Now here's a review, short and sweet, of the first release by Moi dix Mois, Dialogue Symphonie. It was officially released on October 19th, 2002 (the same year as their formation). Not many people recall this release because it kind of floats in the background. The release's namesake was rewritten for their first album Dix infernal as it's couples song "forbidden" was rewritten and sung by Seth for the single Lamentful Miss. Dialogue Symphonie was also the first single using Juka's vocals (I thought it was only fair to do this since I had reviewed Beyond the Gate not long ago.) It is a four track CD featuring two instrumentals. I will only be reviewing the first two tracks (of course), but it will likely be very thorough. Let's continue with the second edition of the mini "DIX Marathon".
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| 1) Dialogue Symphonie 2) forbidden 3) Dialogue Symphonie (Instrumental) 4) forbidden (instrumental) |
At the time, Moi dix Mois only had three official members; Mana (Guitar), Shaura (then known as Juka on vocals), and Kazuno (bass). They had an additional member named Tohru on drums. As we all know, the music and lyrics were written by Mana. the images within the booklet feature the decagram as well as images of the official members. Other images include Mana with angelic wings attached to his back in various poses while the CD itself reads "dix" in a shower of red (Hence the lyrics I see pieces of blood flow). My favorite image is displayed below.
P.S. This review probably won't be as short as you think it will be.
"Dialogue Symphonie" begins with a lovely, slow introduction from an organ and violin. The scale leads us to an elegant riff from the organ (which is coupled by a roll of drums from Tohru) for the harmony. Something like a chorus is singing through out (beginning at 0:19). They are cut off by Shadow X's words "Dialogue dix Symphonie" at 0:38. The song's comfortable beat slows, revealing the chorus once again before being cut off suddenly and resuming to its original pace--only this time with the moderate whine of guitars and heavy
drums in the background. X is heard again, reciting the words "I am the Dis from darkness of your destiny. I see pieces of blood flow."The backing harmony softens as the guitars are replaced by the violins heard in the beginning once Juka enters. He sings this verse before being interrupted by the prior ensemble, "Sasayaki amaku kegashite" (I whisper and sweetly fall into corruption). He holds out a vibrato on the last note for a few seconds as the music plays. The harmony is everlasting and repetitive, only occasionally falling apart with the ring of a bell like a crumbling wall. It falls away mostly during Shadow X's inputs as if to give his whispered "confessions" some respect. At 1:33, the Death Voice speaks again (his words are indistinct and are not placed in the booklet). Juka interludes during the build of the silenced harmony. The guitars begin, playing heavily and demanding our attention. They are best heard along side the organ, playing during the main chorus. They disappear, yet again, with everything else as he hold a high pitched vibrato to the last note of these words, " Wasure wa shinai ano hi no yakusoku wa. Kono mune ni chikai o" (I will never forget the promise we made that day. The oath I swore upon my breast). Only the organ is heard playing it's gentle riff quickly. At 2:30, it is replaced by the chorus and violins. The drums introduce Shadow X as he repeats his second verse into the song, "I am Dix from Darkness...etc." The guitars play a duo tone for a moment before falling way from Juka's part and reintroducing themselves as he sings. The previous round of sound is repeated, only Juka holds a long vibrato. He sings again, repeating, "Kasanaru youni hageshiku ochite yuku," (as if piling up, violently falling away) during the organ's solo. His voice raises half an octave as the full ensemble enters on "Anata to kono mama" (Thus it is with you). All is playing over and over, only allowing the organ to fulling come through when Juka exits. "Jikan o tome eien ni. Kono mama hikari no naka de." (Time stops forever... Thus, in the light), he sings. The song ends broken, with the final sounds being of the chorus and the guitars. You can hear that this song describes a broken oath if you are able to listen carefully enough.
The second track, "forbidden", has lyrics that describes a paradox as well as an ever spiraling sound. It begins with a heavy industrial beat that surges through out the song after a bypass of it's fall for a few seconds. Then, the guitars pay a similar beat, but not a complex, along side the drums. Shadow X's voice, again, stops all as he speaks. "Rise," he growls, sending a slight shiver down the spine if you listen closely enough to notice how distorted his voice sounds. The organ plays with the heavy and slightly complex industrial beat. It sounds rather elegant next to the torn noises. Juka whispers "Why am I here nowhere?" under the guitar's falling whine and the organs lifting keys. After a small interlude of the light keys at 0:29, the song slowly becomes heavier. The beat has slightly disappeared as Shadow X says "My Dis...your Dis" during a quick strumming of the guitar strings. (here's my unfortunate onomatopoeia for it: "Duh-nanana, na-na, na~ na~ [my Dis], nanana, na-na.") The song is very repetitive, replaying everything over once again before fully entering the chorus and changing the harmony slightly to fit Juka's chorus. (lyrics below). He only says these words twice in the song will the other lyrics are repeated about 5 times over. The first time, the last verse is "Shunkan no naka e Maria" (Toward this moment, Maria). The second time, he sings, "Eien ni nemuru Maria" (Eternally sleeping Maria). His voice is consistently heard, overlapping all of the lyrics over and over until finally, he exits with the words, "Anata e..." (To you...) with the organ. The lyrics he had sung previously is like a prayer or reassurance to the forgotten Saint. This song is, on it's own, a paradox to Maria. The only thing forbidden about the song is the undying love for Maria.
ROMAJI:
inori sasagu Maria mou nido to modorenai
omoi tsugeru Maria mou hitori no kioku ni
forbidden relation with love
ENGLISH:
Maria, to whom I pray, you will never return
Maria, to whom I bare my soul, there is still one who remembers you
forbidden relation with love
Now, everyone, I hope you enjoyed taking a nice step back in time to the very beginnings of Moi dix Mois! (This definitely isn't the last). What can I say about this single? It holds a mere 2 songs as it should, but it still speaks to me a great deal! I think... it is still on sale. And I know a number of people who haven't bought it, but definitely have heard it (obviously). If you want to buy it, the link is below.
Dialogue Symphonie - Moi dix Mois
Sources: Dialogue Symphonie booklet
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