Aira Mitsuki – PLASTIC July 26, 2009

Track Listing

1. Robot Honey
2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. AYUSE KOZUE)
3. Knee-high Girl
4. BAD trip (feat. Terukado)
5. CHANGE MY WILL
6. HiGH SD Sneaker
7. distant STARS
8. Plastic Doll
9. Sapuri
10. Natsu Ame (feat. Kuchiroro)
11. Time is (feat. Shigeo)
12. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS
13. BARBiE BARBiE
14. Re:†
15. Spring Sky (TOWER RECORDS Bonus Track)

REMIX CD

1. BARBiE BARBiE (80kidz rmx)
2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. AYUSE KOZUE (Terukado rmx)
3. HiGH SD Sneaker (Yuki Saito rmx)
4. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (Traks Boys rmx)
5. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E (Cherryboy Function rmx)
6. China Discotica (Substance rmx)
7. Robot Honey (Sound Around rmx)
8. Happiness land (I Am Robot and Proud rmx)

1. Robot Honey

So we begin the album with what started it in the first place, Robot Honey was pretty sweet at first when it was released since it didn’t sound like anything else.  Though after time, it started to grow less on me as it was replaced by other songs and the fact that the song sounded really gritty which is unusual for an Aira song at the time.  I do like she incorporate more electric guitar in the song, but I still don’t enjoy it as much as I did then.  Like one person said, “Kill the mastering operator”, It’s terrible here.

2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. AYUSE KOZUE)

It’s awesome to see two of my artists working together.  We got Aira’s special set of vocals mixed with AYUSE’s more cleaner vocals together.  Both are under vocoder BTW so it does make it a little hard to figure them out, but the obvious is there so hahaha.  It does sound a little like something off her last album, but the two gals together made it better for me as it’s pretty bouncy.  Good job!

3. Knee-high Girl

Seriously?  Knee-high Girl over “SAZAE FUNKEDELiC”?  I don’t know, but since it was off of “Robot Honey’s” single, it’s understandable that she was bringing at least one B-side to the album from each single.  Knee-high Girl is definitely a lot more in your face and is one of those tracks that are dependent on the music, rather than the lyrics.  It’s funny that the voice from “Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E” returns here and has a bigger role in the song as well too.  It’s alright, but I’d rather have “SAZAE FUNKEDELiC” instead.  Sadly, it’s another one of the tracks where the mastering sucks completely.

4. BAD trip (feat. Terukado)

I have to say, Terukado knows how to make hardcore tracks.  Though he’s heavily taking what he did to Saori@destiny’s “EZ DO DANCE” and giving them to Aira.  It’s funny because it also worked well in this track.  It’s got more of a good melody unlike Terukado’s last work with Aira “Beep Count Fantastic”. but this song just screams rave right here.  I love it though despite having so many clear ripoffs going on. 

5. CHANGE MY WILL

I do think that CHANGE MY WILL was the best track off her final single of the era and seeing it on here was like duh, we already knew that.  Following after “BAD trip”, I thought this was a pretty sweet idea.  Now this is the song that I thought was to be the next “Beep Count Fantastic” since it’s aggressive and more of the whole repetition in the lyrical sense, but it’s still good.  It just was suck with two bland tracks. 

6. HiGH SD Sneaker

I’m just surprised she didn’t stick all of “Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS’s” tracks on this album since all of it was pure gold.  Unlike the previous tracks, it starts pretty quietly before running into the more energetic trance sound it’s holding.  There’s also more of a tune going on here rather than mindless music which is what I wanted with her more aggressive tracks.  It even tricks people by sounding like it ends, but it explodes back…I though that was amazingly done.  Besides “COSMiC CHOPPER”, this is the best B-side of the era.

7. distant STARS

I’m looking at the album and I’ve already heard the new tracks, so being the lone ballad off the album, distant STARS was easily the better choice between it and “Every night heartfull music song”, even though both are strikingly too similar to one another.  The thing that makes this standout is the fact the beginning sounds muffled, like it’s being played by a record.  After that, the song clears up and stuff.  Actually it does sound like a track Q;indivi would’ve done actually.  It’s nighttime feel and overall calm feel to it. 

8. Plastic Doll

After the barrage of pre-released tracks, we start with the new ones including Plastic Doll which was the main promotional track for this album.  It’s actually a really nice track, giving her a more ethereal arrangement works for sure.  The beginning is like orgasmic to my ears which is so good.  I will say it has some influences from “Yellow Supercar” but they are few and far between and it is the “GALAXY BOY” of the album.

9. Sapuri

Sapuri to me sounds like the oddball off the album because it really sounds like 80’s new-wave or something off of “JAPANESE CHAOS”.  That right there kind of tells me the song just isn’t that good because oddly true.  It might be a new sound Aira is under, but the song lacked something to make it standout.  The mid-tempo is also is another boring thing IMO. 

10. Natsu Ame (feat. Kuchiroro)

I’m clearly trying to understand why Aira is getting weird all of a sudden.  Anywho, Natsu Ame is actually a rearrangement of “Fantasy Candy” off her debut album.  Instead of the cutesy synth-pop from the original it’s giving a jazzy feel or like how Selly says it, bossa-nova vibe.  That is true since the feeling is quite different this time around.  Also the inclusion of Kuchiroro gives it the male touch to it as well.  I myself don’t like the guy since he sounds so boring during his parts.  Strange song though XD

11. Time is (feat. Shigeo)

Time is is a bit strange as well because it’s like more funky and once again shows versatility in Aira’s favor.  The music definitely sounds new and quite calm as well.  Shigeo’s part fits in a whole lot better than Kuchiroro’s part in “Natsu Ame”.  I do laugh every time that Aira says ~time iszzzu up~ So damn funny.  It could be another quick favorite off the album for me.  OMG, near the end, another WTF moment  happens and I love it XD

12. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS

Well, we’re saving her amazing A-side for the late part of the album eh?  I love how different it sounded when it was first released.  Unlike “Robot Honey’s” overload of synth, this track actually takes it lightly and the almost hip-hop sound overall was just crazy cool.  I don’t know, but this could be the best A-side of the year, maybe.  The chorus (though repetitive) was catchy as hell though and the after-chorus bit weird in the transition, but just as catchy.  Wow!

