Review Summary: An ode for the lovers of money, champagne, cars and 80s.
Sometimes it is not about creating a genre or being revolutionary, is just about crash different genres and delight your ears with the best possible mixture.
On this occasion we find ourselves in front of an album that revolves between the disco, the funk and the pop, influenced by the opulence of City-Pop, but also achieving a truly fresh style that reminds us of the quality that few could accomplish,. in a genre so weighed down by popularity and the "catchy".
In this way "After 5 Clash", the fourth studio album by the artist Toshiki Kadomatsu, manages to overcome the difficulties of traveling the paths of mediocre music, maintaining romantic and stereotyped lyrics, but on the other hand polishing the limited resources available.
The LP begins with the song "If you ...", and could not be more lively and bombastic. The total mastery of funk and soul elements creates an ideal combination for dancing, also spotlighting the track due to the presence of the bass, which even has a small solo that undoubtedly shows the importance of the instrument for almost five minutes. We continue with the musical journey and we encounter "Midnight Girl", where Toshiki can finally demonstrate more of his ability as a singer, and where electronic elements and choirs stand out, highlighting that poppy and sweet side of the album.
"Airport Girl" is Soul, and quite a lot. It has the elements to be, but it falls a bit on the basic, but again with a great Toshiki performance and optimal instrumentalization. It is still a normal song, but well executed. Later comes "Maybe It's Love Affair", a somewhat smooth and typical track. Then we hear "Will You Wait For Me". This is the quintessential ballad of the album, with a dramatic piano, the melancholic tone of Kadomatsu's voice and a catchy chorus. Notwithstanding, it is not the best track, but it is an entertaining song with an interesting keyboard break.
Next stop: "Step Into The Light". Undoubtedly the best track of the album in my opinion. A mix between funk, soul and some perfect pop, resulting in a "boogie" that adds that rhythm that leaves you hooked. From the peculiar vocal performance that separates it from everything seen above, the use of beautifully worked transitions and electronic elements, silences, instrumentalization ... In this song nothing fails, because even with some basic lyrics, they are expected for a subject of this type, which does not fall into the "Plastic Love" standard or anything similar. Just dance and enjoy.
Minute 25:08, "After 5 Clash." Predominant bass, soul and pop rhythm, and Toshiki with its defined style in the first songs, although with a really effective chorus, especially when pronouncing the name of the song. There is not much else to comment, albeit the final part of the track is really touching. Next we have "Never Touch Again", again with a dominant bass and a pretty good metal wind in the essential parts of the song, and even if it is entertaining, repeat formulas seen earlier in the album.
We continue with the ballads in "I Need You", and this is even more melodramatic and your typical soul-pop hit. Nothing really remarkable beyond the final section, the break and Toshiki.
The final song, "Heart Dancing" returns with the constant bass, although with a great importance in the percussion that give it a very fresh cheerful rhythm. In addition, the metal wind sections are really nice and soft, knowing how to create an essential balance between the singer and the instruments. It is also necessary to highlight the keyboard / synthesizer, which runs throughout the track, remembering that modern touch despite the traditional theme (even with an ending similar to the melodies of some series such as Doraemon or Shin-Chan). Undoubtedly one of the best pieces of the album showing a great variety without excessively escape its genres.
In retrospect, this is an album with subtle ups and downs.. Despite maintaining a good average in terms of quality, are more notable the typical formulas, but improving them in some cases and adding slight changes to enrich some songs. Tracks like "Step Into The Light" show the best of this LP, transporting the listener to a world of dancing, money, restless fun and an undoubted dream of never sleeping, fleeing from Morpheus. And while it is true that the lack of creativity in ballads and some pop themes is quite visible, just like the poor song-writing; It is also true that these errors are less than the successes that Kadomatsu achieved.
In this way "After 5 Clash" is a milestone in Toshiki Kadomatsu's career for the improvement of the models established by waves such as the City-Pop or the most typical Disco, thus becoming memorable as I said, but also an exponent in the Japanese scene of the eighties, showing the harmony between funk, soul disco and pop. Simply a car skidding through the musical stave.
