音時雨 ~Regentropfen~

2013-Aug-30 (Fri), 5:03@GMT+8

♡ CPTS - Spoiler & Complaint

コープスパーティー Tortured Souls -暴虐された魂の呪叫-
↑ Let's call it CPTS.
Although I wanted to talk about my own thoughts a few days ago, I couldn't because there was things much more interesting than writing for this failed work. I was planning to keep a 1080p copy but now I changed my mind. u_u
However, I did enjoy this "happy" anime -- I couldn't stop laughing while watching the 4 episodes in a row. As a big fan of the original game (hmm, I didn't play CP2U because I don't have a PSP), there are so many scenes to place my butting-in comments.
I bet people who are new to this work will be lost unless they watch solely because it's a horror anime. Fans of the original game will not be satisfied because it lacks proper structure to make everything continuous. As an OVA, the characters are not that well-drawn.
Probably, the only good things of CPTS are its opening theme song and the unchanged cast voice list...
★SPOILER ALERT★
I'm not responsible if you get spoiled by reading any of the following text.
The rest three episodes are still acceptable, but the first episode goes so quick and -- what is also more fatal -- it lacks proper transitions.
I noticed it since the very beginning: how they got trapped. (They missed some funny moments). However, the beginning, though changed a little bit, is not bad. I actually don't ask for 100% original content as long as the entire framework is reasonable. But the following ep1's main story is getting rather funny -- Yes, all major events in the game between our Bilibili (Naomi) and Hentai Lady (Seiko) were included: that at the entranceway, that in the infirmary, and that ointment event. :P Such parts excite me, but as I said before, they flow too quick and lack connection. I couldn't stop complaining while seeing the previous frame just ended their conversation and being jumped into the infirmary in the next frame. Also, the quarrel at the end looks a bit abnormal -- do you believe Kuroko can run away from Naomi solely because of Naomi's impulsive blame? I don't.
By the way, the famous "stepping-onto-someone's-large-intestine" happened when Seiko is by herself. << They should at least keep this as original, the conversation was so funny!
◆Seiko dies, and Naomi is warned by Mild Seven (Naho) that she's the only living person in this dimension.
CPTS changed the situations of our Class Rep (Ayumi), the Badness (Kishinuma) and Sensei (Yui) a little bit. Seems Sensei isn't together with the rest two (they changed it because they also think it's too odd to have a closet with kitchen knives, chisels and scalpels? xD). She goes into the infirmary and triggered Mayu getting smashed and thus became Mayu-chanjam. (And I still wonder at what speed a person's body can be smashed like that...)
Our Necrophilia (Morishige) looks as usual at the beginning. Since there were quite a lot of scenes of him, I though they might take things from "Book of Shadows (CPBS)", but I was wrong. His turn is too short. Being seen by our Ordinary Hero (Satoshi) and his Bro-con sister (Yuka) while taking photos of his favorite "artwork", being exhausted and thus enjoys his "collection", followed by the canonical calling -- No, it's not the end here! However, this change made me deducted an additional mark from my overall rating of CPTS... I'll go back to this point shortly.
◆Yui witnesses Mayu getting smeshed; Morishige takes shot of Mayu-jam and soon knows the truth.
Meanwhile, in case of Satoshi and SatokoYuka, they got attracted by Illya (Sachiko) too early -- their part is likely adapted from BS. Only after a moment, Satoshi is transferred and leaves Yuka by herself. I personally don't like the scene when Satoshi found Kizami's student ID, which is also Kizami's first entry into CPTS. -- Right, before I go more into Kizami's part, I need to go back to Morishige. Yuka is in the annex looking for his brother, so she meets Morishige, who is beating a dead person. In CPBS, he's at least keeping sane to not hurt Yuka, but here in CPTS, he completely turns into a hopeless murder. "Because you made a promise with Mayu to be together with her, now let me beat you onto the wall to get it come true." (--don't you think you should be the ONLY one being with Mayu??) This makes Yuka running away and hiding herself, which getting this work's No.1 Sis-Con (Kizami) stepping onto the stage. He at first helps Yuka and finally wants to kill her but unfortunately gets struck by the Berserk (Yoshikazu). Think it's the same as the original work? Well, sort of. Before, Kizami killed Kurosaki Ichigo, now, he kills Morishige. Fine, I know the staff hate him (but I don't!) and this does make sense. Yet comparing with our Necrophilia Morishige, Kizami's part is even worse. I think the biggest failure here is the staff didn't include even a tiny piece telling how Kizami developped his mental status (killing small animals and enjoying watching the end of life). In CPTS, Kizami just looks like a broken person, has no difference from any others who turn insane at this place.
