Panorama

heidi. prove that they can alter their sound without losing what makes them special.

With the release of their third full album Panorama, heidi. have shown us a brighter side to their music. Forecast by the optimistic singles, “Orange Drama” and “Tsubasa,” the album produces a refreshing sound with a mix of styles and a wider array of instruments. Panorama is drastically different from the band’s previous two albums—the more conceivable downside—and yet there’s something so irrevocably heidi. about it that fans can’t help but fall for it.

The album opens with the fun, swing-rock instrumental “Panorama” that takes us back to the days of the mini album Doukoku. Meanwhile, “Hello!” is typical of recent singles and an exciting feature track. We’ve heard the autumn melody of “Orange Drama” on the single, which brings us to “Ame to Kissaten,” which has a fascinating opening melody that exudes an almost Persian feel and opens into a heartening chorus. “Koukotsu,” which follows, is an interesting blend of vintage heidi. and their racier new sound—with great results between Yoshihiko’s soaring vocals and a downright hot instrumental riff.

Epically composed, track 6, “Yoru Ni Omoeba,” is a surprising and stunning addition to heidi.’s repertoire. I’d recommend it as the song to listen to when you need wrenching out of a bottomless pit—or else just a good, deep cry. “Koen Lullaby” (perfectly placed in the album) brings in that exciting new sound we first heard in “Tsuta Tsuta”: Enka meets rock, meets swing. This is a great track to drag you back to Earth or send you dancing out the door, a sentiment that continues in “World Note.”

Highly anticipated “Heaven” played live for nearly a year before its album debut; the fun, bouncy number will doubtless bring a smile to your lips when stumbled upon amid the shuffle of your iPod. In contrast, “Ashite he” thankfully brings in heidi.’s darker sound as well as a broadened, hopeful chorus, providing the final note of variation this album needed. We hit the final track all too soon: The rousing melody of “Tsubasa” provides a fitting close to this moving third album.

In short, Panorama is a fresh collection of music without destroying what makes heidi. “heidi.” It also provides a successful example of what happens when a good basic rock band plays around with keyboards and string quartets. But don’t take our word for it: Go and get your hands on it immediately!

Limited edition: Specially packaged. Booklet handrwitten by Yoshihiko. Tsubasa and Hello music clips + Documentary.

Regular edition: 11 track CD.

Track List:

1. Panorana
2. Hello!
3. Orange Drama
4. Ame to Kissaten
5. Koukotsu
6. Yoru ni Omoeba
7. Koen Lullaby
8. World Note
9. Heaven
10. Ashite he
11. Tsubasa