°C-ute and Berryz ‘rock the casbah’


°C-ute's mind-blowing 'Dance de Bakoon.'

Just when you think Hello! Project is going to slink back into the background, the company explodes. Two recent singles by °C-ute and Berryz Kobo are case in point.

°C-ute’s “Dance de Bakoon” is a stunning dance and hardball rock that takes this quintet to another level, and pretty much puts to rest any negative falloout from the loss of former members Kanna and Umeda.

Berryz takes a blunt blues riff and turns it into magic in “Tomodachi Nanda.” This tune is a much different one than is “Dance” but with just as much clout. Crazy talent here.

Berryz Kobo shuffles and soft-shoes through ‘Tomodachi.’

Note the contrasts. °C-ute goes to leather and silk, while Berryz sticks to street fashion. It’s all good as the groups promote the latest in Japanese consumer goods and fun, not to mention the music and dance, which is excellent as always.

Morning Musume did put out a single as well, but … we won’t talk about that just yet. Suffice it so say that °C-ute and Berryz will again carry the load — as they did in the Hello! Project winter concerts — as the Summer 2010 tour concludes.

Can’t wait for those concert DVDs.

This is Rad♂ signing off — for now.