Curumi Chronicle's Magic Technopop Touch

I tried to hard to come up with a title that didn't sound overtly creepy. It's kind of difficult when the single I'm reviewing is called Touch Me.

With a title like that, you'd think Touch Me consists of songs like Perfume's Take me Take me! Previously on Nia's Wonderland, she reviewed Curumi Chronicle's last single, 17. However, released on the same day was another Curumi Chronicle single. Because that's just how lovely the world can be sometimes. This single is Touch Me, and I've finally gotten around to reviewing it! Ideally, I would have liked to review 17 and Touch Me back to back, but time flies by when you're in college. Better late than never though! Besides, reviewing Curumi Chronicle is always a treat. She's one of the more consistent idols I review, and I know I can always expect something to jam to when she releases a single! So what songs are jam-worthy on Touch Me? And how does Touch Me hold up in comparison to 17? What is the meaning of life? Some of these questions and more will be answered so let's not waste any more time and jam out to Curumi Chronicle!

Covers/Outfits

Well, there's not exactly an outfit for this single... at least not one I can clearly see. It's probably just Curumi performing in street clothes. Which is fine, she's got great street clothes! Actually, the cover for Touch Me is a nice change for Curumi Chronicle! Usually, her covers show her very up close and personal. I like the more distant shot showing both Curumi herself and her audience! The colors for this single cover are also great as well. Like I said, most of Curumi's covers are simple and have more neutral colors. Touch Me is freaking purple. The strobe lights going everywhere make me want to see Curumi Chronicle in concert! Touch Me's cover gives off a much edgier vibe than 17. Do the songs elaborate on that? Let's find out!

Voice ft. Usagi Disco

To distinguish this song from Perfume's much lamer song of the same name, Curumi Chronicle added "ft. Usagi Disco" to the end of this song! That's totally the reason why, right? In actuality, I'm pretty sure that's just a thing Usagi Disco likes to do. Why remains a mystery. Before the news that Curumi Chronicle was even releasing this single came out, I'd listened to Voice ft. Usagi Disco. How? Through witchcraft, of course! No, Voice ft. Usagi Disco was actually a free download available around... May, I think? I was immensely happy to hear more music from Curumi Chronicle after Second Spring EP, so I wasn't complaining. Also because Voice ft. Usagi Disco is freaking awesome. Immediately, Touch Me sets itself up as a contrast to the light, fun 17 with Voice ft. Usagi Disco. Voice ft. Usagi Disco is a hardcore dance song. Do you want to know how I can tell? Because all the lyrics are in English. Voice ft. Usagi Disco reminds me a lot of 16 ft. Usagi Disco. A more serious sound, solely English lyrics, the same moniker in each song, these songs could practically be twins! No, Voice ft. Usagi Disco does sound different from 16 ft. Usagi Disco.

Voice ft. Usagi Disco is wonderful on so many levels, but it isn't without a few weird parts. Like the lyrics. What do the phrases, "Devil in my heart," "You crash my wall," and "Play my strongest card" have in common? Who knows? I don't! When someone figures that out, please tell me! Because those lines all come right after the other in Voice. Individually, these statements make sense. Kind of. With the right coupling lyrics, they would sound normal. But altogether, they sound completely nonsensical. Oh well, I doubt English is Usagi Disco's first language, so he gets a free pass. That and the weirdness of the lyrics is kind of cool. Bizarre, but cool. Voice ft. Usagi Disco is a cool song all around. I love hearing Curumi Chronicle do more dance-oriented songs; they're great to work out to! And you know, they're enjoyable! I'll bet Voice ft. Usagi Disco is amazing live. There are probably all these cool lighting effects and glowsticks and stuff. I'm extremely happy that Voice ft. Usagi Disco got included on Touch Me. It's such a great EDM song!



Five apples to Voice ft. Usagi Disco! Big surprise, I know. This song's been out for several months now, and I still love it as much as I did on the first listen. I know this is only the first song on Touch Me, but Voice ft. Usagi Disco is one of my favorite songs on this single. But wait! There's more!

Flight

Remember those previews I mentioned in my review of 17? Well, Flight was another preview that I was pumped for. Flight sounded freaking awesome. I hit play on that preview more times than I can count, waiting anxiously to hear the rest of the song. If Voice ft. Usagi Disco set the hard EDM tone for Touch Me, then Flight hammers it into the wall. Oh my Perfume, I can't emphasis how much I love this song. I can write about why I love this song, but that won't do it justice. Flight is also an EDM song, but to say that it's just that does Flight injustice. Flight is the kind of song I wanted to hear from Curumi Chronicle: a darker, edgier song, the equivalent to Perfume's GAME. Curumi had already dabbled in fun, catchy technopop music; Flight is her whipping to the opposite end. The full song is nearly five minutes, and it is five minutes of eargasmic technopop. Flight goes hard from the opening note. Curumi's vocals are deadpan serious, and the instrumental is this crazy awesome blend of sounds. There's this underlying panic in Flight, like a time bomb slowly ticking down to zero. And the music just gets louder and messier as each minute goes by, leading up to an explosive instrumental break.

The music after the break is like a cool down after a whirlwind of technopop insanity. Curumi repeats the opening melody once more, and Flight slowly lands. I know that Flight has got to be awesome in concert. Thanks to Youtube, I actually got to see Curumi's performance of Flight from my very own laptop screen. Not quite the same experience, but I got at least a fraction of the epicness this song is live. I love the extended instrumental opening in the live performance; it makes for a perfect buildup in to the song. And then the song itself looks fantastic live. There are great lighting effects, the sound is probably blasting through the speakers, and the crowd looks extremely into it. Curumi totally owns her performance too. Her energy is fantastic, she engages the crowd, and she has great presence for being only one person on an empty stage. With or without the live performance, Flight is an amazing song and hands-down my favorite song on Touch Me. Flight is the edgy dance song that I was hoping to hear from Curumi Chronicle and it delivers wholeheartedly.



Oh gee, I wonder what Nia will rate Flight... Five apples!? What an unseen surprise! Yeah, I've gushed about Flight as much as I can. Flight is phenomenal; I recommend listening to it on extra loud volume through your earbuds to get the best listening experience! And being only the second track on the single, topping Flight will be quite the challenge...

Touch Me

I find it kind of odd that the title song is track #3. Shouldn't it be the first one? Does that make Voice ft. Usagi Disco the A-side of Touch Me? Does this single even have an A-side? Confusion aside, Touch Me follows in the dance sound of Flight and Voice. Unlike the former two, Touch Me isn't big on lyrics. In fact, there are barely any lyrics to this song. Most of Touch Me, is instrumentals, Curumi ad-libbing, or Curumi repeating the song's title. Rinse and repeat. So think Perfume's Sleeping Beauty. Like Perfume's Sleeping Beauty, I can see Touch Me not working for everyone. Actually, this is my least favorite track on the single. But I still like it! Just compared to the other songs on this single, the titular Touch Me falls a teensy bit shorter. I like the atmosphere the song builds on; Touch Me is closer to trance on the spectrum of Curumi Chronicle's music. The melodies and sounds repeat a lot, slowly building over time. If this went on for an hour, I'd fall asleep, but I can handle five minutes of this song. So I do like what Touch Me does with sound: building that ambient, moody, almost seductive tone.

Unfortunately, there are parts when Touch Me gets a little too repetitive; it's easy for me to space out when I listen to this song. I told you the lyrics are minimal, and after the 2:30 mark, I really start to notice how minimally scant Touch Me is. There are only so many times I can listen to Curumi sing "Touch me" before it sounds like she's trying to hypnotize me. Maybe that's DSP's ulterior motive; brainwashing the minds of Japan through Curumi Chronicle's music! Then they'll take over the music industry, becoming technopop gods! Actually, I wouldn't mind that. I think Touch Me is a song that would be more fun to listen to in concert. It doesn't have the intense variety that Flight and Voice ft. Usagi Disco do. Touch Me is more one of those songs fueled by crowd response. Listening to this song alone in my dorm doesn't give the same impact. But my dorm is where I've listened to this song, and Touch Me isn't quite as impressive as the first two songs on this single. But Curumi Chronicle's bar of quality is a little higher than some of the other idols I review, so Touch Me is still worth checking out. It at least continues the dance vibe on this single!



