Just one month before the release of VISION FACTORY presents FLOWER FESTIVAL, the sampler VISION FACTORY presents Spring Harmony came out via SONIC GROOVE/avex trax. On this disc is the feeling of spring displayed in the title of the omnibus album. But does it really sound like spring?
The soft party song Hajimari no kiss and its slight gaudy rhythm captivates with its lively bridge and idiosyncratic sound effects. Komorita Minoru’s SKY reveals pretty quickly that it is a dynamic and lively track with charm. The song slightly loses tempo when it goes to the chorus, but that doesn’t really affect the song. After that, soft beats, partly scratched, sound from the speakers, and with that the light ballade Risshun starts. It only lasts for about four and a half minutes; and then you are entering EU-PHORIA’s sweeping GET YOUR DREAMS. This song gets additional spice through trumpet playing and the dynamic vocals of the singer. However, the track also can sound calm when it is only accompanied by synthesizers. The worked-in electric guitar solo is excellent.
The Olympic prelude Sotsugyou nan deshita kunee! is the same song D’espairsRay used for their SHOCK JAM version of Facism, but Oota Crew keeps sporty spirit of the song and cheerfully raps the lyrics. The duo ends the song with the well known chorus from Beethoven’s Freude, schöner Götterfunken.
Komorita Minoru and his contemplative and calm Owaranai Epilog starts the second half of the CD. The artist shows a very emotional interpretation, which is perfectly accompanied by a piano, strings and a nice low bass. Despite the increasing tempo, the track remains soft, and even the bridge doesn’t feel imposing - although the synthesizer sounds could have been chosen a little more carefully, as it sounds a bit off-beat. Similar to this song is Lead’s Thanks For..., but here an acoustic guitar takes center stage, and you’re listen to nice, polyphonic singing. The leisurely ballad has a discernable hip-hop influence in the vocal parts.
As it comes to MAX’s a special day, you get the feeling as if you had somehow been transported into the past. This is reinforced by the static sounds, which remind you of the static on old records; the song was pepped up by modern elements like scratching. Because of its feelings, the song invites you to cuddle. At last, there is an energetic track, where slight hip-hop elements are also found in the sound and vocals. If the song had just been more lively, then the FLAME would have created a really party song. Nevertheless, Shall We Dance? is still pretty rousing and funny.
Despite not really capturing the feeling of spring, the album is nevertheless an interesting collection of pop songs. Most of the songs are calm when you compare them altogether, which means songs like GET YOUR DREAMS are all the more welcome. In the end, this CD would be worth listening to if you're a pop fan of any kind.
