The new phase starts here
Kevin O'Conner | 11/07/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Preceding the release of a full album by a month or two, this EP marked the beginning of a period of dramatic change for Nav Katze, both in sound and musical direction.On their first three major-label albums, Nav Katze combined mostly acoustic instrumentation and delicate vocal harmonies with studio experimentation and occasionally unusual arrangements. This penchant for experimentation added an extra dimension to songs that were deceptively simple-sounding, rewarding repeated listening.Out signaled that things were different now. Shades of the "old" sound were still present, but the role of studio experimentation had been greatly expanded. The relatively open, "neo-acoustic" orientation of the previous albums gave way to a more animated sound that featured more layers, more electric guitars, and lots and lots of compression. There were also guest appearances by members of Luna Sea and Soft Ballet.This approach worked best on the third track, "Arabia no yoru (Night in Arabia)", with "Crazy dream" coming in at a close second (though the male vocals detract from its charm somewhat), while "Topaz" is probably the EP's highlight, as it is the most successful blend of Nav Katze's "old" and "new" sounds. The remaining couple of songs are just okay.As a work by itself, Out was a mixed bag; as a teaser for the album that followed, it worked much better. Probably for fans only, or maybe for the curious who'd rather not shell out the bigger bucks for a full album."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1