OSC - Sunrise Express

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

OSC’s Sunrise Express is an upbeat, jazz fusion-influenced, charming journey across Japan by rail. The feelings of classic Japanese jazz fusion, with its easygoing emotional flow and laid-back attitude, are present, along with influences from beautifully melodic anime themes and a dash of video game-like playfulness. I enjoy the way OSC weaves together all of these elements to create happiness and positivity as the album unfolds.

The first element I find deeply pleasing about Sunrise Express is the way OSC utilizes a liberal dollop of superb Japanese jazz fusion style. The melodies are fresh and lively, with good use of sax, piano and jazz organ. They feature soloistic passages that are free-flowing and ear-pleasing. The way the album tells its tale is cool and ultra-smooth.

Another aspect of Sunrise Express that I enjoy is how OSC’s melodies resonate with me. His melodic sense is inventive and full of playful touches, channeling some of the excellent Japanese composers of video game music. The melodies have an earnestness and emotional expression that are crucial to how they move through this album. I am both touched and charmed by the gentleness and joy that permeate the music.

For me, the atmosphere OSC creates on Sunrise Express is another reason for my enjoyment. It moves through funk and jazz to disco influences while creating a sense of travel and adventure. I love how each track takes me on a small journey, moving through interwoven sounds to transport me to a new place as it unfolds.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

"Sunrise Express" comes to life as hollow drums echo in the distance and a snapping percussive sound floats, growing in strength along with broadly flaring synth. The low end has a funky groove to it as the chimes above pour out celebratory light and the bass throbs. The electric bass adds a funky flow to the music and the higher notes are full of sunlight.

After a brief muffled moment, the drums come in and the slap bass intertwines as scintillating notes carry the joyful melody. I enjoy the way the entire track explodes with happy and warming vibes. The thudding bass moves as string-like notes swirl and intertwine, bright and full of life. The dancefloor-friendly beat drives on as the raised notes imbue the track with a rich glow.

A crying synth bends through the music, feeling energizing before an organ solo wriggles with dynamic emotion, shimmying and leaping. The low end fades and the slap bass moves again to add a deeper groove. The entangled notes that shine through only contribute to the feeling of the dawning day and the possibilities that come with the sunlight. The low end continues to thud with a hip-shaking feeling as the elevated notes spin out through the music with flashing motion before the track fades to quiet.

The solidly pulsing low end is joined by a sax that winds through the music with gentle smoothness to open "Futari-bun No Kippu." The bass has density as percussion ticks and slipping sounds rise through the music. Now the heavily throbbing low end is guided by lusciously intertwining electric bass and elevated, lambent string-like sounds.

The melody has an easy-going feeling, drifting through with peaceful chill as the sax adds expressive warmth and heartfelt emotion. The low end drives the track forward as varied percussion shimmers. The slap bass is fat and the raised notes drift past with delicate lightness. The low end continues to pulsate with locked-in drums and bass as the sax winds through the music with sensual motion. I quite enjoy this track's smooth vibes.

The track moves and bursts as the sax flies and spins out through the music, capturing every scintilla of coolness. The sax cries out again as the drums and bass hit with full weight. Chimes flicker in the background and the reedy sax skips through the music with irrepressible emotion before the track begins to fall silent.

“Doki Doki Densha” starts with the sound of a train on the tracks before the steady pulse of the drums swells with strength and launches the track. The slap bass moves through as the lower-end pulse is joined by notes that float with metallic sharpness. The percussion is active as the ringing notes add bell-like light and carry a melody that shimmies and twists above the steadily throbbing low end. The metallic notes have a minor-key quality as they glitter.

A piano moves with a melody that skips through the music with a Latin flavor, enhanced by the sound of the timbales. The low end has a dancing feeling as the train sounds drift past. I enjoy the disco vibes here as the track progresses, the percussion clear and sharp. The groovy little synth figure that makes its way through the track has a shimmy that's a lot of fun.

The piano slips past again, full of a relaxed vibe, as the dancing drums and bass keep pushing forward. The rattle of the timbales adds a unique quality and the bass continues to thump as intense flashes illuminate the track. Again, the disco-flavored melody and beat fill the music with fun and positive sensations. The metallic notes flash again as the beat moves actively and the percussion snaps. The drums rebound and the minor-key notes shine until silence falls on the sound of train tracks rattling.

Broadly glowing keyboard notes rise into the music along with a smoothly sliding beat to start “Kikansha No Yokubou.” The piano chords are expansive and slip by with ease before a sharper, brighter synth glows. The slap bass moves as horns call out with a catchy melodic lick and the synth radiates feelings of relaxation.

The drums collide as a popping, percussive synth bubbles through the music. A bending synth sails past with chocolatey, velvety tones. The synth bops through the music with lively energy as the slap bass adds a gnarly element. The strings glisten as a distant-sounding, elevated synth drifts through the music with a calming melody. The horns burst with more strength as the dancing synth line bounces before the track fades to silence.

“Ugoite Iru Yume” opens as the drums thud heavily and the crystalline notes above them undulate slowly, rocking back and forth. The drums are slow and weighty as extended notes float past and the piano trickles in silken motion. Now, the guitar echoes with an intense glow, carrying a tranquil melody that glides with a Japanese flair. Sparkling notes descend as the guitar echoes, the melody peaceful and reminiscent of a train’s gentle rocking. The bright notes drift in smooth motion as tiny lights flicker in the distance. The guitar melody wraps me up, full of dreamy sensations.

A jazz organ moves in now, sharper and fuller in tone, roaming through a lushly interwoven melodic pattern. Each sonic element contributes to the feeling of summer relaxation as the track unfolds. The drums and bass are a steady heartbeat as the glittering notes slip past. The lead synth radiates hazy light as it carries the wistful melody above the steady drumbeat. lustrous notes cascade and the drums rebound heavily before the song comes to an end.

Flaring synth with clean, sharp edges moves in quick bursts to kick off “Nana to Yon.” The drums begin to slowly tick as 8-bit sounds flit through the music and the ragged-edge synths glow. As the 8-bit sounds skip past, the drums stutter and break above the dense bass. Slap bass adds another element of low-end richness as the leaping notes continue to emit sunlight. The drums rebound as a twisting synth frolics through the music with abandoned joy.

The varied percussion fascinates my ears as it throbs and shapes the music while madly whirling notes dance. Floating notes trip to the rhythm with a chilled-out smoothness as computerized notes glimmer. A synth with a vocal quality drifts through with elevated warmth as the drums rebound. The slap bass dances and there's a segment where the track hovers before the explosive drums jump again and the track pulses to an end.

“Akarui Hoshi” starts off with an extremely funky guitar and solidly thudding drums and bass. The guitar has a sensual and smooth quality as it unfolds with laid-back motion. Exhaling sounds move along with quickly flickering, aquatic noises as the drums continue to pulse with a melted chocolate quality swirling around them. The guitar moves in the distance as ethereally fluting notes hover and sparkling chimes ripple past. I enjoy the way the entire track breathes and fills me with a deep sense of peaceful relaxation.

Brighter notes flare with a metallic ring as the sharp percussion snaps and the bass moves below. The exhalations continue as a bell-like synth sings out with easygoing, blissed-out feelings. That funky guitar continues to intertwine as the drums punch. The track drifts into a segment in which misty sound flows before the drum and bass heartbeat begins again. Chiming notes add a delicate, glittering quality as the drums continue to rebound cleanly and the bass undulates.

Quick-bending sounds float past and the chimes continue to exude illumination.The keyboard spills out notes that add an element of affectionate feeling as the trickling notes tumble past. The track pulses on in mingled richness and glow before coming to an end.

The piano loops in and the bass glides as the percussion begins to dance to open “Ikisaki Funku.” A minor-key, Japanese-influenced melody moves in on the piano with an excited feeling as the low end throbs. Bright notes descend through the music with intense shine as roundly glimmering sounds rapidly descend.

Sharp-edged notes pulse as the gleaming synth melody flies and fills me with thrilling energy that continues to unfold. The guitar strums in a tight figure and the timbales move through the music.

The synth has a string-like ring to it as it fills the music with a luminous sensation. The drums and bass have a disco vibe, which I enjoy as they press on. Elevated noises skip past with smooth light radiating from them and the main melody calls out again, full of an undeniable groove and celebratory energy.

A sense of dynamism and irrepressible energy fills the music as it evolves. The entangling notes fly past with shimmering light and the booty-shaking low end continues to throb. brilliant notes jump out again and cascade through the music along with a twisting synth that wriggles in smooth motion. The low end drives on unstoppably as the main melody spins out and fades away.

Conclusion

Sunrise Express is an album that bursts with positivity and melodic beauty. The way OSC mixes all of his different influences creates music that is ear-pleasing and extremely entertaining. This album will definitely go on my list for music to improve my mood if I feel a bit down.