Whoo, more Gackt already. Does the guy ever take time to sleep? Luckily, this isn't the typical Gackt pop-single. It features two ballads, but will they measure up to past efforts like "Mizerable" and "Emu~For my Dear"? We shall see.

Gackt, of course.

1. Tsuki no Uta
The song begins with soft, acoustic guitar. That's it. No orchestra, no percussion. When Gackt starts singing, the melody is very simple and elegant. Eventually, a violin enters, and then some cello. The arrangement is beautiful, and Gackt is appropriately restrained most of the time. There are a few well-placed crescendoes, but he doesn't overdo them. This song might not be as complex as "Birdcage" or as moving as "Sakai~Story" but it does have a simple beauty of its own. That it is the theme song for some anime is inconsequential. If Gackt would stick to this quality of music, he would earn a lot more respect as a musician.
Rating: 8

2. Hoshi no Suna
Another ballad. This one uses piano rather than strings, but the mood is very much the same. I feel as if the two songs are one, continuous story. This is a gorgeous, haunting piece of work that barely rises above pianissimo or at least piano. (Those are volume levels, for those of you unfamiliar with musical terms.) As in many of Gackt's songs, the lyrics would seem melodramatic if he overdid them (and sometimes he does), but not in this case. The restraint Gackt shows only adds to the mood of loneliness. This is certainly the better of the two songs, but again I don't think it quite deserves a ten. Some people will be turned off by the quietness and the lack of movement. Still, it is definitely worth many, many listens.
Rating: 9

Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10