Four apples seems like the appropriate amount to give Touch Me. This is a good song, but not a great song and definitely not my favorite on Touch Me (the single). It's a nice middle-track though, with a more laid back trance sound than the first two. So with Touch Me being a middle-of-the-road kind of song, what does the next song hold in store for us? Let's journey on...

Seventeen (Original)

From here on, we're covering old ground. Well, ground of the same age since Seventeen is from a single released the same day as Touch Me. Actually, I'm a little unclear on this version of Seventeen. I think maybe it was meant to be the original version? Or maybe it's just another remix? Maybe this version was meant to be on 17? If someone can fill me in on context, that would be great. But oh well, what is this? A remix of Seventeen! You all remember that song, right? The original Seventeen (not Seventeen (Original)) was the leading track on 17. While not my favorite song on 17, Seventeen was still a pretty fun song, and it had a cute music video! So what does Seventeen (Original) bring to the table not present in the origin- the first version? The songs start off differently! The first Seventeen started off with the chorus, but Seventeen (Original) has some instrumental and Curumi sings the verses before getting into the chorus. I actually like that; it shakes off a bit of that Aira Mitsuki vibe I got from the first version. And then the chorus gets a nice little buildup instead of sounding so sudden like it did in the first version of Seventeen. Other parts of the vocal arrangement are reworked too, mainly the chorus being spread out through the instrumental.

While I like Seventeen, it is one of Curumi Chronicle's songs I have slightly more difficulty remembering off the top of my head. It lacks the distinct hooks that some of her other songs have. So comparing Seventeen (Original) and Seventeen is a bit of a challenge. Whenever I listen to one, I always think the other one sounds more-or-less the same! That's not true though, and Seventeen (Original) definitely has its own quirks Seventeen doesn't possess. I do think that both songs have the same tone; both Seventeens are bubbly and upbeat. It's kind of weird hearing such a cheery song after the sensual Touch Me. Listening to Seventeen (Original) and Seventeen back-to-back, I like both songs about the same. Seventeen (Original) definitely has a less messy instrumental, and it may appeal to more listeners for that reason. I'd actually have preferred a new song over Seventeen (Original), or something similar to Orange (Sing with Cello). Like a piano version of Seventeen! Oh, I'd dig that! I'd really dig that! Well, that's not happening, so my final verdict on Seventeen (Original) is pretty much the same as the first Seventeen.



To no one's surprise (especially my own), the apple rating is the same! Seventeen (Original) gets the same four and half apples the Seventeen from 17 got! I enjoy both versions, and I am kind of bummed that Seventeen (Original) doesn't offer something radically different to the first Seventeen. This next song on the other hand...

Kitty (Touch Me Ver.)

Oh hai, Second Spring EP! Remember that single? Ah, good times. To recap, Second Spring EP was Curumi's first single she released this year. Of the five tracks on the single, Kitty was one of them, and it happened to be my favorite. Now my least favorite tracks on Second Spring EP were the two remixes. I felt they were unnecessary and bogged down the single. So when I heard Kitty was getting a remix for Touch Me, my response was nervous but hopeful. After all, Gozen Juuichi (Usagi Disco Remix) was an awesome remix. So what changes does Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) have compared to the original? For starters, Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) is a minute longer than the original. Most of that minute is occupied by a strange bridge. Remember how Curumi crooned "Touch me~" a hundred times in Touch Me? Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) picks up on that; the breaks feature that same repetition only with much more distortion. It definitely makes me see why this version of Kitty is the Touch Me version. Arrangement wise, Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) speeds up the tempo in a few parts, and it can be a little off-putting if you don't expect it.

So yay or nay on this version of Kitty? After all, I adored the version on Second Spring EP. It'd be pretty hard to beat that version. Sadly, Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) doesn't trump the original Kitty. However, it comes pretty darn close! Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) is better than I thought it would be, a lot better. I didn't think Kitty could be made into any more of a dance song, but Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) embellishes on that dance sound while adding its own alterations. The arrangement is a little hard to get into first, especially since I repeated the original version of Kitty so many times. But once I got used to it, I really enjoyed Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) There are still a few wonky parts in this remix, mainly that bridge. I'm not sure what the hell is going on in that part; the vocals get weird. Maybe it's one of those songs that explodes with energy in concert. In my dorm though, Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) is still a fantastic remix. It's different from the original but not appallingly different. Instead, the changes made in the remix work surprisingly well.



I'll give Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) four and half apples. This remix is a great way to close out Touch Me. Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) carries that dance sound that's prevailed over the rest of the single, while also maintaing the fun Seventeen (Original) brought. I wasn't sure how I'd like it in comparison to the original, but Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) stands well on its own!

The Verdict

I've had more than a month to bode on Touch Me. How does it hold up? Well, going in, I suspected that Touch Me would offer a more dance-oriented sound than 17. What I was worried was that the songs on Touch Me would all sound like copies of each other. The titular song suffers the most from repetitiveness, but everything else on Touch Me is great. The original songs are great, the remixes are great (and much better than I thought they would be), and like 17, Touch Me has a wonderful variety of technopop. Only with Touch Me, there's less emphasis on the pop and moreso on the techno. The first three singles are the most dance-oriented. Voice ft. Usagi Disco and Flight both have a darker, edgier sound that's a refreshing direction for Curumi Chronicle. She's done music like 16 ft. Usagi Disco, but Voice ft. Usagi Disco and Flight push her even further in that direction. If you don't listen to any of the songs on Touch Me except one, I strongly recommend that one song to be Flight. It's my favorite song on this single, and believe me, that's hard to pick from considering the high quality of the other four songs on Touch Me.

So that leaves only one question: which single is better? The bubbly and fun 17? Or the intense and edgy Touch Me? Both singles showcase different sides of Curumi Chronicle's music so which one is better boils down mainly to personal taste. Me personally, I lean closer to EDM. And yet... of the two singles, I think I like 17 a teensy bit better. Touch Me is still an amazing single that I enthusiastically recommend, but 17 offers more variety. All the songs on 17 are so distinctive, and 17 has more new material than Touch Me. Also, 17 has that wondrous Orange (Sing with Cello). The original songs on Touch Me are great and fit nicely together, but I feel like Seventeen (Original) could have been replaced with a new song. Kitty (Touch Me Ver.) is a good remix, so I'm okay with that being on Touch Me. Even then, those are but small complaints. Both 17 and Touch Me offer more than enough new Curumi Chronicle music. Touch Me is a fantastic collection of more serious technopop songs, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to this single even months after its release. Between this and 17, I think I'll have more than enough Curumi Chronicle music to keep me satisfied until her next release!

My final rating for Touch Me is four and half apples. Like with 17, I can't recommend Touch Me enough. In fact, I can't recommend Curumi Chronicle enough. If you like Perfume, Capsule, Aira Mitsuki, Saori@destiny, or any idol technopop, then you've gotta listen to Curumi Chronicle. If not, you're missing out. I can't wait to see where she goes after this. She's getting better and better with each single!

Curumi Chronicle at 17

So what did you guys do when you were 17? Did you release two singles on the same day, having already released an album and another single beforehand? Yeah, I didn't think so. Sadly, not all of us can be Curumi Chronicle. If only...

Curumi Chronicle, 17 years old and already accomplishing more than I ever will in my lifetime, has once again graced the world with her music. What does Saori@destiny's spiritual successor have in store for our ears this time? Not just one single, but two! Two different singles, with two different sets of songs! It's like Christmas in August! These two singles, 17 and Touch Me, were released on August 8, and I've been listening to both frequently. These past two months have just been wonderful for technopop releases: first Perfume and now Curumi Chronicle! It makes me dread the dry spell that's coming afterward... Well, for now I thought I'd review Curumi Chronicle's two latest singles! I almost thought about reviewing both in one post, but that's ten songs to write about in one post. Basically, it'd be like writing an album review only ten times longer. So I decided to start with 17 and then do Touch Me. I don't think the order really matters, as long I can spread the word that you all should listen to Curumi Chronicle if you haven't done so already. Why listen to her? Well, let's go through all the songs on 17 and see why!

