Review by Massimo
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Watashi No Kokoro Ha Sou IttenaiChiaki IshikawaExcellent
I discovered the beautiful voice of Chiaki with the excellent albums of the See-Saw (along with the great Yuki Kajiura) "Dream Field" and following her career I have not found one album disappointing. Also this mini album consists of five songs as the previous Zenya and all five are at the level of her talent. The second song, Hokkyokusei ~Polaris~ is the ending theme of the TV Anime "Sengoku BASARA Judge End". Although it does not reach the peak of Gyakkou, for me the most beautiful single by Chiaki, all the songs are beautiful and there are no bad tracks. A slight preference for the second and third song. Brava Chiaki!
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Seisen no Iberia [Regular Edition]Sound HorizonAmazing
A great single with three songs each more beautiful than the other (the peak with the second, Ishidatami no Akaki Akuma, which tells about the Reconquista with the liberation of Spain from the Moors that took place at the end of the fifteenth century. The main characters are Shaytan (Devil) played by Revo, Layla by Yuuki Yoshida (beset by doubts about which side to take after the death of his parents - by opposite religion - killed by both contenders), the three sisters Enja played by Kaori Oda, Trin by Remi and Saranda by RIKKI, the Prophet Sadi by Jimang. In the second song there is a thrilling vocal overlap between Kaori (gorgeous), Remi and RIKKI. The music is epic, wonderful also thanks to the sound of the first violin Ishigame Kyoko.
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Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season Outro Theme: PrototypeChiaki IshikawaVery good
I love the voice of Chiaki, since she was in the See-Saw, so especially in the Japanese scene. Even in this single I find two good songs, then also included in the album "Daremo Oshiete Kurenakatta Koto", Prototype the ending theme for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season, and Squall, both with quite a lively pace. The single ends with the two songs "without vocal", in the title but not in practice, because they are not purely instrumental tracks. Chiaki never disappoints me.
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Paradise LostMinori ChiharaVery good
Nice single of Minori Chihara (also famous seiyuu) introduced by the title track, the opening song of the anime "Ga-Rei-Zero" (where Minori gives voice to the character of Kagura Tsuchimiya), with a fast pace and danceable. While Yuuki no Kodou, my favorite, is slower with a great start. The single closes with the two songs without vocal. On the cover a nice photo of Minori and on the back an image of Kagura.
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HosekiMarina InoueBeautiful
Houseki, for me one of the most beautiful songs composed by Yuki Kajiura. Here in the original version sung by Marina Inoue (seiyuu and singer), end theme song from Le Portrait de Petit Cossette (where Marina gives voice to the character of Cossette d'Auvergne). The song is beautiful, both in the music and in lyrics, well played by Marina (are to see on the web several videos in black and white that make perfectly the mood a bit gothic of the song). A perfect song for the anime movie, but ... I always prefer the interpretation made by Keiko with FictionJunction in Everlasting Songs and by live on the DVD FictionJunction ~Yuki Kajiura Live Vol. 4 Part II~ Everlasting Songs Tour 2009. The second song, Ballad, is just as good but with less pathos. This beautiful single ends with the two previous songs in karaoke version, but with backing vocals in background. Recommended.
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Theme Of HanafugetsuHanafugetsuVery good
Hanafugetsu: one of the many souls of Yuko Suzuhana. Here in her most traditional side (Shigin => poem recitations, vocals and piano), superbly accompanied by Daisuke Kaminaga (shakuhachi) and Kiyoshi Ibukuro (koto), all three also components of the most vibrant Wagakki Band. In this album there are covers (including songs of the 70's) and TV movie music theme. Among the best is undoubtedly the cover Yuki no Hana (2003) of Mika Nakashima, one of the favorite singers by Yuko. But all the songs where there is the lovely voice of Yuko are remarkable.
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ayaka's BEST - Ballad Collection - [w/ DVD, Limited Edition]AyakaExcellent
A beautiful collection of Ayaka's ballads published in several singles and two albums under Warner Japan. Not much to say, they are all lovely, beautifully sung by Ayaka with her warm and bluesy voice. My favorite songs: Mikazuki (in both versions), I Believe (in both versions), Jewelry Day, Te wo Tsunagou and Minna Sora no Shita. Ayaka also wrote the lyrics of all the songs. In the DVD of about 38 minutes you will find the video of Mikazuki, filmed in a beautiful sea cave, 5 live tracks taken from the Warner Music Convention Live in 2005 (Blue Days, I Believe, Yume no Kakera, Rairarai and Mikazuki) and home movies of Ayaka's life. An ideal collection for getting to know this great singer in her sweeter side.