13. BARBiE BARBiE

It does seem better that BARBiE BARBiE is far away from “Robot Honey” on this album.  I mean they both are quite similar (except RH has a more powerful 8-bit sound).  I’m not sure why she chose this to be a single because it doesn’t standout when compared to the other 4 singles in the era (counting “Valentine STEP” and “Aira no Kagaku CD).  It’s just otherwise very stale, even the PV was obviously a rehash of “Robot Honey’s”.

14. Re:†

I don’t know how to even pronounce this, but our final track on the album is oddly the longest track she’s ever done (that isn’t a megamix).  Clocking in at almost 8 and a half minutes, Re:† has a lot of interesting things going on.  I mean the beginning sounded like something Halloween-ish, then Aira comes in a pretty aggressive part.  I can hear a little bit of JUSTICE and I wondered if she worked with them on this track.  It’s quite epic for being such a long track.  There’s this guy in it and he’s sounds so creepy and Aira’s quips too…one of her standout tracks for sure.

15. Spring Sky

Released as a bonus track on a seperate CD ala “L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl”, Spring Sky is a TOWER RECORD’s exclusive and sad it is because once again, just like the previous track, it’s another song that sounds so good that why she didn’t put it on the album in the first place is baffling.  It does sound like a more danceable track off of “C.O.P.Y” and the song’s heavier bass sound is so good.  It’s funny that I do get a sense of spring in the song and Aira’s echoed vocals are a nice welcome.  Shame, it’s that good.

REMIX CD

1. BARBiE BARBiE (80kidz rmx)

So our first of three new remixes, BARBiE BARBiE gets a remix from 80kidz who’s getting some notice around the electro community.  I actually think it’s the more interesting choice for them to remix it as has only parts from the chorus playing around most of the time and even though that can be annoying, the music is pretty good which is a first since Aira doesn’t have many “good” remixes. 

2. Summeeeeeeeer set (feat. AYUSE KOZUE (Terukado rmx)

I’m kind of surprised they didn’t remix “Plastic Doll” instead, but what we have here.  Taking the summery track and morphed it into some good, heavy techno sound.  Summeeeeeeeer Set was a good choice from Terukado to remix (though, does that mean AYUSE do the original?).  On here it doesn’t really sound like the other remixes, rather a more important track.  Good song, all-around.

3. HiGH SD Sneaker (Yuki Saito rmx)

The last of our new remixes, HiGH SD Sneaker comes raring its head on the remix cd.  Ehhhhh, I’m not sure it I’m liking this remix as it takes out the aggressive nature of the original and kind of throws parts of the song to a pretty wacky arrangement that sounds a bit all over the place.  Maybe it’s the point of it, but it’s the worst of the 3 new remixes.

4. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (Traks Boys rmx)

The remaining remixes come from previous singles/album.  Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS comes first and I love how begins with Aira repeating the chorus over and over and listen as the music gradually gets louder and louder.  By the time Aira gets into the other vocal parts, Half the song has already gone by.  I do love the harder edge this remix brought and after getting used to it from the single, it’s one of my favorite remixes in the list of em. 

5. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function rmx)

Wait, why do we have an album track on the remix CD?  I mean everyone remembers this track being the funky one on “C.O.P.Y”.  I’m pretty sure there’ll be an original version one day…Anyway the song definitely brings back the edgier sound found on her last album and it’s still one of the best new tracks off her debut album.  I love how the synths are like bouncy and erratic altogether at the same time.  Even better is the parts Aira and the other voice has, it’s awesome.  Whatever, it’s crazy good.

6. China Discotica (Substance rmx)

I’m not sure why I’m reviewing this a 3rd time, but here we go again.  Being the earliest remix of the CD, China Discotica does sound a little bit electro-poppish compared to the others here.  Instead of the crazy and random original version, the Substance remix takes the song into like i said, electropop sounds and even though Aira is singing a good portion, it doesn’t stand to the original.

7. Robot Honey (Sound Around rmx)

I barely remembered this remix from said single at all.  Unlike the crazy mastering fail of the original, the song sounds a whole lot better with this remix as it doesn’t make horrible strides to cut apart the song.  It actually takes out the 8-bit sounds, kept the electric guitar parts and Sound Around added their own flavor into the track and I thought it was way better than the original IMO. 

8. Happiness land (I am Robot and Proud rmx)

Another track I have to review a third time? WTF?!  I swear one more time and I’m going to shoot someone.  Anyways, the track is a more refined and upbeat take on the closest thing to a ballad on “C.O.P.Y”.  I think I prefer the original though as it has the right set of mind while this takes a more joyous route, but this isn’t that bad either.  I just wished, like I said the last time, it didn’t end so randomly like it did, definitely left my wanting a lot more.

Tracks Recommended

• Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS
• Plastic Doll
• Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function rmx)
• Time is (feat Shigeo)
• Spring Sky

Let’s talk about the album first.  For being Aira’s sophomore album, she did actually quite well with what she was given and it came out really good.  I did have problems with tracks and their mastering even more so than I did back on “C.O.P.Y”.  A few tracks sounded really out of line and gave me headaches.  Now taking the headphones off, it’s actually a pretty good album.  I think she would’ve benefitted more if she had put “Valentine STEP” and “Science Music” because both were so experimental just like a good portion of the album was and I love Aira for doing that.

