Artist: DIVA
Title: Discovery
Release date: 08 OCT 2014
Type: single
Version: Type A
Packaging: A very bare bones release when it comes to packaging. The cover is the only picture of the girls on it. There really is little else to say about it as there is nothing else of note to mention.
Tracks:
1. Discovery
I really love this song, from the instrumental start to when it launches into the more electronic sounds that run through it. It was a good reminder of why I loved this group so much. Especially with Masuda Yuka back with the group, as her deeper vocals help balance out the lighter voices of the other members. It just has this soaring feeling to it that I love and when it goes through some change ups just past the halfway mark it really shines. Listening to the track you can hear the emphasis on vocals that the group has, much like with the PV you can see the dance emphasis.
2. Believe in myself
The song sounds like it starts off running with vocals from the start. It is a song very much in the same vein as the title track without sounding too similar. The lack of non-electronic music helps with that as well as the use of vocals for oohs and la-s for the quieter moments of the song. It is a nice upbeat song without getting cutesy so it fits with the more mature image of the members of the group. It may not have the punch of the title track but it is a strong song and the perfect song to have as a B-side for this single.
3. Discovery (instrumental)
4. Believe in myself (instrumental)
DVD:
The Type A version came with two PVs on its DVD, the first for the single's title track, Discovery and the second PV is for the song WOW WAR TONIGHT ～時には起こせよムーヴメント～ (WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Toki niwa Okose yo Movement~). It has a basic title menu, but at least it has one and it will load first instead of launching you into the contents of the DVD.
Discovery is the first PV and we get to see DIVA's name all in uppercase for a PV for the first and last time.
Things start and end with the girls going through doors that lead and come from nowhere but somehow are able to transport them to the set that most of the video is shot on.
It is the kind of PV one would expect from a group that is meant to focus on dancing, in that a dance shot is a good portion of it. But honestly anything else would be a complete waste considering six of the ten members of the group are just dancers. So the dance shots give them a bit of a time to shine even though the four singers of the group never stray far from the center positions. And it is with this that we get introduced to the second outfit for the PV.
Most of the solo shots, which all ten members do get though the main four do get much more of them, are with their first outfits. Everyone looks wonderful and the main four get to show off some of the space effects with theirs.
About half way through the PV we get some new scenery, which looks to be 100% CGI with lens flare thrown in. But the main four are the only ones that get to be a part of these shots as they "float" around in space.
Near the end we get some obvious CGI with the group viewing the Earth from where they are. It is a bit surprising that out of all the CGI effects used in the PV this looks the worst as it is a simple green screen. But it does work as an establishing shot to show that the girls are meant to be on the moon which makes the visuals make some sense.
WWT was done before this single was announced and thus the group was missing Masuda Yuka for it. Also why in the title card the 'i' is in lower case. So it is just Sayaka, Ayaka and Sae in this one as the main girls.
Overall it is a basic PV, part dance shot with some other scenes that help liven things up. But the main girls get two outfits for the PV, suits then some 90s inspired outfits that match the group's dancers. The later only used during dance shots though the main girls near the end do switch back and forth between the two outfits for the dance shots.
One of the main pieces of the PV is the three main girls drinking and "talking" (singing the song) at a bar. I rather liked the scenes as it did feel as if the trio were having a conversation with how they acted it out.
Another feature of the PV are shots with the main trio positioned around the area where the dancers are and singing from there. It is an interesting touch and does help keep things feeling fresh and a nice way to tie things together with the PV.
A nice PV focused DVD, though it would have been nice to have making of features but not surprising those were left off.
Overall: I cannot help but wonder that if DIVA debuted later, like after E-Girls began to take off, if the group would have done better. But then again if that happened then the chances that these four would be members would probably be up for debate. In either case I am at least glad the group was given a proper send off with this single and the following album. And it did not look like they had to scrap the bottom of the barrel for a budget with the PVs. Something that was probably avoided with the unit being on the Avex Trax record label.
So I am happy with the release and with the version I was able to pick up. I do eventually want to get the album as well, it is just a bit hard to afford as all those versions come with a DVD so their prices are higher than the usual price I pay for a new album. But one will be mine one day.
Until then I will keep treasuring this single as I will forever mourn the loss of DIVA, who really deserved to have been more active than they were.
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