HINOI Team with Korikki – STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (J!-ENT World Groove CD single Review)

May 7, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

“As much as I don’t care for Korikki’s involvement with Hinoi Team, ‘STICKY TRICKY AND BANG’ is another vibrant, energetic CD single from HINOI Team”

ARTIST: HINOI Team with Korriki

CD SINGLE: STICKY TRICKY AND BANG

LABEL: SONIC GROOVE

CATALOG #: AVCD-16095/B

DURATION: 24:08

RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2006

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (HINOI Team with Korikki)
2. ON MY OWN (Special Version)
3. NIGHT OF FIRE (DJ GUN MIX) (HINOI Team with Korikki)
4. YEAH! (Korikki Maji Version)
5. STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (HINOI Team Version)
6. STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (Instrumental) (HINOI Team with Korikki)
7. ON MY OWN (Special Version Instrumental)

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 10:41

1. STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (Video Clip)
2. STICKY TRICKY AND BANG (Para Para Version)
3. Off Shot

I’ve always had this interest with the Avex female idol groups that sport the Eurobeat sound. First, was MAX and then came D&D and then dream. Not until years later when a quartet known as HINOI Team would carry that torch and continue that Eurobeat tradition.

Debuting in 2005 with their CD single “Ike Ike” (used for the anime “Ichigo 100%”), the teenage quartet earned themselves a quick following because of their use of Eurobeat and Para Para dancing.

Then somewhere down the line, management teamed these young girls with the wrestling tights-wearing comedian Korikki.

In a way, I found it a bit perverse to see this old guy wearing nothing but tights and his belly hanging out and surrounded by cute teenage idol girls but thats the direction the label went that year with HINOI Team.

Their fourth CD single “STICKY TRICKY AND BANG” contained seven tracks. “STICKY TRICKY AND BANG”, “ON MY OWN” a DJ Gun remix of “NIGHT OF FIRE” and “YEAH!” (Korikki Maji Version) and of course, each track sporting that Eurobeat sound.

“STICKY TRICKY AND BANG” is a very fun track despite hearing Korikki’s voice throughout the song.

“ON MY OWN” is a fun, vibrant track (with no Korikki) and this song alone just makes me nostalgic of D&D back then. A very cool track!

“NIGHT OF FIGHTER (DJ GUN MIX)” is a song that I will always love, no matter who’s performing it. It’s energetic, exciting and overall a cool track. [Note: I have since taken this comment back after listening to the third CD single "NIGHT OF FIRE/PLAY WITH THE NUMBERS" and listening to Korikki's version of "NIGHT OF FIRE"... Horrible!]

And as for “YEAH!”, it’s actually a very fun track from their last CD single but this time it’s Korikki singing and the girls lending their vocal support for the backgrounds and chorus.

All in all, a fun CD single.

Similar to my favorite groups in the 90′s, HINOI Team has a really cool energetic style of singing these songs in unison. Everything just comes together well, even if Korikki is shouting something during the songs.

As for the DVD, “STICKY TRICKY AND BANG” features the girls dancing para para and Korikki in his tights in a band uniform top and that was just the ultimate in “cheesy”. Here you are trying to watching these girls dance and here is Korikki doing some ridiculous dance with his belly hanging out and then joining in with the choreography.

I’m sure he was added for the comedic factor but personally they didn’t need that.

Similar to CD+DVD releases from HINOI Team, there is a para para version of the music video that strictly focuses on the dancing for those who want to learn the dance moves. I found it cool that HINOI Team includes that on their DVD’s.

As for the “offshot”, you get to see the behind-the-scenes interaction of the girls, behind-the-scenes making of the “STICKY TRICKY AND BANG” music video and an interview with each member in regards to their music video.

CD insert is just a bi-fold with the lyrics and production credits.

As of 2008, no one knows if HINOI Team is now defunct. Lead singer Hinoi Asuka released a CD single last Spring but we haven’t heard much of the group at all.

All in all, for a HINOI Team CD single, I enjoyed “STICKY TRICKY AND BANG”. I still have a bit of a problem with Korikki being added to the group but I’ve seen stranger things coming from Japan.

I really enjoy the group’s music and for those who have followed MAX, D&D and DREAM during their heyday of singing those Eurobeat style of songs, definitely give HINOI Team a try.