In November 2023, LUNA SEA rereleased two of their signature albums, MOTHER from 1994 and STYLE from 1996. The rerecording of these iconic longplayers is a prime example of how old classics can shine in a completely new light. While being true to the original release, the new recording and mixing make MOTHER and STYLE sound as if the original versions never existed.
MOTHER
(self cover album)
2023/11/29 Avex Trax
01. LOVELESS
02. ROSIER
03. FACE TO FACE
04. CIVILIZE
05. Genesis of Mind～Yume no Kanata he～ [GENESIS OF MIND 〜夢の彼方へ〜]06. AURORA
07. IN FUTURE
08. FAKE
09. TRUE BLUE
10. MOTHER
STYLE
(self cover album)
2023/11/29 Avex Trax
01. WITH LOVE
02. G.
03. HURT
04. RA-SE-N
05. LUV U
06. FOREVER & EVER
07. 1999
08. END OF SORROW
09. DESIRE
10. IN SILENCE
11. SELVES
The defined focus on each instrument makes both albums worth listening to, even if you know the original releases by heart. Especially the rhythm section comes through. The nuances in sound and play style of bass and drums are now audible in every moment of each album. The songs Genesis of Mind～Yume no Kanata he～ [GENESIS OF MIND～夢の彼方へ～] (MOTHER) and RA-SE-N (STYLE) are remarkable examples of this progression.
Another thing that proves the outstanding mix of the 2023 version of both albums, but especially MOTHER, is that they make you feel like you’re standing right in the middle of the five musicians playing and recording the songs. Every single note, every hit on the drums, and every phrase sung by vocalist Ryūichi Kawamura is recorded and mixed as clean and defined as it possibly could be.
MOTHER has always been an outstanding album, but this new recording really puts it into the league of Rock albums everyone should know, right next to U2’s Achtung Baby (1991) or Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon (1973). Oh, and a not-so-small side fact: the comparison to U2 doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s Steve Lillywhite, who rerecorded both LUNA SEA albums as well as most of U2’s discography. The more you know, right?
Long story short: the self cover versions of MOTHER and STYLE are absolutely remarkable and something truly outstanding in the mass of nostalgia-driven rerecordings of various albums from the past, may it be by Metallica, U2, or others.
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Song Recommendations: FACE TO FACE, Genesis of Mind～Yume no Kanata he～ (MOTHER) // RA-SE-N, END OF SORROW (STYLE)
