Track Listing

1. Ave Maria! ~Schubert~
2. AVE MARIA ~Caccini~ another mix
3. Ave Maria! ~Schubert~ (inst)
4. AVE MARIA ~Caccini~ another mix (inst)

1. Ave Maria! ~Schubert~

I’m not entirely sure on why Ayaka H. had to redo Ave Maria again!  Yes, the arrangement is totally different from the B-side since it’s based off of Schubert’s arrangement and by that, the song takes on a more upbeat gospel sound.  I do like this a lot more since it’s not song longish piano ballad like the version found on “Shinsekai” and this Ave Maria fits the Christmas mood more better IMO.  Though, it’s surprisingly short for me…I mean yeesh 2:26???

2. AVE MARIA ~Caccini~ another mix

Which comes to our B-side which is an updated version that was from “Shinsekai”.  Unfortunately, there’s wasn’t too much that differentiated this from the original.  There’s not much to really comment about this new mix, if there’s even any at all to begin with.  It’s alright and the acoustic guitar gave it a nice touch and Ayaka’s ad-libbing spices things up, this just confuses me to why it’s on this single as well.

I’m not sure what this single was released for entirely but it’s alright.  I mean I don’t like Ave Maria as a whole, but at least Ayaka was nice enough to at least try to make this song better.  The Schubert version was peppy and cute for her.  The “new” version of the previously released AVE MARIA doesn’t feel new, nor it was too tough to sense the difference, but whatever.

Track Listing

1. MIO AMORE!
2. Moldau
3. MIO AMORE! (Inst.)
4. Moldau (Inst.)

1. MIO AMORE!

Based on the melody of Cartillo’s “Catari”, MIO AMORE! doesn’t sound like what I thought it would be at first.  It starts out very simple with piano and strings playing that melody.  It isn’t anything too special as a track from Ayaka, but since it’s nothing too special, the song just passes by me.  I do think the electric guitar is a bit out there, but ehhh.

2. Moldau

The B-side also borrows a melody, this time from Smetana’s “Vltava”…Moldau actually sounds more down to earth from Ayaka and has a darker tone to it.  There’s changes that make it sound a bit brighter, but I can’t help but think of loneliness in this song and it stands out to me a lot. 

Ayaka Hirahara’s second on final single for the “my Classics” era, MIO AMORE! is a step down from “Shinsekai” because the title track wasn’t at all special nor did anything to really stand out besides the obvious.  Moldau though was another great ballad from her and since it’s not on the album, it saddens me…

Track Listing

1. Nocturne
2. Campanula no Koi
3. Nocturne (Vocal-Less Track)
4. Campanula no Koi (Vocal-Less Track)
5. BAMBINA

1. Nocturne

Nocturne, is just a really beautiful ballad from Ayaka.  She nails these tracks in a way that entices the listener to just sit and enjoy every second of her performance.  After the first verse, things pick up and bass comes in to make the ballad pop out a little more.  I thought that was nice the arranger put this in, especially useful for the instrumental parts of the song.  This is just pretty all over.

2. Campanula no Koi

Strange though, Campanula no Koi is basically the English version of Nocturne and once again nails the language perfect and her vocals are just as heavenly.  It’s also a tad different that “Nocturne” since there’s no bass in the song.  It’s just the Ayaka, the chorale, and the orchestration playing along.  Campanula no Koi has a different feel from it’s JPN counterpart and I love it. 

3. BAMBINA

BAMBINA, is a rather strange track to find on the single since it’s a French song and is a cover of a Lara Fabian song.  Now, I’m not fluent in French either, but from what I hear Ayaka did a pretty nice job despite it’s 1:20 time.  Her voice sticks out nicely against piano and ended the single nicely.

Of all of the singles of the era, Nocturne/Campanula no Koi is the prettiest of them.  Likewise, I’m still not the biggest fan of ballads, but I’ll say these three tracks were nice enough to not bore me to death.  I still consider “Sayonara Watashi no Natsu” as my favorite of the era, but this is like second behind.  No wonder why this was such a huge hit earlier this year.

Track Listing

1. Sayonara Watashi no Natsu
2. Sora ni Namida wo Kaeshitara
3. Sayonara Watashi no Natsu ~Vocal-less Track~

1. Sayonara Watashi no Natsu

I really like Ayaka’s more upbeat tracks a bit more than her ballads.  It does have a summer-like feel to it and brass is included as well.  There’s even a smidge touch of synth here as well, which gave it a brighter glow to it.  It feels so retro and yet with Ayaka’s vocals it makes the experience a way nicer one. 

2. Sora ni Namida wo Kaeshitara

Even weirder is that Sora ni Namida wo Kaeshitara is just as summer-like and cute arrangement wise that is.  I thought the jazzy opening was the best part.  That is until Ayaka starts singing along and I’m happy she’s keeping a more lower tone, but somehow keep the fun in check.  The marimba is so nice to hear….y’know it’s like a fun beach song and I love it.

After the minor disappointment in “Kodoku no Mukou”, Ayaka decided to get seasonal on us and release one of the most fun singles she’s had (if there were any others).  Her vocals definitely sound pretty with the tracks here and if there was a feel-good single of Summer, this single would definitely be on my top *RECOMMENDED*

Track Listing

1. Shinsekai
2. AVE MARIA
3. Shinsekai (Instrumental)
4. AVE MARIA (Instrumental)

1. Shinsekai

Of course, we’re going to stick with ballads when you’re listening to Ayaka.  Though, this time she’s using a lot of English in the song mostly at the beginning which ties in with the title of the song.  Ayaka’s vocals sound very pretty here and even though it’s as simple as a ballad gets, it’s not that bad.  As we get further in the song, it does pick up, but it’s still a bad, but with drums added in basically.  It’s a pretty nice and lively track, but making the beginning sound like just another ballad is a bad idea.

