Last Moon

Last Moon
Studio album by Gackt
Released April 27, 2016
Genre Rock
Label G&Lovers
Producer Gackt
Gackt chronology
Mysteries of Yoshitsune I&II
(2014)		 Last Moon
(2016)
Singles from Last Moon
  1. "Returner (Yami no Shūen)"
    Released: June 20, 2007
  2. "Setsugekka (The End of Silence)/Zan"
    Released: December 9, 2009
  3. "P.S. I Love U"
    Released: February 12, 2014
  4. "Akatsukizukuyo (Day Breakers)"
    Released: October 1, 2014
  5. "Arrow"
    Released: October 7, 2015

Last Moon is the upcoming eighth full-length studio album by Japanese recording artist Gackt to be released on April 27, 2016 in Japan.[1] It is considered to be the final part of "Moon Saga", a concept by which is conceptually linked to its predecessor albums Moon (2002), Crescent (2003), and Diabolos (2005), as well movie Moon Child (2003), theatre play Mysteries of Yoshitsune I&II (2012-2014),[2] and two novel books (2003, 2014).[3][4]

Overview

The concept album and its promotional tour, Last Visualive, will be his first in almost seven years.[1] It is called as "last" because it is considered as a turning point in Gackt's career, whether will be his last tour and music activity with signature stage shows for a period of time.[5][6] On October 7, 2015 was released the single "Arrow".[7]

The tour and album release will be supported by the company Nestlé.[8] Through this collaboration, on Nestle's special site every month until the album release will be available for free to stream and download songs which will be included in the new album.[8]

Moon Saga

Conceptually, the story of the "Moon Saga" is separated in four chapters, roughly, first chapter from the year 700 to 1300, second from 1300 to 1600, third from 1600 to current time, and fourth from current time to future.[9] The work in 2002 and 2003 covered the fourth chapter, in 2005 in between the second and third chapter,[9] while in 2012-2014, as well 2016, the first chapter.[6] The whole story is set in both Europe and Asia, depending on the story and meaning wanted to be expressed.[9]

The story from the first chapter follows the "darkside inhabitants" - darts, who were scattered all over Europe, fighting for different countries even against fellow "people" (inhabitants).[10] The second chapter how they tried to make something that will surpass them and for purpose of fighting, so were created 13 "shitos" (使徒, apostle, disciple), but their body was incomplete and couldn't appear under the sun.[10] From the third chapter, now known as "vampires", is followed their life.[10] They didn't pursue their purpose of life, and as become aware of the darkness inside them, raises the question what is now purpose of their existence.[10]

The idea was to create a story where the Oni (Japanese demons) were the origin of vampires, and eventually of the central character in first chapter Yoshitsune.[11] In the story vampires were presented as an way of expressing the reflection of humans.[9] They long for immortality believing it's a wonderful thing, while vampires know how painful such an existence is and seek a peaceful death.[9] The theme of the concept, like his other in "Requiem et Reminiscence" albums, is about the existential questions of humanity. The "Moon Saga" is a symbolic story of war, the repeating of human sins, questioning what's the meaning of human life.[9][12] The history of mankind struggle - the suffering and sorrow in the quest for the virtues and ideas.[6]

Composition

Almost each song was created from the story world view and has a special "image" and "place" in the live.[6] Studying traditional Japanese poetry, Gackt incorporated a mix of traditional and modern speech in the lyrics, and experimented with song beat, noting that the traditional poetry is more suitable for an irregular beat.[5] The songs are distinctive for their blend of modern Western musical instruments and the traditional Japanese instruments, a kind of music called by Gackt as "Zipangu rock" from which can be sensed the country of origination.[13]

The song "Arrow" is meant for the very end of the story and live.[6] Its a intense ballad rock song, which lyrics mean the sacrifice for the ideal future.[6]

Although not in the currently published track list, songs "Hakuro" and "Sakura Chiru..." are part of the four songs series from the first chapter of "Moon Saga", along with "Setsugekka (The End of Silence)" and "Akatsukizukuyo (Day Breakers)".[14]

Release

The album will be released on April 27, 2016 in two editions, regular (CD) and limited (CD+DVD).[1][15] Until November 6, 2015 was available special limited edition on Gackt's official global store.[2] In its first week reached number six on the Oricon's weekly album chart, with 16,447 copies sold.[16] On the first week of Billboard Japan charts at Hot Albums reached number thirteen,[17] while at Top Albums Sales number ten.[18]

The singles "Arrow" reached number fifteen, and charted four weeks on the Oricon's weekly single chart.[19] As was released by an independent label, it peaked at number two on the Oricon indies singles chart.[20] On the Billboard Japan Hot 100 it peaked at number sixty,[21] and at number fourteen on the Top Single Sales chart.[22]

Last Visualive tour

On August 8 was announced the first national (and world) tour in seven years, Last Visualive.[23] Although the original intention was to be held in 2015, it was postponed to 2016. It will start with fanclub only concert on March 19 at Misato City Cultural Hall in Saitama,[24] while publicly on March 21 at Colany Hall in Yamanashi, and end on July 2 at Saitama Super Arena, with 25 concerts in twenty-one city.[23] In January 2016, because most of the concerts got sold-out, there were announced additional 16 concerts, making 41 concert in total.[25]

The concerts show are generally 3 hours long, are centered around the album's track list, and include videos which are related to the Mysteries of Yoshitsune I&II, as well various sceneries of projection mapping on the back screen. For the song "Kugutsu ga Gotoku" is performed intense Animation&Boogaloo dance choreography.[26]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gackt. C. 