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JikuuRin'Beautiful!
Gorgeous album from the first song to the last. It begins with the instrumental Jikuu then move on to the beautiful Sakitama (gorgeous the video on the network as well as the poetic text) with a start almost medieval thanks to the sound of the shakuhachi of Tomoca, that later goes to the Biwa, to which overlap other traditional instruments and introducing the voices of the good and nice Mana, Chie and Tomoca, without a doubt the best song on the album. The other songs that excite me (but I repeat they are all very nice) are Yachiyo no kaze, Fuhen, Weakness, Doushin and Sainokami. I just regret that the group was disbanded.
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Sakitama [CD+DVD]Rin'Excellent
Sakitama is one of the songs of Rin' I prefer both for music and for singing with Mana main voice, while the voices of Chie and Tomoca accompany her. In the single there are also the instrumental of the same Sakitama and Jikuu, this song also on their first album. I'm always fascinated by the mixture of Rin' between traditional instruments and modern music. The DVD contains a nice video of the main theme with the three lovely protagonists, in a mysterious forest of bamboo (probably fake) with the ominous presence of a being transparent, playing their instruments, Mana and Chie koto or its variant jushichi-gen, while Tomoca alternates with the shakuhachi and biwa. Every time listen to them I regret for their dissolution.
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Japan Premium BestalanSuper
I find the voice of Alan wonderful, especially when flying on the higher tones. The best songs are Ashita e no Sanka, Natsukashii Mirai ~ longing future ~, Sora Uta, RED CLIFF, Gunjou no Tani and Kuon no Kawa, above all others. However, even if a best (for which I'm not usually very fond), I find this pretty useful collection as a first approach to this great singer with a beautiful voice.
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BirthdayFuyumi AbeVery good
Five little gems of songs (especially the first two: Birthday and Isso Serenade) masterfully interpreted with warm and sensual voice by singer and songwriter Fuyumi.
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MachiFuyumi AbeVery good
An EP that collects new and old songs of Abe, to the latter ranging my preferences, given the presence of three beautiful songs: Birthday (from the homonymous single of 2009) Sora ni Mau and Lullaby (taken from the single that precedes Machi). Among the new songs ones my favorite is certainly Machi, with a nice insert of accordion. It 's always nice be cradled by warm and sensual voice of Abe.
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Hikari Furu [w/ DVD, Limited Pressing (Anime Edition)]KalafinaExcellent
As always are gorgeous the songs on this single that I bought in the Anime edition for the beautiful cover both front and back. The three songs are part of the theme of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. The music is very well arranged by Yuki Kajiura. Hikari Furu is a beautiful ballad, very sweet in the beginning, with the beautiful voice of Wakana in the foreground, later there is a crescendo and then finish yet sweetly. Then follows Mirai with in evidence the voices of Wakana and Hikaru. Finally one of my favorite songs of all time of Kalafina: the powerful Magia [four], so splendidly interpreted in the concerts. Very sweet the excerpt of the Anime movie well accompanied by the song Hikari Furu. Kalafina not ever disappoint me.
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INSOMNIA [Limited Pressing]Chihiro OnitsukaExcellent
Gorgeous debut from this very good singer with a warm voice and full of pathos. Wonderful the song that introduces the album, Gekkou (Moonlight), where you can imagine while Chihiro writes and composes her own songs till late, watching the moonlight. The songs that I prefer, without detracting from the others are: obviously Gekkou in the two versions, Call, Shine and Rasen. Very nice the piano sound (by Takefumi Haketa) that accentuates the melancholy tone of the ballads. The booklet contains the lyrics, credits and some nice photos of Chihiro.
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Dream Field [Priced-down Reissue]See-SawAwesome
Great record with the beautiful voice of Chiaki Ishikawa (pleasant surprise, I'll try to listen to her albums) and the always wonderful music composed by Yuki Kajiura, both in the songs faster than the ballads. There are several songs that I like: Tasogare no Umi, Emerald Green, the beautiful Anna ni Issho Datta no ni, sung live by Kalafina also to Animax Musix Fall 2010 in Yokohama Arena, Senya Ichiya, the ethereal Natsu no Tegami and Yasashii Yoake. Beautiful album.