listen to.

The closing track, BRUMES ET PLUIES bossa nova remix, has a sound that sort of grows on the listener after a few playbacks. The title track set to a traditional Brazilian bossa nova rhythm, it's an interesting listen despite the odd combination of styles. Kiwamu's guitar does have a particularly pleasant sound in this song and, while the bossa nova rhythm doesn't completely work for this track, it lends a certain bold charm that makes up for the strange choice in remixes.

New, old, and something a little different, BRUMES ET PLUIES~mist and rain~ is a satisfying single to tide BLOOD's fans over until the next release.