Alpha Chrome Yayo - Dream Chaser

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Alpha Chrome Yayo’s Dream Chaser exudes feelings of pure happiness and boundless encouragement. Not only is the music highly entertaining and energetic, but it also showcases Alpha Chrome Yayo’s skill and musical ear to great effect. The dynamic tracks weave together jazz influences and melodies worthy of the best Japanese game composers out there. Along with fascinating and funky synth sounds and some first-rate melodies, *Dream Chaser* includes songs that are uplifting and emphasize living life to the max and enjoying the ride. Alpha Chrome Yayo shows off his immense musical skill and personality to the fullest here.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Dream Chaser is the sheer sense of uplifting encouragement that fills the music. Alpha Chrome Yayo conveys a message of living life to the fullest and not letting anything hold you back. The combination of upbeat vocals and the overall dynamic liveliness of the music creates a sensation of happiness and the desire to never quit. I find myself lifted up by this music, especially during these difficult times in the world.

As for the melodies, Alpha Chrome Yayo has written some real gems on Dream Chaser. There’s a barely contained exuberance to the melodic content that grabs hold of me and carries me away. The music’s volcanic power, along with its speeding energy, supports the celebratory and joyful melodies. I also find myself reminiscing about the days of playing Dance Dance Revolution as the Eurobeat influences erupt throughout the album.

Of course, Dream Chaser is a great deal of fun, but one can never forget the musical talent behind it all. Alpha Chrome Yayo has a knack for combining superbly composed music with his own unique, quirky personality, creating harmonically and melodically complex tracks that still feel playful and energetic as they weave through the album.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Get In The Car (Make Some Dreams Come True)" comes into being as explosive drums join a piano that cascades and flies soloistically. The bright piano gives way to a sexy sax calling out in intricate patterns. In a robotic voice, the rap unfolds, full of lively emotion. The drums burst and cascade as a piano trickles in radiant lines, adding jazz-fusion cool.

The rap continues to stutter through the music as the drums explode. The piano climbs in flashing lines, pulling me along with it as it swirls through the music. The sax adds full-voiced lushness as it calls out again with a sensual feeling while the broken beat continues to stutter. The piano adds extra luminosity and carries the song to an end.

The narrator announces he's back on our stereos as he's "pumping out beats for every scenario," encouraging the audience to never slow down "with the dreams you’re chasing."

Our storyteller urges the audience to never quit and says he won’t either, adding that he’ll go "a million miles an hour ‘til the day that I die." He reminds them that they can do anything and that he believes in them, saying, "Get in the car, make some dreams come true."

He compares the experience to "Initial D with a party philosophy," telling the audience that if they bring the fuel, he’ll bring the sound. He acknowledges that life can feel unjust but reassures them, "We outrun the dickheads and we leave ‘em in the dust." He continues, urging everyone to fire up their engines because "it’s time to chase dreams and you got the thrust."

Our storyteller emphasizes that he knows what matters to him and, even if it’s a "hard road to drive," at least he’s free. He encourages the audience to "put your foot to the floor and hear the engine scream," reminding them to always hold on to their dreams.

The narrator talks about turning up the music and driving to survive, adding, "Flip off the bullshit, make life feel alive." He concludes by reminding the audience once again that they can do anything and that he believes in them—"Get in the car, make some dreams come true."

The beat rockets ahead with a fun, dancing feeling as the glistening guitar cries out in rapidly unfolding lines to kick off "Just Beginning." The drums and bass pump as an angular synth flies in energizing lines. A guitar dances with slicing life, pouring out brilliance into the track. The low end sends dancing feelings through me.

Now the vocals come in with a robotic sound as the synth blasts out luminosity and the hi-hat rushes in a shaping line. The swirling notes entangle with intense shine as the low end throbs and flies forward. A bending synth calls out, full of ecstatic liveliness and the robotic vocals jump with joy. I enjoy how this entire song exudes optimism and freedom as it evolves. The guitar swirls through the music again with an intense sheen, full of celebratory abandon before the song ends.

The storyteller tells the song’s subject that he has a feeling they’re winning. He asks the other person to hold on tight because "it’s just beginning." He adds, "We’re going faster, you’re getting stronger," and assures them that he’ll be there until the end.

Our narrator repeats that he thinks they are winning and asks the other person to hold on tight again. He concludes, "I’m fast as life, you’re strong as hell," adding that they’ll be there until the end.

"Forget the Brakes" begins with thundering bass exploding into excited motion, with light pouring from quickly tripping synth as piano notes flit out underneath. Kasane Teto's voice is slightly distorted as the leaping beat creates dynamic bliss, while a synth quickly rushes with bursting light.

