Kalafina 18th single "One Light" for Arslan Senki [confirmed]

@Martin : Yes, double-tracking would be a good term to use, eh?

I wouldn't really use the word "octave" in your analysis, although you are on the right track. HIKARU+WAKANA were singing on the same exact notes (they were indeed on the same octave of the same note, so you are correct). But KEIKO's harmonisations was not of a different "octave"; it was just a different note of the same chord that harmonises those notes in the particular chord progression stage the melody was in at the point in time.

For example: the first line of the song, "Itsuka kimi no te wo totte"
[Legend:
Singer name(s): Lyrics (musical note)]
HIKARU + WAKANA :
I(F)-tsu(E)-ka(D) ki(D)- mi(D) no(E) te(D) wo(C) to(C)-tt(C)-te(C)

KEIKO:
I(A)-tsu(C)-ka(Bb) ki(Bb)-mi(Bb) no(C) te(Bb) wo(G) to(G)-tt(G)-te(A)

For those who propose that there was a "filter" applied to the song, here is my proposition and hypothesis of the arrangement of the vocalists:

[HIKARU+WAKANA melody/KEIKO lower harmony]**
Itsuka kimi no te wo totte
Yorokobi wo yoberu hazu
Sonna fuu ni bonyari to
Bokura wa ashita wo shinjita

[WAKANA melody/ KEIKO lower harmony]
Kinou saita hana no you ni
Omoi wa sugu chitte yuku yo
Machigaetemo modorenai to
Itsuka kara shitteitandarou

[HIKARU+WAKANA melody/KEIKO lower harmony/ YURIKO KAIDA upper harmony]**
Samidarega sugita koroni
Kimi ga hohoemu youni
Kimi no kitzukanai basho ni
Chiisana hana wo ueyou

**The parts where two vocalists sing the melody together sound like the "filter" that is what I believe you guys are mentioning.

I have a file here of my take on the song's first three verses (exactly what I have typed up there) in a capella so you can really hear JUST the voices. Take a listen if you'd like. I, myself, think the double layer of melody vocal tracks mimicks the sounds I hear from the song that are like the "filter" mentioned.

Mind you, this is my first take of the song, so please do not be too harsh on my voice! :p

https://soundcloud.com/atlasstar/samidarega-sugita-koro-ni-a-capella-sample
 
@lapis I don't want that song stuck in my mind. There are way better songs that deserve that place lol
But the repeatthesamemelodytilldeath strategy that Kajiura has used it's taking over.
 
Lol for me that song is way too forgettable even with the overly-repeated melody lines. I think this is the first Kalafina single that completely passed my mind just like that. (Well I'm way into amazarashi and SDF at the moment). I quite like listening to the "lalala" part but that's it, I don't remember its melody.
 
Okay, finally listening, because I wanted to hear them and be able to listen to them tomorrow.

One Light: Hmm, I like the full version, I think? I was expecting a really cool strings arrangement, like in Magia... but the guitar part was cool. I just don't like it in the beginning? That "bang bang" thing that I hear... it's just too awkward, like in heavenly blue. But I think it will grow on me, the song that is. I also like Arslan.

Mahiru: Wow... I almost teared up. I don't think Hikaru is all that bad either. Keiko singing higher is what I was referring to when I compared it to Kaze no Machi e, since she sounds so different in that song compared to most songs. I am glad she is branching out now. True it's not Gloria or 'piano' (just listened to it again and thought of what Kajiura said about just the piano and the voices, but I know it's just Yuuka, yes) it will be a nice relaxing song, like some of the ones in Hanako. (It actually reminded me of a Miyazaki ending theme.)

Samidare: I like it. It is repetitive, yes, and ends kind of weirdly. heh I like the happy tone though, and that overlapping of voices is quite nice. It will be interesting to see this live if it is ever sung live, just to see who the camera is on at the time. heh The lalala part reminded me of moonfesta for some reason. I like Wakana as well in this song. Keiko's "cute" voice fits this song I think.

