SAWA – Tenshoku Katsudou December 27, 2020

Track Listing

1. Ikenai Koi
2. KeepOn
3. Hinihini Mashimashi
4. Vibes Vibration
5. Tenshoku Katsudou
6. Free Pass License
7. Momo Donburi
8. QOON
9. Roujin Home (feat. Yackle)
10. Tsubasa wo Kudasai

1. Ikenai Koi

Opening the mini-album, Ikenai Koi starts things off on a cute, sparkly sound that kind of feels warm and majestic.  Though after that, the song kind of gets into this acoustically driven pop track.  Though if you’ve been listening to SAWA’s music at any point, she hasn’t really changed her vocal style so she sounds pretty nasal still.  I will say the bridge the of the tune is really nice, but the rest of the track is kind of the cutesy sound I’ve been used to.  

2. KeepOn

Though the next track is where things get interesting as this is more of the electro, dance-pop that I’ve kind of been hearing in and our from SAWA’s previous mini-albums.  I really like the arrangement a lot and the energy of the song is fun if not a little chaotic, but I’m definitely here for it.  SAWA is pretty much embracing the cute vocals a whole lot.  Quite an energetic and fun tune so yay!

3. Hinihini Mashimashi

It seems the energetic vibes continue into the next track that feature some disc-scratching.  I definitely get reminded of her older works especially with the shuffling drum n’ bass sound and the synthwork is flittery and kind of all over the place.  Mix this in with SAWA’s vocals and I feel like this is kind of more of the same we’ve been working with here with her.  I kind of forgot about this one pretty quickly.

4. Vibes Vibration

Moving on, Vibes Vibration at least it kind of switches things up from the overtly cute stuff for something more interesting.  Well, not quite because it’s still a technopop track with some quirky things about it.  The beat though is pretty steady and such.  I will say the chorus may be pretty disappointing because it’s more or less what we just got in “Hinihini Mashimashi” so it’s rather sad it’s just more of that.  I suppose it’s OK, but could’ve been better.

5. Tenshoku Katsudou

As the title track, Tenshoku Katsudou was going to have to impress after having some regular-sounding tracks.  The steady beat is just nice like it was in “Vibes Vibration” and it kind of is one of the more upbeat tracks on the mini-album.  The whole ~ten-ten-tenshoku~ hook is kind of annoying since it goes on quite a bit here.  It’s still kind of upbeat and cute and kind of not for me at the end of the day…oooph.

6. Free Pass License

It seems SAWA is embracing that idol-pop sound with our next track, Free Pass License.  Though the arrangement is mixed in with either a mix of big band or ska here.  This is probably the most unique track off the mini-album since it’s such a different sound for SAWA and it actually came out pretty nicely.  Despite SAWA’s vocals, it was a really nice sounding track.

7. Momo Donburi

Back to the synthy music, Momo Donburi sounds off with some high-pitched synth tones that kind of give me some video-game.  Though once that leaves, the track is left with a pretty steady sound and SAWA’s vocals.  To be honest, minus the fact that this is a cover (never heard the original) and that it’s more or less the same we’ve gotten so far on the mini, it’s just kind of meh.

8. QOON

Odd title for a track, but QOON has a bit more of a heavier dance sound to it compared to other tracks and I kind of like that about it, especially since SAWA is kind of rapping throughout the track to this heavy beat that’s energetic and loud.  Kind of on the same level as “KeepOn” almost.  Yeah not too much else to really say about this one though, but it’s good.

9. Roujin Home (feat. Yackle)

I think it’s been quite a while since SAWA had a featured artist as a part of the song but here we are with Roujin Home.  I’m kind of like the opening of the track and it does feel like it works with the sound this album was running with.  Though I think I kind of like the beat drops and the hip-hop like element to it all.  If you were wondering, Yackle is a DJ/Producer so the sound makes sense now.  Roujin Home is fine, but it does lose itself towards the end when the arrangement is a bit more chaotic and such.  Not bad, but yeah like the rest of the mini-album, just kind of middle-of-the-road.

