Overdrive Hell 19 -Hizumi Heaven TAXi-
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Album Title: Overdrive Hell 19 -Hizumi Heaven TAXi- |
| Record Label: Troubadour Record |
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| Catalog No.: HZMT-0019 |
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| Release Date: August 17, 2015 |
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| Purchase: Buy at Sweep Record |
Overview
overdrive hell 19 – Hizumi Heaven TAXi is the nineteenth iteration in a series of hardcore and experimental electronic EPs featuring Ayako Saso and Shinji Hosoe. In addition, a new composer, X, who has yet to be identified, returns to the fray. While not for everyone, it does feature some interesting music for those fans of this style of electronic music. All of the themes on this album feature track titles inspired by the French film, Taxi. How does this album compare to the previous entries in the ongoing series?
Body
The album opens up with “Lesson.84 Tokyo TAXi,” an interesting take on the iconic “Mirsilou” tune featured in the original film. The end result is a melodic tune that blends hardcore beats, synthesizer melodies, and surfer rock. It’s an excellent way to open up the album. “Lesson.85 Hold your hand brake” also combines synthesizer, heavy beats, and rock to create another highly engaging tune with some real groove to it. It’s another excellent addition to the EP. “Lesson.86 Nitro tumbler” is more of what one might expect from an EP in this series. It features quirky vocal samples, hardcore beats, and lots of various synths and effects. As such, it is most likely not to please everyone, especially coming off the first two tracks, although the melodic sections are quite nice in this one.
“Lesson.87 backfire guy” features some surfer rock elements, some bright synthesizer work, although with a repetitive melody that emulates that surfer rock feel, but the end result is something that wears out its welcome a little quickly. Fortunately, the second half of the track manages to change things up by adding a bit of funk and vocal samples that help bring something different to the piece. Lastly, “Lesson.88 The outpouring PipeLine” brings the surfer rock feel once more to close out the album, although like the previous tune on the album, there is also a large focus on synthesizer as well. It’s a really fun tune and closes the album on a positive note.
Summary
In the end, overdrive hell 19 – Hizumi Heaven TAXi manages to incorporate surfer rock into the repertoire this time around while also focusing, for the most part, on more melodic tunes. While not every tune is always successful, the overall EP manages to feel cohesive and it does feature some of my favorite tunes in the series, especially with the first two tracks. For those who are a fan of the series, or those who were looking for a more accessible entry, this one might be worth looking into.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
3.5
Posted on October 8, 2015 by Don Kotowski. Last modified on October 8, 2015.
About the Author
Don Kotowski Currently residing in Philadelphia. I spend my days working in vaccine characterization and dedicate some of my spare time in the evening to the vast world of video game music, both reviewing soundtracks as well as maintaining relationships with composers overseas in Europe and in Japan.
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