Farewell D'espairsRay

How much does this suck, considering I'm already working on a disbanding post for another band?

D'espairsRay were the first japanese band I saw live in London, and one of the very first I heard at all actually (I still shiver and smile when I hear genshoku). As I've mentioned before I've had a cruelly love/hate relationship with them, but they were still a major, MAJOR part of the music scene. As far as I see it, there are a tiny TINY handful of bands and artists that act as cornerstones in the industry, and D'espairsRay were one of them. A void not to be filled.

They meant a lot to a lot of people. To me, they brought me a group of friends I might never have had before, and gave me a great doorway into a fantastic avenue of visual kei. It sucks like hell to lose them, but my heartfelt gratitude is stronger than my sadness. I just wish the best for all of them after this.

REVIEW: Sel'm - dusty doll (2011)

Sel'm - dusty doll
03/05/2011

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYY???

That is indeed the the cry that I let out every time I have listened to Sel'm since Tora and Nagi (vocals and guitars, respectively) announced that they were leaving the band. I am MASSIVELY in love with Sel'm but with the band's vocals in particular, and the thought of Sel'm continuing with a different frontman isn't pleasant. They announced the two-track dusty doll as a live-only release that has since been available by mail-order, and even BEFORE hearing the samples I just had to get my hands on it.

We're doing this in reverse.

The best way I can describe the second track Throw away misery is as slightly schizophrenic. Musically the whole track makes me think of some kind of heavier D'espairsRay, with some fantastic guitar lines from Nagi in the intro alone. In fact, as much as I've never wanted to state the connection, this song makes me think a lot of a heavier band's take on girugamesh, Tora sounding stylistically a lot like Satoshi throughout. Unfortunately it's a bit of a weaker track, but it is entirely forgiven by the title track.

dusty doll is where it's at. Each instrument steps up for the whole song, a constant variety of cymbals providing a perfect backdrop to rolling bass and switching-up guitars, while of course Tora's voice characteristically soars across and around. This song is about 70% chorus, which would normally irritate me, but the interesting instrumentals between break it up just fine. A breakdown in the middle allows everything to get a bit heavier again before a final closing chorus (with MORE backdrop cymbals!), and you resign yourself to the fact that this chorus is going to be in your head for the whole day. But maybe that's ok, because it's just that good.


Playing the "let's be fair" card, I have to drop the overall rating of the single because of the weaker second track. But as far as I'm concerned, dusty doll is a great high note for Tora and Nagi to leave on. I love Sel'm, so much - they have a truly unique sound - but I can't imagine following them with a different vocalist. I'll give them a try, sure, but Tora's voice is simply sublime, and one-in-a-million.

★★★☆☆

REVIEW: lynch. - I Believe In Me (album) (2011)

Consider this a page-holder while I try to think of anything positive to say about this album.