[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to TRF – iNNOVATION

December 12, 2007 by Dennis Amith 

GROUP: TRF

CD SINGLE: iNNOVATION

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD 31295/B

DURATION: 18.7 minutes

RELEASED on October 17, 2007

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. INNOVATION
2. one love -Sun on the moon-
3. INNOVATION – Back Track -
4. one love – Sun on the Moon – Back Track-

DVD: Region 2, Duration: 5 minutes, 4:3

1. INNOVATION -Music Clip-

TRF returns with their 35th CD single “INNOVATION” which continues the group’s energetic dance music that they are known for and their only CD single release for 2007 (last CD single was “we are all BLOOMIN’” (AVCD-31095, rel. Nov. 29, 2006).

The CD single is very cool and the DVD is probably on of the best produced videos I have seen for the group. But first, let’s discuss the new CD single.

“iNNOVATION” features music arrangement by Hara Kazuhiro, written by Kawahara Miyako and mixed by Morimoto Koji. The song is guitar and synth driven and uses a Mid-Eastern type of style and features TRF at its best with a good blast of dance rock grooves. I love the whispy hints of that Mid-Eastern or Indian style of flavor that is incorporated into the dance track and definitely among one of the coolest dance tracks to come from the group.

The coupling track “one love -Sun on the moon” is a very cool track which is produced by Tanaka Hayato, written by Kawahara Miyako and is mixed by Yasuda Yukihori. Very addictive beat and more pop-based but a very cool track which could be a main CD single track because it’s that good.

The last two songs feature the back-track instrumentals of the two songs.

All in all, two awesome dance tracks for TRF’s latest CD single and on the CD+DVD version, you get the music video for “iNNOVATION”.

I really like the recent music videos to come from TRF lately and we are getting more videos shot in different countries which are cool and with “iNNOVATION”, the music video features the group walking in the dunes in the middle of the desert with glimpses of a city in the Middle East and with clips of DJ KOO sporting a moustache with his blonde locks of hair DJing (and actually dumping his DJ equipment on the ground); CHIHARU and ETSU showing off their awesome dance choreography and showing that fifteen years after their debut, they still have it; SAM showing his dancing that he’s known for but mostly in this video, he’s doing some old school popping which is cool to see and YUKI… Wow! For so many years, I’ve wondered how YUKI would look with long hair and there are scenes with her and the extensions and she looks absolutely beautiful.

All in all, the filming of this music video was done very well, the colors and the color coordination, the choreography and everything worked!

The CD insert features the music lyrics to the two songs and a flyer promoting the group’s “15th Anniversary BEST MEMORIES” release and the TRF 15th Anniversary teddy bear. As well as the group’s October through December tour.

All in all, this is a very cool release from TRF. Again, I know I have said it many times but when TRF doesn’t stray away from what it does best which is high energy dance music, everything works and working with fresh producers for each CD single who bring something new to the table and not rehashing the same thing over and over again is great.

I really enjoyed this CD single and again, the music video was awesome to watch and if you can, get the CD+DVD version of “iNNOVATION”.

Anyway, if you still have faith in TRF’s music and still enjoy their music, definitely check this CD single out!