10. Tsubasa wo Kudasai

As the ending track for the mini, SAWA ends it with another cover, though this one is a pretty popular song (originally sung by Akaitori).  Though it is given the electropop touch here.  While the original is nice and pleasant to listen to, SAWA’s version is pretty much in her lane and it sounds safe sadly but with the same SAWA sound throughout.  It’s OK…

 

 

Ignoring the rather disturbing cover art for the mini-album, SAWA’s 12th mini-album, Tenshoku Katsudou is kind of more or less what I thought of “Bijin Hakumei Aegekai” in where it felt like SAWA was just playing it safely once again because only some of the songs really stood out, but the rest ended up being white noise and kind of stuff we’ve heard done better by her in the past.  This just wasn’t all the great to be honest…

SAWA – Bijin Hakumei Aegekai April 29, 2020

Track Listing

1. HowToLove
2. Dokin
3. BIG
4. Gyoumu Teikei
5. PoisonGirl
6. Bijin Hakumei Aegekai
7. Irodore! Playground
8. Zigzag Non Stop
9. Chikutaku Teleport
10. Haru ni

1. HowToLove

SAWA opens up the mini-album with HowToLove and I’m instantly pulled to the funkier vibes back then with the quick-based synth with the heavy lean on bass for the track.  I mean I like the arrangement of the song and while SAWA has never been the best vocalist, she’s kind of giving me this cutesy voice that’s almost anison in ways.  It’s a nice start at least and makes me curious to see where this mini goes.

2. Dokin

Then we get Dokin that turns the cutesy tone way up for this one and I’m not as much quite into this one.  I’m not sure where it falters where it’s between the strange arrangement or the vocals as per usual.  I do appreciate the kind of space-like atmosphere it’s giving but it’s nowhhere near as impressive as songs like “Stars” or even “Swimming Dancing” was back in the day.  Oh wells.

3. BIG

Third track in and I’m a little surprised she reused an asset heard back in the first track, but the song’s tone is a bit between cute and electronic mixed in with future bass in ways which kind of sounds messy when you also include SAWA actually doing some pseudo-rapping in the track.  Yeah, no this one way pretty messy and annoyed me to no end.

4. Gyoumu Teikei

At least with the next track, it sounds like things were going in a better direction (at least anything after “BIG” is considered better.  Gyoumu Teikei definitely is the album’s electro song at the moment and it feels progressive and not like something that sounds a little too outside of SAWA’s box.  I really do like SAWA’s vocals and it worked with the piano and warm-colored dance beats here.  Yah, this one stood out for me and might be the album’s gem!

5. PoisonGirl

I wasn’t sure where PoisonGirl was taking SAWA and why is she reusing that ~WAHOO~ asset so much on this album, it’s kind of making me dislike the repeated used.  Outside of that grievance, PoisonGirl is interesting because it’s like a bit cute, but somewhat darker but SAWA’s idol-like vocals are just kind of splitting the song.  This one may take a while for me to get used to.

6. Bijin Hakumei Aegekai

We get to the album’s title track (and promotional track as well) with Bijin Hakumei Aegekai!  It kind of follows the same tone that “HowToLove” did with the funky bass slaps , but this has a little more oomph in its arrangement that sounds like SAWA is having a fun time singing the song and it really comes off that way.  It’s a ridiculously cute and fun song that’s for sure!

7. Irodore! Playground

Getting into our next track, Irodore! Playground is giving me some unfortunate “BIG” vibes with the weird arrangement and melody on top of SAWA’s nasal vocals that kind of make the song a little more annoying and idol-like in ways and the chorus is a little frantic and pushy.  Just not working here…

8. Zigzag Non Stop

Moving on, Zigzag Non Stop starts off simple enough, but the cutesy voice is pretty much on high throughout the song and the verses made it sound worse than it truly should, but once she enters the chorus, the chorus adds more synths and beats to make things a bit more bearable.  I still don’t agree with her vocals in the verses, but she sounds decent in the chorus.  It’s OK I guess, but nothing I’d come back to.

9. Chikutaku Teleport

Ooooh, a jazzy song pops up with Chikutaku Teleport and it’s just more of the frantic upbeat arrangement that other songs had problems with throughout (sometimes less is better, basically).  I do enjoy the verses though because it focuses more on the instrumentation and less the beat.  I think I could grow into liking it, but it’s just a meh song at the moment.