Now the remix album was kind of an odd choice to really go forth with.  8 tracks though isn’t really worth it when 5 tracks are previously released remixes.  Maybe 2 more new remixes would’ve soften the blow, but c’mon this was just not that smart of a plan.  Honestly, she should’ve stuck “Natsu Ame” here instead of the album IMO.

Now, my thoughts on the Aira vs. Perfume deal?  Since Triangle and PLASTIC are their “2nd” album, I felt that Perfume did a better job going in the direction they were meaning to go as their songs were more synth-pop more than anything (and IMO get some slower songs,so they won’t have an overload of dance tracks).  Aira’s album however is a bit more underground electro which is basically what she was going for anyways so she tops on that lane.  Sales-wise is obvious.  As a total package, Aira definitely won.  I mean the album had more tracks, a remix CD, an extra track if bought from TOWER, and a DVD with ALL OF HER PV’S….Perfume’s was just pathetic compared to this….So in the end, I think Aira is having her year. 

Aira Mitsuki – Aira no Kagaku CD June 25, 2009

Track Listing

1. Science Music
2. Senjou no Merry Christmas (Thereminvox mixes)
3. Happiness land (I am Robot and Proud ver.)
4. MIKE ALWAY’S DIARY
5. Science Music (-1track ver.)
6. Senjou no Merry Christmas (-1track ver.)

1. Science Music

There’s a whole lot that could be mustered from the song, but Science Music right is her most outlandish work to date.  First off it isn’t anything like the other tracks of the era and far from it which is amazing.  It does sound very wintry for an electropop track and even furthering it’s differences.  Then again the lyrics sound like she’s saying ~Roll in the snow~.  Even more interesting is that it includes an instrument called a theremin.  What that is, is like a machine that takes the motion of your hands and makes a humming sound from it hence the songs eerie, cello-like sounds.  The song doesn’t really have a direction and it kind of becomes numbing and fall into listening to it.

2. Senjou no Merry Christmas (Thereminvox mixes)

Now this track is a cover and a rearrangement.  Aira’s original was from a small V.A. called “teardrop”.  Now the wintry sound obviously continues in this song hence the title, but this time theremin is also heard here and it gave the song a more haunting opening, but it also gives the song a more ethereal outlook since Aira is whispering and using French in the song.  Now, I’m not sure what’s going on, but this song is nice and chilly and represented winter well….Even better was the theremin going round in the song.  NICE!

3. Happiness land (I am Robot and Proud ver.)

Wait….didn’t we just see this on the “BARBiE BARBiE” single?  I guess it doesn’t hurt to reuse it here since it kind of fits on this single moreso than on the last one.  So yeah, basically this remix is actually a little more upbeat than the original mix from “C.O.P.Y”.  I’m still unsure if I enjoy this or the original more just because they both are pretty good ballad tracks (well, this one isn’t really).  It does ends kind of randomly…but w/e

4. MIKE ALWAY’S DIARY

Ahhhh, I loved this song when it was first released back on “teardrop” and I’m so happy nothing was changed in this song.  Now this is considered my “CANDY LIGHT MODE” of the era because it’s acoustically driven, even better is that there’s a lot going for it.  Muffled areas, xylophone melodies, and Aira’s pseudo-whispering singing also.  It’s like one of her catchiest songs, even though it’s also a cover.

5. Science Music (-1track ver.)

Basically what this means is that they took out the theremin of the song which also took out the eerieness that made the song so good.  I can’t say that it’s any better, but luckily everything else in still intact.  It’s still bouncy and Aira still sounds nice, but the lack of the mood inducer pretty much took me out of the song.

6. Senjou no Merry Christmas (-1track ver.)

Oh, so I guess they did put the original Aira track on here, but just added the title.  Also losing the theremin in the process, it’ll be pretty hard to not think of the instrument and you’ll be expecting, but then it doesn’t come.  Strange, but nice to put in the original with the single too I guess.

 

 

Alright, I’m pretty sure this is still considered a “PLASTIC” era single because well that Happiness land remix was tacked on the single.  The whole single was just so refreshing to have that it is better than both “Robot Honey” and “BARBiE BARBiE” and even “Valentine STEP”.  The announcement of the single was a bit odd, since it was pretty known the day it was released…right, well this single was just so off the wall and yet it was what we needed, a new side to Aira we haven’t seen and most of us learned about a new instrument along the way, whether she continues to use it beats me, but I hope she does since Science Music and Senjou no Merry Christmas sounded awesome with it.  Throw in acoustic MIKE ALWAY’S DIARY and reuse a pretty good remix of an old track and you get a pretty good single here. AWESOMENESS

Aira Mitsuki – BARBiE BARBiE May 20, 2009

 

Track Listing

1. BARBiE BARBiE
2. CHANGE MY WILL
3. FREEDOM STAR
4. Happiness land (I Am Robot and Proud Ver.)
5. FREEDOM STAR (TOKYO F*NKadeLiKKK rmx)
6. CHANGE MY WILL (Modular Modular rmx)
7. BARBiE BARBiE (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
8. CHANGE MY WILL (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
9. FREEDOM STAR (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)

1. BARBiE BARBiE

I have to say, BARBiE BARBiE was definitly pushing for unoriginality because it closely remeninsced her past songs especially in the past era.  It’s still a good song nonetheless because it’s one huge synth fast and Aira’s fun way of singing.  The problem is the chorus was like WTF cuz a lot of the times, I thought she was saying ~GARLIC GARLIC~…This was the 2nd part of the chorus BTW, still I was like what is this song about anyways? 

