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Archived Reviews
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Having just toured the UK, Psydoll have been kind enough to send me a copy of their album, I Psydoll. Given that they are billed as an Industrial act, I should point out that it’s no good you wading into their music expecting to hear an Oriental version of NIN or Ministry – remember this is from Japan, where things we take for granted in the West are slightly removed from the norm in the Japanese market. This is very much the case with Psydoll, bringing us their Alternative rock/Goth/industrial flavour. Tracks on the album range from poppy-rock to mellow and haunting laid back numbers, to all out in your face cacophony. There’s definitely a good mixture of stuff here, and it really is a feast for the ears. Did I mention Psydoll have a female vocalist? No? Oh, well they have, and her voice is quite superb. Despite her singing in Japanese (well she would wouldn’t she), I could listen to her sing all day and night – she can hold a wide range of notes, and definitely leads the music, making the songs very listenable. The music itself (lots of guitars and drums, coupled with electronic keyboards) is also very well constructed, and again, this makes this album very easy to listen to. It’s the sound of a harpsichord that opens the 1st track, closely followed by electric guitars, and then the vocals. ‘Faraway’ does have the feel of a Japanese pop song, and for a moment is hard to see where this sits in the ‘alternative’ genre. But it’s a very listenable track all the same. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is more frantic, and has a far sexier sound to it – with some of the vocals sung in English – and definitely feels darker. Things get heavier still with ‘Machinery Lemmings’ – raucous and heavy guitaring opens the track, and then the vocals come in, distorted slightly. This really works as a track, and by now you’re beginning to understand the diverse talent and skill on offer here from Psydoll. ‘Aka I Tuki’ is a track with a heavy cyber feel to it – almost sinister in it’s delivery, the child-like style to the vocals against a dark and sinister musical background can send a chill down your spine. ‘The End of Faraway’ is a very mellow and laid back track. Think of falling cherry blossom on a summers day and you’re pretty much there in terms of what this track is offering. Very relaxing. ‘Theme for Psydoll’ gets us back on the cyber/industrial wagon, and is an electronic, beat laden number, but it never really gets going, and you spend the whole time the track is on waiting for it to get going. Not to sure what’s going on here. This is followed by ‘In The Fog’ – a jaunty number accompanied by acoustic guitar. This could almost be a modern sea-shanty… almost. As it stands, it’s a fresh and dynamic little track and quite pleasing to listen to. ‘#7’ is a pounding and dark industrial track, and works very well. Again those vocals add an element of focus to the music that makes you want to listen to it all day. ‘His Melody’ is a cacophony of guitars and drumming – at least it’s intro is, and this is punctuated by moments of quiet and the vocals. The track builds on this throughout, and the stop start approach to the track keeps you awake if nothing else. This style of track is not my cup of tea, but others might enjoy it. We’re back to mellow again with ‘The Song Offered a Hunter’- piano and a heartbeat like bass line sets the foundation for the thoughtful vocals. This is a good track, and is full of passion. ‘Spell’ picks up the pace again, more energetic and lively. The track on this album that has me captivated is ‘The Iron Battleship with the screw made of glass’ – this track makes me wish I could understand what is being sung about here. Thoughtful and melodic, this track is lead by the vocals which are sweet and passionate in their delivery. Superb stuff! ‘Theme for Psydoll 2’ has English vocals and builds up nicely into a more rock orientated number laced with electronic keyboards. It’s not until the last track on the album, ‘Rose Rose Rose’, that things pick up the pace into a dance floor filling track. Fast and energetic, I can see this packing people onto a dance floor with no problems at all. Great stuff. There is no doubt that Psydoll know their stuff, and musically this is a great album, and also a valuable insight into the Japanese alternative scene. If you’re even slightly curious about the scene over there I urge you to get this album – you won’t be disappointed. |
