Maru Music has produced an entertaining and vibrant first volume for their new magazine
Visual Kei DVD Magazine. The organization's goal is to bring information about new visual bands to fans outside of Japan. Not one of the bands showcased in the first volume was formed before 2003; some are bands known to most visual kei fans, while others will be new discoveries. The eight bands featured are
Ayabie, Versailles, TINC, SCREW, MELLO, Guy’s Family, INO HEAD PARK, and
alice nine.
Along with the DVD is a booklet with profiles of the bands and their official websites. Presenting footage in various, unpredictable patterns, the DVD showcases live performances and promotional videos for the bands as well as interviews and even snippets of backstage footage. This gives the audience a feel for the groups' personalities and styles.
The bands profiled in volume one cover a wide spectrum of musical styles and aesthetics. From the sunny music and smiles of
TINC to the darker, more mysterious
SCREW, from the elegant beauty of
Versailles to the zany antics of the "mobile theme park" band
Ino Head Park, the depth of the visual scene can easily be seen in this selection of bands.
Overall, the DVD presents beautifully sharp images and clear sound. Interspersed throughout are clips of the two hosts,
YURA-sama (
Dacco, ex-
Psycho le Cemu) and visual kei fan
BIJU, the cat of music journalist
Akemi Oshima. Not only do these clips provide comedic intermissions, they are also educational for both uninitiated and veteran visual kei fans alike. Discussing the history of visual kei, fan hand gesture choreography, and the hotspots for visual activity in Tokyo, as well as providing information on
YURA-sama's activities with
Dacco, purchasers will learn more about visual kei from a celebrity who is a part of the scene (and an adorable cat who may be a chronic molester). And the best part? Although this is a production for fans outside of Japan, the dialogue is all in Japanese! The subtitles are not without the occasional endearing slip ("Please give a massage to the fans abroad"), but overall the purchaser probably won't find the translations distracting.
Ultimately, is this 67-minute DVD plus magazine worth the $11.98? If you're a visual kei fan, then yes. With so many new bands popping up in Japan, it's difficult to get to know them all. This is an efficient, convenient way to learn about new bands, see some favorites you already care about and understand more about the current visual kei scene in general. If Maru Music can produce future volumes of this quality, purchasers will have an excellent collection of insider info on new artists and the ever-evolving visual scene.
For more info on Maru Music and the DVD magazine, please check out their official site.