2. CHANGE MY WILL

CHANGE MY WILL is a special track because it’s the only song that makes it on the DVD live performance that’s coming out soon.  Anyways, the song is the single’s harder electro track and it’s kind of freaky and at the same time is as shocking as when MEG did “FREAK”.  Unlike the past two hard songs, this was nice and equal vocal and musical parts so it didn’t become top-heavy.  Aira is also in a higher pitch for the chorus and she sometimes sounds thin (what in J-tek?)  Good B-side

3. FREEDOM STAR

Yeah, we haven’t exactly had a girly-ish song since “Robot Honey” so hearing FREEDOM STAR sounded fresh at least to me.  It sounds like something Perfume would have done, but Aira’s vocals make the song a lot more memorable and being the chill kind of track, I liked it alot.  There’s not much else to be really said, but it’s nice to get a track like “HEART LINE ALIVE”.

4. Happiness land (I Am Robot and Proud Ver.)

Talking about the past era, This is a first to see a previously released track get remixed on a current single.  I can’t really say what it’s like now.  I mean Happiness land was the song that was more closer to being a ballad than the others.  It still carries the ballad feel at the start, but once things get going it’s a bit more upbeat, but not like “FREEDOM STAR”s tempo.  It kind of felt shorter to the original…hmmmm weird.

5. FREEDOM STAR (TOKYO F*NKadeLiKK rmx)

Oddly, we don’t get any “BARBiE BARBiE” remixes this time around…Back to FREEDOM STAR’s remix is a bit more aggressive, but there is like a lot of random things going on in the song like the fanfares and Aira’s more echo-y vocals.  Maybe if there was more of Aira, I would’ve liked it more but this remix kind of failed for me.

6. CHANGE MY WILL (Modular Modular rmx)

The last remix of the single, CHANGE MY WILL went from being all aggressive and crazy to having a pretty consistent beat which is what we need, but the synths definitly reminded me of “FREAK’s”.  The remix is kind of funny in a way because there’s the odd synth melody that just sounds so damn funny and off the wall.  It’s still got the same vocal passages, it’s just the arrangement that’s been reworked and sometimes it clicks, but other times it doesn’t.  Whatever xD

 

 

Aira’s last single of the era kind of is in between the great “Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS” and the not so good “Robot Honey”.  I’m pretty sure she’s seeing things start to drift off and is now utilizing different ideas.  BARBiE BARBiE is kind of a stab to her last album and so is FREEDOM STAR easily being compared to the songs from “C.O.P.Y”.  CHANGE MY WILL was something new and well easily tops over the other songs on the single.  The remixes were once again not too memorable, but was a treat for us.  Aira and remixes aren’t that good together if you ask me.  You know what we need?  Another “CANDY LIGHT MODE”. 

Aira Mitsuki – Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS January 27, 2009

Track Listing

1. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS
2. HiGH SD Sneaker
3. COSMiC CHOPPER
4. distant STARS
5. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (Traks Boys rmx)
6. HiGH SD Sneaker (BIG BEAT CRUSH rmx)
7. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
8. HiGH SD Sneaker (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
9. COSMiC CHOPPER (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
10. distant STARS (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)

1. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS

A song about global warming? The girls of D-TOPIA has some strange topics and Saori and Aira lead it.  Anyways, the song has a stronger beat and does sound more serious than “ROBOT HONEY” which luckily this Aira I love more than girly Aira.  The song also a a very small urban touch as well, which made the experience more cooler.  Even though she says ~Technoplis~ like *facepalms*.  This is probably her strongest A-side IMO since “China Discotica”.

2. HiGH SD Sneaker

It starts innocently enough, but it screeches into a pretty aggressive track.  Aira is speaking the verse and then there’s a guys voice which mixes with Aira’s and they come in and out of each like real smoothly until the chorus where she sings the chorus.  It sounds like there’s electric guitar going, so I basically liked this hands down.  Cooooool!

3. COSMiC CHOPPER

Even more wicked is the opening to COSMiC CHOPPER which also fits with the space theme of the single.  Aira is singing slower, but the music still contains some awesome synth riffs.  It has some pretty wicked bass lines and perhaps seems disco-y?  This is also another track that could’ve been an A-side, I swear.

4. distant STARS

The ballad of the single definitly outshines “Every night heartfull music song” in almost every way.  It starts with a muffled start and Aira as well singing it as well.  Then a click happens and the song starts off as well.  It isn’t as awkward as the said song it beat out and it definitly brought the space theme well. 

5. Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS (Traks Boys rmx)

I like how the tracks opened with a beat and Aira singing the chorus.  It really makes you wonder where it’ll lead as the sound rises and it covers Aira up.  I guess it does seem long-winded and repetitive by then your half-way done with the mix.  Though the rocks elements sound cool, it just doesn’t connect with Aira and well it failed practically.

6. HiGH SD Sneaker (BIG BEAT CRUSH rmx)

The second remix was a lot more eventful because of just how in your face it was.  There’s a lot more sound and Aira has some vocal distortions as well with more vocoder.  The remix is way better than the previous and the chorus is again <3.  Interesting to note that it’s a pretty short track only at 3:30.  So it did its job right.

 

 

Aira major single release was definitly a huge step-up from “ROBOT HONEY”  One can make the parallels almost immediatly to that single because of the track layout and presentations of the songs.  This time she definitly took notice and did a way better job.  Sayonara TECHNOPOLiS is a great A-side, COSMiC CHOPPER and HiGH SD Sneaker are space-themed awesomeness and even distant STARS would space sound really nice with its dream-like qualities.  HiGH SD Sneaker’s remix was the only good one of the two, but altogether a pretty strong single!

