Kalafina 「into the world / Märchen」20th single (Release April 5, 2017)

OMG SO HAPPY THAT THIS IS FINALLY HERE!!!! *ahem* calm down KiKYO....
Okay so here's my first thoughts about it (Note that I haven't heard even the live versions of the into the water):

into the water: This song is gorgeous!!! It makes me feel so hopeful and happy~!! Wakana's voice is beautiful and the harmonies are perfection. Keiko's verses caught me off guard, but it a good way. She's really making use of her higher range lately and I absolutely love it! I just wasn't expecting it really. Ugh I need to cover this song.....

Märchen: I love the feel of this song. Hikaru's voice is so powerful. It kind of reminds me of something the've done before... but I can't really place which song. Keiko, once again, took me by surprise but she sounds fantastic! Wakana's couple lines are kind of odd, almost like they don't 100% fit, but overall, I enjoy this song. I can see myself listening to this one quite a bit.

Haru wo Matsu: ahh~!!! piano ballads~!! That's my weakness!! AND KEIKO!!!!!!! I already said I love it when she uses her higher voice and its so soft! Hikaru has so much emotion in it too without sounding strained like in Mahiru. Wakana is gorgeous of course.. as expected in a ballad like this. I could fall asleep to this, which is a good thing for me. Its not the boring type of falling asleep, but the peaceful kind. Its so relaxing. I wish there was an instrumental for this song...

Overall, I love this single! One of their better ones they've had in awhile! I mean, I enjoyed their last couple (I enjoy anisong.. sorry I can't help it) but this one is so refreshing! Definitely recommend to those who haven't heard it yet!
 
I agree with everyone that this is the best single since KnGnN! It really reminds me of why I became a Kalafina/Kajiura fan in the first place, and persist with them even through the stream of so-so singles over the past 2 years.

Into the World: Was good when live, still good when recorded! If this was in any other single, I would've said the single was a good one based on the inclusion of this song alone - but in this case, it's actually my least favourite song of the 3. Really shows how good this single is!

Marchen: I think this quote speaks for me very well -
SurgamIdentidem said:
Märchen: After having listened to the TV-Version over and over again I was really anticipating the full version and HOLY CRAP!!:omg:

Traditional song structure completely thrown out the window: Check!
Unusual time signature: Check!
Akagi Rie-san flute completely escalating: Check!
Jr. on BASS: Check!
Overall badassery from the girls and everyone involved: Check!

Result: PERFECTION™:nosebleed:

No seriously, to me this is their best song since tsuioku. There is not a single thing to complain about. Kajiura-san finally managed to deliver top quality again.
Click to expand...
Truly the best since tsuioku. I daresay even better! I really love the bridge and how Kajiura-san weaves together the 3 utahimes' voices that just can't be done in any other vocal group! :dote:

Haru wo Matsu: The shinjitemiru yo is actually my favourite part of the song! Truly unique. :love: Again, in any other single, this would've already made my day, but then there's Marchen.... :ohoho:
 
Into the world: It's a bright and encouragement song. It's similar to with Gogatsu no Mahou and have some elements of Ring You bell/far on the water.
Very enjoyable, I like it!


Marchen: I loveed it, my favourite! I'm all for dark songs!
The beats are great, and Hikaru's voice is amazing, provocating with a bit of sensuality. I love you Hikaru, marry me lol.
Kajiura is like "who cares about traditional music structure anyway". Keiko's part is odd at first, but I'm glad Kajiura is trying new things.

The guitar solo is too short and it could be louder, the others instruments are muffling it out.The irregularity in the flute is also nice.

My favourite line is "Mune o jirijiri yaita".


Haru wo matsu: Nice change of melody. Very gentle and calming song. OOh Wakana is soo emotionaal, I want to cry everytime I listen her part, serioulsy why Wa-chan you did it to us.

Conclusion: I LOVED THE SINGLE much better than the previous ones. Gonna loop it infinitely during a good time. Obliously has its flaws, but in general I appreciated so much it. Haters gonna hate.
 
WOW!!!!!! This has to be their best PV since Lacrimosa KNGNN or Kagayaku! I think they definetely changed the director responsible for all these snorefest PVs so far every since After Eden. I believe the into the world one could be filmed while still in SME while this is newer.

I think in the PV they play with some timemachine effect ? And this is the first time they use creepy dolls i think. Everythinig has the appropriate speed and the atmosphere was awesomely creepy and cool :love::love:

The only thing they still need to add is some sort of plot.
 
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After listening to the single, gotta say that Marchen's my favourite of the three. Imo it's not so as dark and tragic as its similar-sounding counterpart, In Every Nothing; I feel that it has a more determined air, and the rhythm and unusual song structure makes it catchy somehow. Love the focus on Hikaru and Keiko too.

And that PV! It's probably one of their best ones so far. The imagery fits the song so well.

