BUTTERFLY EFFECT
CHIAKI SATO
[review-body]
Chikai Sato used to be a part of Kinokoteikoku, a more rock focused band. she has since released under her own self, delving into electronic and r&b, combining into a strong focus of pop music. her sound on BUTTERFLY EFFECT is both incredibly engaging and exciting. it’s when pop collides with r&b that i find music really comes into a special field of attraction. on it’s own standards this would be enough to make a solid album, but Sato taps in to something powerful here. her sound is deep, rich, caustic, vivid, the culmination is an album incredibly chill, heartfelt and crazy replayable.
from go, it is immediately apparent something new, something exciting, is going on here. the album art gives the work an ethereal feel right off the bat. the hues of blue, purple and green on the midnight shore supply the mental image of a deep dark emotionally driven experience. and the experience is an enjoyably cohesive one. beyond here, each song drives the stake of this theme further and further into the consciousness of the listener. it isn’t that just one song catches feelings, but that each subsequent song establishes a firm standard only to push forth even further. by mid album, “Time Machine 「タイムマシーン」” not only cements the album’s sonic achievement, but locks in the albums identity on the back of Hikaru Utada’s “Automatic” sample. it’s a drastic and effective move. it takes a modern, lush sound and ties it into yesteryear’s acidic r&b. it’s not only a callback, but an homage and a promise kept.for each step you take deeper into BUTTERFLY EFFECT the deeper you will find yourself lost in it’s cocoon of sound. but that’s no pun, BUTTERFLY EFFECT is an all encompassing sound. through consistent and round deep bass and a gorgeous high end, the album creates time and place of it’s own making.
“Time Machine 「タイムマシーン」” is nearly relentless is how hard it drums rich sound into into the ears. the song underlines what makes the album so compelling in a unified sound and visual identity. not to mention (probably) the only sample of “Automatic” is a surprising deep pull and goes incredibly hard. the lingering electronica drifts into Sato’s own, new, sound. the drumming beat continually pounding on. its a gorgeous song and one that’ll be a revisit for a long time coming.
if anything, i wish i could take the time to write though each song. each one adds an extra touch upon the previous impression. the greatest compliment i can give being that the album is so so listenable, it becomes difficult to pinpoint any one solid piece. too much of a good thing (which is a good thing). there are plenty of songs here that could last on their own or could be an album-maker for lesser products.
for instance, i really “Hanagumori 「花曇り」” feels like a bit like 90’s throwback of floaty and trance-like r&b in a way that reminds me of Inuyasha’s Dream’s “My Will”. the plinking piano in the background only helps add an outline to the ever present bass to give it identity and feeling. its a dreamy song that further drives into Sato’s cohesive presentation.
“PAPER MOON” is a sexy and loose excursion that touches incredibly lightly on some bossa nova and jazz. little touches of electric guitar and saxophone litter the songs periphery while Sato almost gears down into ASMR like vocals. it’s another impressive display of the beautiful mastering on the album. multiple layers of sound never muddle into each other, but amplify and give deeper texture to each part of the song and to the greater album.
“Senkou Hanabi feat. Lilas Ikuta 「線香花火 feat. 幾田りら」” starts the album in great earnest. synth pop fade and echo into melodic focus before Sato and her signature rich bass induce once more. it’s a feat in itself that this ever crushing beat never drowns out or exhausts the album. over its 42 minute runtime, BUTTERFLY EFFECT feel effortless to enjoy. “Senkou Hanabi” sets the tone for the rest of the album to come with bright and kaleidoscopic high ends over this burly low end beat. “Yoru wo Loop 「夜をループ」” is a wild followup of a song. Sato showcases that she doesn’t just have one trick up her sleeve to tripidaciously construct an album around, but a suite of talent at her disposal. despite the album’s dark and vibrant identity, she never let’s it get too intense. her flowery chorus of “i love you” lets us know its all just for fun. each electronic uplift feels incredibly close to the butterflies one might fell when falling in love. her exclamations of love feel like a bursting cathartic release of pent up restraint. she lets it out, it doesn’t care who hears, who knows, or what they think. it’s a lovely song.
BUTTERFLY EFFECT reminds me of some of my favorite r&b artists this past decade. SZA, Hope Tala, Ella Mai, etc. are all powerhouses of modern female r&b efforts, and some of the most impressive music to come out period. these artist exhibit an incredible ability to make music that has a certain ability to encompass the heart, and build worlds of verisimilitude around the mysteries of the human heart. in this same breath, BUTTERFLY EFFECT feels like an album of this caliber. Sato has created something that feels whole and unbroken from beginning to end. if that weren’t enough, she has locked in a really wonderful cross-section of pop and r&b that manages to feel fresh for both a Japanese and a universal sound. BUTTERFLY EFFECT is a pristine experience in the flowering of the heart and it sounds just as gorgeous in process.
[review-footer]
Highlights
Senkou Hanabi feat. Lilas Ikuta 「線香花火 feat. 幾田りら」
Yoru wo Loop 「夜をループ」
S.S.S.
Time Machine 「タイムマシーン」
Hanagumori 「花曇り」
Manatsu no Choutsugai 「真夏の蝶番」
PAPER MOON
Tracklist
ECLOSE
Senkou Hanabi feat. Lilas Ikuta 「線香花火 feat. 幾田りら」
Yoru wo Loop 「夜をループ」
S.S.S.
Time Machine 「タイムマシーン」
Hanagumori 「花曇り」
Manatsu no Choutsugai 「真夏の蝶番」
PAPER MOON
1DK
EYES WIDE SHUT
Cheers! Cheers!
