to think if they came back, AYU would regain more signature songs. the releases from the past 2 years were a bit lacking. IMO Together When was the most groundbreaking of the past 2 year.

Well, one of them came back in the form of Yuta Nakano, and imo he's a blessing to Ayu. He's got amazing skill in terms of arrangement and composition and he knows what sounds good. It's like, he was the one who made H/\L as amazing as they were. That's why we had such memorable pieces like M and UNITE!... but the duo right now seems to be very one note. I wonder if they're aware of it? [I mean, how could they NOT be? The 3 interlude triplets and the summer songs... oi. Not complaining that I don't enjoy them, but.. wow guys.]

If i never remember wrongly HAL is actually only 1 person from HAL who did the arrangement not the whole group of them even though they credit as 'HAL'

And I still love the rest of their works, naming

No way to say
Because of You
ANGEL'S SONG
GAME
my name's WOMEN
fairyland
LABYRINTH
momentum
part of Me
(don't) Leave me alone
glitter
MY ALL

Huh? They're a duo now, and are usually credited as such. If one person from the group works on something, then only one person is credited.. Where did you get the idea that they're just one person?

Like, usually they both work on programming the synths and such, but sometimes one of them breaks off to do guitar or something.

i thought H/\L is the name of one girl only

That's H/\LNA / Haruna. She left the "band" they made a year or two after they formed.

yah.. I miss the original H/\L group....

BTW, what is exactly arranging of songs??? I just read this in the credits but I really want to know the real deal of this...

Arranging usually dictates what/when instruments to use, musical progressions, etc. The lyricist writes the lyrics, and the composer makes the melody for the lyrics, and the arranger controls the rest of the musical sound such as guitar, bass, drum, synth, etc.

well H/\LNA never release anything too...
i thought she is pretty good singer, i love her song
(by the way, why this thread exist at ayurooms?)

The original topic was that Ayumi's songs are sounding really similar because of H/\L's arrangements, that are lately sounding generic.

I don't really think it's the case. They still have good songs. The songs aren't that bad, but, gah, those interludes....

What Ayu really needs are some different composers.

ayu should keep Yuta Nakano (I really like him) and use less H/\L...as for composers, I'm getting sick of Tetsuya Yukumi..he needs to go away. I like Kunio Tago...glad he came back. :)

I agree...I think Ayu had better arrangements before...but I didn't know that 2 of H/\L's memebers left! that's sad...

While I think that the composer can make a bit of a difference, in the end.. the arranger makes the song what it is. I mean just look at the summer songs. All different composers worked on them and yet they still have the same synths and all that [I personally love them to death] but... people are like: "EW AYU STOP W/ THESE SUMMA SONGZ THEY BORING!".

It's like HAL has a metaphorical template in their arrangements for "summer", interlude, or "rock" songs..

I personally agree,matbe they should listen to other genres of rock or other genres that might inspire summer songs.

Like, the best example of this is tasuku's arrangement of July 1st. It's summery, but doesn't have the "sound" of the H/\L arranged summer songs, you know?

^I also noticed that with independent!

ohh... Now I know... Thank you very much for telling me... :yes

I like the arrangements of M, Free & Easy, UNITE! and many more!!!
And because it's H/\L!!!!

H/\L also arranged the Sailor Star Song for Sailor Moon's last Opening and it's beautifully done.

Don't think that the opening is good.