The Eurobeat underpinnings launch the track forward with unstoppable energy as the vocals are joined by a rapidly flying electric guitar that spins through the music with contentment and uplift. The low end is endlessly propulsive as a guitar soars above it.

A sax calls out again with celebratory energy as the low end surges forward on the bass tide. The track drives to an end rapidly, with pure liveliness pouring from it.

Our narrator tells us to "forget the brakes, you're never slowing," adding that we don't need them where we're going. She asks the audience to listen up to what she's saying because "it's never too late until you are dead."

After repeating that we need to forget the brakes, the narrator tells us we're going at speed, so "just cut the goddamn cable and race for what you know you need."

Our storyteller tells us to fuel up and hit the gas because "it's your own sweet life, just kick it in the fuckin' ass." She goes on to say that we don't need the brakes because "we'll smash the competition and leave them bleeding."

As the song concludes, the storyteller says, "so buckle up, my sweetest friends. There are no brakes; the race never ends."

The drums scatter and rebound rapidly as the sax cries out with a slowly drifting melody to start "Asphalt Brain Frenzy." The sax wriggles as the drums shatter behind it and the bass is a steady flow. The sax solo unwinds with smooth, intricately interwoven notes floating as the dense electric bass throbs underneath. The sax moves through complex patterns, crying out as the drums break and erupt.

Now the track distorts and writhes, the drums thundering as the sax crackles. The track clears again as the sax wanders in a free-flowing solo that expresses a sense of unhinged emotion. The cascading percussion has its own wild patterns before the sax glides again, airy sounds hovering behind it as the cymbals burst. I enjoy the unfettered sounds of the sax as it contributes an uncertain feeling to the music. The drums continue to cascade before the track ends, with the sax diffusing into notes that move into silence.

"Kill Your Doubts" begins with a voiceover talking about taking care of a problem. Now the sharp hip-hop beat moves as the rap is carried on by a robotic voice, adding a clean quality as Kasane Teto’s softly drifting voice wanders with warm encouragement. The drums and bass keep popping along as the rap unfolds, crisp and cool, carrying the emotional weight of the music.

An elastic sound shifts in the distance, climbing in stuttering lines. The female vocalist sings the uplifting chorus while the piano dances in the background. The robotic rap is enjoyable and carries a message that I adore as the drums pop and snap. The sung part slips through again as the piano moves in minor key, dynamic lines before the song ends.

The storyteller speaks to the listeners, telling us to "kill our doubts and stab them dead." He urges us to "grab anxiety by the throat and put a slug in its goddamn head." He talks about how sometimes one tries to make magic and give it their all but "that shit don't fly when your brain won't play ball." He describes this as a meditation on what it's all about, saying "I don't believe in violence, but you gotta kill your doubt."

In the chorus, the female narrator says that killing our doubts is the only way to survive and that "when you kill your doubts, you can feel alive."

"Negative thought processes," the storyteller explains, "create stresses." He reminds us not to get obsessed but "instead address, make ‘em regress, express success." He adds that this is progress. He encourages the listener to look into their own minds, "pluck out all the hurt," and find their doubts, saying "Bam bam, put them in the dirt."

Our narrator urges the listeners to set their minds free, look up to the sky and shout, "I'm a bad bitch and tonight I'm killing doubt." He continues by adding that some things can't be repaired by positive thinking, but he still believes that "those doubts ought to be taught a lesson from Misters Smith and Wesson."

The storyteller affirms that the listener deserves "expression, progression, decompression." He reminds us to never hurt ourselves but "when it comes to those doubts, show no remorse." He tells the listeners that he wants us to thrive and concludes, "show me your drive, kill off your doubts, live life alive."

The drums rebound with massive power as glimmering notes tremble above them to start off “Watashi no Yume.” The vocals chant smoothly, drifting above shimmering notes that walk through the music with luminosity. As the distorted chorus slides along, the huge drums hit hard and the bass thunders. Slowly distorting, sharp notes cut through as the drums tick and tap. A chanted chorus adds to the hypnotic quality as a gleaming synth ripples through the track.

As the distorted chorus sails past, the drums add gigantic propulsion as they burst. Digital-sounding notes with jagged edges introduce another element as the colossal drumbeat pounds. Now, the sax leaps through the music with controlled madness. Gigantic, angular bass thunders as the shining notes vibrate, adding blinding light. The vocals are unique and a guitar flies outward, exuding fierce illumination as the lush drums continue to throb. Kasane Teto chants as the bright light of the high notes cascades. The distinctive sound of this track keeps my ears entertained as it unfolds. The drumbeat is heavy as it continues to shape the music before the song comes to an end.