10. Haru ni

As the album’s final song, I was surprised that it was SAWA and piano.  It actually surprised me a lot that SAWA was actually singing in the song, however she definitely could not really handle the song by herself and her tight and pinched vocals.  This was a nice treat, but it just solidified how weak she is as a singer.

 

 

As this is SAWA’s 11th mini-album, I was pretty disappointed in this one.  I felt like she was showing off more of an idol vibe and was pulling away from the electronic genre with this album, but not straying too far.  That said, not many of the songs really clicked with me and she had a LOT of stinkers on this one too.  Not sure what she was going for, but I want her back into EDM again and not head where she did in Haru ni.  Meh mini-album.

SAWA – Kouki Aisare Stance May 15, 2018

Track Listing

1. Shabon Time Machine Interlude
2. Shabon Time Machine
3. Fantasy GoGo
4. Kouki Aisare Stance
5. Kimagure Sparkling
6. YOU AND ME
7. Hyper Aloha Oe
8. Early Summer
9. Tentai Kansoku Interlude
10. Tentai Kansoku
11. Nagareboshi

1. Shabon Time Machine Interlude

Opening up the mini-album is short introduction (not to the album, but for the first actual song).  Of course as it has been for the last couple mini’s, I feel like things are more peppy and cutesy than SAWA’s more electro-sounding of the past.  I do like how the opening builds up to this explosion of sound though, but it ends quite swiftly after…

2. Shabon Time Machine

Though the sound of the intro stays for the first song of the album, Shabon Time Machine and the song is just as sparkly and bubbly and kind of cutesy throughout.  There’s some interesting beats going around (especially in its lyrics) as for SAWA, she’s more or less suiting the style due to her unique vocals.  It’s a decent track and it’s a lot better than her previous efforts in tackling such a sugary sound.  Although that bridge where the songs lyrics are played backwards is odd…

3. Fantasy GoGo

Next track up and I was surprised that unlike the poppy, bubbly sound, Fantasy GoGo has guitars and drums, and bass as well!  The change of style is nice and despite SAWA sounding more like she’s yelling the lyrics rather than singing, she keeps up pretty well.  Maybe it’s me but the song feels like something from her first mini-album, “COLORS”.

4. Kouki Aisare Stance

As the mini’s title track, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect (kind of was hoping for a harder song than her more relaxed songs as of late).  I guess this song meets in the middle for me because it sounds like an upbeat discotheque kind of track with some funk behind it.  I actually quite like this song and it’s party-like atmosphere just puts me in a happy mood, wasn’t expecting something like this from SAWA but I’m glad she did so.

5. Kimagure Sparkling

I guess if there was a song that kind of harkens back to more of her electro style, Kimagure Sparkling has this kind of dance beat and upbeat nature about it that kind of sounds of stuff from “RingaRinga”.  Though I will say it is a little safe of a song considering her past works have been quite nice.  Maybe its the beat that’s just kind of blah.  Anyways, it’s OK…but the previous couple tracks have stood out better.

6. YOU AND ME

Something about the next track screams happy hardcore for some reason and it may be the quick-paced arrangement here.  I think the song is interesting and the beats and synthwork is also intriguing to me.  Though I can’t say for certain that I enjoyed the song, there’s just something off about it.  It may be the style, it could even be SAWA being drowned out by the busy arrangement too.  Slightly messy I guess.

7. Hyper Aloha Oe

Thinking of the previous track, the arrangement might have suited the title of this track to be quite honest.  Hyper Aloha Oe starts off slowly with some ukulele and a quiet set of lyrics from SAWA before it opens up to this upbeat, EDM track.  It’s a fun track overall and definitely has a slight Island-y touch to it, but overall a cool dance track.

8. Early Summer

What an interesting way to open up our next track, Early Summer, but it’s definitely the album’s glaring track from the bell opening to the oddball dance beats and arrangement to the vocals (which actually doesn’t sound AT ALL like SAWA).  Actually she is throughout, but there’s clearly others involved.  The song is a bit off the wall for me though and just is a strange listen overall.

9. Tentai Kansoku Interlude

As the other interlude of the album, this 40 second lead-in is pretty electro and the beat is aggressive and just punches you in the face right up until it ends and fizzles out.  Short but it did leave me hoping for more.

