SUMMER END GROOVE

[ r e v i e w ]

by ERIK on 2023/01/02

Took me a bit long to sit and write this one after the poll result on Twitter 😵  and I'm still comitted to write reviews for the I've Girls Compilation Vol. 1 - regret and MOMO album Kaeru no Uta 3 (maybe opening three polls at once was too much? 😆 )

Anyway, thanks to JNさん, once again, I was able to purchase this limited album in easier ways! Thanks a lot JNさん! 😎

And to any other fan who would like to write a review for any of the I've releases, please, feel free to contact me at ivesoundlyrics@gmail.com, it will be my pleasure to publish here reviews from other I've fans too!

Now, to the review!

SUMMER END GROOVE is the 2nd volume of a series of seasonal thematic compilations featuring all I've vocalists, with tracklists mostly made up of original songs and some covers/remixes. This is a lighter release, filled with cool sounds and some nostalgic lyrics about the summer end yet with cheerful and positive vibes. Definitely, a must-have in your music library. And below, check it out the tracklist:

  1. Achichi na Natsu no Monogatari
    -RINA belt out mix-

Vocals: R.I.N.A Lyrics: KOTOKO
Composer: Kazuya Takase Arranger: C.G mix

After some time away from denpa songs, RINA and C.G mix return for this refreshing remix. C.G mix, as always, rocks this musical genre, especially given its energetic arrangements and RINA, once again, exudes vocal versatility in a solo denpa, even taking charge of the backing vocals previously entrusted to Kaori Utatsuki and showing us the multiple spectrum of musical genres to which she's able to respond. Achichi na Natsu no Monogatari was originally released in 2002, having never been remixed and, therefore, its remix is a nice surprise and memory after 20 years of its release.

2. ENDLESS SUMMER

Vocals & Lyrics: Asuka Sato
Composer & Arranger: Kazuya Takase

Specially in the golden age of I've Sound, the mix of electronic music with rock arrangement was always a succesful recipe and a brand of a vast portion of I've discography. With the deepening on the trance and psytrance scenarios on the latest years, ENDLESS SUMMER throw us on a pleasant trip over the past memories of I've musical style. For some reason, I feel this could be a song Mami Kawada would've sing. As always, though, Asuka Sato powerful voice and vibrato match perfectly the song.

3. Mabushii Season

Vocals & Lyrics: IKU
Composer & Arranger: C.G mix

A song in the classic C.G mix style. I need, as usual, to praise C.G mix arrangements: his songs are always so full of energy, an uniqueness of his musical style. The lyrics evoke memories of the sea breeze, filled with dancing, playing and laughter, wishing, at every chorus, we meet next summer and the next. Mabushii Season is a perfect addition to this thematic album, bringing us the airs of summer - the dazzling season - and the good vibes feeling with your dear ones by the sea with the synergistic backing vocals provided by IKU that, by the way, open the song right off the bat into an atmosphere of positivity.

4. RIDE
-I want to feel again mix-

Vocals: Asuka Sato
Lyrics &
Composer: Kazuya Takase
Arranger: NAMI

Still speaking of memories and pastness, we go a little further with NAMI's remix of RIDE. The Front Line Covers version, back in 2008, was a success due to the surprising lower range it was sung by Mami Kawada. We are, then, gladly presented with Asuka Sato following the previous low range style and, once again, finalizing with her delightful runs and riffs. Last but not least, this cover is crowned by NAMI's fully electronic and modern arrangement, making it, undoubtedly, one of the best songs released by I've in 2022.

5. Summer end

Vocals: NAMI & RINA
Lyrics: RINA
Composer & Arranger: Kazuya Takase

This is the first original track sung by NAMI and RINA and, while NAMI's has a bit less participation on this than RINA, their vocals combined highlights the dynamic of this duo formation. The song can be clearly recognizable as a Kazuya Takase production, yet with the addition of his recent fond stylistic quirks mixed to sound effects.

6. FADE OUT

Vocals, Composer & Arranger: C.G mix
Lyrics: RINA

The first original C.G mix solo track in a while, the music starts in a crescendo as if in a "fade in" style, just to fade out for the verses, later switching to hype again for the chorus. This gradation followed by progressive intensification then retirement is set out cyclically during the song, in an analogy that imitates the mirage ondulation view in a heat desert, from about to reach desire in the chorus climax, then to the song backing off the listener from its wishful sight. It feels atmospheric and almost experimental: you can taste it's I've Sound, but there's something else in the climate of this song that you can tell C.G mix explored new domains here.

7. Sweet ~Koishikute~
-Indulgent to others mix-

Vocals, Lyrics & Arranger: NAMI
Composer: Kazuya Takase

The album ends in another refreshing remix from NAMI, this time sung by her. Like Achichi na Natsu no Monogatari, Sweet ~Koishikute~ is an old school song released back in 1999 and had never got a remix until now, so it's a more than welcomed revitalization of this song. While some characteriscs from the original version are pleasantly preserved on this one, like the singular whistling sound effect, the presence of electric guitar chords, like the ones used on last note, prints perfectly the summer vibes for this new version, with melodic and nostalgic lyrics written in english by NAMI herself.

Conclusions:

🌴 🌴 🌴  The series of I've Members Compilation Albums might be a new format compared to the I've Girls Compilation series, which used to compilate I've game songs. This new series provides a lot of original songs instead of reusing released tracks, also with the addition of covers and remixes of beloved I've songs. Plus, it's thematic and that's super cool, because you know every album will contain distinct styles. While it's not yet announced, we could expect a winter or autumn compilation in 2023 - and I get excited to imagine what kind of sound the colder seasons will add to this series. In short, even if SUMMER END GROOVE plays safe, it doesn't disappoint and present us with a brighter experience. Those with a taste for I've lightest side will definitely enjoy the gentle breeze that envelops the summer end on these seven new and chilling tracks. 🌴 🌴 🌴