HAPPY END

This eponymous album with pretty happy sleeve appearance is, sad to say, the last one by a Japanese rock supercombo HAPPY END released in 1973. The four talented musicians, just after completing the previous album "Kazemachi Roman" in 1971, notified themselves they had finished what they wanted to do as HAPPY END, and each of them would have looked for his next step and next goal ... that is, all of them would have lost interest in this combo, I guess. In general, like "Let It Be" by The Beatles, material or creation produced by a group almost disbanded sounds abrupt or rambling, everyone says. But what an excellence, their last album under such a situation is musically as tightened and crystallized as previously. Via this fantastic stuff, we can easily find they should have created another perfect gem for the audience, with their strong intention.

Yes as mentioned above, this album is a superb pop / rock / folk album indeed. On the other hand, through this album we cannot grab much introspection nor complexity in their inner mind. Sounds like they would have wanted to let us know their musical appearance in those days, in a liniar manner. Every single track is melodically well constructed and a tad complicated, but we can hear it quite straightly, without any "out of order". The first song "Furaibo" is typical of the stuff ... mysterious melody lines and addictive lyrics can be heard, with comfortable brass sounds and acceptable rhythmic basis. There is no discomfort nor depression regardless of their circumstance. And let me say this album consists of three "sayonara (goodbye)", that should be a sad word, but their soundscape sounds more and more promising and active ... just for their dream or future.

Needless to say about great rock revolution by the four ex-Happy End geniuses. And their three albums - "Happy End (aka Yudemen)", "Kazemachi Roman", and "Happy End" - cannot be forgotten eternally, as Japanese music gems.