10. Tentai Kansoku

While it doesn’t leave off where the interlude did, Tentai Kansoku is still quite hardcore compared to the rest of the album and the arrangement keeps a solid bright side but the lower synths give a kind of throwback to when Japanese electro was at its peak and I am impressed by it!  It’s a ride of a song and I’m glad SAWA still has it to do these kind of songs.

11. Nagareboshi

Ending off the mini, we get Nagareboshi and I had assumed it would’ve been a ballad (every other time this title was used, it was a ballad it felt like).  Anyways, unlike the previous track, Nagareboshi is a bit more 80s-inspired with nice synth riffs and a hoppy beat added.  It’s a nice sparkly tune to kind of close things out and feels a lot like the good stuff she used to release.

 

 

SAWA it seems is reaching her 10th anniversary as an artist and decided to release Kouki Aisare Stance to kick celebrations off!  I actually do think that this mini trumps “Odore Balcony” and “Ijippari Mermaid” by a big margin with quite a number of decent tracks here.  Of course there was a couple missteps, (YOU AND ME, Early Summer), but as a whole, it felt like a great technopop album this time around!

SAWA – Ijippari Mermaid July 14, 2017

Track Listing

1. Ijippari Mermaid
2. Koishite Hoshikute
3. SetMeFree feat. Arisa Noto
4. Colorful World
5. Oboroge Dancing Interlude -KOTO Toui Kakekko-
6. Oboroge Dancing
7. Wanna Be a Wana feat. MIRI from Lime Berry
8. CandyGirl Interlude -YANAKIKU Uchi Kubi no Ran-
9. CandyGirl

1. Ijippari Mermaid

As the leading track of the mini-album, Ijippari Mermaid instantly gave me some new wave 80’s vibes with the upbeat synth melody and bass lines.  Just from that intro, the song really had me interested and I love this style for SAWA even if her vocals are still kind of here and there on pitch.  Still, the song is a good way to open this mini.

2. Koishite Hoshikute

It seems that this mini will continue with this 80’s theme, but this one feels a bit early 90’s pop too which is kind of unusual.  In some ways, I like the bubblegum pop I feel like this is trying to give, but some of the song feels jerky and SAWA once again doesn’t sound all that great (especially when shes trying to be melodic with backups).  It’s just not my thing.

3. SetMeFree feat. Arisa Noto

Oh wow, SAWA doing a duet with Nocchi? (she was a former Hello! Project member, namely Ongaku Gatas).  Listening from the track, the tune definitely feels chaotic and loud and almost a bit like a Kyarypamyupamyu song with the frantic arrangement and absurdly cute feeling I get.  It’s definitely different and reminds me of some songs SAWA did back in her indies days.  Still, the song is BUSY!!

4. Colorful World

As the 4th track, I’m starting to feel slightly exhausted from the mini-album.  Colorful World does fit in a similar style like “SetMeFree” with its overly produced synth track and SAWA’s nasally vocals.  Though this one actually left a bit of a mark on me with weird time signatures abound and SAWA manipulating those moments.  Once again, it’s a little busy sometimes, but I can see myself getting into this further

5. Oboroge Dancing Interlude -KOTO Toui Kakekko-

As one of two interludes on the mini, I was curious because her last ones in “Odore Balcony” were kind of inconsequential in the long run.  Sadly it seems like that’s the case here once again.  The music is pretty good, fitting the mini’s overall theme.  Though the vocals between SAWA & KOTO are just the two talking to each other, so it really flies over my head.

6. Oboroge Dancing

Why does the beginning of Oboroge Dancing remind me of a casino level in a Sonic game?  Eh, anyways, Oboroge Dancing straight up goes for a EDM arrangement here and it’s quick-paced and has a nice layer of bass to keep me tapping my feet.  It’s definitely the favorite off the mini as it has a nice balance between the music and SAWA’s vocals which while are pretty monotone, but she’s not hitting absurd notes.

7. Wanna Be a Wana feat. MIRI from Lime Berry

Another song that kind of tries to push SAWA’s experimentation out there.  Unlike the other EDM/80s songs, this one is a bit more stranger and has SAWA & MIRI rapping throughout.  I don’t know, this one is just a bit tragic and really doesn’t do much but make me cringe through its entirety.

