Buck-Tick Zone

Original Titles in Japanese

Candy

Chocolate

Titles Translated

Ash-ra - The title is in Buck-Tick English but the kanji is read as "ashura" and it is the name of the lowest ranks of deities of the Kamadhatu in Buddhism. They are obsessed with force, violence, and other wicked things. They may be known as fighting demons and have been described as having 4 heads and 4-6 arms. Also, Asura in Hinduism are sinful and materialistic dieties. It derives from the Sanskrit where ashu/asu is "inochi" ("life force") and "ra" is "ataeru" ("to bestow").

Notes

Ranked #6 on the album chart. 170,000 copies sold.

The single released from this album was "Candy". The music video was directed by Tomo Furukawa (Full from Guniw Tools).

The first copies sold were in a limited edition packaging where the cover and back artwork was directly printed on the CD case. The regular edition was in a standard CD case.

This could have been the first album since 1989's Taboo that all the song titles were in English if only they wrote the titles for "Candy" and "Chocolate" in English instead of katakana. (The back of the CD does list all the titles in English but the lyric book, obi, and single lists it in katakana.)

The original title of "Ash-ra" was "Dance".

An interesting note is that Buck-Tick finally released a song named "Maria". Why? Well, because at the time of release, only a few Buck-Tick songs contained a person's name and 2 of those songs contained the name Maria, (seemingly non-specific whereas the other names were quite specific). "Embryo" off of Taboo contains the line "Maria love me do?" and "Yuuwaku" off of Darker Than Darkness contains the line "Shinde shimatta Maria". The other names used in lyrics are Gregor Samsa in "Physical Neurose" off of Seventh Heaven, the song title "J" off of Taboo refers to Jack the ripper, and Adolf (Hitler) is mentioned in "National Media Boys" off of Aku No Hana.

Toshihiro Nara helped with rhythm arrangement and co-production. He was the bassist for Sheena & the Rokkets. He helped U-ta really bring out his powerful bass skills.

This was Buck-Tick's last release on the Victor/Invitation label. It was the first major label they signed to in 1987 and decided it was time to move on to a label where they would have more freedom and control over their material.

This was Buck-Tick's first release with their new management company that they created, Banker. Taeko Nomura is credited as one of the managers. She would go on to work for Banker for many years.

This is the 2nd album Buck-Tick recorded at Sound Sky Kawana. It is also the first time in several albums that they recorded at a Victor studio.

This is the 5th album to be engineered by Hitoshi Hiruma.

This is the 2nd album to be engineered by Kenichi Arai.

This is the 1st album to be engineered by Koniyang, who would go on to work with the band several more times over the years.

In the thank you section, Naoyuki is most likely Nao from By-Sexual as he and Hisashi were good friends at the time. There are two names next to Naoyuki on the same line so those might be people or pets related to Nao. Some fans have speculated that the third name is B, short for "BJ", Hisashi's dog at the time. The font is so small that it's hard to tell in Japanese if it's "P" or "B". Lynne Hobday is also thanked. She is the voice on the Schaft song "Olive" and is credited with coordination on the albums Shapeless and Six/Nine. The last line of the thank yous are to Yuko and Nya. Atsushi had a cat named Nya around this time. Yuko is a very common Japanese girl's name. He may have had another girl cat named Yuko but that is unlikely. There was a Yuko thanked all the back on the album Seventh Heaven who could be the same Yuko Sakurai thanked on Sexual XXXXXX!" who produced the video Buck-Tick Live at the Live Inn.

Buck-Tick re-recorded "Tight Rope" for the b-side of the single "Alice in Wonder Underground".

Buck-Tick re-recorded "Sane" for the b-side of the single "Elise No Tame Ni".

Booklet Images

Atsushi

Hisashi

Hide

U-ta

Toll

Music Video Stills

Candy, directed by Tomo Furukawa (Full from Guniw Tools)