The Singles Jukebox

But it’s not Christmas time…?

[Video][Website]
[6.00]

Alfred Soto: A three-piece “progressive” piano band, I read, but the melody lines sound mawkish to my ears, hindered in no small part by Ayano Mori’s strained vocal.
[4]

Sonia Yang: In 2009, supercell made waves in anime music scenes when composer Ryo eschewed vocaloid Hatsune Miku in favor of human vocalist Yanagi Nagi for his sentimental piano pop. The band soared in popularity among anime fans as their brand of refreshing yet nostalgic pop-rock, typically featuring high, crystal clear female vocals, inspired many similar acts (my favorite being fhána). Qaijff (pronounced “quife”, rhymes with “strife”), a three-piece act from Nagoya, echoes the best parts of the Nagi-era supercell sound, intentional or not. They’ve never done an anime tie-in and probably won’t anytime soon – though vaguely math-y “organism” would make a great opening theme. “Wonderful Life” isn’t as hooky or exuberant but it’s bursting with life nevertheless. Calling it breezy would be an understatement, it’s an unstoppable gust of wind, lifting the listener off the ground in a spinning rush that doesn’t stop. On top of it all, “Wonderful Life” manages to be irresistibly familiar without descending into a cliched camp fest.
[8]

Iain Mew: For the most part, “Wonderful Life” is just too much: too much uplift lined up in one direction, too much force applied with too much bland earnestness. At one point they do execute a Qaijff turn, suddenly heading off in another, more contemplative direction with misty filters over tricky beatwork; it’s thrillingly unexpected, but all too brief.
[5]

Madeleine Lee: Now this is my kind of uplift. The keys set a brisk pace that the drums match and then embellish; Ayano Mori’s voice has just enough melancholy to sell the otherwise total optimism of the song.
[7]

Cassy Gress: I’m reminded very strongly of Noa Nowa here: sweeping pop instrumentals with a slightly weak vocal. Ayano Mori reminds me of the best singer in your (maybe just my) high school — someone who is bang on pitch but vibratos too much and sings so emphatically straight ahead that you wonder if she really wants to just look at the floor.
[6]

Will Adams: Like a spring wind rushing past your arms, subtle enough that you almost don’t realize it until it’s gone, but pleasant enough that you wish it would come back.
[6]