Alice Nine Album Review 9 ~ "Afterword: Gemini vs. 9 ~ The Twin Albums"

As soon as I put the disc in and the start of Heavenly Tale began, a smirk played across my face. A very 'Saga-like' expression in fact, if only I had a mirror or camera to prove it. 

After all, even though I had no particular expectations of what sound world the boys will pull me into this time round, the instant the intro played, I thought :

"As expected of you, this is just so 'you', I knew it". 

It amused me, surprised me yet satisfied me with familiarity. This was a journey I've been waiting for, expecting, and one that would be both familiar yet completely new. 

I instantly saw, heard, felt - however you'd like to put it - the connection of this album with GEMINI. Saw, because I saw it as cascading morphing images in my head; heard, because of the sound world, the magical sounds arranged in unique combinations that were infiltrating my ears; and felt, because of the emotional subconscious message it sent out to me.

Alice Nine Album Review 「９」

This review was conducted through listening to the album over 40 hours on professional headphones 
Audio Technica Sovereign ATH-W1000

Cherry wood enclosures and gold-plated hardware

Please note that this review is a personal record of the opinions of a semi-professional Musician who has been professionally trained. It does not represent, on any account, any other persons' opinion. Please note that this review did not take 40hrs to complete but rather I didn't have time to write it up until I've listened to it for over 40hrs (*^.~*)

Beautifully produced, just as Gemini was. Perhaps less complex and experimental than Gemini, and explicitly rock. Controlled, displaying mastered technical musicianship. Confident and showy but not flashy or wild like Gemini. Not as compositionally ambitious – perhaps ambitious is the wrong word, less complex. It’s not as explicitly ambitious, but the layers of musical material are equally as demanding and well expressed. An album exuding confidence, competence and mastered musicianship – another landmark album in their discography.