Sigma (album)

Sigma

An image of Reol (the same name as the group), having displaced images of her spread across a small room. The bands name is superimposed underneath a piece of the photograph

Standard CD and digital artwork
Studio album by REOL
Released October 19, 2016
Recorded 2015–2016
Genre Electronic dance
Length 46:38
Label Toy's Factory
Producer Reol

Sigma (stylized with the Cyrillic symbol Σ) is the debut studio album by Japanese musical unit REOL. It was released on October 19, 2016 by Toy's Factory in two physical editions—a standard CD, and a CD and DVD bundle—and for digital consumption. The material on the record was written, composed and produced by member Reol, whom also provided vocals to each track; band mate, GigaP, received additional music credits towards composing and arranging the album. Musically, Sigma is an electronic dance album that incorporates elements of Westernized music and Korean pop culture.

No singles were pre-released from the album; however, three of the albums tracks: "ChiruChiru", "YoiYoi Kokon", and "Give Me a Break Stop Now" received music videos, all produced by the band's creative director, Okiku. Upon its release, Sigma received positive reviews from music critics, who commended the production and the albums dance nature. Additional compliments were aimed towards its commercial appeal. Commercially, the album experienced moderate success in Japan, peaking inside the top 10 on both the Oricon Albums Chart and Hot Albums Chart, the latter hosted by Billboard.

Background and release

Reol and GigaP had consistently worked together prior to forming the musical unit REOL, providing compositions and vocals to several Japanese vocaloid acts such as Hatsune Miku.[1] Their first project as a duo was No Title, which was released on August 17, 2014 through Japanese label Celo Project.[2] Additionally, Reol continued working on her debut studio album, titled Gokusaishiki. It was released on July 29, 2015 through Victor Entertainment, and reached the top ten on the Oricon Albums Chart.[3][4] Subsequently, Reol, GigaP, and Japanese creative director Okiku signed a record contract with Japanese label Toy's Factory, forming themselves as a unit under Reol's name.[5] Despite this, the trio stayed anonymous with their identity, using anime-influenced illustrations to depict themselves; several other animations were also distributed in their subsequent music videos.[6] But on August 18, REOL made their debut appearance in the music video for their track "Give Me a Break Stop Now".[7]

That same day, the group announced the release for their studio album Sigma, scheduled on October 19, 2016.[8] Released in both physical and digital formats,[9][10][11] pre-ordered versions through Japanese retail CDJapan.co.jp included a limited edition poster featuring the members.[8] Two bonus tracks were issued through different stores in Japan; the first was the Tenka Toritai remix of "OedoRanvu" at Tower Record stores, whilst an Okinawa Ikitai remix of "Drop Pop Candy" was announced at Tsutaya shops. Both remixes were distributed on music cards, where consumers had to use a special code to access the recordings.[12]

Composition

The material on Sigma was written, composed and produced by member Reol, whom also provided vocals to each track; band mate, GigaP, received additional music credits towards composing and arranging the album.[9] The album was recorded between 2015 and 2016 in Japan, and was mixed GigaP. Additionally, Hiromichi Takiguchi mastered the record alongside GigaP.[9] Despite the groups experimentation with J-Pop and indie rock music, both as a trio and individually,[13] Sigma is an electronic dance album.[14] According to GigaP, the record was heavily influenced by Westernized music, both contemporary pop and EDM, and also noted inspiration of K-Pop and modern Korean pop culture.[15] In an interview with Billboard Japan, the members commented that the lyrical content emphasizes enjoyment and how they are feeling at current state, noting it as "transitory"; they had chosen the album tracks "YoiYoi Koron" and "Give Me a Break Stop Now" as examples of this.[16][17] Although majority of the tracks were commissioned throughout its production process, Reol stated that the song "Re:" was originally left of the final product. However, because Okiku and GigaP identified it as one of their favorite recordings—Okiku described it as "lovely" and "cute"—Reol added into the record.[18]

Music videos

No singles were pre-released from the record; however, three of the album's tracks: "ChiruChiru", "Give Me a Break Stop Now", and "YoiYoi Kokon" received music videos, all produced and co-directed by the group member Okiku. The first promotional visual was "ChiruChiru", which was released June 30, 2016; it features footage of random locations in Japan, overlapped with several animated characters and lyrics of the song. It also includes several video shots of objects, such as tree branches, flowers, and building walls.[19] The second visual was "Give Me a Break Stop Now", published on August 18 via YouTube and NicoNico. Reol made their debut appearance in the video, which has the groups vocalist as a queen-like monarch and several computer generated imagery.[7] The third video from the album was "YoiYoi Kokon", which incorporates several traditional Asian objects, symbols and aquatic life. The song is sung with archaic Japanese words, and a "modern" translation is transcribed on the video, as well. It was distributed through the band's YouTube and Reol's NicoVideo account on September 15.[20] In order to promote the album's remaining material in the days prior to release, Reol uploaded a crossfade video that included snippets of each track and additional visuals that represented them.[21]

Reception

Upon its release, Sigma received positive reviews from music critics. Although the record wasn't anaylisis in depth, an editor at Barks.jp described the commercial appeal and sound as "delicious".[22] Similarly, a member at JRockNews.com commended its production, and highlighted Reol's singing and rapping abilities.[14] Commercially, the album experienced moderate success in Japan. It debuted at number six on the Daily Oricon Albums Chart, marking it the fifth highest debut entry on October 18.[23] The following day, it stayed in the same position.[24] The record further stayed in the top ten for the following five days and, based on these statistics, it opened at number eight on the weekly chart, accumulating 10,026 sales.[25] It fell outside the top 50 the following week, one of the biggest drops between the dates of October 26 to November 2. At the end of October, Oricon ranked the album at number 39 with claimed sales of 11,493 copies.[26]

