NICO Touches the Walls have risen quickly from the indie scene to a top label. That fact is perhaps most noticeable with the sound and feel of the band’s latest single. It’s NICO Touches the Walls though, is that a bad thing?

“THE BUNGY” is the rock quartet’s second single. With it, the young rockers continue to find new sounds and progess. The band’s first single, “夜の果て” (Yoru no Hate) was a bit different compared to their previous mini-album work and “THE BUNGY” mixes it up even more so.

On first listen, the new and different sound encountered in “THE BUNGY” is simply dominating. One can get comfortable with it after a few listens, for the traits the band is known for become more evident. It’s really not as off-base as it first seems. It’s merely the beginning that’s so jarring.

The stomp-clap and guitar bounce in sounding something like a country song gone bad (read: good). Once Mitsumura Tatsuya (光村龍哉) sings, that notion quickly subsides. The song’s got a killer hook.

The effect guitarist Furumura Daisuke (古村大介) uses throughout the song stands out but as it moves from foreground to background, fitting in comfortably.

Everyone loves change and growth but a band like NICO Touches the Walls are already so good. It’s not so much that as it is the fact that the change comes a year (and a few releases) after signing with a major label. It’s a natural paranoia fans harbour.

No worries though because “THE BUNGY” works. Once the hill is conquered, one can roll down effortlessly. It’s a fast single that’s a good song and a good time. It doesn’t sound as artistic as past stuff but it’s not trying to be. And there’s more good news.

As with the “Yoru no Hate” single, the latest b-side rocks. “SIMON SAID” is the one and only other track on “THE BUNGY” single and that’s all is needed. Right off the bat, “SIMON SAID” sounds much more in-line with the rest of the band’s work than the a-side it accompanies. The tracks work great in two separate ways.

Watch as the band goes ‘bungy’ jumping

Buy “THE BUNGY” by NICO Touches the Walls
Buy “THE BUNGY” (DVD limited edition)