The One about Charan-po-rantan’s best album “Iikako Dori” (2019)

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GROUP: Charan Po Rantan (チャラン・ポ・ランタン)

ALBUM: いい過去どり (Iikako-Dori)

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD-93617A/B

DURATION: 1 Hr., 14 Min. for the music CD / 226 minutes for the video content

RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2019

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TRACKLISTING:
01. 置行堀行進曲
02. 忘れかけてた物語
03. フランスかぶれ
04. 私の宇宙
05. 71億ピースのパズルゲーム
06. ムスタファ
07. さよなら遊園地
08. 季節は廻る
09. この先のシナリオはあなた次第
10. メビウスの行き止まり
11. 時計仕掛けの人生
12. ハバナギラ
13. 進め、たまに逃げても
14. かなしみ
15. ほしいもの
16. あの子のジンタ
17. 夢を運んだアヒルの子
18. 憧れになりたくて
19. 脱走
20. 最高

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):

■LIVE映像
チャラン・ポ・ランタン「10周年目突入記念公演”大拍乱会”」(NHKホール 2018.11.23)をほぼ完全版収録!!

■MUSIC VIDEO
01. 忘れかけてた物語
02. フランスかぶれ
03. 私の宇宙
04. スーダラ節
05. ぎんなん楽団カルテット
06. 71 億ピースのパズルゲーム
07. 美しさと若さ
08. ワーカホリック
09. ムスタファ
10. 貴方の国のメリーゴーランド
11. メビウスの行き止まり
12. テイラーになれないよ
13. 時計仕掛けの人生
14. 進め、たまに逃げても
15. まゆげダンス
16. 雄叫び
17. かなしみ
18. 夢ばっかり
19. お茶しよ
20. 猫の手拝借
21. ほしいもの
22. ページをめくって
23. 脱走
24. 麻イイ雀
25. Ale Brider

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I first discovered Chara Po Rantan during an interview with Tokyo FM’s Ryusuke Kelly and the song “Okikobori Koshinkyoku”. The first song hooked me immediately and I wanted to listen more of this group.

And if I had to describe their music, it’s like J-Pop with a heavy emphasis on accordion ala French chanson and vaudeville, which is something you never hear in Japanese music.

Chara Po Rantan consists of sisters, vocalist Matsunaga Momo and accordion-musician Koharu and both were seen at locations like Ueno Park and were once budding street performers. Now they are with avex trax and their music is a mix of, as mentioned, French Chanson, vaudeville and a touch of Komatcha Klezmer.

According to a Japantimes interview with the sisters, older sister Koharu got hooked on Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegria” and was intrigued by the show and the troupe’s accordionist, she asked her mother to buy her the instrument. Her mother then brought home an record by jazz saxophonist Umezu Kazutoki’s band Komatch Klezmer, which got Koharu hooked on the music of Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe.

I also didn’t realize how hard it was to find their singles and albums and immediately purchased “Iikako-Dori”, which is the group’s best album.

To avoid confusion, in 2018, they released “過去レクション” (kako rekushon or “Past Colleciton”), a collection of songs from their indie era.

This best album songs features a total of songs selected by Momo and Koharu to celebrate their 10th anniversary, including two new songs which “Okikobori Koshinkyoku” and “Akogare ni Naritakute”.

So, one will find their singles and C/w songs from their major label debut single “Wasurekaketeta Monogatari”, “France Kabure” and “Watashi no Uchu” (both are the c/w tracks to their debut single “Wasurekaketa Monogatari”) and their second major label single “71 Oku Peace no Puzzle Game”.

The single also includes a few songs from their first major album release, “Theatre Theatere” such as “Mustafa”, “Sayonara Yuenchi” and “Kisetsu wa Mawaru”. Their third single, “Mobius no Ikidomari”, songs from their second major album release “Onna no 46bun” such as “Tokei Shikake no Jinsei” and “Habanagira” and “Kanashimi” from their third album “Toritomenashi”, their eighth major label single “Susume, Tamani nigete mo”; “Hoshiimono” from their fourth album “Mirage Collage”, “Dasso” and “Saiko” from their fifth album “Doron-do-Rondo”,

Also, songs not included on albums such as “Konosaki no Scenario wa Anata Shidai” (a song found on the official fan club’s memorial board).

So, the album is quite a mix and not a collection of their singles but songs which both sisters chose to be in this album.

Also, included is a Blu-ray and this is packed with hours worth of material.

The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition while audio is presented in Linear PCM 2.0ch. Wished it was 5.1 or 7.2 surround but the lossless stereo soundtrack was very good.

You get their full concert from their November 23, 2018 performance at NHK Hall titled “チャラン・ポ・ランタン「10周年目突入記念公演”大拍乱会”」(NHKホール 2018.11.23)をほぼ完全版収録!!”.

Tracklist are as follows:

1. 親知らずのタンゴ
2. Annu Ingen Pelle
3. 脱走
4. メビウスの行き止まり
5. ハバナギラ
6. ほしいもの
7. ゾクゾクうんどうかい
8. フランスかぶれ
9. お茶しよ
10. 猫の手拝借
11. 夢の華よ
12. Le cosmos c’est chouette
13. 空中ブランコ乗りのマリー
14. サーカス・サーカス
15. カシスオレンジ
16. 三人の男
17. 時計仕掛けの人生
18. ポジティブヒーロー
19. 今更惜しくなる
20. サーカス・サーカス
21. プレゼント
22. 麻イイ雀
23. ただ、それだけ。
24. 71億ピースのパズルゲーム
25. メドレー 進め、たまに逃げても / ムスタファ / 最後の晩餐
26. 季節は廻る
    -ENCORE-
27. 三毛猫は左利き
28. clay waltz
29. 愛の讃歌

And you get 26 music videos! Tracklisting are as follows:

01. 忘れかけてた物語
02. フランスかぶれ
03. 私の宇宙
04. スーダラ節
05. ぎんなん楽団カルテット
06. 71 億ピースのパズルゲーム
07. 美しさと若さ
08. ワーカホリック
09. ムスタファ
10. 貴方の国のメリーゴーランド
11. メビウスの行き止まり
12. テイラーになれないよ
13. 時計仕掛けの人生
14. 進め、たまに逃げても
15. まゆげダンス
16. 雄叫び
17. かなしみ
18. 夢ばっかり
19. お茶しよ
20. 猫の手拝借
21. ほしいもの
22. ページをめくって
23. 脱走
24. 麻イイ雀
25. Ale Brider