Song Rec #4 - BANKA by illion
(I’m not sure what album this was on and it wasn’t really a single, so I’ve gone with the P.Y.L album. If anyone knows, then tell me, I’d be very grateful)
Background: illion (yes, that’s all lower case) is the solo project of Yojiro Noda, the lead singer and main mind behind Radwimps, a Japanese rock band. You might know them as the band who did the OST for Kimi no Na Wa. BANKA (yes that’s in all capitals) was written for the Tokyo Ghoul (anime about a human who gets turned into a half-ghoul and has to live with it + coffee) live action film, so the lyrics are somewhat related to that (but not really).
This song is genuinely so good, I think it should be required listening for anyone learning how to produce/mix (though it’s not my favourite illion song, that goes to water lily).
The simple piano melody holds up the rest of the song, with strings, synth drums and other random noises that I can’t really put a name to (but that work really well) gradually build on it as the song goes on.
The vocal melody is great, working with the piano and never feeling like it is working against the melody or backing of the song, even if they are quite different.
The lyrics are appropriately sad, asking someone if they the love they have in their life is enough and not understanding why love is so important (relevant to Kaneki’s, the main character of Tokyo Ghoul, mental state.
But really, I’d recommend this song because the mixing in it is just a master work. Noda is known for his exceptional songwriting skills and when he is given full reign over whatever sounds he wants, the result is spectacular. There are no gaps in the sound, you never feel like you want anything more from the song. The first time I heard it, I just sat there trying to comprehend what my ears were telling me.
There is a lot going on in the song and it takes multiple listens to fully understand it all. That instrumental break just before the bridge is great, but it surprised the hell out of me the first time I heard it and I hated it (I love it now, but still. Fair warning given). But at no point does it feel like too much, and that is an example of mixing done right.
No one ever seems to talk about the mixing, but the mixing (and production) is a very important part of the process and if done wrong, the song can be ruined. Hearing it done so well here (and in many of illion’s songs) makes me really happy.
That’s why I’ve recommended it.
I’m not a musician or professional music critic (you can tell, I have no idea what I’m talking about most of the time) so please correct me if I’m wrong anywhere. I’m just trying to expand people’s music taste :)
