STU48 – Kurayami Review

STU48-Kurayami-Promo

Release Date: January 31, 2018

Track Listing

STU48-Kurayami-Type-A

Type A

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Hyogo ver.
  4. Hizenryoku
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Hizenryoku (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-B

Type B

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Okayama ver.
  4. Hizenryoku
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Hizenryoku (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-C

Type C

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Hiroshima ver.
  4. Kataomoi no Iriguichi
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Kataomoi no Iriguchi (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-D

Type D

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Yamaguchi ver.
  4. Kataomoi no Iriguchi
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Hizenryoku (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-E

Type E

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Tokushima ver.
  4. Bokutachi wa Sinbad da
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Bokutachi wa Sinbad da (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-F

Type F

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Kagawa ver.
  4. Bokutachi wa Sinbad da
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Bokutachi wa Sinbad da (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-G

Type G

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Ehime ver.
  4. Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da Ittekureru hi made
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da Ittekureru hi made (off vocal ver.)

STU48-Kurayami-Type-Theater-Ed

Theater Edition

  1. Kurayami
  2. Setouchi no Koe
  3. STU48 Setouchi ver.
  4. Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da Ittekureru hi made
  5. Kurayami (off vocal ver.)
  6. Setouchi no Koe (off vocal ver.)
  7. STU48 (off vocal ver.)
  8. Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da Ittekureru Hi Made (off vocal ver.)

Review

The latest 48 sister group has entered the foray of idol music with Kuryami. This song sounds like it borrows very heavily from the 46 side of Akimoto Yasushi’s productions. It might even be a little too much borrowing for folks who expect a certain type of music to come from a 48 affiliated group. However, if that particular sound is what appeals to your musical sensibilities then you will probably get plenty of enjoyment from Kurayami. It does have its charm and that makes it worth giving it a few spins should you be interested in some mellow type of idol music.

The b-sides consist of two ballads and more mid-tempo 46-like material. So at least there is some consistency in regards to a possible musical direction for STU48. Katomoi no Iriguchi, Bokutachi wa Sinbad da and Dareka ga Itsuka Suki da to Ittekureru Hi Made leave the strongest lasting impressions. That is not to say the ballads are boring or anything. But if you have heard any 48 styled ballad then you probably know what to expect from Setouchi no Koe and Hizenryoku so give them a listen at your own discretion.

The last thing to note with the b-sides is that there is a prefecture version specific version of STU48 included on each version of the single. Given that this sister group covers a wide range of regions it makes sense to have so many versions of the same song. Whether you want to listen to each one to catch all nuances of each prefecture is up to you.

In the end Kurayami and its associated b-sides are pleasant enough songs that sound like they belong in another idol groups catalog. For some this type of music may not feel that it should be paired with a 48 group. Yet it strangely does help make STU48 stand out a little bit among what is now becoming a crowded room of something-something 48 off shoots.

  • Traxsource-Banner

Archives