Fifteen years after the original Gunbuster came Diebuster, which is technically a sequel, but in my opinion exists enough on its own to be taken apart from it. Besides, aside from one memorable scene (which still makes me tear up just to think about), the latter makes little reference to the former.
The choice of ROUND Table (as always, featuring Nino) was perhaps an odd one. They don't have too much to their credit, and arguably, given the distinct disco feel to most of their songs, they're even more retro than Noriko Sakai would be. I like the overall effect, but then, I like disco. It's hard to be a jpop aficionado if you don't.
This is immediately a more complex song than Active Heart. In fact, it's one of the more complex opening songs you'll find, with three or four different lines all competing for attention. In some ways it might actually be considered distracting, but things settle down for the first verse.
The chorus is a repeat of the introduction, and perhaps the strength of the song overall, as short as it is. There isn't a lot of sadness to this song, not at all. It stays happy and perky throughout.
Vocals? Pretty good, with the words somewhat sandwiched, register-wise, between the disco drum and bass beat, and the portmanteau (but not quite) of the strings. A slight syncopation to the chords, just enough to keep one guessing, and the strings come in more toward the ends of the verses.
I adore the bridge. It's disco at its best, with the strings dancing up and down the range. Very dance worthy, really. Almost, shall we say, groovy? But no, that's a different song, and a different review. In any event, the use of the wah-wah pedal is really evident here, and to good use. The song nearly veers off into funk territory, but then swings back to disco, and a hauntingly quiet, still repeated chorus before we launch into the coda.
All in all, I love this song. The backbeat gives you almost no breaks, and so you're left bopping your head for the full 4 minute 24 second length. Five of five stars, for one of the best songs of 2004.
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