8. CandyGirl Interlude -YANAKIKU Uchi Kubi no Ran-

This interlude is even shorter than the other interlude being at 30 seconds.  The arrangement sounds like it’s going for more of a Western vibe as I feel like I’ve heard this kind of sound in American Pop here recently.  Still a bit short and doesn’t leave much of an impression.

9. CandyGirl

As the final track, CandyGirl is continues the motif that had begun in the interlude.  I swear the opening section sounds like BTS’ “Save ME” for some strange reason.  Though like her other “cute” songs, it’s a bit unbearable due to SAWA’s nasally, squeaky voice.

 

 

SAWA is a strange one to me these days, while I do approve of her being active (and still being into dance music), her vocals still haven’t been really getting better and that’s not such a good thing here.  Ijippari Mermaid does have some good moments, but I don’t think it comes close to what “Odore Balcony” did, which is not much to be fair…can we get another “RingaRinga”

SAWA – Odore Balcony January 25, 2016

Track Listing

1. Tatakae Balcony
2. Odore Balcony
3. Juliet no Paradox (SAWA Sakushi ver.)
4. Oishikute Kyoumi Motteru by Idol Renaissance
5. Chinese wa Totsuzen ni
6. LastSnowFlakes -Album ver.-
7. Gizagiza na KOTO to Sasaki Kissa
8. Gizagiza no Lonely Night
9. Tamashii

1. Tatakae Balcony

Interesting way to open the mini-album with some computer clicking and then some cybernetic melody to kind of introduce us to the album.  After a little bit the song adds some clapping beats and SAWA doing some ad-libbing?  I’m not entirely sure, but the song is quite a shift after stuff from her last mini.

2. Odore Balcony

Though I wasn’t exactly liking the fade-away at the end of the introduction because Odore Balcony felt a little weird that it shifted from the intro to this tune.  I do like the addition of guitars (mixed with the electronics) and the song is much more progressive than previous lead-in songs of recent times.  SAWA still does sound nasal here and there, but I think it won’t be fixed anytime soon.  I think I’m enjoying this the most since her departure from DefSTAR.

3. Juliet no Paradox (SAWA Sakushi ver.)

I found it amusing that SAWA would actually cover a Yufu Terashima song of recent times (if the name looks familiar, Yufu was a member of BiS a couple years back before their disbandment).  With this song being a really recent song to cover (early 2015), SAWA’s vocals versus Yufu’s is a BIG difference and that’s kind of why I wasn’t too much into this take.  What I will say, I do like the pop/rock feel of the tune, but SAWA’s vocals blocked the enjoyment.  Time to move on!

4. Oishikute Kyoumi Motteru by Idol Renaissance

Now like previous mini-albums it seems SAWA has gotten into throwing in some odd interludes and I feel like this one takes the cake currently.  Another 50 second track, all we have is the idol group, Idol Renaissance introducing themselves and just having an MC.  I’m not sure of the importance of this on the mini-album (did SAWA do the music?)…

5. Chinese wa Totsuzen ni

Weird it’d take so long for this mini-album to release because this song was released back in May of last year!  I thought it was going to be full of Chinese sounds and such, but the tone is a poppy, funky, and somewhat goofy track (like “Ai ni Iku yo”).  It’s a nice reminder of things of the past for sure and the happy-go-lucky arrangement is just pleasant to the ears.  Very interesting song!

6. LastSnowFlakes -Album ver.-

I suppose this is the oldest track off the mini as it was released back in February ’15.  While I’m not entirely sure of the differences between the two versions.  Personally, I think the arrangement is smoothed out more and some new synths added, but really I feel like those are nice changes.  The song was quite memorable back then and now it’s just even sweeter, I think it’s still the best song she’s done in quite a while (and surprise, surprise, still the best on the mini-album!).

7. Gizagiza na KOTO to Sasaki Kissa

Another interlude?!?  With this being another 50 second ordeal, I feel like this one is more interesting because it has a certain DDR vibe in the arrangement with KOTO (I think?) speaking with who I think is SAWA?  I don’t know, but it was a catchy interlude.