Aira Mitsuki – Valentine STEP January 27, 2009

Track Listing

1. Valentine STEP
2. Tofubeats Mash UP include 11 Aira Songs
3. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl

1. Valentine STEP

Interesting is that the song as a small latin flavor to it.  Must be the acoustic guitar driven sound and the percussion choices this song features.  This odd mixture to Aira techno sound causes a small riff, but it’s this mixture that also makes this stand out than the normal stuff the tekkers usually do and I praise Aira fully for this.  This is gonna be one of those love/hate tracks but this is pretty good for Aira on this pretty long single.  Though the ad-libbing in the middle of the track probably wasn’t needed, but I guess it did link up the other small solo of the track.

2. Tofubeats Mash UP includes 11 Aira Songs

1. China Discotica
2. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E (It’s China Discotica with some of Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E’s chanting.)
3. Fantasy Candy
4. HEART LINE ALIVE (HEART LINE ALIVE plays over an instrumental section of Fantasy Candy after it’s played through)
5. Knee-high Girl
6. SAZAE FUNKADELiC (TOKYO IKEJIRI PLASTIC BABE rmx)
7. Happiness land (Happiness land starts playing over the remix pretty soon after it starts)
8. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E (Cherryboy function ver.)
9. Rock’n Roll Is Dead
10. ROBOT HONEY
11. High Bash (Original ver.)

Ok first off, I do not hear the 11th track of this particular track, so if anyone catches this please do tell me.  If you though “COPY YAKENOHARA MEGAMIX” was long, then prepare for this heavy one.  Why I called this single long was the 21 minute fest of songs that do practically chronicle her past works.  We begin with China Discotica and it’s the longest of all the tracks meshed in because it practically goes through the track itself with some obvious cuts and repetitions.  About the 5 minute mark we land into Fantasy Candy which I wouldn’t have known it if it weren’t for the noticeable synth line.  We go through the first verse and chorus and second chorus before you hear Aira begin singing the chorus of HEART LINE ALIVE and the music starts to die down a little because you hear it come back as the synth line from Knee-high Girl kicks in which did surprise me as I didn’t expect any of the B-sides from the last single to actually appear.  As for the transitioning in the last 3 songs, they handled it very well actually.  It also worked through the transition into another surprise track SAZAE FUNKEDELiC which I found funny when they decided to mix the loud part with Happiness land as well.  It was a pretty short mix of both songs as they made its way into Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. which like the original is pretty quiet.  Though it builds up to a loud section just as the original.  Luckily it goes through the vocal parts, so it wasn’t as useless as it was heard on the megamix off the album.  Then there’s this part where it goes through a moment I couldn’t exactly decipher, but I bet this would be where the 11th song would be, but it’s a very small part.  We then get into Rock’ n Roll is Dead which is my biggest surprise to this track all over.  I didn’t expect it after it was the only new track found on the original version of “C.O.P.Y”.  I have to say it’s good to see its inclusion. The transitioning into ROBOT HONEY was so off the wall, but definitly cool to hear.  It’s goes through its verse and chorus and finishes into what I’ll say is the Original version of High Bash which finishes off this 21-minute fest.  Altogether, it’s a nice treat, but she didn’t include any big hitters like “Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9″ or “GALAXY BOY” which was sort of disappointing.  Oh yea, the whole skipping sound was so annoying.

3. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl

Wait, didn’t I hear this track on “C.O.P.Y”?  Well, I guess they wanted to really officialize it, so they put it on here.  This could’ve been the 11th track to the previous track but iono.  I actually like this track still even if it was an extra to the album.  I love the arpeggios happening in the synth which made the song bouncy and the twinkly stuff worked for me as well.  The verses are a little weird as the bass synth keeps popping in and out.  It’s crazy.

 

 

Aira’s minor single was pretty different, but in a good way.  Valentine STEP is a nice listen and also a cool change of sound even though it’s still techno.  L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl, even though it’s a rehash, finally got it’s official release and still is one of her better tracks.  The uber long mash up was mistitled IMO and probably wasn’t needed, but the song choices were great.  I mean the obvious China Discotica to the not-so-obvious Rock’ n Roll is Dead was in that package.  You know they could have ditched the mix and put in “Senjou no Merry Christmas” and “MIKE ALWAY’S DIARY” instead because even though they were from a V.A. they were the best off of it.  Damn…

Aira Mitsuki – Robot Honey October 31, 2008

Track Listing

1. Robot Honey
2. Knee-high Girl
3. Every night heartfull music song
4. SAZAE FUNKEDELiC
5. Robot Honey (Sound Around rmx)
6. SAZAE FUNKEDELiC (TOKYO IKEJIRI PLASTIC BABE rmx)
7. Robot Honey (digital mp-3 mastering mix)
8. Knee-high Girl (digital mp-3 mastering mix)
9. Every night heartfull music song (digital mp-3 mastering mix)
10. SAZAE FUNKEDELiC (digital mp-3 mastering mix)

1. Robot Honey

 Wow, for being an A-side it’s definitly something new.  She hasn’t done a real girly track and to be honest it’s quite the catchy track.  I’m finding that she’s more airy than usual in her vocals, but it fits the song’s theme pretty well.  The frequent bleeps do seem to cover her sometimes but it isn’t too noteworthy.  I still think “CTSNO.9″ is much better IMO

2. Knee-high Girl

I’m quite surprised this next track was released on iTunes by itself for sale.  Funny because I’m hearing the same croaky voice heard in “Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E” but oddly this song has a party-like atmosphere which is really good.  The downside of the song is that there’s not enough going on lyrically.  There’s like no verses, just the chorus and the croaky voice saying random things, but I do love the music for it.

