Ali Project

Ali Project is a Japanese band with a strong Japanese Aristocrat-style image, consisting of Arika Takarano and Mikiya Katakura.

In the band's earlier days, their musical style tended towards light, cheerful and/or refreshing songs. However, the sound has changed in recent times to take on a darker and more mysterious tone. Takarano Arika, lead singer/lyricist, has termed this change as a transition from White Alice (白アリ, Shiro Ari?) to Black Alice (黒アリ, Kuro Ari?). Though there has been a general shift towards performing songs in the "Black Alice" phase, Ali Project has occasionally sung in the White Alice style as well.

Their songs featured in several anime sequences, most notably in the series Noir, Rozen Maiden, .hack//Roots, Linebarrels of Iron, Code Geass and Fate Extra. Additionally, Mikiya Katakura has also provided the soundtrack to several anime series, such as Kaibutsu Oujo and Avenger.

Discography

 * Gensou Teien (1988/1996)
 * Gekka No Ichigun (1992)
 * DALI (1994)
 * Hoshi To Tsuki No Sonata (1995)
 * Noblerot (1998)
 * Alipro Mania (1999)
 * jamais vu (2000)
 * Aristocracy (2001)
 * Lento (2001)
 * CLASSICS (2001)
 * EROTIC&HERETIC (2002)
 * Gekkou Shikoushou (2003)
 * Alipro Mania II: Gekkou Shikoushou GIG (2004)
 * Etoiles (2004)
 * Dilettante (2005)
 * Kamigami No Tasogare (2005)
 * Deja Vu ~THE ORIGINAL BEST 1992-1995~ (2006)
 * COLLECTION SIMPLE PLUS (2006)
 * Romance (2006)
 * Soubikakei (2007)
 * Psychedelic Insanity (2007)
 * Grand Finale (2007)
 * Kinsho (2008)
 * Keikain Shijin SINGLE COLLECTION PLUS (2008)
 * Poison (2009)
 * La Vita Romantica (2010)
 * Gothic Opera (2010)
 * Hanshin Nihonshugi (2010)
 * QUEENDOM (2011)
 * Les Papillons (2011)
 * Gansakushi (2012)

Tropes

 * Amazon Brigade: "Teito Otome Kesshitai."
 * Catgirl: The cover of La Vita Romantica.
 * Costume Porn: Watch any Ali Project music video or live. Arika's outfits are incredible.
 * Creepy Child: "Senritsu No Kodomotachi," whose title appropriately means "Children Of Fear."
 * Creepy Cool Crosses: In the "Senritsu No Kodometachi" music video.
 * Creepy Doll: Several in the "Kyomu Densen" music video. It comes with the territory of being the opening for Another.
 * Darker and Edgier: The "Black Alice" songs.
 * Driven to Suicide: The lovers in "Narcisse Noir." Also a case of Together in Death.
 * Elegant Gothic Lolita: Arika, at times.
 * Femme Fatale: A lot of Black Alice songs are sung from the point of view of one.
 * Femme Fatalons: Arika in the music video for "Kitei No Tsurugi" and in the red costume for "Troubadour."
 * The Four Gods: In "Shijin Juu Kaigoroshi."
 * Gratuitous French: A lot of their songs. One, "Nous Deux C'est Pour La Vie," is entirely in French.
 * I Kiss Your Foot: "Hizamatsuite Ashi Wo Oname," which translates to "Kneel down and lick my feet."
 * Intercourse With You: "Hoshi Furu Yoru No Tenmongaku -BEDSIDE ASTRONOMY-."
 * Lady of War: A lot of recent songs have military overtones, but all are elegant and told from the perspective of a female warrior.
 * Lighter and Fluffier: The "White Alice" songs.
 * Lyrical Dissonance: "Jinsei Bimi Raisan" sounds very beautiful, but when you read the lyrics, it's about eating until you're sick.
 * Nostalgic Music Box: In the beginning of "Outeki Ketsuzoku." While it sounds like it doesn't fit with the rest of the song, the lyrics are about genealogy, so it works.
 * Our Elves Are Different: In "Elf No Musume Wa Chijou Ni Furi," elves live in the sky. The titular elf princess is cast out for falling in love with a human, who the rest of her people look down on.
 * Overly Long Title: A few examples, but "Dokurajou No Mikotachi Wa Eien Ni Gensei Ni Yume Wo Miru" (The Shrine Maidens Of The Skull Castle Eternally Dream Of The Transient World) takes the cake, being ridiculously long even in kanji.
 * Pimped-Out Dress: See Costume Porn above.
 * Pirate Girl: At least one video has Arika as one.
 * Snow Means Death: "Kami No Yuki," possibly "Yuki No Hitohira."
 * Snow Means Love: "Yuki No Hitohira."
 * White Shirt of Death: Mentioned in "Sengoku Girl."
 * Yamato Nadeshiko: The narrator of "Ai To Makoto" says she is one, but the rest of the lyrics paint her more as a Lady of War.