Covers/Outfits

Like with her past releases, there's only one cover for 17. It's a very nice cover though! Curumi Chronicle's covers always look so nice and natural! They're almost always showing her performing or just doing something random. Curumi's random activity for 17's cover is looking into the distance with a smile, her hair blowing gracefully in the wind! It's a very simple cover (then again, all her covers are simple) but it's nice. The cover fits with the lighter tone this single is going for! And I like the color palette for 17's cover too. Curumi's bright blue shirt is a nice contrast against the light, neutral-colored background. Her outfit for 17 is just street clothes, and very nice street clothes at that. But there's not much to say about them. She looks very carefree on the cover for 17, which I assume reflects the general feeling of the songs on this single. Shall we find out if that's true?

Seventeen

Wow, I guess Aira Mitsuki did come back from her hiatus! I knew she would be back! Seriously, if Curumi just had the lisp, Seventeen would fit right into one of Aira Mitsuki's albums. The very beginning Seventeen sounds just like Colorful Tokyo Sounds No.9. The rest of Seventeen doesn't, but I always get thrown off when I first play this song. I honestly don't mind similarities between Curumi Chronicle and other technopop artists; it's practically inevitable, so there's no point in complaining about it. I'll point any similarities out, but they really don't bother me. Besides, Seventeen is an awesome song! It's got that futuristic sound that I loved in Aira Mitsuki's music. And since Aira Mitsuki is god-knows-where on this planet (she's probably not even on this planet), I am all for Curumi Chronicle dabbling in some more futuristic sounds. And not only that, Seventeen has this magical sound to it. You know, that same sound Make New World, Prismic Step, and Twinkle linkle line have. It just occurred to me that Seventeen is more-or-less a retread of all three of those songs. Oh well, at least Seventeen's a good retread. Unlike some idol groups that are on my Blacklist.

In spite of similarities, Seventeen is still a pretty fantastic song. It's an energetic song too; I can hear the enthusiasm blaring through my earbuds. Seventeen is one of those songs that gives me this feeling of wonder and inspiration. I always feel like a magical girl whenever I listen to Curumi Chronicle's music. A magical girl living in a Star Trek-style future where there are flying cars and cyborgs and lens flares galore. So what I'm actually saying is Seventeen brings out my inner magical girl. This is a serious blog that seriously critiques music, in case you can't tell. On structure, I love the bridge in Seventeen; it really highlights the bright, futuristic sound the song is going for. There's a lot going on in the instrumental of Seventeen, but it never sounds messy. If anything, it just adds more enthusiasm to the song! If I have any complaints, it would be that the lyrics to Seventeen are a little nonsensical. I guess the song is about her being seventeen? Kind of like how she released 16 feat. Usagi Disco when she was sixteen years old. I wonder if that'll be a trend with her future releases? Will we get a single titled 18 next year? What about 20? 25? 30!? I'm getting way ahead of myself; in the present, Seventeen is exactly the kind of music I love to hear from Curumi Chronicle!

What's special about Seventeen is that it's the first Curumi Chronicle song to get a music video! About time too! I came very close to reviewing the PV for Seventeen; had I not been so wrapped up in college, I probably would have. In hindsight, it's probably good that I didn't. I'm not sure I would have been able to write a full-blown PV review for Seventeen. The PV is actually pretty good for an indie artist; I went in expecting something low budget. And while the PV isn't as expensive looking as something by Perfume or Kyarypamyupamyu, there is this charm to it. From what I can see, the PV was shot outdoors, and the natural lighting is nice. It's a little hard to see the scenery in Seventeen though because of the boatload of visual effects. Have I not mentioned those yet? Yeah, the PV for Seventeen is packed with visuals effects. I think they were done by the guy who did the lyric video for Prismic Step. They're cool visual effects, and they add a lot of flair to the PV. There are times when it feels like there are too many visuals effects though.

The cool thing about the visuals though is that at the beginning, they conceal Curumi's face. When the PV starts, all you can see are her lips and sometimes the sides and back of her head. Then as the PV goes on, gradually more and more of her face is visible on screen. Then in the very last shot, you can see her entire face! I don't know why, but I really like this effect. Since this is Curumi Chronicle's first promotional video, showing her face slowly is like introducing her to the world. I don't know if that completely makes sense, but it makes me like the PV even more! And Curumi herself is adorable; I almost wish we could see more of her in this PV. Seventeen isn't the best PV in the world, but considering Curumi's an indie idol, I'm amazed we got a PV at all. I do wonder if any of her future singles will have promotional videos as well... I don't think Touch Me has one. Overall, just seeing Curumi Chronicle get a music video is great. Is it a work of art? Of course not, but I think there was real effort put into this music video! So even if the visuals are a little over excessive and the concept is a little basic, I still recommend watching this music video!



I'll give Seventeen four and half apples. I can't not point out the Seventeen's similarities to Curumi Chronicle's other songs, but that doesn't make Seventeen a bad song. The song has a lot of energy, positivity that practically radiates through your speakers, and a great sound overall. If you liked Prismic Step in particular, then you'd enjoy Seventeen. So go! Listen to this song! And since I mentioned it, listen to Prismic Step while you're at it!

Rainbow

And after the title track we get out first B-side on 17! Not to be confused with the K-pop group, Rainbow was one of the preview songs that I was particularly excited for. And when I say particularly excited I mean I played the preview twenty times straight to deal with not hearing the full version yet. Yeah, I'm not even gonna attempt to be coy about this; Rainbow is my favorite track on this single. Okay, it's one of my favorite tracks; I've had a harder time picking a favorite song off this single than I intended. But it was one of the first tracks I got really excited to hear. Of all the songs on 17, Rainbow probably comes the closest to sounding edgy; even then, the song still has the fun, playful nature most of the tracks on this single do. It's a nice contrast from Seventeen which was a more enthusiastic, cheerful song. Rainbow has the same futuristic sound of Seventeen but sounds like something you'd dance to in a club. I wouldn't be surprised if Rainbow was one of the songs that got an Usagi Disco remix. I could see it working! The song's got a fantastic bridge to work with.

What I also love about Rainbow is that the song's not just your generic dance EDM song. It has elements of EDM no doubt, but the song still sounds very quirky. The instrumental plays a big part in that; Rainbow starts out with such a strong opening instrumental. I really need to learn proper EMD production terms, because I keep wanting to call everything in the instrumental "bleeps and bloops." I'm sure there's a much fancier way of putting that, but that's what the instrumental of Rainbow sounds like. And it's awesome. The sampled vocals at the beginning are cool too; again, they add to that edgy but fun dance sound. I actually think that Rainbow is a great middle between Curumi's fun technopop sound and edgy EDM sound. There are parts of Rainbow that hint toward a harder sound, but then things pick up when the vocals come in. I don't know if another song could work the way Rainbow does, but I'd love to hear more of this blend in Curumi Chronicle's music. I mean, I love her EDM stuff too, but songs like Rainbow sound so distinctive. It's definitely one of the standout tracks on 17, and a great song to come after Seventeen.



Rainbow rightfully gets five apples from me! This song is so awesome; it's great to dance to. Even if you're a terrible dancer like me! If you like Curumi's EDM music, then Rainbow's probably the song you'll gravitate to on 17. I'd say that Rainbow is my favorite track on 17, but we still have three more tracks to get through...

Ashita Hare Tara

So after Rainbow, Curumi Chronicle slows things down with a more relaxing technopop song. On first listening to the preview, I was least excited for Ashita Hare Tara. There wasn't anything rant-inducing awful about the song, but Ashita Hare Tara left the weakest impression. It just sounded like it was going to be this basic technopop song. Now having listened to the entire song, I like Ashita Hare Tara more than I did a few weeks earlier. I don't love it, but it's still a very pleasant technopop song. It reminds me of Rainy Starry Night from Curumi Chronicle's debut album. Rainy Starry Night is a little more memorable though. Ashita Hare Tara is a calm technopop song, and after the energetic Seventeen and Rainbow, it's a nice change of pace. However, the song is maybe a little too calm. There's not much about Ashita Hare Tara that stands out; there are some nice bits in the instrumental. Otherwise, Ashita Hare Tara is what I'd expect from Curumi Chronicle. That doesn't condemn a negative verdict, but again, after two really good songs, Ashita Hare Tara is a bit of a letdown.