◆Yuka gets separated from Satoshi, runs away from Morishige. Morishige is cut at neck by Kizami, Kizami goes broken.
On the other hand, the main culprit who bring everyone into that place, Ayumi, with Kishinuma, talk to Naho, get an old doll when her spirit disappears (I myself prefer the creepier appearance of the doll in the game), and then find out a bloody bag. They haven't confirmed what's in it, the Yoshizawa attacks them but then they by chance know the bag can help those brats (actually the scene of they opening the bag is more interesting... and, aren't you just a Classroom-komori?), so they go for all the rest bags. After the next house-quake, they are taken back to their normal world. Soon, after a boring talk with the Eye-less (Yuki), Ayumi experiences the scene of murder, knows the truth and decides to return and help others.
This whole part is so crappy. They skipped the swimming pool part (which is the most interesting), and the last words from the doll (which I even wanted to set the laughing as my ringtone) and how they meet Morishige and get the last bag from him (well, he's dead already in CPTS). Such changes made the combination of our Class Rep and the Badness isn't that "entertaining" as usual? -- Probably it's also because most of their funny stories are from wrong ends. :3
Another failed point is the scene of murder, I remember the anxious feeling at this part in game. But in CPTS, they used only few minutes -- Don't you think a long span of silence + black screen can make people feeling nervous? -- I guess some people would not realise what's going on when the scene ends.
◆Ayumi and Kishinuma help the kids and are sent back to the normal world and Ayumi decides to return.
But like a wrong end in game, Kishinuma refuses going back. Yet unlike that wrong end, he indeed does something rather than turns darken. Ayumi enters the science room and tries to help Yuka and meets Kishinuma who hits onto Kizami the Model (a human model can kill others -_-). But seems the staff hate Kishinuma too, so our Badness is also killed by the Berserk. Satoshi, who knows the way to return, goes across dimensions and meets Naomi. He followes Yuka's voice and finds Ayumi and Yuka and the dead Kishinuma. Anyhow, maybe Yuka is the hardest person in CPTS?! She doesn't die after being stabbed at thigh, eye, and heart (or somewhere near it). Plus, isn't Yuka supposed to ask Satoshi saying he loves her? It's a shame that her last words were "going home together"! XD
◆Yuka and Kishinuma are killed by Kizami and Berserk.
Satoshi doesn't going broken in CPTS either. Based on the previous events, I thought the staff were planning the "all-dying" end (Ayume the Invincible Iron Fist is so MOE). But up to this point, I thought they were going to the "loop end". Anyway, afterwards, Ayumi, Naomi and Satoshi watch Kibiki's video tape, know what happened between Naho and him. They then split up to find out how to make Illya rest in peace.
Naho knows the truth about herself and disappears; Naomi and Satoshi see how Illya's mother dies and how headmaster kills Illya. Yui dies in front of Ayumi. The staff hate Yui as well (I feel like they hate everyone). They killed Yui in one second by an accident -- she might only die in this way, she didn't get hurt by the knief-closet after all... Naomi and Satoshi enter the dissection room and see the Berserk cuts off Seiko's tongue. Naomi then follows him and sees what happened during Seiko's death. But she retrieves sanity after receiving tons of Seiko's message (or she accelerates turning dark while seeing them). Satoshi and Ayumi first find where Illya's body is, and try to convince her. You'll know, they all have the "main char's aura" and this or that necessary props, they success and go back to the normal world. But, since Naomi lost her piece, Satoshi gives her his and he says he'll use Yuka's because they don't know what will happen if you don't use the same piece as what you used to come here (again, I want to see Ayumi burns her piece!).
Eventually, the last three survivors -- I should say the last two -- Ayumi and Naomi successfully return. You ask about Satoshi? Only his two cut-off arms return, and no one knows where his body is. Because Yuka already dies, he thus has no intend to live so he passes his own piece to Naomi? << My guess.
What the hell is the end!? (゚д゚ )
◆Yui dies. The rest three people convinced Illya and go back to the reality. But only two remained alive in the normal world.
The end, same as the beginning of BS, but without the faceless photo of Seiko. (That's why Ayumi asks her instead of Satoshi to go Sachiko's house in BS?!)
Absolutely not a good adapted work, but suits watching for entertainment -- and it's NOT horror!
♥:━:♥♡:━:♡♥:━:♥♡:━:♡♥:━:♥♡:━:♡
Ciel nosurge Genometric Concert Vol.2 just got released a few days ago, can I say I love Haruka and Noriko's parts, and I still dislike Minami Kizuki's voice and keep skipping her tracks.. ^^;
2013-Aug-17 (Sat), 9:52@GMT+8

