Album Review: Wonder Walk Dial M by Takagikan
Alright, let’s dive into Wonder Walk Dial M, the 1999 gem from Takagikan. This Japanese album is a wild mashup of electronic and rock vibes, blending drum n bass with good ol’ rock & roll energy. It’s like someone threw a rave and a garage jam session into a blender—sounds nuts, right? But somehow, it works. Released under WEA Japan and A.K.A. Records, this thing has got personality for days. Shoutout to Hajime Tachibana for the slick art direction and design, too—it’s got that late '90s futuristic edge that screams “cool” without trying too hard.
Now, onto the tracks. I gotta say, "Wonder Walk" hit me like a ton of bricks (in a good way). The track kicks off with this hypnotic beat that feels like your brain's been plugged into a neon-lit arcade machine. Then BAM, the guitars come in, raw and gritty, giving it this rebellious rock & roll edge. You can tell Takagikan wasn’t just phoning it in as the producer—he clearly had some caffeine-fueled late nights tweaking these sounds. It’s one of those songs where you’re not sure if you wanna dance or headbang, so you kinda do both and look ridiculous. Love it.
Then there’s "ダイヤルMをまわせ!" (or "Dial M wo Mawase!" if you're feeling fancy). This track is straight-up infectious. The drum n bass rhythm hits so hard it feels like your heartbeat syncs up with it after a minute. There’s this playful vibe to it, like Takagikan was messing around in the studio and accidentally created a banger. The layers are insane—just when you think you’ve got a handle on the melody, something new pops up, keeping you hooked. It’s like sonic whack-a-mole, but way cooler.
The mastering by Shuji Kitamura deserves a nod here too. Everything sounds crisp, even with all the genre-hopping madness going on. You can tell they spent time making sure each layer shines through without drowning the others out. Props to the team for that.
Looking back, Wonder Walk Dial M feels ahead of its time. In ‘99, most people were still figuring out what MP3 players were, and here’s Takagikan mixing drum n bass with rock like it ain’t no thang. Honestly, listening to this album feels like finding an old mixtape in the back of your closet—unexpectedly nostalgic yet fresh enough to make you wonder why more artists don’t experiment like this today.
Final thought? If aliens ever land and ask for proof that Earthlings know how to party, I’m handing them this album. They’ll either beam us all aboard their spaceship DJ sets or politely decline and leave. Either way, job done.
