Kensho Ono – Fantastic Tune (Review)

ono kenshoMaking a good first impression, Kensho Ono makes his debut as a singer with “FANTASTIC TUNE”.

Releasing his first single, 24 year old japanese seiyuu Kensho Ono makes his debut as a solo singer. Kensho is a young seiyuu that is starting to get more recognition in the seiyuu business and already has some known roles such as Kuroko in the currently airing anime “Kuroko’s Basketball 2nd season” or in the popular anime also currently airing its 2nd season “Magi: The Kingdom of Magic” as Hakuryuu. He also has previous experience singing, especially character songs for some games and anime, namely the game 下天の華 キャラクターソング集 and most recently for his character Kuroko in “Kuroko’s Basketball”. In this single Kensho worked with former OLDCODEX guitarist R.O.N, now working in a new project called “Stereo Dive Foundation” with a few known credits to his name making several ending songs or even the soundtracks for numerous anime, namely the currently airing “Nobunaga the Fool” (the ending theme), “Kuroko’s Basketball” 1st season soundtrack and also from last season’s anime “Kyoukai no Kanata” (ending theme).

Making his debut under the wings of Japanese label “Lantis”, house of some big seiyuu names like Daisuke Ono, Showtaro Morikubo, OLDCODEX (Tatsuhisa Suzuki) and GRANRODEO (KISHOW), Kensho Ono is in good hands in this new adventure.

FANTASTIC TUNE” is available in two different editions: regular and limited (CD+DVD). More details regarding the single:

Regular edition
Regular edition
Single: Fantastic Tune
Label: Lantis
Release Date: 26/02/2014
Genre: J- Pop/Rock

Tracklist:

1. FANTASTIC TUNE
2. For the glory days
3. FANTASTIC TUNE (Off vocal)
4. For the glory days (Off Vocal)

Track by track analysis:

1-  FANTASTIC TUNE

“FANTASTIC TUNE” is the ending theme of “Kuroko no Basket 2nd season”. Starting with the raging guitars and the amazingly loud bass. This is certainly a mid towards a fast-paced song lead by the drums, making this an amazing rock song. The slightly perceivable piano in the pre-chorus gives this song a good touch. The aggressive guitar solo just asks for the listener’s attention, it’s not something otherworldly but is technical and fast as well as aggressive making this solo a pretty amped up one. Kensho worked with R.O.N. in this track hence some people with previous knowledge of R.O.N’s work, let’s say with OLDCODEX for example, will notice some of his trademarks along the track. His trademark guitar riffs are all over the place some guitar parts even sound a bit like R.O.N’s previous work with the OST from “Kuroko no Basket 1st season”. Kensho’s voice impresses in a good way. While you might think that his sweet mid-tones vocals wouldn’t fit a rock song well, Kensho proves you wrong. He is definitely a perfect fit to sing rock songs. 5/5

[youtube=http://youtu.be/juqybMFYByQ]

 2-  For the glory days

Yet another rock song lead by the guitars, drums and the astonishing bass. This song is slightly slower than the previous one but still an energetic rock track. The guitars in this song are almost shadowed by the extremely noticeable bassline, but when we listen carefully we can easily identify it. The bass seems to be in a “solo mode” almost isolated throughout the whole track whereas the guitar has its turn to shine in the chorus, presenting us a good guitar solo. Great work on this track. 5/5

Final rating: 5/5

This first single by Kensho Ono is a success in all aspects. The instrumentals and his vocal work mixed well together making this single a very good one. R.O.N’s participation making the arrangement was a plus to the songs which is why Kensho’s tracks are more rock oriented than pop driven, which as many of you probably will think after listening to the single, Kensho’s mid-toned voice is a very good one and probably is more suited to rock songs. With this single we can only expect more good tracks in the future that will make us delighted, while this young star rising seiyuu makes his way up to a brilliant career as a singer.

FANTASTIC TUNE” is available for purchase on CDJAPAN for all overseas fans.

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Nadine Silva
Nadine Silva
Former The Hand That Feeds HQ reviewer (2014 - 2019). Rocker and passionate about a good bass line or low vocal, Nadine is now shining in a different team, rocking and dazzling in the IT industry.

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