Kalafina 21st single "Hyakka Ryouran" (Katsugeki Touken Ranbu ED)

I have to agree with ritardando. I just didn't want to say it. Though I will assume for now that it won't be so uber-stripped as the last.
 
Where did she say Kantan Katan was going to be a piano ballad?

Also yeah I agree with @ritardando & @Hayden Kurosaki in that all these piano ballads are getting old... Gloria (as good as it is it's still a piano ballad), Mahiru, Haru wo Matsu, and now Tonbo...
 
It seems like, for Y. Kajura, piano is to the ballads, what strings are for the upbeat songs: A must-have. We havent had ac. guitar in ballad for so long. And its not just the instrument, but that its always slow, i d appreciate one with fast piano play :)
 
Exactly! A fast piano song would be refreshing. I'm just imagining if she made something as up-tempo and high energy as, say, Fukanzen Nenshou (by Chiaki Ishikawa) on piano. I know some others probably wouldn't, but I would personally be surprised.
 
Gloria canNOT be compared to the recent recycled FictionJunction YUUKA piano ballads.

As for this so-called happy song she claims "Tombo" to be... ill only be impressed if WAKANA starts the song off and then HIKARU does the prechorus and KEIKO does the chorus. Otherwise her whole progression from K to H to W is just getting old and boring.
 
I'm glad that you're in on my feels Westkana, BUT I will agree with @Atlas Star in that Gloria, though not my favorite song (unfortunately it's rare that I'm a ballad appreciator) was certainly a standard-setter if we want to start tossing the word "ballad" around. It was also very complementary to Lacrimosa, unlike, say, (in my opinion) Haru wo Matsu to its leaders -- though that probably wasn't the intent anyway.

I also agree on the arrangement.
 
Gaaaah I still can't wait for next week! (probably will get my package Tues hopefully) I am also getting Kaori's Gift album and the vinyl version of Hyakka. (my poor wallet lol) But I listened to the full again, I must say it is chaotic after the tv size. I like the parts each on their own, though I would prefer the instrumental to be flute and strings, like I said. The ending it so abrupt, but at least it's not like heavenly brue. heh It does flow as well as the tv size does. I think I like the shorter ver better. Hikaru's part still startles me a little. I am not sure if I like it. I like her in the verses though. Keiko's second verse too ends kind of weird. I do like how Wakana sings the ending though. Very cool.
 
Man I was hyped AF about Tombo until I read this.

In my mind I was picturing an aesthetic closer to this: https://youtu.be/Uc-rvxR0h1g

But another ballad? If Kajiura insists on making the same copypasted Wakatracks then it does start to make me wonder if she's lost her creative drive.

I hate to realize that I've been thinking this for a while. Hopefully the ballad is much more moving -- since we're bringing Soulcalibur references, (very good OST reference game) along the lines of Healing Winds from Soulcalibur III.
 
Leeeeeeaks, where are yooooou?! :comeback: This time we don't even have samples to talk about before the release, hope this is to give us a pleasant surprise.
I think even being a ballad has the chance to be something good if it isn't something sleep-inducing like Snow Falling or Dolce. Kankatakan (however is written) is still the one I'm still more excited about, specially seing is the longest.
 

Oh, I have no problem with these samples. Both sound MUCH more serious than I expected, which I like.

I guess KanTanKatan is considered a ballad in terms of technicality but I like that it's sounding more robust, making it not feel like "ballad" from the eyes of the average. It's very chill, got my head bobbing XD
For some reason I can easily envision them singing that nice chorus acapella around a campfire.

Being named "Dragonfly", and still remembering Haru wo Matsu, I was pretty prejudiced and expected Tonbo to come off as, dare I say, . . . wimpy? But damn.

I certainly look forward to those B-sides in full. And the official HR too, of course. I'll leave it to all of you to find their "base songs/ancestors" but I'm pretty pleased and feel no need or urge for comparison. (As opposed to when the preview of HR was released. I don't think anyone could escape the urge levels of that.)

Imma need these leaks ASAP. :knife:
 
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Katan is interesting, from the angle that we havent had a ballad of this type for Kalafina so far, but i feel like the instrumental part is kinda lazy on it. Piano in Tombo is sweet :) Also these sure are long samples.
 
Katan is interesting, from the angle that we havent had a ballad of this type for Kalafina so far, but i feel like the instrumental part is kinda lazy on it.

I don't think lazy is necessarily the correct word. I would say . . . "basic". Of course, not basic in the way we use the term nowadays (as an insult and degradation). More like, reminiscent of the majority of the instrumentals of Lorde's first album Pure Heroine, where such simplicity was refreshing, appreciated, and most importantly, brought focus on vocal and lyrical progression forward. (This is also pretty prevalent in church hymns, though I can only speak for a certain kind of style.)

Maybe that's why I can see a campfire in it, since campfire songs can be lyrical, and very enjoyable when you have good singers, yet involve little background assistance. I've only had 2 camping experiences and they involved an acoustic guitar and two bongos. Of course this song is actually professionally made, but I love how it still has the "stripped" idea of guitar(s) and percussion.
 
It was only a matter of time since people are already posting pics of the CD. Shall have to listen when I'm finally home from work.
 
A day before (especially when it's already past midnight in Japan = available on itunes) is hardly a "leak". ;)
 
Thanks to the both of ya. @giffy (dunno why your post is not showing up) @Phantomus

I actually quite like the instrumental to Kantankatan. The vocals (both in melody and delivery) destroy the song for me... or should I say that's what I thought until Keiko's solo - it should've been Keiko's song, lol (I know that phrase gets thrown around a lot here but this is probably the first time that I'm also like yea, she's the only one that makes this work). Also I don't know if it's the rips but I hate how the vocals are processed.

Couldn't care less for Tonbo.
 
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