REVIEW: SCANDAL - MIRROR

4/5

Notes On A Scandal.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the most scandalous of them all? Japanese, female force, rock juggernaut, SCANDAL recently celebrated their 15th anniversary in the industry. Putting the J-Rock act next to the likes of the amazing Aimyon and legends on a cinematic concert farewell tour, Arashi, as the highest acclaimed achievers from the Far East music scene. You can see their autographed banner signed, sealed and delivered in Shibuya Station as you make your way to Tokyo’s Tower Records. Still standing as you pat Hachikō's head en route. And turning 15, the outfit from Osaka are gifting overseas with a deluxe package of dual albums for the reflective release of their new album 'MIRROR', that we got a look into last week. Tomomi, Haruna, Rina and Mami offering English and Romaji translations respectively to give fans more Scandal and a deeper meaning into their lyrics that explore their sensitivities beyond listeners language abilities, lost in a Japanese translation. This limited edition from JPU records also let's you read all about the latest volume (3) of the 'her' magazine printed exclusively in English and broadcasted in the bands latest music video. A documentary will also be revealed on the bands coronation celebration, before they hit the road on tour in the US this Summer, along with London, Paris and Berlin for the European stretch in September. 

That's all to come February 4th. But right now you can already see the 'Mirror' from the former Kyobashi high-school group that's now maturing in music to the tune of a decade and a half in the game. The garage to the street. Powering performances that riff rip into guitars like the sisterhood of Haim, from Akasaka Blitz to the House Of Blues. These women in music soundtracking everything including 'Pokemon' and 'Full Metal Alchemist' as they score and soar. From performing in Osaka Castle Park, to their own kingdom and 'her' record label. Now following 2020's 'Kiss From Darkness', Scandal's tenth album for year 15 sees them reach for that 'eternal' sound like the single 'One More Time'. Celebrating in the up periscope of a candy coated video the K-Pop 'Ice Cream' or 'Butter' of BLACKPINK or BTS would be proud of, making their own genre name, singing, "The long night has already broken/And the light creeping through feels so gentle/I rub my sleepy eyes and say to myself/"There's nothing to worry about, no more worries"", in the "eternal metamorphosis" of translation. All before the sweet sounds of 'eternal' reach for the stars and lyrics like, "I wonder why/Pain and joy as one/Even if I'm scared, I'll unlock it again/Look at me/Look at it/Dazzling Hikari/Shower of love pouring down/Please solve your heart/To a friendly world/Dazzling Hikari/There is love/Please solve your heart/Touch the gentle world." The power of these women proving beauty lasts forever. Eternal like celestial Marvel Chloé Zhao in this Nomadland. 

Baby...touch that heart like beautiful ballads ('Honey's' 'Mado wo Aketara'). All white like a Diddy party in promotion of this piece and their 'Ivory' strong single like the visual storytelling. "Fuwari fuwari boyaketa shikai de/Sagutte sagutte boku mo tesaguri da yo/Yurari yurari yureru kanjou de/Modokashiku tanoshiku ikiteru", Mami sings with signature personal reason as the light of a new day shines through her curtains. 'Mirror's' self-titled track like a Timberlake one of the same name is as "killer" on this nine track wonder, as Mami describes it to Billboard in all its uptempo percussion and punctuation. Perfect for being performed on the live stage they're about to return to after two years since their last album and COVID shut everything down in quarantine. But in the genre boundary expression of this envelope pushing, it's the gospel roots explored like Dylan taking it to a Hozier church in the 80's that really sings and shows this band can defy any pigeon holed convention like when they graduated from the school uniform sound. Tomomi writing 'Ai no shotai' and taking it to higher ground for our deeper understanding of their background. It's the kind of "selfless love" she talks about, now in her 30's. With many of her friends settling down with family. All whilst she won't quiet her voice in support for the LGBTQ community and all the have to endure in the world as a whole...let alone just this traditional country that in some corners still has a problem with Rui and another Osaka. It's the kind of 'Kanojo wa Wave' ("she's a wave") anthem that will have everyone's hands up like an Alicia Keys 'Superwoman' soaring for the sky like you. Yes you are and yes you can. All from a band that already broke new ground back in 2006 when they formed and forged female dominance in an ignorant industry. Its quite poetic like the melting dusk of 'Yugure, tokeru' for these freedom writers. New York, Anaheim, Dallas! You ready for this, in all of 'Mirror's' shimmers and shines? Seamlessly shapeshifting across beautifully blended genres that feels like anything but a musical mutation, the mystique of this act is mesmerising. So, so scandalous. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'One More Time', 'eternal', 'Kanojo wa Wave.'