Is there anything redeemable about Ashita Hare Tara? A lot more than I've indicated in that last paragraph! Ashita Hare Tara really is a good song, just not a great song. I guess a positive aspect of Ashita Hare Tara is that its sound lingers closer to idol music than some of Curumi's other stuff. I mean, it's a nice blend of pop and techno whereas other Curumi Chronicle songs have a much heavier EDM sound. Maybe with the right placement on an album, Ashita Hare Tara could be like a breather song, kind of how Broken Toy was a nice interlude on Curumi Chronicle's debut album. On 17 though, Ashita Hare Tara is probably my least favorite song. Even then, my least favorite song is still a pretty good song. Ashita Hare Tara is a sweet, melodic song that fits well with Curumi Chronicle's voice. I would mind hearing an instrumental version of Ashita Hare Tara because think it'd be pretty. Maybe a good instrumental to write to? And honestly, as a listener, I will absolutely listen to Ashita Hare Tara. And enjoy it. Looking at the song from a critical standpoint though, it's just the most underwhelming song on this single.



I've gotta go with four apples for Ashita Hare Tara. This is the safest-sounding song on 17, but Ashita Hare Tara is still enjoyable! If you like Curumi Chronicle's more pop-oriented songs, you'll like Ashita Hare Tara. Me, I've heard better from her, but Ashita Hare Tara is a good effort and a nice-sounding song! So basically, how much you like it depends on your tastes.

Candy Trip

After Ashita Hare Tara, things get a little bit funkier with Candy Trip. If I recall correctly, Candy Trip was the first glimpse of this single. This was another one of those where I wasn't sure if I'd end up liking it. Because Candy Trip is a little different for Curumi Chronicle. Oh, it's still technopop, but as I said before, it has a funkier sound. The most interesting part of Candy Trip are the vocals. Curumi Chronicle raps. Okay, it's not Perfume 575 amounts of rapping, but she very briefly raps a few lines before the chorus. The first time I heard her rapping, it was incredibly strange. I wouldn't say it was bad (but Curumi could never join Charisma.com), but the rapping was a very... interesting vocal choice. A choice that somehow grew on me? I'm not denying it sounds weird, but it's weird in a cool, almost artsy way. I at least have to give Curumi an E for effort for doing something different! There are some other cool vocal manipulations in Candy Trip, but the rap is the most standout part. The whispers in Candy Trip are another interesting different thing for Curumi Chronicle. Even the parts where it sounds like she has backup singers are cool and impressive too!

Beyond vocals, Candy Trip is a pretty cool song. It's cool in this weird, trippy way. That's rather appropriate considering the title of the song is Candy Trip. I'm not encouraging readers to get high to this song! I swear! I don't want to say that Candy Trip sounds retro, but it definitely sounds... not from this era. Honestly, I'm not sure how to describe Candy Trip. I think you could maybe categorize this as very, very upbeat lounge music? Is lounge technopop a thing? Candy Trip and Rainbow are the most distinctive songs on this single. I think Candy Trip may be the more experimental of the two. I haven't heard a song like this from Curumi Chronicle. I love seeing her branch out with different sounds; I think her producer handled Candy Trip really well. This song could have been an absolute wreck and instead ends up sounding like a strange and quirky but also groovy and cool song. When you first listen to Candy Trip, you might be a little weirded out but give it time to grow on you. I'm still not 100% sure what to make of Candy Trip, but all I know for sure is that I love this song.



And what's the best thing to do with songs you love? Give them five apples! And encourage other people to listen to them! So yeah, I wholeheartedly recommend Candy Trip. It's different for Curumi Chronicle, but it works. Candy Trip is delightfully trippy and wonderful (but please don't do drugs to this song).

Orange (Sing with Cello)

Not to be confused with the song on Second Spring EP, Orange (Sing with Cello) is exactly what you think it is. Curumi Chronicle covers her ballad Orange accompanied by only a cello. I loved the original Orange and thought that it was a nicely done techno ballad. Something that I've always wondered since discovering Curumi Chronicle (and what I wonder with every techno act I encounter) is how she sounds without all the vocal editing. Her raw, unfiltered voice. I thought I'd have to swim to Japan and go to one of her concerts to find out, but along came Orange (Sing with Cello). It is extremely refreshing to hear a technopop artist sing one of their own songs acoustically. In fact, it's something I wish Perfume would do that will never happen because management. Back to Curumi Chronicle, I love the arrangement for Orange (Sing with Cello). The only accompaniment is the aforementioned cello, and it sounds beautiful. I'm so happy they went the strings route instead of the piano route for this song. Not that I don't love piano ballads, but the cello resonates more strongly.

But the make-it or break-it factor for a song like Orange (Sing with Cello) is Curumi herself. Like with many ballads, Orange (Sing with Cello) relies mainly on her voice being able to carry the song. And since I'd never heard her unedited singing before, I was a little nervous as to how Curumi would sound. But honestly, I don't hear much of a difference between her natural voice and her vocoded voice. I mean, yes, there's definitely clearer editing with the latter, but Orange (Sing with Cello) still sounds like Curumi Chronicle. I think that just shows Curumi's own personal strength with her singing. Curumi handles herself very well on Orange (Sing with Cello)! She has a very, sweet-sounding voice, albeit a little soft, but that's not a problem with the bare-bones accompaniment. So of the two Oranges, which song is better? It's all a matter of whether you prefer a more techno ballad or acoustic ballad. Me personally, I actually lean more toward Orange (Sing with Cello). I still love the original, but I really love hearing Curumi sing on an acoustic track. I think she pulled off Orange (Sing with Cello) very well, and I hope to hear more acoustic versions of her songs in the future!



Big surprise here, Orange (Sing with Cello) gets an enthusiastic five apples from me. It's the perfect song to close 17 and a great song on its own. The original Orange is a beautiful ballad, and the cello in this version just makes the ballad even better. Curumi herself brings a sweet, gentle voice to this acoustic self-cover, and she's pretty much what makes Orange (Sing with Cello) work so well. Definitely check this song out if you want to hear Curumi's unedited voice!

The Verdict

When I listen to singles like 17, it makes me think I should just review devote more time to reviewing technopop artists. Because hot damn, this single is awesome. I had high expectations for Curumi Chronicle, and she did not disappoint with 17. With four original songs and one reworked acoustic song, 17 is twenty two minutes and four seconds of some wonderfully varied technopop. None of the songs on 17 feel unnecessary, not even the weakest track Ashita Hare Tara. Songs like Seventeen and Rainbow showcase the more futuristic side of Curumi's sound, Candy Trip is on its own level, Ashita Hare Tara is a breather song, and Orange (Sing with Cello) is the perfect way to end the single. Orange (Sing with Cello) is a particularly good track, opting for a strings and unedited vocals in lieu of Curumi's usual technopop sound and vocoded voice. I'm honestly not even sure what my favorite track on 17 is; all five songs are so different but they can all stand well on their own. I think I'm sticking with Rainbow, just because of how fun that song is. I'm happy enough that I have such a hard time picking my favorite song on this single, because they're all so good. After Second Spring EP, 17 is a step-up in both variety and originality.

17 has something for every Curumi Chronicle fan. You like her more idol technopop? You get Ashita Hare Tara! Want something to dance to? Rainbow's the song for you! Curious to hear her natural voice? Then there's Orange (Sing with Cello)! The strength of 17 is the variety of songs on it. Not a single song on this single feels like a waste of space. I'm usually not a huge fan of reworked songs, but even Orange (Sing with Cello) works well on this single. Of the two singles Curumi Chronicle released in August, 17 is supposed to show off the lighter side of her music. While there are no hardcore EDM songs on this single, the songs featured on 17 still have their own strengths. What I'm trying to say is that you should totally listen to this single. You should listen to all of Curumi Chronicle's music if you're a fan of technopop, but especially listen to this single. 17 offers a superb blend of technopop. It makes me even more excited to see what Curumi Chronicle plans on releasing in the future. Even if she hadn't also released Touch Me, 17 would have been a great single on its own. Dare I even say that I like this single better than Cling Cling?