I am looking forward to getting my copy and listening to it on record! I think Samidare will be the nicer one to listen to on vinyl, since it has that feel. Like it's playing at the Kalafina cafe heh. (Maybe they'll start having record players? How cool will that be?) I will wait to watch the PV too and for the instrumental of OL.
 
ritardando said:
Lol for me that song is way too forgettable even with the overly-repeated melody lines. I think this is the first Kalafina single that completely passed my mind just like that. (Well I'm way into amazarashi and SDF at the moment). I quite like listening to the "lalala" part but that's it, I don't remember its melody.
Click to expand...
Well yeah, the songs are generic as hell and blend into the mainstream too much. But I'm a sucker for things that remind me of the 90s so I can't help but like it. Especially Keiko's "iru yo" at the end. Samidare kinda reminds me of FictionJunction YUUKA's Seiya.
 
actually i like Keiko's "iru yo" as well. that, and the lalala. what i really don't like is the arrangement i think. the lalala and iru yo is pretty much my favourite part from the whole single.
 
http://lineblog.me/kalafina/archives/39668997.html

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dat pose from dwango tokuten XD
 
Liana_Ilia said:
(It actually reminded me of a Miyazaki ending theme.)
Click to expand...

You know, while I was playing Ni No Kuni (a game designed by Studio Ghibli and an OST by Joe Hisaishi), I found some subtle similarities with some of Kajiura's works (Kajiura being earlier) Particularly, Kagayaku and Hoshikuzu. Not big stuff, just tiny little things. Being my two favourite composers, that can be my mind or just the way my criteria works or the universe being pretty.
Beautiful game, by the way. Wonderful music.
 
I love Samidare. It's catchy and I thought there was really good harmonizing. My initial reaction was a bit like Grunty's, I just snickered because I got reminded of my Mandopop boyband days (good old days! and really that intro is a bit like what mandopop boybands dish out every now and then). I thought I saw someone compare it to Neverending. Personally I think they have similar structures and give off similar vibes. Really really love the music intro. It has gone on repeat for the past days. Aaah.

One Light- not too bad. Fast, nice, quite a good song, but it'll probably not go on repeat.

Mahiru- Had high hopes for the song. It's pretty and nice but well, something's lacking. Can't put a finger on it though. Maybe the length. Maybe another refrain might be nicer.
 
I got my package today! The pic on the back of the record is just awesome. Why didn't they use it for the cover? I know, it's for the anime, I just don't like Arslan's character all that much. Does anyone have that picture somewhere? Otherewise I will see if I can either scan it in or take a really good pic of it. But I love the pics anyways. Can't wait to hear the record tomorrow.
 
Okay, I gave another chance to Mahiru.
I finally understood what isn't fine with it: Keiko's track has been recorded in mono. Or something like that. But that's nothing natural in it, I won't change my mind about it. (Or, if there is really nothing artifical in it, then they rushed the recording, allowing only one pass with no warm up, kinda that). Anyway, I'm not afraid to say that this is her 35 worst seconds of recorded singing ever.
For instance, her "furui kanashiiiiiii" sounds terribly bad to me, substancially too high, it really hurts me to hear this, especially coming from her. When you listen to Kaze no Machi (h)e, her voice has absolutely nothing to do with that. I am absolutely no expert in sound engineering, still I know that you can modify the sound so as to make it sound higher or lower, an octave higher or lower, trim the highest or lowest frequencies, and so on, but I seriously think that someone (a trainee?) failed at doing this. Hence I just can't at all like this song which, otherwise, would have been lovely – and I quite enjoy the remainder of it, Hikaru and Wakana are neat.

On a more positive note – FINALLY! – after one more listening as well, Samidare eventually sounds rather fine – I even enjoy keeping its melody in my mind – ignoring the fact that it sounds "thud" – like if it had been, ya know, one of those old songs from the tape era, republished on a CD without remastering: maybe something intentional actually, given the general feeling of the track. But, even Keiko sounds great on this one...
 
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Daiima said:
(...) it sounds "thud" – like if it had been, ya know, one of those old songs from the tape era, republished on a CD without remastering: maybe something intentional actually, given the general feeling of the track. (...)
Click to expand...
Oh wow, I think you hit the nail on the head with this description.
 