Our narrator asks the song's subject to share their desires without fear. They go on to say that "there's more chance of a dream coming true when a dream is shared." The narrator adds that they both need this because "your dreams are mine and my dreams are yours," saying that they just want the other person.

In the chorus, the storyteller points out that they had no dream until they met the song's subject, who opened their eyes. In Japanese, the storyteller says, "my dream." They add that "there's nothing that can't be done, not a thing that we can't outrun."

Our narrator points out that the song's subject is "tired of feeling sick and sick of feeling tired." They tell the other person that it's time to reach out and take hold of everything they've wanted. They add that the other person owes it to themselves as well as to each other. They conclude, "Hold on tight, we know how to fight—let's give them hell."

“No Headlights” starts off as the low end rushes forward with extreme speed and the glimmering synth joyfully leaps. The guitar cries out with animated liveliness as Kasane Teto’s celebratory vocals soar. Her voice creates a great vibe and the low end pounds as a tambourine adds metallic luminosity.

The guitar slices through and a robotic, British-accented voice chants as the guitar spins out cascading lines, feeling incredibly uplifting. Kasane Teto spills out the words with encouragement. I enjoy the way this entire song explodes with massive speed as the glittering chimes add wonderful luminosity. The lyrics move along with the slashing guitar before silence falls.

The storyteller says that the song’s subject takes her there, pointing out that "with you, it's a race we've already won." She talks about the wind in her hair as the beats throb in the warm sun. She adds that she has the other person and he has her, so they ought to run away together.

Our narrator says that they don’t need any headlights where they're going because "the future’s bright and the road is glowing." She tells the song's subject to "hit the turbo," and she’ll be there to see them win. As they rush through the dark at light speed, they don't need headlights because "the future is so bright."

"Nobody can know what is hidden 'round the bend," and the storyteller says that the song’s subject should just "smack it head-on, this ain't no dead end." She adds that they're going faster than a speeding bullet, so "just hold my hand and we can reach the stars."

The storyteller concludes, "I've got you, boy and you've got me, so let's fly away forever."

A smoothly gliding organ intertwines with the clean drums to create a slow groove in “GP YES.” The voiceover flows with a laid-back feeling as the saxophone wriggles and smoothly moves past. The rap throughout the music is entertaining, while the chilled saxophone wends its way with effortless emotion. The robotic voices add to the track's engaging nature as the verses lay out an interesting tale.

The hard-hitting beat moves along with the drifting synth, which sails through the music. The sax slips in with a sexy slither and the rapping enhances the overall sense of fun. The sax is so sensual and caressing, while the clever puns add to the track’s highly entertaining vibe before the song winds down.

This passage is a playful and flirtatious dialogue between a male and female vocalist, using driving, navigation, and mapping as metaphors for romance and attraction.

The male vocalist begins by comparing his energy to an empty fuel tank. She says they should relax and enjoy a “saxophone sensation” while heading toward a "filling station." The conversation quickly takes a turn when the male character asks if she’s using GPS, excited to follow her coordinates. She talks about how erotic she finds navigation.

She playfully mocks him for using Google Maps, calling him a "basic bitch" while he finds her alternative choices—such as MapQuest—oddly attractive. She prefers using a Garmin, which thrills him. They soon face a challenge when the Garmin runs out of battery but the male narrator suggests using an Ordnance Survey map, which pushes all of the female character’s buttons.

I dig all of the double entendres about maps, compasses and topography. The female character notices his “compass” pointing north, hinting at physical attraction, while he mentions his "magnetic pole." She hopes he doesn’t mind "detours" as long as he takes time to "explore her contours."

“Touge Buster (The Final Race)” begins with a voiceover congratulating the racer before the slowly pulsing drums suddenly erupt into a battering rush, while the intensely flashing synth explodes in endless motion. The voiceover speaks about life’s complications and challenges but also delivers an encouraging message.

The synth is rapid and full of brilliance as it speeds forward. Bells and a pipe organ move alongside a vocal track that spills out a message of perseverance and success. Brightly leaping notes are joined by electric guitar cries filled with deep passion as the drums rebound and snap. The cascading sound rockets through and the guitar entangles itself in wild motion. The charging low end goes into overdrive before the final winning fanfare flashes out, bringing the song to an epic close.

Conclusion  

Dream Chaser has become one of my favourite albums to have reviewed so far this year due to its unstoppable energy and upbeat message. Combined with the jazzy feeling of the music and the entertaining lyrics, the overall spirit of the album carries me away and makes me feel as if anything is still possible.