I do dare! Giving 17 five apples is a no-brainer. This is definitely one of my favorite singles released this year. All the songs on it are great, Curumi Chronicle is great, you really should just go ahead and listen to her music. I swear you won't regret it. And if you do... sorry? I'll just keep on jamming out to this single! Now to move on to Touch Me...

If I Could Build My Own Senbatsu...

So the preliminary results are out for AKB48's 5th Senbatsu Election. As you have probably seen by now, there are a variety of ups and downs with these first-day results. As there are still a few weeks to go until voting time ends, I'll just briefly go over my own opinions- You know what? I really don't care.

Yeah, do you guys wanna talk about something else? Like Perfume? BiS disbanding? The state of the economy and how it will effect graduating students? Do any of you guys actually care about the Senbatsu election this year? Because I really don't. I don't know what it is about this year. Maybe it's the fact that most of the members I liked have jumped ship graduated by now. Maybe it's because AKB48's music has gotten so unoriginal that there's no point in getting excited now. Or maybe it's because I know that the same people who got it last year are going to get it this year with little to no surprises. And those surprises will probably be dull ones. Sasshi's gonna get center, Mayu and Jurina won't be far behind, and the members that AKS pushed for Senbatsu will get in the Senbatsu. I'm sorry, it's just boring now. I don't feel that same nervous anticipation from elections past. I think it's just because I don't really care about any of the members now. Most of them are from different groups anyways, so the Senbatsu's probably gonna end up with like five of sixteen girls actually being in AKB48. Gosh, I don't see why AKS just doesn't go ahead and shuffle all the members together since they like cherry-picking their favorites from other groups so... much... wait a a minute...

What if... what if AKS could take other members from other idol groups?

I'm not talking about just the sisters groups, I'm talking about any idol group. From Morning Musume to Team Syachihoko to Brand-new Idol Society, it doesn't matter. Any group. Obviously, this can't ever happen due to conflicts between agencies, but abstractly speaking, it's a cool idea. I always love seeing idols interact with each other on music and variety shows, even if it's just for a little bit. And one of my favorite concepts is the shuffle groups from Hello! Project. It's a shame they don't do that anymore. Seeing other H!P idols out of their usual groups is such a cool, kind of surreal thing to watch. Thinking about this got me thinking about what members I would choose if I could make my own Senbatsu. I'd definitely get different idols from vastly different groups into one group. I think to do this I'll stick to the 16-member format that the current AKB48 Senbatsu election has. Everything else though is fair game. I am sticking to idols that are still around, so no idols from the 80s or 90s or early 2000s. Besides, I don't follow enough of those older idols to even make a full Senbatsu of them. So not only would I build my own Senbatsu, but I'd also be in control of who produced the songs on my Senbatsu single.

I think I'd have the leading song be produced by Togawa Jun, former idol herself. Togawa Jun is known for her weird, usually morbid and grotesque music and lyrics, but she has a very theatric style. I always remember what her songs sound like after the first or second listen. I think it would be cool seeing the former ero-guro idol produce a song for an idol group, especially a Senbatsu along the lines of AKB48. It would probably be weird and may even turn people off from it, but it would be so interesting. But I'd also want a song produced by Shiina Ringo, and definitely Hyadain, and maybe even Nakata Yasutaka or Usagi Disco. I think what I'd do is split my Senbatsu into little subunits, and each producer would create a song for each subunit. So Nakata would do an electronic song, Ringo would do alternative, and Hyadain would do... whatever you call his stuff. Those would all be the B-sides of the single, and the Togawa Jun-produced song would serve as the A-side. The overall single would be a collage of different styles of music from pop to techno alternative. Most importantly though, there would be any bland, generic AKB48-style songs on them.

There's also the matter of a music video... I love reviewing music videos, so mine definitely wouldn't be the generic dance shot/close-ups idol music video. I think I'd want a story in mine. Nothing deep or mind screw-y, just a clear storyline. Maybe it would involve saving the world from a government agency set to destroy idol groups. And all these idols in my Senbatsu are survivors from their own groups, so they all band together to release a song so epic that it destroys the powers trying to suppress idols. It wouldn't be a long PV, but I think I'd have it at around 10-15 minutes. It would be mostly action, taking performance with fight scenes and mashing them together. I would either have that as the music video or this: an homage to idols. It would include re-enactments of famous idol music videos and performances, from Matsuda Seiko to Morning Musume. I've always liked it when idols reference other idols, but it never happens that much. This music video would be kind of like Togawa Jun's music video for Suki Suki Daisuki but not satirical.

Then there's the most important aspect of my Senbatsu: the members. Since I have free reign in my own little imaginary world, I'd want as many members from different groups as possible. There would also be this melting pot of different personalities! Like some would have dancing as their strong point or vocals or personality! And a lot of these idols are just personal favorites of mine. So let's take a look at Nia's Senbatsu and see how impossible it would be!

16. Masui Mio (Passpo) - At the bottom of my Senbatsu, I'd go with Mio from Passpo. Her and Negishi Ai are my favorite members of Passpo, but between the two, I'd go with Mio in my own Build-a-Senbatsu. Not that Ai would be a bad choice either, but I think Mio has a stronger personality that would shine better amongst fifteen other girls. In such a big group, it's easy for certain idols to get drown out by more prominent personalities and voices. While Mio may not have the greatest voice, she's got just enough charisma and charm to hold her own in my Senbatsu! And besides, she's such a cutie; how can you not love that mischievous little grin?

15. Kanazawa Tomoko (Juice=Juice) - I like all the members of Juice=Juice, but I think the member that would fit the best with different idols is Tomoko. She has this poise and confidence in her singing and dancing that some of the younger members of Juice=Juice lack. And since most of the members of my Senbatsu would be older, Tomoko would fit nicely among them. But she isn't only a fitting member visually; Tomoko also has the pipes to back that up! Sure, her voice isn't the strongest, but it's still a nice balance between low and high. Which is good considering the two members behind and ahead of her in this Senbatsu...

14. Momota Kanako (Momoiro Clover Z) - Of course, a good Senbatsu isn't a good Senbatsu without some different flavors in it! And Kanako of the zany and crazy (or at least they used to be) Momoiro Clover Z could bring some real zest to the Senbatsu! I wouldn't want her to be leading vocals of this Senbatsu though, so she'd be at a lower position. That way she still has presence, and I don't have to hear her shriek! Maybe at their live performances, Kanako could performance her signature "shrimp jump" at the end of one of the songs! She may come off as a bit creepy in some of the group singles, but Kanako would still provide a lot of entertainment!

13. Nishiwaki Sayaka (9nine) - As A-chan's little sister has already proved with 9nine's joint concert with Perfume, she's capable of fitting in with another group nearly seamlessly. I thought about putting A-chan herself in this Senbatsu, but I think she fits better with Perfume. Sayaka on the other hand has got just as good of a voice as A-chan and just as great of a smile! And she's more seasoned to being an idol rather than a performer! Sayaka could do the MCs at my Senbatu's concerts and provide the waterworks! I wonder if emotional, passionate crying is a genetic trait in the Nishiwaki family...

12. Tentenko (BiS) - There's nothing like an idol who isn't afraid to do weird things for the sake of entertainment, and every member of BiS could basically qualify for that. But to me, the member of BiS that seems the most okay with doing anything weird is Tentenko. Seeing some of her antics on music shows, I firmly believe that Tentenko is up for anything, even a Senbatsu with fifteen other girls. Tentenko could be the more risque, unconventional representative of this Senbatsu, doing strange, sometimes grotesque things on and off stage. But still being freaking adorable. And with BiS disbanding, that would give Tentenko an outlet to something else idol-related!

11. Yamamoto Sayaka (NMB48) - The only thing that tops a cute idol is a cool idol, and Yamamoto Sayaka is just about as radical as mainstream idols get. She plays the guitar, she's the badass and understanding leader of NMB48, and she has a nice voice to boot! Should my Senbatsu ever do a single in which they decided to play as a band, my management would be sane and allow Sayanee to play the guitar. Should my #1 Senbatsu member not be around for a performance, Sayanee could easily take up her heels and lead the rest of the Senbatsu to a great performance. Other than that, Sayanee's just cool. Can she be in all the idol groups?

