GARDEN -「手紙」/ (2002)

Demo - 「手紙」(12.31.2002)


GARDEN's final release, sold only at their last live at the Matina dissolution event on 2002-12-31. Remaining copies were available via Matina mail-order for a short time. Originally, the song was composed by guitarist Saya (沙耶) for the band's 2002-07-31 release, but he and vocalist ShoMA seceded before the recording could be finished. So for this release, guitarist Kaname (要) served as vocalist (adding his own lyrics, which addressed his deceased father) and bassist Hazuki (破月) performed drums to finish up the recording.



GARDEN was a Japanese kote kei band founded in October 2000 by vocalist ShoMa, GARDEN members were 3 former members of the band DESCRIBE and 2 former members of the band L'vient Erise and they were signed for Matina, the band was initially five members until late 2001 when the drummer Chinatsu left the band for unknown reasons, the band continued as a four-member and they never had a new drummer (I guess they didn't want to or no one wanted to be) used only support, the band was accepted and had a smaller audience but also had some uniqueness on scene even it was a typical gothic kote kei band. The band released a mini album "Vividarium" in February 2002 featuring the song "Eyes for Me" which is actually a finished cover of the song of the same name by L'vient Erise (previous guitarist band Saya and former drummer Chinatsu), in May 2002, they released maxi single "Eikyuu Senpan NOSTALGIE" on which the songs in the foreground were supposed to be for solo projects of the members, but it was decided in the end to be for that maxi-singl. The band was supposed to have a concert in late June and tour until early September 2002, according to plan another maxi single on July 31 "モノクローム", however the tour was cancelled due to alleged "illness of vocalist ShoMa", what in reality happend was that vocalist ShoMa and guitarist Saya left the band in obscure period for unknown reasons (they may have lost potential for the band) and maxi singl changed format as a best of album collection, leaving the songs Maria, Tegami and the re-recorded song Mitsu (which was previously a demo) unfinished only as instrumentals as vocalist ShoMa left the band before he could sing them, eventually another guitarist of the band Kaname became vocalist while bassist Hizuki was in charge of the rest, they performed as a duo, and songs as "Tegami" and "Present" were modified to be dedicated to the late father of guitarist Kaname which died suddenly at that time, the band disbanded on December 31, 2002 at Matina's last concert. Since then it is unclear what happened to the members and as a band they stayed in time and from time to time were forgotten, in my opinion GARDEN is actually quite a quality Matina band, true that it is not 100% unique, but also tried something of his own and all members were talented and a very special underrated Matina band and it is very sad that the lineup of the band failed so strongly and suddenly.
#GARDEN
#visualkei
#Matina
#kotekei
#jrock
#emo