Mr. Children – Nishie Higashie (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. ニシエヒガシエ
2. ニシエヒガシエ EAST Remix
3. ニシエヒガシエ WEST Remix

Mr. Children is back with their 14th CD single to kick off 1998 with the rock track “Nishie Higashie”. An awesome rock-driven track that is pretty uncharacteristic of the band thus far, but then again, this single is pretty different as you get the main rock track but then two remixes of the song which you never see on a Mr. Children single.

“Nishie Higashie” features lyrics and music courtesy of lead vocalist Kazutoshi Sakurai. The track features a little digital experimentation at the beginning but the song becomes a rock-driven track with electric guitars, pronounced drums and even Kazutoshi Sakurai rockin’ out with his vocals. It’s a pretty cool rock track and a fresh surprise from Mr. Children.

As for the coupling tracks, as mentioned, remixed Mr. Children songs is something you just don’t find on their singles but in the case of “Nishie Higashie”, we get two.

For “Nishie Higashie EAST Remix”, we get a remix from Takeshi Kobayashi and Takeshi Fujii. A beat driven track with electric guitars playing in the background. Whike “Nishie Higashie WEST Remix” features a remix by James Lavelle and Masayuki Kudo for U.N.K.L.E & Major Force West Productions. A more beat-driven remix with cool beats and rhythmic bass line.

Overall, “Nishie Higashie” is an interesting and fresh 180 from a usual Mr. Children offering. “Nishie Higashie” is a very cool single but as for the remixes, that’s pretty much subjective to the listener and if they are open to remixes. Otherwise, another cool single from Mr. Children!

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