10. Ishida Ayumi (Morning Musume) - Why did I pick Ayumi out of all the Morning Musume members? Well, because she's one of the groups best dancers and doesn't shriek the same way Riho does. Speaking of which, in my Senbatsu, all the girls will hit notes that are comfortable to their ranges, Ayumi included. Speaking of which, there's a position in K-pop groups called the "lead dancer" that I wish J-pop groups would utilize more. Because Ayumi, along with one other girl on this Senbatsu would definitely take up that position, with kickass dance solos in my Senbatsu's songs and special dance numbers in concert performances!

9/8. Rena & Risa (Vanilla Beans) - I don't follow Vanilla Beans very closely, but from the songs I've listened to and PVs I've watched, the two members of the duo come off as very classy. Like refined, stylish robots from a retro-style future. I don't know much about the members' personalities, so I've no idea how either one of them would mesh personality-wise with the rest of my Senbatsu. But visually, I think they would contribute both finesse and style to my Senbatsu, giving a veneer of effortless class. Kind of like GAM did except with more style and slightly less sexual tension. Like GAM though, the legs of the Vanilla Beans girls go on for miles.

7. Nakajima Saki (C-ute) - Here we are now in the Kami 7 of my Senbatsu, those holy seven idols who make up the top tier. Filling that first Kami 7 spot along with the other position of leader dance in my Senbatsu would be the lovely Nakky. Not only is Nakky one of my favorite H!P members, but she's also one of the best dancers. Nakky can pull off both adorable and sensual dance, sometimes at the same time. Not only that she can look cute and sweet or sexy and badass. She's kind of like a chameleon! In my Senbatsu, she and Ayumi would have dance solos, and maybe even a dance battle like the ones Ayumi partakes with Riho in Momusu!

6. Nakamoto Suzuka (Babymetal) - While I'm not a fan of Babymetal, I do love the voice of the main singer, Suzuka or Su-Metal as she goes by in Babymetal. Her voice has such great power and resonance, along with a very distinct sound. I love strong voices, so I would definitely have her in my Senbatsu. That's why I have her in one of the higher positions, so she could sing more prominently than in any of those lower positions. And her experience in a metal idol group should give her a different perspective than the other Senbatsu members. But she still also has experience in traditional idol group Sakura Gakuin. It's the best of both worlds!

5. Minegishi Minami (AKB48) - I guess I'm kind of cheating by including a member of AKB48 on a Senbatsu that's kind of not supposed to be solely AKB48 members... But Miichan is just awesome! She's adorable and kooky and sweet, and she went through so much crap last year. And from the looks of it, she's probably not gonna make it onto this year's election Senbatsu either. And if she does, it won't be a high position. So on my Senbatsu, Miichan would have a high position in the Kami 7! The only reason she's not higher is because I have a few more idols that I like just a teensy bit better. But still, I'd definitely want Miichan up high for her bubbling personality!

4. Terashima Yufu - I've always missed Yufu ever since she left BiS, but it does make me happy that she's started solo activities again. I think Yufu's got one of the most distinct idol voices on the market right now, and it really makes her stand out. So I'd want her to be at the top of the Senbatsu, where the more solos/duets/trios would be. Also like Tentenko, she has a past with BiS, along with being an idol on her own. So she's been both a member and a soloist, with two very different images for each! And Yufu's such a photogenic member. Even in BiS she always looked very pretty, whether she was swinging a baseball bat or covered in fake blood!

3. Konishi Ayano (Tokyo Girls' Style) - Even though her voice has been struggling these past two years, I'd still like Ayano in my Senbatsu. She has such a distinctive voice, and her performance skills are pretty high too! I'd want Ayano in my top 3 because again, she has a strong voice and I think she'd carry herself well in the top 3 of my Senbatsu. She also comes from the mature Tokyo Girls' Style, so I think she'd be up for doing a more mature concept despite her young age. I mean, have you guys seen the PV for Juujika? She totally rocks it! And so does Hitomi, but when it comes down to those two, I'd still have to go with Ayano. She's got the pipes for my Senbatsu!

2. Curumi Chronicle - Much like Suzuka, Curumi Chronicle offers a different angle of idol music than many of the other idols on this list. As the only purely technopop idol, Curumi might enjoy performing more traditional music. And I think it would help her to participate in a group! She seems a little nervous and hesitant when it comes to performing. So singing with a big group of girls might help Curumi come out of her shell and allow her to grow more comfortable with performing alone. I thought about making her #1, but I figured she wouldn't be up to centering a single. Besides, I had one person as #1 from the very beginning I thought of this idea...

1. Akimoto Sayaka - I don't care if Sayaka's graduated from being an idol, I'd still want her to be the center of my Senbatsu! Sure, she's 25, but so what? If Shinoda Mariko stayed an idol until she was 27, I'm sure Sayaka could too! Something that always pained me was that Sayaka never got a really high spot during the Senbatsu elections, only making it so far as #12. Personally, I think she deserved better, even after that scandal that wasn't really a scandal. Sayaka has a great voice, vibrant personality, commanding stage presence, she was probably so cool that AKS got blinded by her coolness and were afraid to promote her!

There you have it! Now this would just be my Senbatsu. As for what B-sides would go on each single and who would produce them, I think I've figured that out:

• Shiina Ringo: Akimoto Sayaka, Konishi Ayano, Terashima Yufu, Nakamoto Suzuka, Yamamoto Sayaka, Tentenko

Ringo could definitely do something weird and experimental, and these six idols have the vocals to pull off some weird stuff. I don't know if Ringo would go the more jazz or rock route, but either one would work! I'm thinking maybe a little bit more jazz though, something mature and sensual like Meisai. And she could add some percussion in too! This would be kind of bombastic and scattered song, with smooth, sexy vocals to carry it through.

• Nakata: Curumi Chronicle, Rena & Risa, and Nishiwaki Sayaka

For the electronic number, I think I'd want something more on the pop side for Nakata's work. Not like straight-up idol pop, but maybe something that combines a futuristic sound with the peppy sound of J-pop. I'm thinking along the lines of Aira Mitsuki's works or even Perfume's Computer City or Electro World. And if there was a music video, it could be similar to Spring of Life! That would be so cool... I just love technopop that sounds like it comes from The Jetsons-style future...

• Hyadain: Minegishi Minami, Momota Kanako, Kanazawa Tomoko, Masui Mio

The crazy ones, all in one group together. Okay, Tomoko's not that crazy, but it would do her good to be around Kanako and Miichan! The Hyadain single would be totally all over the place, with a variety of random sounds kind like what he did in Wani to Shampoo. This would definitely be a pop song, maybe with elements of ska or punk in it. I'm thinking something very fast-paced, that doesn't require strong vocals but is still really catchy!

• Nakata (again): Nakajima Saki and Ishida Ayumi

What? I really like Nakata's work... In contrast to the other group, this duo of Nakky and Ayumi would have a dance song. Something like Party Maker or The music or maybe even Jumper, with minimal vocals and an emphasis on the dance aspect. In fact, wouldn't be cool if Mikiko could choreograph it? I would love to see Mikiko choreograph a duo, I think she could really work off that dynamic! It would be a long song too, five minutes at least, mostly instrumental.

Admittedly, my ideal Senbatsu and single would be a mess. But it would be a wonderful mess. I noticed from doing this that I either like cool idols with strong voices or idols with outgoing personalities. And that I like music that isn't boring, but I already knew that. My ideal Senbatsu will never happen. It isn't feasible in any way possible, but it's still really fun to imagine this kind of Senbatsu in lieu of the usual one that we're gonna get at AKB48's Senbatsu election this year. So I want to extend this question to you guys: who would you have in your Senbatsu. You can pick anyone, retired or not retired, old or young, as long as they have been an idol at some point. You also get total creative control over what they release. They can be a concert-based idol group, more commercial, street-performers, etc. They can release any genre of music bland or unconventional, same for music videos. You are in control, which is something that none of us will probably ever get to be when it comes to idol groups. I'm sure some of you guys have fantasized what it would be like creating your own idol group. And if you haven't, you should try it! It's really fun! And it may even reflect your own personal taste in idols and even music!

