Anzen Chitai -- V (Harmony, Side 1)

 

It's been a couple of months but I'm finally covering the last LP in the original 3-LP album representing the epic "V" by Anzen Chitai（安全地帯）. Took care of the last article back in December so from today, I'm taking care of the "Harmony" LP starting with Side 1. However, I have to say that I already covered the first half of this side consisting of "Gin'iro no Pistol"（銀色のピストル）, "Namida wo Tometa Mama"(涙をとめたまま) and "Kon'ya Futari de"(今夜ふたりで) , with the latter two showing up on the very first article for "V" all the way back in August 2012. And since the first half of Side 1 is all together, I can summarize that half as being cool, collected, jazzy & bluesy, and very City. Once again, it was Goro Matsui（松井五郎）and Koji Tamaki（玉置浩二）behind words and music respectively.

The overall theme continues with Track 4, "Ima Sugu ni Koi"（いますぐに恋...Love Now） which has one of the best rhythm tracks that I've ever heard on an Anzen Chitai song (try to imagine Tamaki cutting a rug on stage here). It starts out with some synthesized whimsy before listeners are taken downtown or uptown for a fantastical night out with a fellow who has fallen heads over heels for a woman with a high style of fashion and perhaps an ability to twirl men around her well-manicured finger. Some of the lyrics include "Hello my girl" and "Hello my love", but considering how hot the lad has it for the lass, Matsui should have also added "Hello NURSE!".

Next up is "Ano Music kara"（あのMusicから...From That Music） which is rock seductive and sultry. As much as the previous track was about a fellow going nuts over a lady, this time, it's another guy who's gone gaga over a particular song. Tamaki's vocals go more growly here, and one wonders whether he and Matsui had wanted to create a sonic version of how Mick Jagger acts at his sexiest.

And with that guitar diddling at the end there, we are led to the final track and the second bluesy jazz piece on the side with "J no Blues"（Jのブルース...J's Blues）. Once again, Tamaki transforms his voice into whispery and breathy as he describes all that love turning into absolute lust for a woman. I'm always a sucker for a good jazz orchestra, and I usually need a cigarette for the afterglow after listening to this one.

One more side to go and the "V" project for KKP will be done.