No. Title Length
1. "Arrow"   5:44
2. "Hana mo Chiyu" (花も散ゆ; "Even Flowers Fall") 3:25
3. "Returner (Yami no Shūen)" (Returner ～闇の終焉～; "Returner (Demise of Darkness)") 4:21
4. "Ride Or Die"   3:29
5. "Akatsukizukuyo (Day Breakers)" (暁月夜 -Day Breakers-; "Moonlit Dawn (Day Breakers)") 5:55
6. "Zan" (斬 ～Zan～; "Slash") 4:37
7. "Kugutsu ga Gotoku" (傀儡が如く; "Like A Puppet") 4:01
8. "One More Kiss"   4:03
9. "WooHa Baby!!" (舞哈Baby!! -WooHa-; "Wǔ hā Baby!! (WooHa)") 3:50
10. "Koi no Friday!!!" (恋のFriday!!!; "Friday Of Love!!!") 4:27
11. "Kimi Dake no Boku de Iru Kara" (キミだけのボクでいるから; "Because There Is Just My You") 5:00
12. "P.S. I Love U"   6:01
13. "Setsugekka (The End of Silence)" (雪月花 -The end of silence-; "Snow, Moon and Flowers (The End of Silence)") 6.42

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nadine Silva (2016-02-03). "GACKT "Last Moon" – Details Unveiled". handthatfeedshg.com. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Hikaru, Ruchesko (2015-10-08). "New Album from GACKT". JaMe World. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  3. ↑ "｢Moon Child【鎮魂歌】レクイエム篇｣ みんなのレビューページ". booklog.jp (in Japanese). paperboy&co. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  4. ↑ "GACKTが執筆した小説『Moon Saga-義経秘伝-』が発売". barks.jp (in Japanese). Global Plus. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "GACKT 自分が男として、大人として、いかに成長できているか？が重要／インタビュー". excite.co.jp (in Japanese). 2015-10-04. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ""LAST VISUALIVE"へ向けてGACKTの壮絶なドラマが始まる" [Approaching the Last Visualive, GACKT's Sublime Drama Begins]. OKMusic (in Japanese). 2015-09-20. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "GACKT、7年ぶりコンセプトツアーの追加16公演を発表". barks.jp (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. 2016-01-07. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "GACKT Offers New Song Hana mu Chiyu For Free". JpopAsia. 2015-12-16. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Arena 37C (in Japanese) (Japan). October 2005. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Vol. 119". UV (in Japanese) (Japan). October 2005.
  11. ↑ "GACKT「涙流して感動出来る」　新歌舞伎座『－義経秘伝－』スタート". Sanspo (in Japanese). Sankei Digital. 2014-09-20. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ B=Pass (in Japanese) (Japan). November 2005. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  13. ↑ Takashi Ishizuka (2009-12-01). "GACKT interview "メイド・イン・ジャパン"と呼べるモノを作りたい――GACKT、「雪月花―The end of silence―／斬～ZAN～」をリリース". CD Journal (in Japanese). Ongaku Shuppansha. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  14. ↑ "GACKTが"呂布"に扮した新曲PVを一部解禁". barks.jp (in Japanese). Global Plus. 2014-09-24. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  15. ↑ "GACKT、"黒い羽"が印象的なニューアルバムのビジュアルを公開" (in Japanese). OKMusic. 2016-03-18. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Oricon weekly album chart 2016-04-25 to 2016-05-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums May Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Gackt singles on Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  20. ↑ Jasy (2015-10-21). "Oricon 2015 Week 43". JaME World. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 October Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales October Chart" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  23. 1 2 "GACKT、『Last Visualive』のツアー日程発表" (in Japanese). OKMusic. 2015-08-08. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ "GACKT、激しいダンスでも魅せるコンセプトツアー開幕". natalie.mu (in Japanese). Natasha. 2016-03-20. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  25. ↑ "GACKT、7年ぶりコンセプトツアーの追加16公演を発表". barks.jp (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. 2016-01-07. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  26. ↑ "GACKT 7年ぶりのコンセプトライブ『LAST VISUALIVE TOUR』が開幕" (in Japanese). Excite Japan. 2016-03-19. Retrieved March 23, 2016.

External links

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