Blooming into Second Spring

The first week of spring where I live felt nothing like spring. It was cold, rainy, disgusting, and generally miserable. Actually, most of April was cold, rainy, and disgusting. Thankfully, the weather has finally warmed up in May, and it actually feels like spring! I guess you could say May has been my... Second Spring.

Look guys, it's Curumi Chronicle! Above we see her jamming out to what is probably her own music, because she has some pretty awesome music. You know what's so nice about following Curumi Chronicle? She has a great international fanbase. When I say that I mean she has an active international fanbase. It's so hard to follow indie idols, but there are so many translations of her interviews, songs, release information, etc. that it makes following her much easier! Which is good because I think Curumi Chronicle is slowly becoming one of my favorite idols to write about on the Wonderland. I loved her debut album (it got five apples!), and I love her general sound. What do you expect? She's a technopop idol in the vein of Perfume, of course that's right up my alley! I think her and Kus Kus can fill the void in my heart when Perfume disbands (that is if Kus Kus sticks with being an electropop unit). Anyways, Curumi's latest release is an EP appropriately titled Second Spring EP. I don't know what happened to the First Spring, but Second Spring EP has been out for about a month now. It's been at the top of my single review list for now, and I think it's long overdue that I give Curumi Chronicle's first single post-album a proper review. And as for you, reader, you should listen to Second Spring EP! If you want. Your choice. I can't make you do anything... oh well, onto the review!

Covers/Outfits

Nothing much to say about the cover. It's probably a still taken from one of Curumi's concerts and then they just added her name in the bottom right corner. Curumi Chronicle's about as indie as a technopop idol can get, so I don't expect anything too intricate for her single covers. So yeah, nothing special, but Curumi looks very into it on the cover. Like she's jamming out to her own music, and we should all join her! I'll be a Curumi Chronicle concert is awesome. It's probably really small and intimate, with quality music blasting through the speakers and- okay, back on topic. Covers are fine, outfit is fine, everything is fine so let's get to the songs!!

Prismic Step

I actually listened to a preview of Prismic Step before Second Spring EP was released, that and a full rip of one other song on this single. At the time, I was kind of underwhelmed by Prismic Step. I didn't hate the song, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, just vague positivity. But in hindsight, I think that was because it was just the chorus. The full song is better! Prismic Step is one of Curumi Chronicle's brighter technopop songs, kind of like Make New World and Twinkle linkle line. Prismic Step has the same Dubstep bits subtly placed behind the verses that Make New World also had. Oddly enough, I didn't find it to be that gratuitous, the same way I did for Make New World. Do Curumi's producers have some weird voodoo magic that makes their Dubstep breaks not awkward and forced? Beyond the Dubstep, Prismic Step is a really fun song that shows off the more idol side of Curumi Chronicle. I think if she wanted to, she could perform an acoustic version of this song and have it still sound pretty similar. Of course, in its original form, Prismic Step is still pretty neat. I do wonder what Prismic Step is though... I mean, I can' even find the word "prismic" in the dictionary.

Although I do like Prismic Step, I still don't latch on to it quite as strongly as the two other original songs on Second Spring EP. It's a fine song and everything, and a lovely piece of technopop, but there's something very... ordinary about it? I don't want to say it's generic but it's... it sounds a lot like Saori@destiny. Saori@destiny was a technopop artist (and a good one at that), and Curumi's gotten a lot of comparisons to her and other former technopop artist Aira Mitsuki. She's mainly been compared to the latter for being about as street idol as a technopop artist can get. I read that Curumi actually got kind of upset when she got compared to Saori@destiny, because she wanted to be seen as an individual performer and not the shadow of someone else. Which is a completely fair statement, but I bring this up because... I could totally hear Saori@destiny releasing Prismic Step. Or Aira Mitsuki. Which again, doesn't mean that Prismic Step is a bad song. But when I listen to it, I feel like I'm listening to a reincarnation of Saori@destiny. And that feeling is kind of surreal. But comparisons aside, I still like Prismic Step, even if it isn't my favorite song off this single. It's a fun, idol-y song!



So I think I'll give Prismic Step four and half apples! It really is a cute little song, with a bunch of fun little technopop sound effects and earnestly happy vocals. Admittedly, it's not the strongest I've heard from Curumi Chronicle, but on Second Spring EP, Prismic Step is still a pretty sweet song. And hey, it sounds like it came from the future! I love futuristic music!

Orange

Orange was the only song I hadn't heard beforehand on Second Spring EP; everything else I'd either heard the full song or a preview. So Orange was kind of the wild card on this single. All I knew was the that song was a little over five minutes, and I deduced that very like Orange was a ballad. Maybe a ballad about oranges! Orange is a ballad, but sadly it has nothing to do with fruit. The lyrics of Orange are very nice though, sad too. Check them out at the bottom of this lyrics page. Actually, follow that blog if your'e a Tumblr user. Sidling away from that plug-in, Orange is a pretty simple song about having a crush on someone but not being able to tell them, let alone approach them. But the way the lyrics are written projects such a strong feeling of loneliness combined with sadness. It adds such a nice layer to the song! I've always had a very divided opinion on ballads, but I will admit, I'm a little more lenient when it comes to techno ballads. I'm not sure why that is, but maybe it's because of my fondness for techno music. And in techno ballads, I feel like there's more... exploration musically? With regular ballads, the music is usually very stripped down (with exceptions of course). But in techno ballads, the instrumental isn't necessarily barren, just more downbeat and different.

Orange is a ballad that uses one of my favorite musical techniques: a lengthy crescendo. I don't know what it is about a long crescendo, but that slow buildup always gives me chill bumps! And Orange has such a lovely crescendo that's perfectly timed. The song is over five minutes and it uses those five minutes well, building as each verse and chorus passes until the end of the song is blooming with beautiful instrumental effects. That's something else I love about Orange; it has a really great musical atmosphere. Is that the right way to describe it? There's just something very enchanting about the sound of Orange, like something you'd hear in a dream. The little sound effects between each chorus and verse are my favorite parts. They invoke images of sparkles and rain... I'm not sure why those two specifics images come to my mind, but they do! Orange actually reminds me a lot of Rainy Starry Night, a song from Curumi's self-titled debut album. Both songs have that very soothing, ambient sound. For such a pretty song, Orange really is quite sad though. I keep rereading the lyrics and each time I re-read a verse, I can't help but think of how sad the song is. But it's sad in the prettiest way possible. I really love this song; it's definitely one of my favorites on this single.



I gotta give Orange five apples. It's rare that I find a ballad I really like, and Orange is so very pretty. I want to gaze at stars listening to this song, or sleep under a tree, or do something that sounds idyllic in my head. Definitely give this one a listen, especially if you're in the mood for something calm.

Kitty

Mmmmm~ I love this song. You know how there are some songs you listen to, and you just feel better when they're playing through your earbuds? Yeah, that's what Kitty is. Between this and Orange, I can't decide what my favorite track on Second Spring EP is. I think I have to go with Kitty though, just by a margin. Kitty has such a... distinct sound. I don't think I've heard another Curumi Chronicle song I can compare it to. Kitty was the first song I heard of all the tracks on this EP, and immediately I latched on to it. You'd think a song like Kitty would sound pretty adorable, but it's actually more of a dance song. It'll probably get a remix at some point, this one or Prismic Step! The weird thing about Kitty is that it's not... a super dance-y song. Like it's not dance-y in the way you'd think a technopop song would be dance-y. It's nowhere near as hard as technopop dance tracks like The Music, Edge, Galaxy Boy, etc. But when I listen to Kitty, I still want to dance to it. Weirdly enough, Kitty reminds me of an 80s dance track. There's something about the melody in the instrumental that makes me think of Madonna, and I'm not completely sure what that is. I also get a little bit of a Perfume no Okite vibe from Kitty, just a little bit though.

