camino - STORY

Though camino has been around for about five years, they don't have too many releases to their name. This sometimes begs the question: are they going for quality over quantity, or is it another problem altogether? With STORY, the band's newest release in over a year, camino means to reassure fans that they are still going strong.

The title track opens with synthesized noise that is typical for most theme songs found in Japanese live action superhero shows (think "Power Rangers" or "Kamen Rider"). That comes as no surprise, as STORY was used as the opening theme for "Tomica Hero Rescue Force." However, this is not a black mark against the song, as STORY is very catchy, and even more so once the drums and guitars kick in. The beat is fast and straightforward, and the melody is infectiously positive. Still, STORY does follow a fairly standard formula: though the guitar riffs are very well done, there are no surprises to it and the song remains a simple one. STORY will definitely stick in your head for a good while after you listen to it, but it's nothing that will amaze you.

So Sweet Lo... has a more easy-going pace. It opens with guitars and drums and flows along smoothly, with HAYATO singing in a lower pitch. The mood of the song is playful and yet somehow nostalgic. It acts as the closing theme to STORY's opening: where STORY makes you want to jump along, So Sweet Lo... winds you down as it wraps things up. The only pitfall to So Sweet Lo... is the lack of variation. About halfway through, it gets a little repetitive, and when the track fades out it will probably fade from your memory as well.

Track three is STORY～NIGHT walkers MIX～, and it is noticeably different from the original. It opens with nearly half a minute of silence before breaking into a twisting, darker version of the original melody. A skipping electronic beat and faint piano add flair to the evening atmosphere; you can practically picture a city at twilight as you listen to this song. An added bonus is HAYATO's singing, which has a hushed quality that creates a feeling of distance and intimacy at the same time. STORY～NIGHT walkers MIX～ is a great addition to the single for those who may not enjoy the overly optimistic sound of the title track.

The single also comes with the instrumental version and the TV edit version (i.e. shortened version) of STORY.

So can camino's long absence be justified by this single? The title track is catchy and the remix is even better, but given the length of their hiatus, perhaps fans are owed a little bit more. camino definitely has the talent to be even better, so hopefully their next release will come soon and prove it.