2. AVE MARIA

Yeah, I’m not surprised that Ayaka decided to cover a very religious track that’s mainly used on Christmas releases….it’s just kind of odd that it’s now she’s doing it because it’s almost June.  This cover sounds almost creepy, especially with Ayaka’s deeper vocals that just kind of sends shivers down the spine. It’s a bit more simplistic than “Shinsekai” and it does show off her vocals well even when she’s ad-libbing. 

Ayaka’s first and only single of this era, Shinsekai seems a bit too easy-going than anything from the “Path Of Independence” era, so this just is alright.  Shinsekai starts out a little bland, but picks up on the later part and AVE MARIA, despite being covered by every ballad-heavy artist was nice and calm and I loved Ayaka’s deeper vocals.

Track Listing

1. Kodoku no Mukou
2. Ichibanboshi
3. Kodoku no Mukou ~Vocal-Less Track~
4. Ichibanboshi ~Vocal-Less Track~

1. Kodoku no Mukou

When do we not get a ballad from her?  I mean it’s kind of hard to seperate the tracks from each other.  Kodoku no Mukou features some pretty nice and flowing strings with piano and a band to back things up.  Now amongst the other singles she’s done so far this era…this might come as a disappointment because she’s already pulled the ballad card too many times and her voice isn’t as amazing as they were either.

2. Ichibanboshi

However, Ichibanboshi is a bit more upbeat and in the background you hear kids playing in the background.  Though the shocking thing is that this song is over 6 minutes which can be bad, but to me this was so much better than “Kodoku no Mukou”  The beautiful strings and piano are once again here, but the percussion makes a bigger appearance to make things so much better.  Even the guitar solo was nice.

Right now, Kodoku no Mukou is my least favorite of her A-sides, but Ichibanboshi is my favorite B-side.  So you guys know where I stand on this single.  Other words, it practically evened out at the end. 

Track Listing

1. akane
2. Futatabi
3. akane (Vocal-Less Track)
4. Futatabi (Vocal-Less Track)

1. akane

I guess if there was a track to have been re-cut, akane would’ve been my choice.  Of course it’s a damn ballad which right now doesn’t surprise me one bit.  Ayaka’s voice is quite calm and with such an easy-going flow, how can you go wrong?  I do feel the instrumental parts were very pretty though.  Good choice.

2. Futatabi

It seems like whenever Ayaka and Joe Hisaishi work together they get the best sounding music.  Futatabi is best known as one of the songs used in “Spirited Away” and for how gorgeous that movie was and still is the songs were beyond phenomonal.  Ayaka sounds very pretty against the flute and and acoustic.  There’s a little bit of a sound that reminds me of Final Fantasy.  Like the track “Breezy” from FF8.  It’s a great B-side to be represent akane.

Ayaka’s first re-cut was such a good combination.  Even though both are ballad songs they differed so hardcore from each other.  akane was a smooth ballad with some nice calming qualites while Futatabi was just a soothing folk track.  I think this is an early favorite of mine *RECOMMENDED*

Track Listing

1. Hoshi Tsumugi no Uta
2. Ima・Koko・Watashi
3. Hoshi Tsumugi no Uta ~Vocal-less Track~

1. Hoshi Tsumugi no Uta

I’m not totally surprised that once again Ayaka would have another ballad type A-side.  Luckily the music is pretty calm and fits the cover art just right.  With the right amount of sounds and Ayaka utilizing a more airy vocal, unlike her powerful vocals in “Ima, Kaze no Naka de”  I found this to be so much more to my liking.  I like this song actually quite a lot.

2. Ima・Koko・Watashi

It’s accompanying B-side is actually a first for me since it’s upbeat and maybe a little touch on the pop/rock side of things.  She’s continuing using a more airy side, but this sounds lively and sounds like a daytime song rather than a nighttime one.  Once again, I really like a B-side more than the A-side…

When I first reviewed “Ima, Kaze no Naka de” I thought she was going to be one of those artists that sticks with just ballads, especially since that single had 3 ballads.  I was really pleased that this wasn’t the case here, because both tracks are quite the opposite.  One was a night ballad and was an upbeat day track.  This was definitly more enjoyable than the first single of the era.

Track Listing

1. Ima, Kaze no Naka de
2. To be free
3. Shabondama
4. Ima, Kaze no Naka de (Instrumental)

1. Ima, Kaze no Naka de

 What a beautiful piano opening.  Ayaka really sounds beautiful singing to this track.  There’s like a simplicity to her vocals that really captures me.  Sadly, I think the song’s issue is interest and speed.  Like it’s really slow and there’s not enough splash to the song to make it memorable.  It really does make a good anime ending though which is nice to hear. 

2. To be free

To be free, has a nice majestic classical feel to it.  One of the major pluses is definitly that right there.  It’s another ballad of course and even though the verses are basically lifeless, there’s a sincerety about that just sticks out in my mind.  I still didn’t know that she sounds good in English so when she says the title, it’s like the prettiest thing ever. Beautiful song!

3. Shabondama

Wow all of the songs are ballads.  Normally, I would be really tired by now, but Shabondama is the nicest sounding.  Flutes are in the song and just pops the song into being the best one off the single.  Ayaka ad-libbing along is just as smooth and flowing.  Though the song is just short for some reason, but oh wow this song did it for me.

OMG, so like Ayaka Hirahara definitly owns the ballad world.  All 3 tracks are beautiful in their own sense and she’s got the voice to own it all.  It’s not alan powerful, but it’s got such a finesse, that it’s just amazing. *RECOMMENDED*