So yeah, Kitty isn't a dance song in the same way that some of Curumi's other songs are, like 16 feat. Usagi Disco or her unreleased song Voice feat. Usagi Disco. Come to think of it, any of her Usagi Disco remixes tend to be dance songs. Anyways, Kitty is very quirky. That's the best way I can describe it. Vocally, it's nothing too new for Curumi. But the arrangement is very different from Curumi's past songs. Something about the transitions and just overall structure. I'm not sure how to properly explain without a proper music background. Just to my ears, Kitty sounds quirky. That's why I like the song so much! I don't think I'll ever hear another song like Kitty from Curumi Chronicle, or at least I hope I won't. I wonder how Kitty sounds when Curumi performs it live. I wonder that about a lot of Curumi Chronicle songs, but particularly so with Kitty. For such a short song, I think Kitty is a lot of fun. There are a lot of distinct, memorable parts in it, like the opening instrumental, the entire chorus, the English, and especially that kickass instrumental break in the middle. That reminds me of a Purity Ring song for some reason... Overall, for reasons I can't quite fully explain, I think Kitty is a freaking awesome song. I will definitely jam to this frequently.



Big surprise, Kitty gets five apples. This is such a neat song that's like half dance song and half idol song. The final result is something that works really well. My explanation is not doing Kitty justice, so just go listen to the song if you haven't done so already. I think the entire song up on Curumi's Youtube channel so there it is! And while you're at it, you can subscribe to Curumi Chronicle as well!

Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usgai Disco Remix)

The next-to-last song off Second Spring EP is the Usagi Disco Remix of Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo. Now I love the original Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo; it's one of my favorite songs off of Curumi's debut album. What made the song so neat is that it was such a nice combination of a electronic dance and cutesy idol pop. Usagi Disco produces much of Curumi's music, most notably producing 16 feat. Usagi Disco and Gozen Juuichi Ji (Usagi Disco Remix) off her debut album and a currently unreleased song called Voice. No, not Perfume's Voice, Curumi's Voice is much better than Perfume's. Some of those songs were the highlights from Curumi Chronicle, and I'll be gobsmacked if Voice doesn't get a release at some point. I was a little skeptical of a remix of a song that I already found to be perfect the way it was. However, Usagi Disco's previous work with Curumi lead me to be optimistic about the remix of Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo. Maybe Usagi Disco could utilize the dance elements of Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo and extend them in his remix, kind of what Nakata did with Perfume's edge and Spring of Life. So did Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix) turn out to be a memorable remix?

Well... not exactly. Not at all, actually.

Look, I'm not against remixing a song. I know that artists do it all the time with their own songs, and I have listened to some very awesome remixes. But I just can't get into Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix). It cuts out a lot of my favorite parts, including the adorable instrumental opening; the song just goes straight into the chorus. Surprisingly Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix) is slower than the original Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo. Which isn't a terrible musical decision... that can work! But again, what I liked about the original song was how upbeat and cheerful it was. This Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo feels more like a dance song than it does an idol song. And a lot of Curumi Chronicle songs get that same vibe, but the thing is, the original song is so much more idol-y. There are some pretty cool dance breaks in this remix, but again, they don't feel like they match up with the rest of the song. I get what Usagi Disco was trying to do by changing the style of Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo, but personally, I think his changes take away what made the original such a great song. Listening to Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix) just makes me want to listen to the original song. In fact, I think I'll go listen to the original right now!



I'll give Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix) three apples, partially because at its core, the original song is amazing. The remix isn't a total trashing of the original mix, but it doesn't exactly enhance Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo. I guess if you wanted to play this song at a party it would work better? For me though, I'm sticking with the original.

Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix)

And finally the last song on this EP is... another remix! Yay. Hopefully, it'll be better than Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix). This remix is of Kuruikuru, another song off of Curumi's debut album. Kuruikuru was another strong song off of Curumi Chronicle, mainly for being such a fast-paced energetic song. It was catchy too! I was hoping that the remix would keep the same high speed of the original Kuruikuru, and I think for the most part, it does. But I also feel like the instrumentation is changed a lot in the Fenotasu Remix of Kuruikuru. The original was more a dance-pop song, but this remix sounds a lot more like Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo. The original one, not the Usagi Disco Remix. It's really hard for me to properly explain the differences between Kuruikuru and the Fenotasu Remix. It's like the instrumental was trimmed down and then lighter sounds were added to it. I even heard an acoustic guitar at one point in this remix. I guess I'd say Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix) isn't as... loud as the original? I'm not sure that's the right word? It's like the remix is more organic.

But which of the two works better? I admit I like Kuruikuru's remix better than I did Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo's. But like with Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo, I didn't really need a remix of Kuruikuru. I think the original is just fine, great actually! The original is so energetic and upbeat. I do like that Kuruikuru keeps the same vocal structure as the original. And the changes made to the song aren't bad ones; I do like that Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix) has a more technopop sound than it does EDM. But while the changes to Kuruikuru aren't bad ones, I do kind of miss the sound of the original. Again, I love the original version. But if I were to judge Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix) on its own, without bearing in mind that it's a remix, I still think that it's an enjoyable song. It's just as fun an upbeat, and it does showcase the more idol-y side of Curumi's musical style. I think it's all a matter of personal taste; if you like the more idol side of Curumi's music, then the Fenotasu Remix of Kuruikuru may appeal to you more than the original. I guess my own final verdict on Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix) is mixed to positive? It's decent as far as remixes go.



So I guess I'll go with 3.5 apples. I still like the original Kuruikuru better than the Fenotasu Remix, but I did enjoy listening to the remix. Will I listen to it much in the future? Probably not. But if it comes up on shuffle in my music library, it's not like I'll skip it!

The Verdict

So that was Curumi Chronicle's first single after her debut album, and I think for the most part, it holds up pretty well. I think the biggest weakness of the single was that it probably didn't need to be an EP. Second Spring EP could have just had Prismic Step, Orange, and Kitty on it and still would have been a strong release. Maybe an even stronger release. The two remixes of Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo and Kuruikuru aren't exactly unwanted, but for me, they don't add much to the EP. Kagayake Sorairo Shoujo (Usagi Disco Remix) is particularly unnecessary when the original song is in my opinion, better than this remix. Kuruikuru (Fenotasu Remix) holds up slightly better, but at the end of the day, I'm still going to listen to the original more than the remix. Maybe I'm just a stickler for original songs. But then again, I've heard some really good remixes... is it just my own personal taste? I guess I like a remix better when I feel like the best parts of a song are being enhanced, not changed or flat-out removed. And in the remixes on Second Spring EP, it feels like one or the other is being done to both the original songs. So the final result is different, but not necessarily better. I wouldn't say the two remixes aren't terrible, but neither one really impressed me.

However, the original songs on Second Spring EP did. Even Prismic Step, the weakest of the three songs, was still a really good song. What I like about Prismic Step, Orange, and Kitty is that they're all different from each other. Prismic Step is bubbly technopop, Orange is a calm ballad, and Kitty is a catchy dance track. Each on has its own individual strengths and adds something to the single. None of them feel like filler tracks, unlike the two remixes. Prismic Step is such a contagiously happy song, in the vein of Saori@destiny's earlier work or Aira Mitsuki's. In contrast, Orange is a ballad with surprisingly sad lyrics and gorgeous composition. And finally, Kitty is the quirky dance track that I could totally see being played at a club. A very fun club that plays Japanese technopop. Together, these three songs make up the best of Second Spring EP. Overall though, this is still a good single, with or without the remixes. Like I said before, there isn't exactly an abundance of technopop idols on the market right now. I mean, there is Kyarypamyupamyu but... that's Kyary. Curumi Chronicle's Second Spring EP offers the same variety of technopop that made her album such an enjoyable listen. I've been jamming to all the songs on this single since it was released, and I highly recommend you should too!

Second Spring EP gets four apples from me. Even at its weaker points, this is still a strong technopop release, and pretty much the only thing other than Kyary right now that I can review. But seriously, can Voice get a release already? That song is golden. Even at is weakest points, Second Spring EP is still a good single, and I highly recommend listening to it if you haven't done so already. And if you're into technopop acts like Aira Mitsuki and Saori@destiny, check Curumi Chronicle! Unlike those two, she hasn't dropped off the face of the planet. Not yet at least. Let's hope it stays that way!