ASIA ENGINEER – Zettai Makenai! (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single)

September 10, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

“Asia Engineer returns with an “unbeatable’ summer driven CD single.”

GROUP: ASIA ENGINEER

CD SINGLE: 絶対負けない! (Zettai Makenai!)

LABEL: Rhythm Zone

CATALOG #:  RZCD-45956/B

DURATION: 31:19

RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. 絶対負けない!
2. 新しい自分に会うため
3. 僕らの声
4. 絶対負けない! (Instrumental)
5. 新しい自分に会うため (Instrumental)
6. 僕らの声 (Instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 16:45 minutes

1. Inside Your Head – Music Video-
2. Inside Your Head – No Edit Ver. Featuring Choreography- (with commentary)

Rhythm Zone hip-hop/vocal quartet, Asia Engineer (featuring YOPPY, KZ, ZRO and SHUHEI), returns with their 11th CD single “Zettai Makenai!”, just in time for the summer season.

To describe the music of Asia Engineer, the quartet functions as a hip hop group that can sing vocals.  And instead of staying consistent with sampling or sporting a R&B urban groove compared to other artists in a similar genre, the group utilizes musicians on a lot of their tracks.  So, you get a good balance of sing song vocals and rapping with their songs and music that features a balance of electric guitar, percussion and keyboards.

The first track “絶対負けない!” (Zettai Makenai! or Absolutely Unbeatable!) is a track produced by YANAGIMAN and is a rock/pop track that features a good balance between pop vocals and hip-hop with a balance of electric guitar, organ and V drums.

The second track “新しい自分に会うため” (Atarashii Jibun ni Autame/I am going to meet someone new) is another track produced by YANAGIMAN and features an acoustic guitar, organ and percussion.  The track is more of a pop ballad.

The third track “僕らの声” (My voice) features a track by Kagawa Daiki and sound produced by YANAGIMAN.  The song features a percussio, keyboards and bass-groove driven track.  Of the three tracks on this CD single, this track features more of a deep beat and more synth based.

The DVD features three video clips.  The first is the music video and commercial for “Zettai Makenaide!”.  The music video features the group as employees of a fruit market and in the front are watermelons.  The watermelons feature three watermelons with human faces.  A mother, father and a child who are happy to be out there.  But in the summer, water melons are eaten but also used on the beach as a game where they are smashed.  So, the mother and child are purchased and they are sad that they are being separated by their father.  And the father sings “Zettai Makenai!” (absolutely unbeatable) but it is more likely that the two will be eaten or crushed to death.  As for the father watermelon, he goes under the training to become stronger, so when he is purchased.  All these strong guys carrying their wooden sticks attempt to crush the watermelon but it happens to be very strong.  The father fights for his life in the memory of his family to become stronger and succeeds.  And the last image is him remembering his family on the stand while they sing “Zettai Makenai!”

As for the second clip, an ASIAN ENGINEER music video courtesy of YO TV.

And the third clip features the making of “Zettai Makenai!” but primarily footage of the trainer and the father watermelon.   It’s very interesting is that the actor who plays the father watermelon is seen undergoing training by the buff, strong trainer and really being put to the test.  So, the clips seen on the music video actually features the nerdy watermelon father actually going through training to be stronger. And the trainer, his face looks like he was very serious during filming.  As you can see his face on the CD single cover.

The CD insert features a bi-fold with lyrics to the tracks and production credits.  Also, a mini-flyer promoting upcoming Rhythm Zone releases for August 2008.

All in all, another fun CD single release by ASIA ENGINEER.  If anything, I really recommend purchasing the version with the CD+DVD because the music video was quite fun.  There is actually a storyline and how it relates to the song was quite fun to watch.  Who would imagine a watermelon family?

As for the CD, if you are familiar with the group’s music, you pretty much know what you’re getting and all in all, another solid CD single by the hip hop quartet!

Check out more of our reviews at J!-ENT’s World Groove

Buy this CD Single: