Overview

k.h.d.n. recently released two albums after their break from leaving milestone and joining klon. The two albums, Sakura Flamingo Audiography -GREY- and Sakura Flamingo Audiography -PINK-, feature a collection of remixes, both from their past as well as some new remixes. Sakura Flamingo Audiography -GREY- features mostly old arrangements from Chaosfield and Radirgy, although it features a few new ones as well. Is it worth picking up if you already own the original soundtracks to Chaosfield and Radirgy?

Body

Most of the remixes are for the stage themes from both Chaosfield and Radirgy stage themes and as such adhere more to the original sound more than anything, with only slight modifications. From a collector’s standpoint, these aren’t anything to write home about, but are enjoyable as it is essentially the source material. There are also some arrangements that were featured on bonus discs when the original soundtracks were released as well as new arrangements. Former remixes that appear are “kairo -CFL room738-,” an arrangement of the image track from Chaosfield. It is an expansive and unique approach to the original that features heavy hip-hop/R&B beats, some fantastic atmospheric synth usage, more spacey and futuristic sounds, and ominous piano. The other, also from Chaosfield, is “Coccus -umbra remix-.” Slick new beats combine with the more spacey sections of the original, some various vocal samples are thrown into the mix, and towards the end, it definitely takes on a darker tone.

The three new arrangements on this album are a split between Chaosfield and Radirgy. Nagata handles the two from Chaosfield and does a superb job at providing a fresh take on the originals. “25mg -Blindman Remix-” has a more industrial feel compared to the original and the female Japanese dialogue that is added gives it a futuristic tone. “Contact Lost -Supreme Coffin-” is a stunningly beautiful chill-out mix that features a nice industrial beat and ethereal synthesizer. It is definitely my favorite of the new arrangements featured on this album. Lastly, “24/7 -Christopher Street Remix- , by Ko Hayashi, features a slightly increased tempo and a new bass line that gives it a bit more of a funky flair compared to the original.

Summary

In the end, the Sakura Flamingo Audiography -GREY- is worth the purchase for those who are unfamiliar with the work of k.h.d.n. For true collectors, the bonus remixes, both new and old, are nice and may spur as the impetus to purchase the album. However, if you aren’t interested in the new remixes and already own the original soundtracks, this album may not be worth the purchase.