Globe’s Return to Form in ’05-’06
|
January 9, 2007
by Andrew Martinez (AudioAsia)
There can be no doubt that Tetsuya Komuro, and his most prevalent project, Globe, have had significant impacts on the Japanese music industry. After all, one does not become known as the “godfather” for an entire industry without a good reason. And in the often tumultuous Japanese music industry, it is not common for one group to remain popular and successfully sell records for over a decade. So, when Globe decided to take a break from releasing new music after the techno-centric Level 4 in 2003, they left many fans eagerly awaiting their return. After 2 long years and a few individual projects, Globe finally returned to the music industry, delivering a style that calls back to their early style in the mid 90s, but with traces of the styles they’ve explored along the way.
|
On June 29 of 2005, Globe began what is arguably their most concentrated release schedule yet with the release of the single “Here I Am/New Album Playlist.” As the name suggests, this single only carried a full version of the major track, Here I Am, and approximately 1-and-a-half minute previews of three other tracks from their upcoming album: Lost, Judgement, and Love Goes On!!. Here I Am, a song of hope for the future through the solace of the present, seemed to signal the hopes of the group itself, attempting to overcome their time apart to achieve their hopes for the future. However, to the observant listener, there was certainly a tie to the past in the song, as gone were the heavy synth, trance beats, and dreamlike electronica included on their previous three albums. Although the track was certainly something fresh and new for the band, the ballad-like structure borrowed more heavily from the works of the albums Globe and Faces Places. This was the beginning of Globe’s return to their roots throughout 2005 and 2006.
As promised by the previous single, the remaining three songs soon appeared on a new album, Globe2 Pop/Rock. Released on August 10th of the same year, the album arrived with no little fanfare. Globe and Avex orchestrated a well-received release party, which also signaled the 10th anniversary of the band’s first release, Feel Like Dance, and the new album reached as high as 5th in the Oricon weekly charts. Like the preceding single, the majority of the songs on the album were more like the works of the original Globe album than their recent works. However, there was no mistaking the fact that the various styles which Globe had worked on to this point had an impact on the music of the album. In a sense, the effect was to have an album similar to Outernet, but with the opposite intent. Whereas Outernet is Globe’s crossover from rock and pop elements to trance and techno, Globe2 represents the transition in the opposite direction, having the same elements as Outernet, but the opposite emphasis. However, unlike Outernet, Globe created a warmly-accepted and widely-loved album with Globe2.
|
Globe2 Pop/RockClick here for track-by-track review Avex Release date: 08/10/2005 01 Love Goes On
|
Now, if this had been any other year for Globe, they most likely would have been silent for the next 12 months, other than the occasional single release. However, it seemed Globe was determined to make a bigger return than anyone had expected. Soon after Globe2 was released, it was announced that a new single, Soldier was to be released in early 2006. This single, however, never surfaced, but was replaced by yet another new Globe album.
The new album, Maniac, was unique for several features. First of all, it was not supported by any single sales, or even any music videos. In most music industries, this is unheard of and almost never practiced. Also, it was a double album, which was new for an original Globe album. The second album of Maniac showcased “Band” versions of Judgement and Lost as well as tracks from Keiko’s, Marc’s (with the band 245), and Komuro’s solo projects during their hiatus. Like Globe2, the first disc of Maniac combined the various styles from Globe’s career, making the album feel like a continuation of the previous one, especially given its quick release. The “Band” version tracks on the second disc also hinted to a more pop and rock course for future releases, relying on elements more common to live performances than studio techniques. Despite the quick release after Globe2, Maniac still manage to enter the Oricon daily charts at a respectable 7th place, showing that Globe’s return was successful and warmly accepted by the fans.
|
Maniac (Disc 1)Click here for track-by-track review Avex Release date: 03/23/2005 01 Soldier
|
In spite of already having surprised the music industry with the release of Maniac, Globe was still not finished with its push in 2006. They had yet one more release to keep them in the spotlight for the year. On August 9th of 2006, the 11th anniversary of Feel Like Dance’s release, Globe presented their mini-album, New Deal. Again, Globe broke from the mold as this release was their first-ever mini-album. Not only that, but the album was recorded in Latin America, and the first two tracks are heavily influenced by their experiences there, even including Spanish phrases. This style was a first for Globe, and a new experience for their listeners. Although the mini-album debuted at 14th, its highest position in Oricon, it helped to once again solidify their presence in the Japanese music industry.
|
New DealClick here for track-by-track review Avex Release date: 08/09/2005 01 New Deal
|
With the close of 2006, Globe seems to be promising a new and varied future for their fans in the year 2007 and further into the future.
© 2007 AudioAsia