Samidare's been growing on me, as has One Light. This really doesn't change my opinion on FotW though, I'm still sceptical as hell. That's partially because I actually enjoyed these songs as it is (once the shock of Samidare passed, at least) and whilst they've grown, they're still weaker than most of what's come before. Being 'good' is not a good thing when it comes to an artist like Kalafina who's pre-2014 releases range from 'great' to 'incredible' and 'near-perfect' with few exceptions. Being a good band will just mean that I'll pick up their releases when it's convenient rather than pre-ordering and I won't bother with singles unless every track is really good, just like I do with every other band I listen to, Kalafina were the exception because they were (and have the potential to still be, I must add) something special and unique.

Will I continue to listen to their releases? Yes, even now there's very few songs I don't like at all. Will I buy their albums? Most likely yes, but I'll download them first to make sure they aren't awful, like I do with everyone else. Hell, I'll still continue buying merch out of respect for what they've already done so far and because I like the idea of the girls being happy, and won't hesitate to see them live again if I get the chance. They've released so much good material and have legitimately had a massive impact on my life, I can't just go back on that, nor would I want to. I'll just reduce my expectations for future releases being as amazing and lovely as they have been up until last year or so and not blindly throw my cash at every single release without hearing it first. They've currently got priority over every single other artist in my library, even the others who I always and consistently rate together with them if someone were to ask who my favourite artists are. Maybe it's just time to drop them slightly down a bit to 'one of my favourites' instead of 'outright favourite'. Sad thing is, I love these girls and what's going wrong is likely not even something they can control, even more so if Daiima's theory about the sound engineering being the real issue with the vocals on OL is correct. Of course, it's quite possible they'll recover from this, artists releasing terrible albums and then coming back again with something amazing is not uncommon after all.

That said I'll probably still end up buying future albums on vinyl and that'll require pre-ordering, and I'll likely still get the 2016 calendar and everything available at the FotW tour
 
I'll definitely buy their releases, even if they are crap *cough*Believe*cough. I just hope that FotW isn't as mediocre as these recent releases.

Btw, this is my 100th post! :dote::idol:
 
Though I liked Believe, and actually did not care for IEN at first. Now it's growing on me, slowly. heh I guess everyone has their own opinion actually. I personally started with them because of Kajiura, and went to their Anime Boston show after they did Kara no Kyoukai. Sure, there have been ups and downs, but they are still together! Which is amazing, and I just love that they seem to want to keep persevering as Kalafina, since to me it would be sad to break them up. heh

It's kind of funny after just listening to Samidare again and with the piano ending, why it wasn't put before Mahiru? Just a thought. Yeah, Mahiru probably won't be listened to as much, but it's still okay for me. I just can't get over now that weird thing in OL, like at 1:24 to be specific. It's at the very beginning too. Is it guitar? Bass? Both? I actually like the weird sound in heavenly blue better, which is saying something. But other than that I want to like it, if not for want of more Konno.

Also just watched the PV. I quite like it actually. The jerky camera is off putting yes, but it has a more dramatic feel to it than their more recent ones. I like Hikaru's fierceness in it, and the time where she point at the camera makes it look like she's shooting you through the heart. Heh I like the little heel turn at the piano, and Wakana's smile and also fierceness. Keiko is kind of in the background but then when they all come together towards the end is how I see the girls in my mind as well. And the dessert scenes remind me of the seventh heaven stop motion a bit and some others come to minds, I mean other things, but I like it.
 
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A little trivia I gleamed off the short What's IN interview.

Kajiura asked the girls what kind of song they wanted to sing. They told her that they wanted a simple song with just the piano.
And so, Mahiru was written.

Nice to see that Kajiura asks them about the kind of songs they want at times.
 
^That's good to know. I actually like the simplicity of the arrangement for that song - I'll give it another listen later and see if I can pick up on the mixing issue that @Daiima mentioned. I'm still undecided about my opinion of these three anyway (I'm hoping my vinyl arrives by the end of the week...).

At first listen, the title track is in the "generic anisong that we here keep being frustrated by" category, but it's a better example of one. Like RyB was.

I'm also picking up on a similarity between the two b-sides...it's as though they're musical "siblings" or something. Not so good from a "I want variety!" point of view, but it does give some continuity and feeling of a common theme.
 
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