❀ A So-Late C84 Wishlist (Plus Edition)

Seems everyone is talking about C84, so am I, but a bit late this time.
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C84: MUST GET
↓ I know my wishlist is always full of my Top 4 (I really don't have a clear order, I love them all equally).
★753(=霜月はるか/日山尚/MANYO) - canoueII~最果ての塔~

Haruka's canoue circle's newest work. Her fantastic style is always my favorite and no doubt this one will be superb. I'm so excited seeing she composed two new songs--I love her style and thus Manyo's works accordingly got less priority. Another I want to mention is their works are always like old tales but never written, triggering me into my endless fantasy (or illusion?!).
★志方あきこ - 歯車館のエルデ

Akiko orgel arrangements are back~! yet it's not found online for free yet. It's a pleasant thing to visit Akiko's website (although not that up-to-date) and enjoy her colourful and delicate banners lining together. If you think only the orgel is not enough, jump to the later section. ( ̄ー ̄)♪
I now have only gone through its tracklist, every one is like a poem -- no, like a fairytale (well, in case of Akiko, it's not rare. xD). Abour the last word of the title, Erude. Probably it's the german word Erde according to google search. So can I expect a german styled Akiko orgel performance for C84? But no matter what, don't spoil me until I finish my own fantasy toward it. :3
★Annabel - caracol

Annabel's self produced 1st album. Looking at the credit, it's a mixture of various composers, but since I'm so used to Annabel+myu's sexy combination that it's very hard for me to accept all of them, I have completely no idea how it will be. Well, I'll see... hope someone share it soon!
-- Why this cover art looks like a little bit Dalí? xD
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C84: Should at least have a try
感傷ベクトル - pianismic3
Since their previous work starring Annabel, I started to pay attention to that unit(band?). Shouichi's voice is very nice (that's all I can say. I don't listen to that many of songs by male singers ^^;). I also plan to read the web comic sometime 'cause this kind of work may require additional context. :3 Moreover, actually it was Annabel's caracol's credit list directed me here. She has a song "Call Me", and here, it's the songwriter's self-cover -- it's always fun to try different versions like this~ (Annabel and Shouichi's voices match perfectly. ☆彡)
☆Kanade.org - 子どもたちは時待つ花の夢をみるか

How I reached here was because I checked bermei.inazawa's site and there is Haruka+inazawa this time. . . But since I haven't heard a single note from this work, I'll simply stop and transfer to the next item.
It will be good because inazawa's introvert+noisy style is good.
Finally, not from C84, but what's this? °_°
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New Discoveries
---- One thing I need to clarify in the beginning is that it was really inazawa's blog got me here.
...考えてみたら今まで
自分の曲ではるかさんに歌ってもらった曲と言えば、
飛び降り自殺したり民謡調だったり児童虐待されたり疲れたOLが酒のんでくだまいたり、
そんなのばっかりだったかもしれません。
thinking about all works I asked Haruka to sing...
like committing a jumping-off suicide, or with strong ethnic ambience, from an abused child to an exhausted OL getting wasted...
maybe they're all like that.

strong ethnic ambience = ACI
a wasted OL = kanka 2
-- Ehh? So what about "suicide" song and the abused child song???
Such descriptions can attract me easily (*yandere mode*), and thus I was linked to this album.