8. Gizagiza no Lonely Night

Now I wouldn’t have known this, but the song is actually another cover from up and coming artist, KOTO who released this song in 2015.  Starting with an upbeat piano melody that quickly becomes a lot like the interlude before this, Gizagiza no Lonely Night is definitely one of the most upbeat tracks the mini-album has to offer, but I enjoyed that as we haven’t had an edgier dance track from SAWA in a long while.  After hearing the original, SAWA’s take is a lot like her “Juilet no Paradox” cover where her vocals are the weakest part of the song…regardless though, it’s my 2nd favorite here…just so heavy!

9. Tamashii

Then we enter to our final track and it’s a dropoff from the rest of the album by taking a quieter route.  It begins quietly and slowly builds its arrangement a little more.  It also has a lot of natural instrumentation which is also a nice, but being almost 7 minutes, that means this song is going to draaag and boy it does.  Despite being a mid-tempo ballad and appropriate to close things off, I can’t help but feel bored by it especially coming after “Gizagiza no Lonely Night”.  Feels like a “Soprano Rain” leftover to be quite honest.

 

 

It feels like it’s been quite a while since her last mini, “RingaRinga”, but I feel like Odore Balcony is a bit weaker as there’s some unecessary interludes and SAWA’s vocals kind of blocked my enjoyment of songs (as the originals are much better).  I feel like if she just sticks to her own stuff, it’d end up better (like with LastSnowFlakes and Chinese wa Totsuzen ni).  Essentially, it’s OK at best, but not her best effort.

SAWA – RingaRinga September 27, 2014

Track Listing

1. StarlightPavillion
2. Kimi to Bartender
3. Midnight na Hitotachi ~Especia~
4. Midnight Confusion
5. Mr. Brown
6. RingaInterlude
7. RingaRinga
8. Lalalalai!

1. StarlightPavillion

Opening SAWA’s mini-album, we’ve known of StarlightPavillion for quite a while (since even before “Soprano Rain”).  I was so happy though because SAWA opened up with a EDM song which is already a plus after his last mini-album.  I’m liking the kind of steady beat with SAWA’s vocals and the overall feel just is cool and catchy as hell.  Definitely a pleasant way to kick things off!

2. Kimi to Bartender

The next track is definitely an odd song, I was so thrown off by the different time signature and the weird things thrown around the arrangement like piccolo and some synth slides and ad-libs.  It’s such a quirky song, but I can’t say anything bad because it’s also weirdly catchy.  There’s not much I can compare it to, but it’s a really neat and like I said quirky tune.

4. Midnight na Hitotachi ~Especia~

So we have our first interlude and it includes Especia (an idol group that SAWA had worked for).  It’s kind of hilarious that Especia are the voices but they’re being tampered with.  I’m not sure what they’re talking about during the interlude, but it must be something about our next track…

5. Midnight Confusion

That is since Midnight Confusion is a cover of Especia’s track that SAWA had worked on for them.  It’s pretty awesome to hear that SAWA would pull this off.  I was already a fan of the original so this was clearly going to leave the same impression.  I love the deep synths and SAWA sounds fitting with her unique vocals.  Cool song!

6. Mr. Brown

Our next song was released as a digital single a little shortly after “Soprano Rain” so it’s understandable that it kind of contains a little bit of the residue.  I do love that the song has a little bit of that bossa nova vibe to it though I’m not sure if SAWA’s vocals worked in its favor as she kind of sounds a little more nasally than normal.  Though once the chorus kicks in, the music is wonderful!  Interesting song though.

7. RingaInterlude

A 2nd interlude?  I know I’ve heard of DJ TARO somewhere, but hmmm.  Was it necessary that an interlude was needed.  It’s really just him talking for about a minute with a simple dance beat and melody behind him.

8. RingaRinga

As the title track for the mini-album, it contains the melodies found in the interlude and adds a little more to it just kind of give us this cutesy techno tune.  I loved the arrangement quite a lot and sounds airy and bright.  Add on SAWA’s vocals and we kind of get this poppy feel but I enjoyed her presence here.  One of the better songs on the mini.

9. Lalalalai!

The final track on the mini, Lalalalai! sounds like an appropriate tune to close things out because it just has that feeling of being the end.  It also kind of stands out because it doesn’t have any electronic sounds in focusing more on piano and plucked strings and an overall cute and upbeat feel.  It has that kind of shoujo anime feel to it that I usually frown out but SAWA sounds good.  Interesting choice of song to close it out tbh.

