Lc5 - Loveless

After An Cafe announced its hiatus last year, each member went in a different direction: Kanon started producing video-games, Teruki became the support drummer for fellow oshare band DOG in THE PWO, and Miku went on to be the vocalist for newly created band Lc5. As is expected, much of Lc5’s popularity is thanks to Miku’s reputation, but does this visual kei band have other things to offer? Or could it just be a means for Miku to live out other aspects of his musical life before his return to An Cafe?

Loveless starts off with quite a dark rock-pop sound reminiscent of AROMA, An Cafe’s release back in Spring 2009, although with a slower pace and a more emotional feel. The pace of the music slows down even further as Miku starts singing; Miku’s vocals seem a lot deeper than usual and also slightly restrained. As the chorus begins, the rhythm deviates slightly and the guitar and drums increase in speed. Miku’s vocals, already low to begin with, seem to be overpowered by the rest of the band. After a rather rough sounding chorus, some piano is brought into the song and adds some delicacy. Throughout the song there are some extremely catchy guitar riffs and interesting notes that will keep the listener’s attention. Although Loveless switches between subdued rock and almost upbeat sounding pop, Reo’s guitar solo really does distinguish it from an ordinary boy-band hit with an unbelievably quick and intricate solo which could easily match that of any acclaimed rock classic. Loveless then comes to an end as the song turns more emotional and melodic.

Overall, Loveless is an interesting attempt at a mixture between rock and pop. However, it can be difficult for the listener to adjust to the two musical styles in one song. Each of the musicians in the band seems to be talented, which is why it’s a slight disappointment that their skills aren't shown off as much as they could be. As for Miku, he seems to be trying too hard to break away from his former bright, open style; although his vocals aren’t bad, they seem to be restricted at some points but over-the-top at others. However, it is still apparent that he has a lot of potential and originality to offer.

Lc5～love&crash～ begins with almost techno electronic sound effects, but it soon launches into some heavy rock. Miku takes a different approach to his vocals this time with a less sweet, melodic sound and a more rough, powerful feel. The music also seems tougher, with bursts of drumming and guitar rather than a continuous rhythm. Some filtered vocals and growling make up the chorus, and similar to Loveless, it is more pop-like than the verse. However, the rock base remains intact as Reo’s guitar keeps the rough quality from the beginning of the song, and Aki keeps his drumming to fewer, more powerful notes. Lc5～love&crash～ then takes a more electronic turn with increased sound effects, keyboards and even more filtered vocals before reverting back to heavy rock. Continuing like this, Lc5～love&crash～ might not feel like a traditional visual kei song, but the sentimental choruses will certainly make up for any lack of continuity felt due to slightly stilted verses. This song feels like both a dance-rock track and a ballad-like love song, and because of the variety in music styles, it will warrant many more listens.

Break-neck drumming opens TELL ME!!, and is followed by very professional guitar work from Reo, preparing the listener for a very different sort of song. The music stays at this fast-paced tempo as Miku adds another layer with some deep vocals and growling. The song settles down shortly to what could be described as a dark love song, but this change doesn’t last long as Miku adds even stronger growling. TELL ME!! continues in this way, switching very quickly between a more usual rock sound and heavy metal. The song offers the listener some aspects that deviate from a usual visual kei track, and Miku clearly is not afraid to try a range of vocal styles. Reo’s guitar sounds notably different from the other songs on Loveless as it has an electric feel to it. Also, Aki is able to spread out his drumming: rather than drumming quickly throughout the song, he rations out the heavy drumming to certain parts of the song, which complements the other music very well.

Loveless certainly spans many different genres of music over its three songs, from techno-influenced heavy rock to catchy pop-like love songs. However, the overly varied nature of each of the tracks on Loveless means that it is hard to pin down the style of music and can leave the listener feeling slightly uneasy. For a first release, Loveless is of a very high caliber, and the listener should look forward to future releases as Lc5 works on finding its own sound. Fans of An Cafe should listen to Loveless with an open mind and simply think of Miku as the vocalist for a new five-piece visual kei band. Hopefully, after he explores this side of himself, he will return to what he is best known for - his sunny, playful personality mixed with an intelligent, literary mind.