Miu Sakamoto – HATSUKOI

June 15, 2011 at 6:30 pm | Posted in Miu Sakamoto | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , ,

  1. Joy
  2. Ring of tales
  3. Precious
  4. Interlude – Lacryma dancer
  5. Let you go
  6. True Voice
  7. Accidental merry-go-round
  8. Silent dancer
  9. Everything is new
  10. Ring of tales (Lily Star Fiddle Remix)

I’ve been looking forward to HATSUKOI since Miu announced that she would be returning to the studio with Dave Liang from The Shanghai Restoration Project. Her previous album with him was amazing and I knew that I was going to enjoy this album just as much. The magic and ethereal atmosphere from PHANTOM girl is back but it’s much brighter and infused with a fresh summer sound.

Joy begins with the sound of children playing as well as a luscious piano melody. Miu’s vocals are stunning as usual and the serene composition is breathtaking. During the chorus, strings are added and Miu’s vocals take on an operatic tone which sounds amazing. Percussion and synths are added in the second verse making the song more upbeat and infectious. The additions change the feel of the song completely. It is more vibrant and Miu’s vocals sound even more magical. The music is tamed for the bridge where the strings dominate and they sound amazing. Ring of tales has some very bizarre beats but it also has a sweet and simple piano. The strange beats take precedence in the song and her vocals bounce with them nicely. I was surprised by the bagpipes before the chorus and I wish they were incorporated in the chorus because they create a great Celtic feel. The melody doesn’t change in the chorus but Miu’s vocals are layered over another set of vocals and when it repeats, backing vocals are added. It sounds so beautiful and it makes the song truly captivating and unique. The bridge uses the slower vocals from the chorus and the piano gets a brief solo moment before the rest of the beats come back. The final chorus is superb because the strange beats are excluded and it sounds a lot more euphoric. The promotional track, Precious, is a vibrant summer tune with deep synths and a gorgeous, upbeat piano. She sounds sweet during the verses and in the chorus she uses her operatic vocals. The chorus enhances the summery feel with the synths and her vocal delivery is flawless. During the bridge, the piano and synths relax and the layering of her vocals over one another sound really nice. Overall, this is a lovely atmospheric song and it’s highly addicting.

Interlude – Lacryma dancer is the first and only interlude. It consists of Miu vocalizing and the arrangement is made up of ambient synths. I love how the music crescendos as it progresses and more synths are added to the melody. Let you go is the most laid-back track  and it’s one of the album’s best offerings. Miu sings softly in the verses and she’s accompanied by a piano and percussion. The vulnerable tone to her voice is perfect and it makes the song irresistible. She uses a breathier tone in the chorus and she puts forward so much emotion, “you were my home/you were my friend/what made you go/far from here, faraway/how can I let it go.” The mood that the chorus creates is very touching. In the second verse more instruments are added and the second chorus has gorgeous backing vocals. These additions make the song even better. This is a strong, emotional track and it’s my favourite tune from the album. What better way to start True Voice then with an a cappella intro by Miu that showcases her voice. Immediately after the intro, it explodes into edgy synths and it’s interesting how they contrast with her sweet vocals but they work well together. For the pre-chorus, her voice is a lot stronger and it starts to move into an operatic sound. Her voice continues like this in the chorus and its super catchy with the synths and percussion. It gets even better at the end when the synths die down and her backing vocals are added.

Like the last few songs on her previous album, Accidental merry-go-round doesn’t include any lyrics and it’s just vocalization with light synths and percussion. As it progresses, another synth line is added but overall it’s a nice, soft interlude-like track. It’s simple but effective. Silent dancer has a very mysterious flair to it. The looming, quiet synths are captivating and the little touch of the piano is lovely. Her vocals are so soft and breathy, they exude beauty. Her voice is stronger in the pre-chorus and she goes into her signature operatic tone which works as a great transition to the chorus. Her angelic voice accentuates the calming atmosphere and I love the buzzing synths. For the second half of the song, strings are added to the arrangement which gives the verse and chorus a grander feel. The strings dominate the bridge and they sound marvelous. I really like the build-up of this song and its alluring nature makes it unforgettable. Everything is new follows in the footsteps of the other tracks as it consists of mellow synths and beautiful vocals. I like the twinkling melody in the chorus and after the first chorus the tempo picks up with Miu singing at a quicker pace. The song does slow down again at the end but other than that there’s not much going on. Ring of tales (Lily Star Fiddle Remix) has the best melody on the album. I love how they took the little Celtic melody in the original and expanded on it because it makes the song much better. The fiddle is divine and it brings so much life into the melody. Miu’s vocals are more vibrant and upbeat, complimenting the new arrangement wonderfully.