3. Every night heartfull music song

As freaky that title is, the song is actually very ballady even for a J-tek song.  It’s slow and the lyrics are pretty smooth and slow.  I quite like this almost hypnotic sound and it’s probably the best track off the single.  Aira actually sounds really good under the vocoder and this song is great.

4. SAZAE FUNKEDELiC

Then we get this song which sounds like it’d be perfect on C.O.P.Y as a single.  It’s got a pretty cool beat and some quick lyrics from Aira.  It sounds kind of ethnic in a way, I can’t exactly pinpoint but there’s something that makes it stands out.  The chorus flys by and it’s like an addiction.  Another hi-top track.

5. Robot Honey (Sound Around rmx)

What’s up with everyone wanting to have a summery remix for their A-Side?  I mean MEG and Ami Suzuki has done it as well.  I actually think it did a great job with this track.  Take some synths, boost vocal sound, add some piano and percussion and you get this.  I found it easier to understand Aira through this remix and the music is quite cool and reminds me of capsule’s music.

6. SAZAE FUNKEDELiC (TOKYO IKEJIRI PLASTIC BABE rmx)

Then we have this remix.  I hated the introduction and her voice seems a little more vocodered and after she finished this chorus it gets pretty boppy (I guess that’s a word).  Like the song really sounds different to her other remixes.  Then there’s this part that reminds me of the ad-libbing of “China Discotica”.  This has to be the funniest remix I’ve heard in a while.

 

 

Not even gonna go through the mastering versions….Anyway, could this be Aira’s best single so far?  I actually think so, because all the songs+remixes were pretty good and showed a different side to Aira that we’ve haven’t seen before.  To actually hear a J-tek ballad fully was awesome.  The other 3 tracks are so danceable and great.  Definitly recommended

Aira Mitsuki – C.O.P.Y September 6, 2008

Track Listing

1. GALAXY BOY
2. China Discotica
3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
4. Darling Wondering Staring
5. HEART LINE ALIVE
6. China Discotica (Substance remix)
7. Fantasy Candy
8. High Bash (Original ver.) Regular or (YAKENOHARA ver.) Limited
9. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E (Cherryboy function ver.)
10. Beep Count Fantastic (feat. Terukado)
11. Yellow Supercar
12. Happiness land
13. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER (Regular only)
14. Rock’n Roll Is Dead (Regular only)
15. ROMANTIC ROPE (Regular only)
16. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC remix) (Regular only)
17. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl (HMV Bonus Regular only)
18. COPY YAKENOHARA MEGAMIX (Hidden bonus Limited only)

1. GALAXY BOY

We blast off the album with the promotional track off the album and truth be told it’s really good.  It’s different with it’s cybernetic sounds and futuristic synth drive.  Aira’s lisp is actually helping out and I’m pretty sure she goes the full 1st verse in English.  The bridge had such a cool drive in it that made me fall in love immediatly.  I still think the best reason I love this song is because of the PV.  Definitly an awesome one to check out.

2. China Discotica

Random China Discotica pops up next and starts with string of A-sides.  Not only was this her most known track, it’s pretty catchy as well.  Another one of those songs with a great bridge.  It’s got such a funky electropop feel to it, that you have to dance.  Then it gets into the interlude where she ad-libs for a little bit.  Weird.  Still, it’s a happy track and it makes me happy.

3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9

DEBUT!  It’s still reigns as my favorite A-side through this entire era.  It sounds definitly poppy with its bouncy synth melody.  Aira definitly sounds quite nice in the verses and the bridge she enters a higher range which isn’t real bad.  The chorus is probably my favorite part because I don’t know what she says in it yet I know shes saying the title.  A smooth electropop tune…Totally.

4. Darling Wondering Staring

As much as I thought this track would be, I was disappointed in it in the single.  It was an indies single as well.  The song sounds a bit messy and sounds a bit too laidback for me.  Aira to me sounds a bit different and she whispers a little bit.  Is this a electro ballad?  It’s my least favorite A-side so far.  Wished there was more to the song.

5. HEART LINE ALIVE

Finally, we enter our first of the new tracks.  This song is like “Darling Wondering Staring” but it has a beat to it and sounds a lot more better.  I kind of thought the track was dragging a little bit, but once it gets to the chorus it gains a nice magical quality to it.  I’m also fearing that the song was borderline filler at some spots but eventually because of the various moments I changed my mind.  Nice soothing track after all.

6. China Discotica (Substance remix)

I wonder why they decided to put the remix in…Is it because it’s being featured on “Beautiful Techno”?  It’s basically a more watered down version of “China Discotica”.  Add some club beats and different synths and you get this.  It’s not bad persay, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original at all. 

7. Fantasy Candy

Fantasy Candy was a hard song to remember exactly.  There’s some awesome stuff in the interludes in the song giving it a playful kind of sound.  Aira gave a good performance, but I felt this song was acting too much like something of Perfume’s.  The synth in here is so good though….it is Fantasy Candy to the ears.  Oh yea the ending….not the best.

8a. High Bash (Original ver.)

If you got the Regular version of C.O.P.Y. you get this track.  It has a very distinct club sound and somehow at the same time it feels incomplete as a whole.  The interlude kinda accents it.  The verses feel more complete mixing synths and piano.  Sadly there wasn’t much that surprised me.  Least favorite of the new tracks.

8b. High Bash (YAKENOHARA ver.)

If you got the Limited edition, you got the remixed version.  Only 33 seconds longer.  This actually some change of sound, but it’s nearly the same arrangement.  I actually am fond of this version compared to the original.  Sad part is that the vocals are odd to me.  Aira sounds muffled by the additional synths and vocoder.  Maybe she should have done a little more to differentiate the two.

9. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function ver.)

Ok, This has to be the coolest next to “GALAXY BOY”.  The beat and anti-beat was so good.  The techno beats are just so random and yet some catchy a the same time.  It also doesn’t sound like any of the other tracks on the album.  I found Aira’s voice to be clearer to hear than some of the others.  Then there’s this lower voice…I wonder if that was Aira saying that or not…I was very impressed by the track. 

10. Beep Count Fantastic (feat. Terukado)

Just like MEG’s “SUPERSONIC” it’s dark and very aggressive for an Aira song.  There’s synths that also sound like “GALAXY BOY’s” interlude which took me by surprise.  Though it’s mostly there for the music rather than the vocals.  Though at least there were vocals though I couldn’t understand a word she said.  It’s just a song to get lost to.

11. Yellow Supercar

Starts out with a steady beat for a while that is and then someone shot the tempo so and gets the fast beat.  Then it just gets so good.  The music sounds lively even though the percussion is everywhere.  Another one of the original sounding tracks.  It sounds like a Nami track almost.  Later on the track it slows down and sounds so good.  Another great track off the album.

12. Happiness land

I don’t now what to say about the last track on the limited album.  It’s so different and even more simplistic than the other slower songs.  It’s soothing and calm.  Actually it’s the nicest track on the album with it’s smooth vocals.  I love the ending where the synths takes over her voice.  That was awesome.   Aira is so good changing different electropop styles.

13. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER

The next 4 tracks are all regular edition only tracks starting with the B-side to “Darling Wondering Staring”.  It’s magical in sound and the fact that you can hear guitar mixed with the percussion and magical sounding synths are great.  It’s got great flow and being a remake, it probably sounds better, but I haven’t heard the original.  The only negative about the song is that…there’s repetition in the chorus where it’s just ~Star Fruits, Surf Rider~

14. Rock’n Roll Is Dead

OMG, I for being a Lenny Kravitz remake it was very true to the title.  It starts off with the guitar riff that everyone’s known then it dies out and turns into this trance tune that takes over.  Aira seems to covered by the music, but when the song is so great and aggressive, who cares.  Aira sounds kinda cool being all teched up.  I think I heard her real voice somewhere in there.  It’s the best of both worlds, but mostly the dance world.

15. ROMANTIC ROPE

I still think she’s going so fast for the chorus.  It sounds jazzy almost, which is interesting considering it’s “China Discotica’s” B-Side.  There’s something missing in the song though.  I don’t know what but I do how it sounds groovy with the instruments.  The ending was the coolest part though.

16. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC Remix)

Yea, this is the last of the 4 bonus tracks and to be honest, I was majorly disappointed that it wasn’t “Candy Light Mode” that took the final spot.  The music was alright, but I was annoyed with Aira’s vocal here.  I don’t like how they treated her voice.  Definitly not worthy of being on the album period!

17. L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl

Another song that went under the radar is the “final” new track.  It actually has a pretty sweet beat and it seems to remind me of “STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER” and “GALAXY BOY” swirled together.  There really isn’t much to the song but you know the repetitiveness of Electropop which is shown here.  I love the second verse with its synth line and bouncing factor.

18. COPY YAKENOHARA MEGAMIX

1. China Discotica (Substance remix)
2. China Discotica
3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
4. Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E.
5. Beep Count Fantastic
6. ROMANTIC ROPE

This is more of a medley since none of the songs were truthfully changed of sound.  It starts with the Substance remix of China Discotica…that was pretty much it just the startup music, nothing more.  Then it leads to the familiar China Discotica where it goes through the first verse, but I thought there was something different in the lyrics…oh well then it finishes up in the chorus and the ad-libbed section of the song where it safely is led to Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9…Though it butchers this section just by doing some of the chorus and doing it’s awesome interlude which is the best part of the song.  Funny it goes pretty smoothly into the start of Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. where the cool beats are still intact.  Aira doesn’t sing it’s just that croaky speaker and then the song gets into some freeze frame spots and then goes through a quiet spot and she sings into Beep Count Fantastic’s start.  It still is aggressive in sound but carries on until the MOST ANNOYING PART where it’s pitch gets higher, and higher, and higher, and higher…x.x  Once it got to its highest points it seems to just somehow end up at ROMANTIC ROPE. That’s where the medley leads to its final seconds.  It’s also the longest part of the megamix.  3 minutes.  I think they chose this because the song itself isn’t on the Limited edition of the album.  I thought it was cool megamix, it that’s what it really is.

 

Tracks Recommended

• GALAXY BOY
• Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
• Swallowtail D.A.N.C.E. (Cherryboy function ver.)
• L0ne1yBoy L0ne1yGirl
• Rock’n Roll Is Dead

Aira’s album really beaten out my expectations of the album.  Everything had a distinct sound to it and really impressed me overall.  Though both versions of the album are different one having 5 tracks different from the other while that one had a megamix and the original version of a track, it was hell finding every track.  Still a very ubertastic album.  GAME, Dolce, Switch, STEP, and C.O.P.Y are all powerful electropop albums.  Play them all together and it’s a huge party…well you might want to take a few songs off of Dolce XD

 

 

 

Aira Mitsuki – Darling Wondering Staring/STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER August 20, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. Darling Wondering Staring
2. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER
3. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC remix)
4. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
5. Darling Wondering Staring (instrumental)

1. Darling Wondering Staring

Talk about a nice change.  DWS is a more of a techno-ballad at least to me.  There’s less stuff going on than either of the last two singles which is pretty cool.  I kinda didn’t want Aira to be so covered by the vocoder’s sound either.  It kind of made me uncomfortable listening to it.  I’m pretty sure she uses English also but it’s kind of tough to hear with Aira’s lisp being there.  Still it’s an alright track.

2. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER

I actually enjoyed this track a lot more than “Darling Wondering Staring”.  Not only it has less synths in it and has a more progressive pop sound to it, but I can understand what Aira is saying.  The music is so soothing and magical, I actually loved that.  I really didn’t care that it was repetitive because at this point of the Ero-pop era that’s taking over this is almost candy to the ears.  BTW it is a remake but I have never heard the original from Cornelius.

3. Darling Wondering Staring (PLASTIC FANTASTIC remix)

Uhm, so here we have the remix and to be honest I liked this more than the main version.  It’s got such a nice rhythm and the synths blended in well for the most part.  As for lyrical content, you can’t really decipher anything except when she’s singing the title…Actually I think that’s all she’s singing, so I guess the remix was useful for the beats changed.  Still it’s a catchy remix.

4. STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER (digital mp-3 mastering mix)

Think people!, what do you this is?  Yes, it’s a more clearer version of said track and it’s better to listen to on your IPod actually.  It took out fluff and it just sounds better.

 

 

Aira Mitsuki’s 3rd and final single for the “COPY” era was a different album against the other two singles as she took to a more calmer sign of Electro-pop.  Still both songs are pretty good but not in the way “CTSNO.9″ or “China Discotica” are.  Both are on the album, though STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER is on only the Regular Version.

Aira Mitsuki – China Discotica August 10, 2008

 

Track Listing

1. China Discotica
2. ROMANTIC ROPE
3. China Discotica (Substance remix)
4. China Discotica (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)
5. China Discotica (instrumental)

1. China Discotica

~Plastic Fantastic!~ Yeah, that 1st line tells us we’re still in crazyland.  There’s so much sound in the song.  Somehow this sounds like Perfume’s “Perfect Star Perfect Style”, luckily I like this song a lot.  It’s a funky technopop track, and I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten popular yet.  Plus, she’s getting much more attention for this song now, since it’s the “respect song” for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she must be proud now.

2. ROMANTIC ROPE

I thought this song, was a bit strange for me. It’s a lot more calmer and the synth usage is quieter.  Aira’s lisp is so apparant and kinda a little messy doing the fast lyrics of the chorus.  It’s a nice change since the songs so far have been technopop.  This is still but it’s leaning more to the pop side.  Still it’s a nice song.

3. China Discotica (Substance remix)

Our only main remix is actually a lot more simplistic in sound than its original mix.  It kind of sounds like space rather than the synth overhaul too.  The synth is so freaky and cool though, I can’t help but to enjoy this since it seperates itself from the usual technopop fare.  Sweet remix.

4. China Discotica (digital mp-3 mastering ver.)

After a cleanup of fluff in the background sounds, we’re left with a more crisp sound of China Discotica, since the came happened with “Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9″.  So nothing real new to report

 

 

Aira’s 2nd single is just as good as her debut.  Both songs were definitly nice songs to what it’s worth and actually I loved the remix.  What’s even better is that both China Discoticas land on “COPY” which “ROMANTIC ROPE” is on the regular version only.  Go Aira!  I hope I’ll be able to hear China Discotica as I’m watching the olympics

Aira Mitsuki – Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 August 2, 2008

 

 

Track Listing

1. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9
2. Candy Light Mode
3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (LAVA’s Electrip Remix)
4. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (Disco-Punk Remix)
5. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (MP-3 Senryuu Digital Mastering ver.)
6. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (Instrumental)

1. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9

A rushing sounds starts us up very well like Perfume’s “edge”, but we’re led into this synth song from Aira Mitsuki.  Now you can tell Aira is different from any of the other acts by that she isn’t produced by Nakata which I guess is a good thing.  Another thing I notice pretty quickly is that Aira has a lisp, in fact its pretty darn cute.  I feel this would’ve been a summer hit since it has a kind of laidback sound to it.  This song is on my addictive song list for sure.  The interlude with the piano was so cool.

2. Candy Light Mode

The b-side has a little bit less going on and has much more of an acoustic backup to it.  Candy Light Mode’s synth usage is pretty quirky, but I was kind of turned off from the odd chorus.  It did sound like a full ass video game however, which totally surprised me.  One of the quirky songs from Aira.

3. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (LAVA’s Electrip Remix)

Starting with acoustic guitar playing.  They took the track and made it sounds totally different.  It’s got abstract stuff going and what to me is no vocoder at all.  What I mean is that Aira sounds like she’s singing without it.  The sound does go back to it however and for what its worth, it was alright, just odd. 

4. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (Disco-Punk Remix)

What an annoying start to the track.  You don’t have to say ~Nine~ that many friggin times.  Though when the beats come in it’s aggressive and very in your face.  RAVE PARTY!!!!  It’s not much of anything with her just repeating the title many times, but it’s a great tune dance to for sure.

5. Colorful Tokyo Sounds NO.9 (MP-3 Senryuu Digital Mastering ver.

And then there was this questionable tune…It’s pretty much the same as the first track practically.  Though, I was happy to hear it since y’know I love the track already.  There is actually a small difference in it, being that this is a bit more clearer to the listener’s ear and takes the fluff outta song.

 

 

Aira’s indies debut was awesome.  CTSNO.9 is an awesome technopop track and it should be as big as Perfume’s stuff.  Candy Light Mode is a nice little tune that could make anyone smile I swear.  CTSNO.9 does appear on her debut album COPY, but Candy Light Mode becomes the only song not to be on the album, werid huh?