Album Review: 竹本土佐大夫 – A Raw, Soul-Stirring Journey You Won’t Forget
Alright, so here’s the deal. If you’re looking for something that feels like it was brewed in a hidden corner of the universe, far from all the overproduced pop clutter, this album by 竹本土佐大夫 (Chikumoto Tosadaifu) is your ticket. It’s not perfect—heck, sometimes it feels downright messy—but that’s what makes it so damn real.
Let me break it down for ya. There are two tracks I gotta talk about because they’ve been stuck in my head like gum under a shoe. First up is “風の声” (“Kaze no Koe” or “The Voice of the Wind”). This one sneaks up on you. At first, it’s just this soft, almost hesitant melody, but then BOOM—the percussion kicks in like a heartbeat racing after spotting someone you love. The vocals? Oh man, they’re raw, like he didn’t even care if anyone heard him sing off-key at points. But somehow, it works. Like, really works. By the end, you feel like you’ve been carried away by the wind yourself, landing somewhere new and strange.
Then there’s “夜明けの鼓動” (“Yoake no Kodou” or “The Pulse of Dawn”). This track hits different. It starts with this eerie silence, like holding your breath before jumping into cold water. And when the strings come in? Chills. Straight-up chills. What sticks with me most is how unpredictable it feels—one moment it’s calm, almost meditative, and the next, it explodes into this chaotic burst of sound. It’s kind of like life itself, right? Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, everything flips upside down.
Now, I know some folks might say this album drags in parts, or that it’s too experimental for its own good. And yeah, sure, maybe they’re not wrong. But honestly? That’s what makes it special. It doesn’t try to fit into any box; it just exists, wild and untamed. Listening to it feels less like entertainment and more like eavesdropping on someone’s deepest thoughts.
Here’s the kicker though—this album made me realize something weird. Music doesn’t always have to mean something big or important. Sometimes, it’s enough just to make you feel…something. Anything. Even if that something is confusion or annoyance or awe—all mixed together in a jumble.
So yeah, 竹本土佐大夫 isn’t gonna be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you’re tired of music that plays it safe, give this a shot. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself staring out the window, wondering why the sky looks bluer today.
