[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to Vanilla Mood – Ajuka

January 18, 2008 by Dennis Amith 

GROUP: Vanilla Mood

CD SINGLE: Ajuka

LABEL: Sonic Groove

CATALOG #: AVCD-16145/B

DURATION: 16:56

RELEASE DATE: December 5, 2007

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Ajuka
2. Supersonic Girl
3. X’mas Melody

DVD: Region 2, 16:9LB, Duration: 15 minutes

1. Ajuka (Music Clip)
2. X’mas Melody (Music Clip)
3. Making

The musical quartet known as Vanilla Mood are back with their first CD single titled “Ajuka” after two mini-album releases in 2006.

The quartet consists of Waka (flute), Yui (violin), Mariko (cello) and Keiko (piano) and have been around since 2003 (Waka joined in 2005) and have been performing their instrumental music and received their big break after a few live shows with Sonic Groove and released their first self-titled mini album in Feb. 2006.

Although we have seen several female musical groups to come from China and the brass group PISTOL VALVE also from Japan, Vanilla Mood is a quartet featuring four beautiful women who are talented musically and also at times features vocals by pianist Keiko.

For the song “Ajuka”, the song was written by Vanilla Mood and the music was arranged by Keiko. The song is a J-Pop song but the various instruments that the girls play, take center stage in their music and blends together perfectly.

The group does play with an accompanying drummer, bass and guitarist but by watching the music videos of Vanilla Mood, you can’t help but be enamored with their musical style as each have their own unique way of jamming on their instruments.

The coupling song “Supersonic Girl” is a song that focuses solely on the four women’s instruments and background singers singing the lyrics “Supersonic Girl”. Personally, I could do without the background singers and the beatbox in the background and just listen to the women just play. There is a brief segment in the middle of the song where Keiko sings.

The third track “X’mas Melody” is a pop Christmas song sung by Keiko and although having a beat and a groove, the background strings of Yui and Mariko are very pronounced in this song. And the flute playing by Waka is awesome.

The DVD features the music videos for “Ajuka” and “X’mas Melody” and the making of the videos. An interesting note is that all videos and making of are featured in 16:9 LB.

The “Making” features the four women in a photo session, sharing their input with each other on the photos and also the making of the two music videos. The Making ends with the women sending out a personal message to their fans.

The CD insert is a basic two page interior fold features the lyrics to the two songs.

“Ajuka” is actually a very cool video to watch and see the women jam on their respective instruments. And as I mentioned before, the women are beautiful and talented.

For “X’mas melody”, the women are in a more serene setting with feathers falling and the women are elegantly dressed for the Winter season and jamming.

Vanilla Mood’s music is something that you either enjoy or you don’t. Personally, because I listen to a lot of classical and opera, I happen to dig the musical style of this group as it combines there music with pop music.

So, as where we have seen all-female bands utilizing an electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and bass. Vanilla Mood utilizes piano/keyboards, violin, cello and flute and also Keiko does a great job on vocals as well.

All in all, if you are interested in listening to something different from what’s currently out there from an all-female band, definitely give this CD single a try.