☆ぼくらのうた

I myself won't be attracted by solely looking at its cover art! (I mean this kind of cover can't remind me my favorite melodies.)
Yet after having it a try, I'm in love of this album.
Briefly, this album can be summerised as "inazawa's unique interpretation of 9 familiar songs", and the "suicide" song is tr.7 "翼をください / Tsubasa wo Kudasai".
There should be lots of versions of this song--so famous that I'm bored with it. But bermei's arrangement...
My frank words, this version makes me hyper!! (*yandere mode* x 1000).
Although there are a few arrangers can make great noise effect, you must admit that only bermei can perform noise that rhythmically and beautifully. His type of percussion and noise usage is easy to recognise. The combination of harmonic notes and noise, his music is like an old film in sepia hue and with intensive grain, like a tranquil storm and characteristic like Akiyuki Shinbou. The beginning 20 seconds are okay, you don't feel anything bizarre yet. However, when the familiar melody is sung by Haruka with a rather dry, unstable, vain and spacey tone, his unique field is thus fully developed, the warm and gentle feeling of the song's original image is distorted completely. In addition to the superb editing, he himself even performed thefunny impressive background voice. From left to right, from low to high, these voices drift around and are everywhere (like this or that thought jumping out of your mind, or like the wind around your ears when you're falling down).
Bless me with wings, and then,
-- (silence).
But you're wrong, the song isn't ended here. The rest part returned to a rather normal and cheerful mood, isn't it what happens after s/he reaches the ground...?!
I'm not good at describing the overwhelming images in my mind, refer to "Kara no Kyoukai -- Fukan Fuukei".
About the "abused child" song, that's good but not impressive. Conclusion: to make distorted covers of famous songs will gain much.
Seems I've wrote too much, so I'll go to next section:
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Past Release
I'm never planning to link all new releases (although I do want).
☆Annabel - Alternative

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO!!
The A-side song is beautiful too. But I don't like the B-side song. Since here again, we are meeting the Annabel+myu combination, I want the dark and introvert aura and I'm not expecting any "delightful and bright" melody. Now, let me go back to "Alternative". The features of myu's arrangement is probably the "smooth" flow of strings (especially the low-middle range). There is no much of violin/cello solo, and thus makes the music sensitive and delicate. In addition, her use of percussion is unique too. Not like most other arrangers who tend to keep the beat (or some term like that) unchanged, she knows how to make gradient of percussion beats, and to me, this is perhaps a key reason I describe Annabel+myu's dark songs as "sexy". (・ω・)
Also, DON'T MISS ITS PV. Not only the music, Annabel is so sexy there! I'd say this PV is my current favorite Annabel PV. ♥
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Future Releases
☆霜月はるか - レムルローズの魔女@2013.10.9
Haruka mentioned this project back to this April (May). Although no much more info other than the homepage address, I see Yoshitaka Hirota is there. I'm already used to Mitose+Hirota, so I'll see how Shimotsukin+Hirota this time.
P.S. they can draw the black cat chubbier! XD
☆志方あきこ - Turaida and 2013 Laylania Concert DVD@2013.10.23
Our beloved Akiko Shikata is back again in today's post!
It's definitely NOT Akiko's 4th album!! -- Well, that's how they define what is an album and what isn't. I don't care, I just know Akiko's album is absolutely loopable.
What is "Turaida"? Luckily wikipedia has it. But if you can read its official webpage, they noted the 4th album as "Turaida(神の庭)" whereas the Japanese means "The Garden of God". Is there more background stories hidden in the place of Turaida? I'd like to know more behind this title!
However, my biggest focus should be on the other item.
HER FIRST CONCERT DVD!
I can't wait, just can't wait! I'll get a real copy of course!
KOKIA will have her 15th anniversary concert DVD released in this September too. I'm not mentioning it specially because everyone knows it. (・ω・ )
So it's the time for Noriko to have a live DVD too! She is having so much fun with lives!!
☆Kalafina - アレルヤ@2013.10.2
Yes, I'm listing Kalafina! xD
I did leave them since "After Eden", and I did try "Consolation" (and deleted it after I looped it twice).
But you know, it's hard to forget your first love (not Kalafina, I'm saying Yuki) completely, isn't it?
Their "Hikari Furu" had no good to me. But when I saw the description on amazon, this will be the theme song of "Kara no Kyoukai -- Mirai Fukuin" that will be released on Sep.28. I'll be interested to have a try because I love KnK, which is also where Kalafina came from.
Don't let me down, or I'll leave for real! (>_<)
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That about music releases always looks like unorganised. Now I'm gonna end up here and prepare to watch Corpse Party's newest OVA. Hope I can sleep after it (I don't want a similar experience of my first time watching Higurashi alone at midnight! lol)
2013-Aug-12 (Mon), 13:25@GMT+8