For the other songs, Into The World is bright and uplifting, but it's still more or less what I expected from an RHH song. Haru wo Matsu is a lovely, gentle ballad, and the girls' vocals, particularly Wakana's, convey the emotions of the song beautifully. It'd be great to listen to this one live.
 
I wasn't going to comment but that PV is awful, looks so amateurish and it's shaky for no reason, it doesn't have any clear intention. The girls lose the spotlight and it looks like a fan tribute to Samara Morgan. Bad move Sony :wet:
 
Into the world: I'm not a huge fan of the RHH ending themes, even if they're always very polished and pretty, but I've really liked this one ever since watching the Arena Live. They sound almost the same in the studio version and, while a little long, this is such an uplifting song!

Märchen: I was slightly skeptical after hearing the short version, but the full one is really nice. It has strong similarities to In Every Nothing and Tsuiku, but doesn't sound too 'recycled' to me and holds its own. I like the fact that all three members have lead parts and the song isn't dominated by just one of them, and I also enjoy the mix of different genres, as for example the flute seems to contrast with the tone of the song yet manages to work very well with it nonetheless.
(by the way, a little note as a German speaker: without the article, "Märchen" is both singular and plural, therefore means both "fairytale" and "fairytales" ;) it's not important, but I think it's amusing as the title of this song ;))

Haru wo Matsu: I find it really lovely. It's so soothing, and the girls put so much emotion in every line they deliver. What is however very noticeable (at least in my opinion, and that stands out not after several listens but already on the first one) is the complete lack of harmonies, something that is usually Kalafina's trademark. Each girl sings her part alone (at the beginning I got confused, not knowing if it was Hikaru or Keiko); not that it's a bad thing per se, as I find it very emotional as they sing just with the piano and conveying such a hopeful feeling - but it does feel a little bare. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a beautiful song; however, it doesn't make me feel that Kalafina is a unity, if that makes any sense.
Then again, the fact that there aren't harmonies I suppose could be seen as an unusual and refreshing change? Critiques aside, Wakana sounds particularly heavenly :D

EDIT: in my opinion, all members got a song where they sounded particularly great; for Wakana, Haru wo Matsu; for Hikaru, Märchen; and for Keiko, Into the world (especially the bridge).

As a whole, I think this single is very balanced as far as different genres and amount of lead for each girl are concerned.
Now looking forward to being able to watch the PVs :))
 
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My 0.02€:

I think the girls performed ITW better on the live version. Especially Hikaru sounds quite shaky in the recording, but not in the live version.

I liked the Märchen PV, except that I was getting dizzy when the camera was shaking, and that happened a bit too much for my taste. Then again, it might be just me.

Also, the PV reminded me of that scene in the last KnK movie, where
the bombist was hiding from Shiki and they had the final battle
(I might also not remember it correctly). The building looked similar, from what one could see.
 
I don't know whether to think the editing is obnoxious or endearing. Heading more towards obnoxious.
 
I've been (matsu)ing for so long...

into the world : As much as RHH songs have always been my cup of tea and I'm always in love with anything orchestral, this song hasn't left it's impact on me as the previous songs did, but it definitely grew on me since I've heard the live version, so it's gonna take it's sweet time like Far on the Water did and I love FotW so much now.

Märchen : The angrier version of IEN! although I'll always love IEN much more, it's one of my top songs but I love how badass the girls sound in this song it's really enjoyable and that bridge!! Overall my favorite from the single.

Haru wo Matsu : even though I wanted a lovely a song like Natsu no Asa that made me forget blaze it existence for a while and I just don't have any opinion on ballads really but it's nice song overall.


This post can be summed up in two sentences : I didn't expect to hear Keiko a lot, I can't believe she finally got her fair share of lines in every single song I'm so happy, best news I have ever received this afternoon.

Don't have any feelings for this single so far (except for Märchen) but it'll grow on me eventually.
 
OH SANTA KHRISNA!!! THAT PV IS THE PERFECTION!! The outfits, the atmosphere, the girls OMG I want more pvs in this style really!! I want to cosplay Wacchn's dress now!! *love it
 
I appreciate Marchen PV because at least it actually showed some effort... the set looked quite nice, and the props were quite good. Those dolls were freaking creepy. There's a shot that made me laugh, when Keiko shook her head and they kinda slowmo-ed it. the actions don't all go to Keiko tho as usual Wakana was kinda left behind with her empty stare blank face.
 
I haven't had a chance to listen to the full single, but marchen was pretty nice. The usual kalafina song structure wasn't there, so listening to the full song was actually really entertaining since something new was always being introduced. Unfortunately, that unpredictable structure Left the song in a weird kind of limbo between bgm and standalone release. Despite the fact that I enjoyed Marchen, I'm still waiting for the bgm release.

One more thing about the song, Sato's drumming is distractingly flat; everything else is bringing the energy except the percussion.

PV was kind of fun. I could see what they were going for with the editing, but they were way too heavy handed, and the whole thing just looks very middle school edgy.
 
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