Since I wrote a post about the A.T. III Hymmnos preview in the last December, I couldn’t stop talking about the new A.T. Hymmnos albums. On yesterday, January 26, that was January 27 in Japan time, the albums were finally released!
Certainly, I need to say something, because I’m an A.T. Hymmnos fan!
When I just got the songs from one of my friend (zurra, some of you would know him). Then, I was in my lab, and thus unable to scrobble them to my last.fm page. Anyways, I copied the files into my digital player. However, I played each song for only seconds, until “EXEC_COSMOFLIPS/.” came out.
That’s the song I’ve been waited since I tried the preview!!! OMG, this song was so awesome. After coming back home, I looped it for about 20 times before playing all other songs (including the super cute Akiko neko-song! lol).
Now, I wanna talk about my own impression towards those songs. I don’t know the A.T. game story, thus what I talked will only be music-based!
Certainly, I need to say something, because I’m an A.T. Hymmnos fan!
When I just got the songs from one of my friend (zurra, some of you would know him). Then, I was in my lab, and thus unable to scrobble them to my last.fm page. Anyways, I copied the files into my digital player. However, I played each song for only seconds, until “EXEC_COSMOFLIPS/.” came out.
That’s the song I’ve been waited since I tried the preview!!! OMG, this song was so awesome. After coming back home, I looped it for about 20 times before playing all other songs (including the super cute Akiko neko-song! lol).
Now, I wanna talk about my own impression towards those songs. I don’t know the A.T. game story, thus what I talked will only be music-based!
[SUZUNO=MIYA side:]
1. GUST – Grow
A good introduction with some epic ambience.
1. GUST – Grow
A good introduction with some epic ambience.
2. Azumi Inoue/井上あずみ – Kazeshirube/風標
This song was in the preview, and I recognized her voice then. It’s basically a calm song. It’s not that Ar-Tonelico-ish, but the melody does have the element of telling a legend.
This song was in the preview, and I recognized her voice then. It’s basically a calm song. It’s not that Ar-Tonelico-ish, but the melody does have the element of telling a legend.
3. Au(Gusha-Ningen)/あう(ぐしゃ人間) – EXEC_CUTYPUMP/.
This song is … crazy… @_@ and I mis-thought the kinda-bright part was sung by Haruka… >_> however, for darkish songs, this is not that good as “EXEC_PAJA” series from A.T. I. Be frank, I don’t like this song. >_<
This song is … crazy… @_@ and I mis-thought the kinda-bright part was sung by Haruka… >_> however, for darkish songs, this is not that good as “EXEC_PAJA” series from A.T. I. Be frank, I don’t like this song. >_<
4. Haruka Shimotsuki/霜月はるか – EXEC_FLIP_FUSIONSPHERE/.
Here, the Haruka-ish A.T. style comes back. It’s basically a good song. It sounds gentle yet strong. Just, I have nothing special to say here…
Here, the Haruka-ish A.T. style comes back. It’s basically a good song. It sounds gentle yet strong. Just, I have nothing special to say here…
5. Haruka Shimotsuki/霜月はるか – EXEC_ViiBaCi_MjiiRa/.
I can’t understand anything from the title… but it’s kinda like the “PAJA” songs. So I think I like it!
I can’t understand anything from the title… but it’s kinda like the “PAJA” songs. So I think I like it!
6. Yayoi Yula/柚楽弥衣 – chmod b111000000/n
A.T. III seems like to get strange titles… I’m sorry if such titles are related to the game story. But, they are really, really strange to me. Anyway, in the preview, it was already there. What I felt from this part was a bit difficult to describe. It was like in a very ancient era, and people were gathering in the twilight, having some secret ritual… did I think too much? lol
A.T. III seems like to get strange titles… I’m sorry if such titles are related to the game story. But, they are really, really strange to me. Anyway, in the preview, it was already there. What I felt from this part was a bit difficult to describe. It was like in a very ancient era, and people were gathering in the twilight, having some secret ritual… did I think too much? lol
7. Haruka Togawa/東川遥 - EXEC_Z/.
Orz, I don’t understand this title too… and firstly, I thought this singer would be Rekka Katakiri and just knew she was not in the preview at all. -__- According to zurra, this song is a bit I’ve-sound-ish. It’s true. The electronic elements are so overflowing that it’s hard to ignore. The song is just average, but I like the I’ve-ish rhythm.
