Stamped: July 10th, 2007 | Related Posts
Tagged: ali project, gothic, Jmusic, maria sama ga miteru.

I thought I would never finish this post… I started it, then jumped onto another project, then lost my motivation so much their career is huge.
There are 14 albums to review, and I didn’t even do the lastest best of album “Rose Crucifixion” (2007) nor the “Déjà vu” (2006) and “Collection Simple Plus” (2006) ones. I only picked the “Jamais vu” single collection from all the best ofs.
But it is already enough to have an overview of Ali Project.

I already did two posts about Ali Project, a lolita gothic band. If you want to know more about the Arika Takarano (vocals & lyrics) and Mikiya Katakura duo, just read my previous post here.

There is an upcoming album entitled “Psychedelic Insanity” that is to be released this summer, 22 August 2007.

Mikiya Katakura did compose the two Maria ga miteru soundtracks, I didn’t do any “best of” of it so far because it’s classical and instrumental music that fits with the catholic school background of the anime, so it is kind of boring.
But I do LOVE those soundtracks, especially the main theme that we can find in the “Dilettante” album. “Yarerakana Hada” is my favorite track without a doubt (instrumental with piano). So do check it. The Marimite fans will certainly recognize it.

So now let’s listen to classical music but also gothic lolita beats! It’s eclectic: (there are many many many tracks, so don’t forget to scroll down the playlist…)

I will mark my “must hear” tracks with this sign *** to make sure you will listen to it! (but all the tracks below are worth listening to!)

Gekka no Ichigum (1992) …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

1.Ochite Sourou: Ok, I know, the intro is pretty scary… but it can’t get worse, so bear with it, the melody is quite catchy, really, I’m not tricking you… wait after the first minute… It’s totaly the Ali Project style.

2. Rakuen soushitsu~Paradise Lost: It’s very theatrical and dramatic, I love the way she sings. It sounds very traditional-like.

Dali (1994) …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Ophelia ibun: Ali Project’s style is sometimes very theatrical, just like a musical. This song proves it again.

4. Yuki No Hitohira: I love the melody. Awesome. It really feels like you’re the princess, in a dancing ball.

Hoshi to Tsuki no Sonata (Sonata of the Moon and Stars)(1995) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Barairo sui hoshi kageki dan: A tango style song. Nice melody.

6. Fuyu no Monogatari: It’s just catchy right from the start. Very sweet.

7. Kyogetsu tei de aimashou: I love the melody, the way she sings. But you have to wait for the chorus.

8. Ame no sonata - la pluie: Here as well, it’s catchy right from the moment Arika sings. One of their single “The sonata of the rain”

Gensou Teien (1996) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Akai suiren no gogo: I had some troubles finding songs I like in this album. This one is nothing spectacular. But just like the eerie aspect of it.
I like the Gensou Teien song of this album, but I preferred the version featuring in the “Etoiles” album. I did put it in the tracklist.

Noblerot (1998) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10. Rose Moon: Sweet song. Pop song.

11. Narcisse Noir: Less joyful… I like the melody, it’s close to classical airs that we all know. It’s the Ali Project style song.

12. Daraku ron: I like the melody, very Jpop-like song. Very cheerful. You want to swing your head and grow ponytails… I know… My comments are very relevant…

13. Deep forest: I like this song, a sweet ballad. Accoustic, Arika + guitar. It doesn’t sound like the usual Ali Project sound. It reminds me of Stina Nordenstam. I’m too lazy to look for which song it reminds me of.

14. Lost child: This more like a Björk arrangement song. Modern electro beats. Darker song, bewitching. (or Blairwitching)

15. Halation: Electro beats. Ali Project singing style.

Jamais vu (2000) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
….
16. Nous deux c’est pour la vie: French version of “Ame no sonata - la pluie’! Yeah… Hmm, well, the pronounciation is not perfect… but it’s still ok. No foreigner can sing French without accent. It’s so hard to pronounce. Cathy melody eh?

Aristocracy (2001) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

17. Shoujou Kizoku: I don’t know what to say about that track. Blablabla…Sorry.

18. Itameru Soubi: Back to classical arrangements. Not really… there are some electro beats. I love the melody.

19. Yami no tsubasa de subete o tsutsumu yoru no tame no aria: It would perfectly fit with the Maria sama ga miteru soundtrack.

Classics (2001) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

20. La vie en rose: “Classics” is a 5-track album. I only picked the Edith Piaf cover song. Sounds like a live perf.

Erotic & Heretic (2002) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

21. Youge Turenka *** : Don’t ask me why I like that song more than the others… Because I have to admit that all the tracks I selected have great catchy chorus. So why do I love that track? I don’t know.

22. Nettai Seishoku Butuen: Nice electric guitars accompaniment. Jpop song isn’t it? I love it. Very catchy. I could put 2 * to tag it. I could almost picture Maaya Sakamoto singing it… I mentioned Maaya Sakamoto, but see, I didn’t put any pics of her!!! I’m making progress! (thank you for bearing with my raving)

23. Muma no yoru, Anata o Ukaeru mono ga aru: Experimental. Uncanny. I like it. It alternates styles, mood, rhythms. Awesome!

Moonlight Intoxication (2003) …………………………………………………………………………………………………..

24. Coppelia no Hitsugi: Features in the “Noir” soundtrack. I already put that track in a previous post. But this is another version from the Noir one.

25. Hoshizukiyo: Very nice melody once again. Nice ballad.

Etoiles (2004) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….

26. Haru houmou: Once again I fell for the melody. Very calm song.

27. Gensou Teien: So that’s the “Gensou Teien” version that I like. It’s a shorter version than the one featuring in the eponym album. And I love the way she sings it, the traditional Japanese way.

Dilettante (2005) …………………………………………………………………………………………………

28. Nikutai no Akuma ***: Once again I don’t know why that song is more special to me than the others… It’s probably because I loved it from the first hearing. I like the chorus.

29. Hokoudeki Botan***: The Dilettante album is my favorite from all the albums. Wait for the chorus please, and even after. I love valses. In the second part of the song I think she sings in Chinese (Mandarin). I can recognize Japanese easily but then I’m sure she switches language and then re-switch. I don’t speak neither of the two languages… Well, I did take Chinese lessons… But I can’t even say two words properly. I could ask my mom, for once I need her, but she’s gone to Hong Kong! Maybe it’s probably my imagination… Don’t make fun of my ignorance.

30. Dilettante no Hisokana Tanoshimi: She goes up high pitch…

31. Yarerakana Hada***: My number one song! It’s an instrumental. The Maria sama ga miteru theme “Avec ma soeur”. I listened to the Maria ga miteru soundtracks before knowing about Ali Project. That theme is so “light” yet so intense. I can’t describe it. My heart flinches when I listen to that track. But in the end, it really brings me peace.

32. Pekin Lovers: A duet. Interesting song. It’s both a contrast in rhyhtm and chant.

Kamigami no Tasogare (2005) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

33. Yameru bara: Beautiful song. Very romantic.

Romance (2006) ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

34. La cale che~ Haru no yuki: Like a little opera. I love it.

35. Romance: Beautiful instrumental. Strings.