gullbuy music review

Takako Minekawa

title

Roomic Cube

label

March Records

format
CD

Image: Takako MinekawaIt only took a few seconds really before I knew that I was going to get hooked on Takako Minekawa's album Roomic Cube. It's great when you can revisit a time period in music (this cd originally came out in 1996) and it sounds so refreshing - it can really bring you back. Takako Minekawa worked with Buffalo Daughter on this disc and that is what gives it some life but also weighs it down a bit by making the whole a bit disjointed. I'm sure though (not having heard any of Takako Minekawa's other albums) it's a breath of fresh air to hear her taking on the varied sounds presented thanks to Buffalo Daughter.

With that said, the album feels like the varying emotions someone has during one's day - Sleep Song represents the sleepy time when we first wake up. Fantastic Cat has a playful feeling to it as if one has just been playing with their cat before they have to go to work. Never/More has a great bassline and dreamy guitar and thoughtful vocal melody. Klaxon! is an upbeat romp through the streets of pop music circa 1996 somewhat like a japanese Heavenly. Black...White also has a Heavenly/Marine Research feel in its funky-ness and hinting at an electro revival. Dessert Song has a live pensively plucked guitar with girlishly whispered singing. Rainy Song has a strummed acoustic guitar and peeling electronics which work followed directly by the playful and innovatively fun T.T.T. (Turntable Tennis).

It's only in the less exciting songs that I felt the album was weighed down slightly like Wooooog which just seemed like a filler instrumental, Destron which has solid drumming but sounds dated now,  and 1.666666 which has a New Zealand styled jam but goes on for a little too long at 6 and half minutes.

I think that the highs far out the lows though, and overall this is an incredible Japanese pop album where I'd rather hear Takako Minekawa go out on a limb and try something new then stay in a controlled tried and true format.

---Patrick, February 4, 2003