Orz, I don’t understand this title too… and firstly, I thought this singer would be Rekka Katakiri and just knew she was not in the preview at all. -__- According to zurra, this song is a bit I’ve-sound-ish. It’s true. The electronic elements are so overflowing that it’s hard to ignore. The song is just average, but I like the I’ve-ish rhythm.
8. Rekka Katakiri/片霧烈火 – METHOD_HYMMELI/.
This song isn’t that Ar-Tonelico at all! It keeps reminds me her album “hareyakanaru sora no yukue.” The beat, the sound effect, and the way she sings! But, I can say it’s a nice song.
This song isn’t that Ar-Tonelico at all! It keeps reminds me her album “hareyakanaru sora no yukue.” The beat, the sound effect, and the way she sings! But, I can say it’s a nice song.
9. Noriko Mitose/みとせのりこ – XaaaCi.
Another song with a weird title… I wish there was someone may interpret them combining with the game story… ._. This is also the ONLY Noriko Mitose song in the two albums… yet I like Noriko’s voice so much… it’s unfair!! This song was in the preview too, and I recognized her immediately! In this song, the background is kinda noisy, but still in a range I can accept. The rhythm is fine. Noriko performed so well, and the total ambience of the song is superb. Noriko is really a good chanter!!! And I think this song is too short!! I wanna listen to more Noriko's voice longer... >_<
Another song with a weird title… I wish there was someone may interpret them combining with the game story… ._. This is also the ONLY Noriko Mitose song in the two albums… yet I like Noriko’s voice so much… it’s unfair!! This song was in the preview too, and I recognized her immediately! In this song, the background is kinda noisy, but still in a range I can accept. The rhythm is fine. Noriko performed so well, and the total ambience of the song is superb. Noriko is really a good chanter!!! And I think this song is too short!! I wanna listen to more Noriko's voice longer... >_<
10. Haruka Shimotsuki/霜月はるか –hoshi meguri no uta/星巡りの詩
This one has a good melody, very comfortable melody. Haruka’s voice fits it very well. But, still, I want to say it’s not that Ar-Tonelico-ish, at least this was based on my feeling of A.T.1 and A.T.2.
This one has a good melody, very comfortable melody. Haruka’s voice fits it very well. But, still, I want to say it’s not that Ar-Tonelico-ish, at least this was based on my feeling of A.T.1 and A.T.2.
11. GUST – Glow
A small epilogue, I guess. Mainly, it’s an ethnic track.
A small epilogue, I guess. Mainly, it’s an ethnic track.
Overall:
This album isn’t that good as what I expected. Some classical sound elements of Ar Tonelico were lost here. New Hymmnos singers sang well but the total feeling of the album is not that Ar-Tonelico-ish. Especially, the chorus part: it was not very intense enough to reach the “epic” level. Also, since new singer joined, I’m missing Haruka and Noriko. Especially Noriko!!! They made a huge change, but failed to reach what they’ve achieved before… In all, I was a bit disappointed by this album…
This album isn’t that good as what I expected. Some classical sound elements of Ar Tonelico were lost here. New Hymmnos singers sang well but the total feeling of the album is not that Ar-Tonelico-ish. Especially, the chorus part: it was not very intense enough to reach the “epic” level. Also, since new singer joined, I’m missing Haruka and Noriko. Especially Noriko!!! They made a huge change, but failed to reach what they’ve achieved before… In all, I was a bit disappointed by this album…
I’ll talk about the SAKIYA=RUMEI side later.