✾ Yoimachi Romantic Interview

I bet my copy already arrived, yet again, I'm crying for that I can't touch it until next month. (>_<)
Anyway, at least I found a 128kbps version just now, so guess I'll loop this super loopy edition for now (I'm coming gorgeous string arrangements of Kinema Mosaic~~).
But the reason I'm writing here isn't simply making a record of this crappy version. I didn't realise there is a Noriko interview (well, I suppose every album would have a piece of interview somewhere ^^;). So I'd like to give it a quick (= not everything) translation, focusing on the liner notes (don't know if anyone else had done it though, I myself hate repeated work).
☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*☪ฺ
◆01. 桜散ル夜 ~ハナチルヤ~ / Hanachiruya / The Night When Flowers Scatter
*lyrics: Noriko Mitose, music&arrangement: Yoshitaka Hirota
This song is the pith of Hanayaka. It is a mixture of Japanese-styled lyrics and Western-styled melody, together with "moment", they are the keywords of Hanayaka.
◆02. キネマモザイク ~薔薇の筆跡~ / Kinema Mozaiku ~Bara no Fudeato~ / Kinema Mosaic ~Trace of Rose~
*lyrics: Noriko Mitose, music&arrangement: Yuuji Yoshino
The uniqueness of this song is that it's performed completely by acoustic string quartet. Different from the first song, it has western-styled lyrics, while the melody has a strong retrospective aura, making this work another type of "Taishou Roman".
◆03. ナヴィガートリア ~北極星~ / Navigahtoria ~Hokkyokusei~ / Navigatoria ~Polar Star~
*lyrics: Noriko Mitose, music&arrangement: Ken Nakagawa
The melody begins with a familiar and rather quiet phrase, and then develops like a blooming flower. Its fragile yet also strong ambience also attracted Takagi the original author.
◆04. 天球トロイメライ / Tenkyuu Toroimerai / Träumerei of the Celestial Sphere
*lyrics: Noriko Mitose, music&arrangement: Dani
The title of this song came out first while I (= Noriko) was enjoying reading "Tasogare Polarstar" scenario -- A ballad that embraces everything.
◆05. 君知ル哉、此ノ華 / Kimi Shiru Nari, Kono Hana / The Flower You Know
*lyrics: Noriko Mitose, music&arrangement: Yoshitaka Hirota
Here we meet Hirota Yoshitaka again who wrote the ending theme of the 3rd work and the opening theme of the 1st work, which makes the connection between the beginning and the end.
◆06. 宵待ロマンチカ / Yoimachi Romanchika / Evening Romantic
*lyrics&music: Noriko Mitose, arrangement: Morrigan
This song is for all maidens who fall into the world of Hanayaka (including me? XD): Forget all the sad thoughts, and serve your entire soul to the one who you love -- "Koiseyo Otome".
-- These songs were written with the exciting moments of Hanayaka, and here, I (= Noriko) wish they give you a strong impression of the world of Hanayaka, and also bring you closer to this world.
☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺฺ*:.。. .。.:*・☪ฺ*:.。. .。.:*☪ฺ
Songs of Hanayaka are all gorgeous. Like what Noriko wishes, these songs do give me a strong retrospective aura and link me to the world of Hanayaka even I've never get a chance to touch the original work more.
Hanayaka => A blending of Japanese and Western styles <= the taste of Noriko's lyrics
Every artist has his/her own style that will fit to a specific world, and Noriko is probably the best one in terms of presenting the image of Hanayaka (as how Akiko does for A.T. series :3).
and finally,
- "Kinema Mosaic" quartet is the best! (゚∀゚*)
darn, I almost forgot C84!!! (つд⊂)