An Cafe's latest album will blow the listener away with its unhindered playfulness.
After An Cafe’s steady build-up to success, the band has tried many different angles of its Harajuku Dance Rock style. How can such a diverse and varied band keep topping itself? Which style will An Cafe pick for its latest album? Or will the band instead bring together its many styles to produce something brand new?
The title of Let’s Brand New Wave really does give an insight into the song; as soon as it starts there is a definite sense of something new that the band has never tried before. The music has a very catchy rhythm with a rich and varied mix of instruments and sounds which work astonishingly well together. Both the music and Miku’s vocals work together to create a song that will carry the listener away on top of a wave of playfulness.
Natsukoi★Natsu GAME comes on with a slightly electronic/dance feel. There is a slightly minimalist approach to the music, which puts the focus on Miku’s melodic vocals. As the song progresses, however, An Cafe’s unhindered approach to music slowly emerges. In the final minute or so of the song, the band goes all out and puts down an amazing blend of hard rock and electronica. The heat of summer can truly be felt in this skilfully put together track.
The album takes a more relaxing tone with the next few songs, starting with Ichigo. The song starts with some fresh, calming guitar work which carries on throughout the track, bringing a sense of true tranquility with a catchy melody and soft, delicate notes. The fourth song, Passion!!, is also relatively toned-down compared to the rest of the tracks on this album. However, NYAPPY in the Parallel World is another example of a truly fun song while still being well composed and professional. It begins with a composition that truly beckons the listener to a parallel world as far as music is concerned. The background sound effects and exuberant drumming quickly take over and blend together in a joyful, fast-paced pop song that easily stands out as a party track.
AROMA, the seventh song, brings something unusually dark to this otherwise bright album. However, this style is not new to An Cafe as the band has succeeded many times in making tracks of this type. AROMA does have a slightly upbeat tone in parts, and is not as hard rock as it could have been. Teruki’s drumming fits in especially well with this heavier take on An Cafe’s usual enthusiasm. The next song, Bushidou to unfu wa shinu koto to mitsuketari, brings back the original bright vibe, but at the same time it brings a sense of power and courage. The song is very fast-paced but manages, like many of the other songs on this album, to have elements of rock mixed with what would otherwise be a dance track. The members of An Cafe each seem to be putting their musical skills to good use, as there are plenty of times in this song that take one by surprise.
SUMMER DIVE ～amatoro PEACH☆BEACH～ gives the listener a classic taste of An Cafe with some well-displayed Harajuku Dance Rock. Straight away, one is overwhelmed by a splash of sounds, each of which complement one another perfectly. Teruki’s drumming acts as a base for the whole song, and steady guitar work from takuya and carefully chosen sound effects make up the background. Miku’s vocals are in top form, adding yet another dimension to this already brilliant song. Overall, SUMMER DIVE ～amatoro PEACH☆BEACH～is a fresh yet gentle song.
MY ♥ LEAPS FOR "C", a heart-felt love song, helps you unwind with its mix of emotions which would usually be present in a ballad and some classic oshare kei rock. The next track, YOU, brings an even calmer feeling to BB Parallel World, but still with an extremely happy pop vibe as Miku’s unbelievably sweet vocals are coupled with equally sweet, charming music.
An Cafe has managed to create an entirely new type of music with its latest album. The careful mix of lively dance and powerful rock is apparent in so many songs on BB Parallel World. However, the band still maintains all of its former traits, and so also produces songs that lean towards other musical genres with its upbeat pop, energetic guitar solos and calming melodies. Each song will enchant the listener with its sheer sense of playfulness and joy that is certainly becoming An Cafe’s trademark. BB Parallel World truly gives the listener a glimpse into a parallel world that they will not want to leave.
