“OBLIVION DUST returns with their first CD single in eight years featuring two rock tracks and a more Western/British rock style of sound. A welcomed return and an overall cool, catchy CD single.â€
ARTIST: OBLIVION DUST
CD SINGLE: GIRL IN MONO/BED OF ROSES
LABEL: Cutting Edge
CATALOG #: CTCR-40268
DURATION: 8:25
RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2008
- GIRL IN MONO
- BED OF ROSES
OBLIVION DUST has defiinitely been getting the word out that they are back. With the group disbanding back in June 2001, within the last few years, there has been a surge of Japanese bands singing in English such as bands like ELLEGARDEN and FAT PROP and Japanese labels showcasing talent from the US that are both fluent in English and Japanese (or not fluent but sing in Japanese), it was not a surprise that one of the rock bands in Japan known for singing in English to re-emerge.
In June 2007, lead vocalist Ken Lloyd, guitarist K.A.Z. and bassist RIKIJI reformed the band and recruited a few supporting musicians to and started touring Japan and in Jan. 2008, released their self-titled album (their 6th album) and by June 2008, released their first CD single in eight years with “GIRL IN MONO/BED OF ROSES”.
Also, spreading the group’s OBLIVION DUST name was K.A.Z. who recently got involved in a side music project in Feb. 2008 with L’Arc~en~Ciel vocalist hyde to create the band Vamps. And through communication with fans via MySpace, more and more people became familiar with OBLIVION DUST and their music.
While Ken Lloyd (who is half Brit and half Japanese) is known for his VJ work at MTV Japan and most notably his musical work with LUNA SEA’s INORAN with the band Fake?. A band that is currently on hiatus as Lloyd focuses on OBLIVION DUST.
RIKIJI, before joining OBLIVION DUST in 1998 was in the band Mega8Ball and reformed the band in 2001.
So, with each member of OBLIVION DUST still busy with their own bands, they managed to come together to reform their old band OBLIVION DUST and release more music.
With their 12th CD single, the first track, “GIRL IN MONO” features a rock-based track featuring lyrics and melodies by Ken Lloyd and music by RIKIJI and “BED OF ROSES”, a song featuring lyrics, music and melodies by Ken Lloyd.
Each track are similar in the fact that they are within a similar style, electric guitar driven rock n’ roll, very Western or British rock sound, cool percussion and harmonizing and of course, Japanese band members with Lloyd singing in English. Enjoyable, cool and catchy melodies and the sound of the band is what you would want to see them try to make something happen in the US or outside of Japan because they have the talent to do so.
But with eight years having passed, does the band still want to generate the music like their past hits like their awesome 1999 song “YOU” or what about that electronic rock style as featured in their 2000 song “Designer Fetus”?
From this CD single alone, the song is very Western or even a semblance of British rock which is not a bad thing at all but it’s a change from their original style and I’m curious to hear more of their later works (note: at this time, I have not listened to their fifth album “OBLIVION DUST”).
The CD single is quite short with only two tracks and the CD insert is a standard bi-fold with the English lyrics. Included is a mini-flyer promoting their fifth self-titled album and the band’s other previous works.
Overall, the two CD singles are catchy and very cool rock music but with only two tracks, you would have hoped there would be a CD-extra of a music video or a DVD included. Maybe extra tracks, vocal or instrumental.
But all-in-all, the price reflects the two tracks at less than $9 for the CD single, it’s a low-priced CD single and gives people a chance to check out the music of OBLIVION DUST.
“GIRL IN MONO/BED OF ROSE” is a cool single from the band but I want to hear more from OBLIVION DUST because it’s a deviation from their music from the past (and I enjoyed their older songs a lot), but utilizing this newer style is not a bad thing considering the tracks on this CD single are enjoyable but curious to see how future releases will be and to see if that style from the band’s past, especially the electronic music will re-emerge.
Check out more of our reviews at J!-ENT’s World Groove
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