MUCC makes a great leap forward in maturity with Ageha.
Fresh off the trails of 2008's Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour, MUCC's newest single Ageha was met with high anticipation, as the band returns renewed from months abroad with foreign bands. As was evident with Dir en grey after their first festival tour of the United States, MUCC shows a strong influence from the American environment and the close relationships with bands spanning multiple styles.
The single was released on August 27th, 2008, and is available in two editions, with three new songs between them. The title track, Ageha, included with both releases, is a merciless attack of smart composition and wildly fluctuating musical styles. The song begins with a seemingly innocent, mellow acoustic guitar and a whiny, bright electric guitar duo; however, this is immediately contrasted by a heaviness beyond immediate comprehension. The track is riddled with slap-bass, courtesy of YUKKE, and aggressive, skillful guitar lines by Miya. The song has a well defined mood: lamenting, yet hopeful. Despite a rather melancholy mood, the song is quick-paced and includes a sharp guitar solo, a eurobeat breakdown and a roller-coaster of oblique vocal styles from Tatsuro. The song is a definite continuation of the uncontrollable attitude of FUZZ , while showing that MUCC isn't afraid of the absolute extremes of music.
The B-sides, Concrete 082 and Aoi mori, are both nice complements to the title track. Concrete 082 has a strong, jazzy aura, with a funk-rock playfulness carried through the song. The track slides seamlessly from smooth to sorrowful, and off to a bit unsettling in an entirely purposeful and artistic sense. The bass is again a bright focal point for the music, this time mutually accentuated by the drums brought by SATOchi.
The alternative B-side on the limited edition, Aoi Mori, is a song filled with foreign soul. The intro feels new-age and has an ambiance reminiscent of the British alternative rockers, Radiohead. Once again, MUCC shows its ability to flawlessly transition from a quick burst of heaviness to return to a subtle vocal verse, repeating this throughout the track. The song has a thought-provoking backdrop. It's distinctively Asian, but not oriental, and while the heaviness here is something truly unique, it's not pinned to any one locale. Tatsuro's voice soars high in the mix throughout the song and exemplifies the vocal technique he has accrued in the prior year. Aoi mori settles well, fading into exile with a still crooning vocalist.
The new tracks all show fantastic development from an ever-changing band. With many overseas performances under their belt, and many yet to come, the group has shown that their time away from home is more than worth the wait for domestic fans. MUCC makes a great leap forward in maturity with Ageha.
