MUCC - Libra

Libra is MUCC's first single release of 2007 and it is a great choice to kick off the new year with. MUCC fans old and new alike will almost certainly love it.

The title track, Libra, stands out at once thanks to Miya‘s distorted intro, and still remains compelling as it launches into a slower, calmer verse. Satochi‘s drumbeat is a welcomed addition to the song; instead of the usual, routine way of keeping the beat as many drummers do, he lays down a rhythm all his own that manages to separate itself from the verse but still fit perfectly into it. The chorus takes a different turn, however, and almost demands to be sung along with. After the second verse, MUCC makes sure every listener is drawn in with a powerful and emotional bridge before the last chorus. Libra seems to have two personalities; there's the sing-with-me chorus that gives off an almost upbeat feel, and the dark, haunting majority of the song with Tatsuro's nearly eerie way of half-speaking, half-singing. Perhaps “Gemini“ would have been a better title?

Touei, the second track, fits very well with Libra and serves as a great follow-up. It starts off with the immediately memorable chorus instead of taking a while to lead into it for the first time, which gives the listener a part to be familiar with, making the song easier to get into. The verse is soft and light, Yukke‘s steady bass carrying it along to give it an underlying low tone. The drums in particular play a large part, giving the nice, flowing melody a bit of an edge. Touei was definitely the right choice to pair with Libra.

The this edition of Libra comes with a thirty-minute DVD called Entering the Brilliant. The DVD contains live footage from MUCC‘s "Psychedelic Analysis" tour, featuring clips from several lives that took place from mid-December to the end of January. Most of the songs played are from their last album, Gokusai, including an emotional, full-length performance of Panorama. Also included is behind-the-scenes footage from the recording of Libra and entertaining offstage randomness. The single is worth it for the two great songs alone, and the DVD is definitely an excellent bonus for fans.