Conclusion: While the album isn’t as strong as PHANTOM girl it still is an incredible release. It only falls short of her previous album because the arrangements are a bit too similar. Most of them contain synths and a piano with the closing track being the only one that uses other instruments. However, it’s still one of the best Japanese releases this year and a surreal listening experience. With Dave’s magical production and Miu’s unique voice they’re a match made in heaven.

Recommended Tracks: Let you go, Ring of tales (Lily Star Fiddle Remix), Silent dancer, Joy and Precious

Rating

Miu Sakamoto – PHANTOM girl

February 2, 2011 at 7:25 pm | Posted in Miu Sakamoto | Leave a comment
Tags: , , , , , , ,

  1. The Blue Hour
  2. Phantom Girl’s First Love
  3. Destination
  4. Interlude I: Whispers Within
  5. The Magic Hour
  6. Far Across The Sky
  7. Interlude II: Nowhere In Between
  8. Silent Fiction
  9. Our Home
  10. A Girl’s Waltz

I had no idea who Miu Sakamoto was until last year when she released her sixth album PHANTOM girl. I kept on hearing about how great the album was and the cover art was really interesting so I caved in and listened to the album. I’m not familiar with her previous work but for this album she teamed up with Dave Liang from The Shanghai Restoration Project.

The Blue Hour begins with very traditional instruments. It’s a very calming sound that gradually progresses as synths are added and Miu’s vocals come in about halfway through. I was very impressed when I heard her vocals for the first time. They’re so surreal and they have a deep, luscious quality to them. This is a lovely piece of music and is a great introduction to the album. Phantom Girl’s First Love is easily one of the most interesting songs on the album in terms of sound and vocals. The first verse consists of a burst of synth followed by Miu’s deep vocals and some more instruments are added to the arrangement when she sings in an incredibly gorgeous high voice. After this point the music becomes much more vibrant. The chorus is stunning with its magical synths and Miu’s breathtaking vocals. I adore its uplifting and relaxing atmosphere. The second verse features more instruments than the first and they’re very unique. This song is perfect from start to finish. Miu continues singing in a high register for Destination and the effects on her vocals enhance the beauty of her tone. The arrangement begins with synths and as the verse progresses more instruments are added making the song more upbeat. The music slows down a bit during the bridge and Miu’s backing vocals are so angelic. There aren’t many changes in terms of the arrangement but it’s simple and effective.

The first interlude on the album, Interlude I: Whispers Within, consists of Miu vocalizing along with some light synths. The Magic Hour is somewhat more relaxed compared to the previous tracks. This song features a simple yet elegant piano and Miu’s vocals are high and delicate. The notes that she hits before the chorus are lovely. For the chorus, her vocals are a bit stronger and the water drop-like sound in the background is a nice added touch. The piano for the second verse is replaced with a xylophone which makes the melody even sweeter. Far Across The Sky is one of my favourite songs on the album. Miu’s voice acts as part of the instruments as her backing vocals are used throughout the song. The English lyrics are really nice and I love her vocals in this track, “somebody’s always watching over you/can you hear the voice flowing in your sleep?” Her vocals are luscious and during the chorus she sings in a gorgeous high tone. It’s so atmospheric and magical. The synths, piano, and xylophone are all fantastic. This is such a peaceful and gorgeous track. In Interlude II: Nowhere In Between the vocalization from the previous interlude is used again along with new vocalizing from Miu that’s even more beautiful. There’s a lot more going on in this interlude which makes it much more interesting.

Silent Fiction is a very interesting track as the verses consist of Miu whispering and some light instruments. As the verses progress she starts to vocalize in a high tone before the chorus. The synth becomes darker and grittier during the chorus and the sweet piano contrasts nicely with it. I love how at the end of the track you get to hear the lovely piano with her ad-libs. It’s such a fantastic way to close the song. Like the interludes, Our Home consists of Miu vocalizing but this time in the form of a full song. It’s a very simple song with a beautiful piano and Miu’s vocals are definitely the highlight. This is a stunning song and it has such a soothing vibe. It’s the type of song that when it’s over you’re left wanting more. The final song on the album, A Girl’s Waltz, is another song that consists of just vocalizing but she sounds sweeter as does the piano. What I love about this track is that at times I find it to be really uplifting and serene while at other times I find it to be very sad. I like how the song is able to play with those feelings. It’s a perfect way to end the album’s magical journey.

Conclusion: Miu Sakamoto has wowed me with PHANTOM girl. It is such a surreal listening experience that is breathtaking. Miu and Dave make a great team. His production is magical and suits her gorgeous voice perfectly. Her vocals are very special and I love how they weren’t just used for singing but also acted as a part of the instrumentation as well. If you’re feeling up for something interesting you should definitely give this album a listen.

Recommended Tracks: Phantom Girl’s First Love, Far Across The Sky, A Girl’s Waltz, Our Home and Destination

Rating

Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 100 other followers