Sigma proved to be generally successful on three competent charts hosted by Billboard. In Japan, it debuted at number eight on the Hot Albums chart, and number seven on the Top Albums Sales chart.[27][28] The following week saw a slump in sales, sliding to number 31 and number 44 on both charts.[29][30] During its third week, it fell outside the top 50 on the Hot Albums chart to number 76, and number 66 on the Top Album Sales chart.[31][32] In the United States, Sigma made its debut at number nine on the World Albums Chart; it was the fourth highest debuting album and furthermore the second highest Japanese entry of November 5, 2016, behind Fantome by Utada Hikaru.[33]

Track list

All songs written, composed and produced by Reol, except where noted.

CD / digital download.[9][11]
No. TitleMusicArranger(s) Length
1. "Vip Kid"   GigaP 3:52
2. "Give Me a Break Stop Now" (ギミアブレスタッナウ)GigaPGigaP 3:41
3. "YoiYoi Kokon" (宵々古今)
  • Reol
  • GigaP
GigaP 4:17
4. "Konoyo Loading..." (コノヨLoading...) GigaP 3:25
5. "Re:"   GigaP 3:23
6. "Lunatic"  
  • Reol
  • GigaP
GigaP 3:17
7. "Kamisama ni Natta Hi" (神様になった日)
  • Reol
  • GigaP
GigaP 4:05
8. "ChiruChiru" (ちるちる)GigaPGigaP 3:17
9. "Final Sigma"  GigaPGigaP 1:57
10. "Detarame Kidding"  
  • Reol
  • GigaP
GigaP 3:17
11. "Summer Horror Party" (サマーホラーパーティ)
  • Reol
  • GigaP
GigaP 4:14
12. "404 Not Found"   GigaP 4:04
13. "Viora"  GigaPGigaP 3:42

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the special edition of Sigma.[9]

  • Reol – vocals, background vocals, songwriting, production, composing
  • Giga – background vocals, arranging, composing
  • Okiku – movie director, designer, visuals producer
  • Tenka Torita – remixer
  • Okinawa Ikitai – remixer
  • Toy's Factory – record label, management

Charts

Oricon Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Japan Daily Chart (Oricon)[23] 6
Japan Weekly Chart (Oricon)[25] 8
Japan Monthly Chart (Oricon)[26] 39

Billboard Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard)[27] 8
Japan Top Albums Sales (Billboard)[28] 7
US World Albums (Billboard)[33] 9

Sales

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Japan (RIAJ) None 11,493[34]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Rogers, Krista (May 30, 2015). "Amateur vocalist Reol channeling Internet fame into solo album debut this summer". Japan Today. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ No Title. Celo Project (CD; Liner notes). Reol. 2014. CCCC-0000.
  3. ↑ "極彩色 by Reol on Apple Music". iTunes Store Japan. July 29, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ Michel, Patrick St. (September 19, 2015). "Rising Beatmaker Reol Takes Vocaloid to Another Level". MTV 81. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Reol Biography". Toy's Factory website. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Reol Official". Reol's official YouTube channel. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "[MV] Reol / Give Me a Break Stop Now". Reol's official YouTube channel. August 18, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Reol to Release New Album "Sigma" with CDJapan Exclusive Bonus". CDJapan.co.jp. August 18, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sigma. Toy's Factory (CD; Liner notes). Reol. 2016. TFCC-86570.
  10. ↑ Sigma. Toy's Factory (CD and DVD; Liner notes). Reol. 2016. TFCC-86569.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sigma by Reol on Apple Music". iTunes Store Japan. October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Product list – Reol: Sigma". Tsutaya.co.jp. October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ Rinjin, Goto (October 2016). "REOLが1stアルバム「Σ」をリリースした。" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  14. 1 2 NBT (October 10, 2016). "REOL's first full album "Sigma" delivers punchy sound and charismatic vocals". JRock News. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "REOL、全神経を揺さぶる1stアルバム『Σ（シグマ）』インタビュー" (in Japanese). EMTG Music. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ "インターネットの申し子3人グループ・REOL 1stアルバムより収録曲「宵々古今」MV公開" (in Japanese). Getnews.jp. September 15, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ "REOL、古語を紡いだ「宵々古今」MV公開" (in Japanese). Barks.jp. September 15, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  18. ↑ Rinjin, Goto (October 2016). "REOLが1stアルバム「Σ」をリリースした。" (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "[MV] Reol / ChiruChiru". Reol's official YouTube channel. June 30, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  20. ↑ "[MV] Reol / YoiYoi Koron". Reol's official YouTube channel. September 15, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Reol 1st Album "Σ" XFDMovie". Reol's official YouTube channel. October 10, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  22. ↑ "REOL、新作『Σ』クロスフェード動画に特典音源も" (in Japanese). Barks.jp. October 11, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Oricon Daily CD Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. October 18, 2016. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Oricon Daily CD Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. October 19, 2016. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  25. 1 2 "Oricon Weekly CD Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Oricon Monthly CD Albums Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. October 2016. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Japan Hot Albums Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Japan Top Albums Sales Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Japan Hot Albums Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Japan Top Albums Sales Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Japan Hot Albums Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Japan Top Albums Sales Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  33. 1 2 "World Music: Top World Albums Chart". Billboard. November 5, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  34. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved August 26, 2014. (subscription required (help)).

External links

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