Reach Up to the Universe

If you took Asian Kung-Fu Generation and Sakanaction and turned them both down a notch or two, you might have something closely resembling Reach Up to the Universe. In fact they fall into the sort of slippery gray area inhabited by other slightly softer yet poppy bands like Base Ball Bear and Winnie (who they have shared the stage with.)

What sets them apart from your standard rock outfit is their use of both keyboards and cello, as well as the occasional boy/girl vocals. None of these elements are overused to the point where they overshadow the usual rock formula, but they are instead used to bring a bit more depth to the sonic pallet.

Formed in 2002, the band has released one mini and one full-length album. Most notable here is that they started off the first few years with a Caucasian guy singing and playing guitar. There's no word of why he left in 2007, but it may have been for the best as current frontman Hirokazu Notomi brings a bit more power to the role.

In a way, it's a shame that they don't play up their more unique features, adding a bit more definition to their own personal atmosphere. Songs like the dreamy "Faster Mistake" and instrumental "Chiisa Na Ongakukai" show that they can mix these elements into something beyond the norm, but they seem distracted by their more natural pop tendencies. As it stands, the sporadic mix of electronics, strings and vocals alongside their solid pop-rock guitars and drums is enough to keep things interesting, but they'll need to keep searching for something more to propel them up into the universe they are reaching for.

BUY REACH UP TO THE UNIVERSE RELEASES HERE!

S.T.A.R.S.



Official Site
MySpace

Members:
Hirokazu Notomi- Vocal, Guitar
Junco Takahashi - Cello, Keyboards, Vocals
Keiji Ohashi- Guitar, Programming
Tomoya Minami - Bass
Keita Morisawa - Drums

Albums:
You & Me - 2008
Reach Up to the Universe - 2006

Reasons