| Album title: | Togeari |
|---|---|
| Anime title: | Girl band scream |
| Artist: | TOGENASHI TOGEARI: Rina, Yuri, Mirei, Natsu, Shuri |
| Catalog number: | UMCK-1766 |
| Release type: | Vocal |
| Release date: | April 24, 2024 |
| Buy at: | CDJapan, Apple Music |
Togeari Album Review
If I had to highlight one primary element that got me hooked on Togenashi Togeari’s first compilation album, Togeariwould be the lyrical flow through your tracks. Passages such as the intro and verses of “Nameless Name” are intricate and require vocalist Rina (who also voices Nina Iseri in the anime) to navigate deftly. And he does it. Rina’s clean performance effortlessly captures the emotional core of the songs, laying bare those often tortured feelings with a captivating intensity that won me over.
And it’s not just one track that does the work for the entire album either. Togeari is packed with hit after hit, with songs that strike a chord as they depict loneliness, desperation, and a feeling of being broken. The applause goes to agehasprings, the group of Japanese composers and musicians behind Togearifor making this album varied enough to hold my attention while remaining cohesive throughout.
Among the composers who have worked on this album, I enjoy Misty mint’s work on “white drizzle in twilight.” Its introduction sets it apart from the previous songs by feeling a little more optimistic, followed by a solitary verse where Rina brings out the feeling of melancholy with great intensity. The pre-chorus ramps up the intensity before brilliantly unleashing it into the mesmerizing chorus. “Bleeding Hearts” from Misty mint is equally intense, fueled by Rina’s relentless delivery as she navigates the fast tempo of the verse, the high notes in the pre-chorus, and the frenetic pace of the chorus.
As much as “white drizzle in gloom” and “Bleeding Hearts” stand out, my favorite song is in the second half of the album. Erina Kiser, whose work includes songs for the Aikatsu franchise, writes the meaning “Lonely fate is destined.” From the beginning, I was drawn to Rina’s despondency in the intro and how she builds the emotional weight of the song from verse to chorus. The chorus continues with that emotional outpouring, culminating in the plaintive cry of “lonely aloneyyy” that hits straight to my soul. On an album filled with raw emotion, that “Lonely Destiny to Be Destined” is a step above the rest is a testament to its quality.
Readers will remember how much I enjoyed Bocchi the rock‘s Kessoku Band album. I would characterize Togeari how to take the pop-rock elements of Kessoku Bandand increase it to a point where it better suits my personal tastes. The rock sounds a little louder, the emotional highs are higher, and the compositions a little more consistent. I was captivated by the album when I first heard it in the summer of 2024 and I still find it just as fun today. Its staying power is undeniable.
Classification: Excellent