 

 

After my disappointment with her return through “Soprano Rain”, I was hoping SAWA would come back to better songs and with RingaRinga, she met my expectations!  Most of the songs are fun and catchy tunes and brings back that magic she had in her first 5 minis.  There are some slips like Mr. Brow, but I think overall this was MUCH better than her last mini-album.

SAWA – Soprano Rain March 13, 2013

Track Listing

1. Good day Sunshine
2. Mysterious Zone
3. Try Again!
4. Happy Birthday
5. NoLimit
6. Soprano Rain
7. Kokoro no Hitomi (Dokushou)

1. Good day Sunshine

Opening the mini-album is the main digital single SAWA released back in May of 2012.  I was wondering where she would go considering her various styles she had and Good day Sunshine is kind of like “Ai ni Iku yo” and “I Can Fly” but with smoother vocals.  I didn’t think much of it when it first came out, but listening it to it now, I kind of find myself enjoying it quite nicely.  I mean I love electro SAWA but it’s nice to see something a bit more bright.

2. Mysterious Zone

People seem to say that she performed this a long time ago and now finally gets a studio release.  Mysterious Zone I was picturing would be a darker song but it’s kind of a strange hybrid of bright pop like “Good day Sunshine” but with blips and weird synths.  I think they could’ve left out the latter stuff and I would be fine, but those parts kind of ruin the song or me honestly.

3. Try Again!

Used as the promotional song for the mini, Try Again! is definitely a lot like “Ai ni Iku yo” and to be honest, is probably the best track she could chose because it’s the more cutesy electropop that we’ve gotten quite used to from SAWA.  It’s kind of quirky in its entirety so that works.  Not bad of a song and not too much of a departure from her last promo song.

4. Happy Birthday

At first when I heard this song, I kind of figured the song would be a ballad, but as soon as I quickly learned, the song actually became ANOTHER cutesy pop song from SAWA.  This is probably the cheesiest song but it has SAWA singing at her best which is nice and her English is getting a lot better for some reason xD.  Not bad.

5. NoLimit

I kind of wish SAWA would move away from the cute stuff.  This one does have a certain Tommy sound but it’s mostly sugary cute.  I mean I had hoped the song would’ve been heavier but I do appreciate the amount of synths found here and they sound REALLY good.  It might be my favorite of the mini-album which is strange.

6. Soprano Rain

Then we get our ballad of the mini with the title track with lonesome piano and SAWA’s OK vocals.  I love her voice being thrown into filter land because it feels so dreamy and floaty to listen to even though she adlibs a lot in the song.  It’s a pretty sad sounding song and is quite a nice change of pace from the previous five songs.

7. Kokoro no Hitomi (Dokushou)

As this is a cover of a Miu Sakamoto song, I wasn’t unsure how it’d turn out because well it comes after another ballad and all.  It’s very simple however with just SAWA and piano and I really don’t think SAWA has a voice that works well with just piano IMO.  Appropriate way to finish the mini but after all the tracks before, this seem to be REALLY plain.

It’s been over two years since we’ve last seen SAWA with her awesome album and since then she’s switched labels to KING RECORDS (AKB48 and Nana Mizuki’s label) and released her first mini there.  Soprano Rain isn’t a bad mini-album, but this isn’t one that’ll make me go OMG YES.  I’m happy she’s returned but this wasn’t a good way to begin her KING RECORDS career.

SAWA – Welcome to Sa-World July 8, 2010

Track Listing

1. Opening Ceremony ~Sa-World e Yokusou~
2. MerryGoRound
3. Stars
4. NightBus
5. Chocolate Zone ~Yasei no SAWA~
6. Throw him away!
7. ManyColors
8. I’m a president
9. Danger Zone ~Nigero! Ayaushi Sa-World!~
10. Swimming Dancing
11. Friday Night
12. Planet-T
13. Eat It All ~Live in Sa-World~
14. I Can Fly
15. Ai ni Iku yo
16. Dream about…
17. Thank you for visiting ~My name is…~

1. Opening Ceremony ~Sa-World e Yokusou~

Beginnig this rather long album, SAWA pulls off the beginning quite like the cover art.  It sounds like a damn circus theme going on and I think she makes it sounds joyous.  During the entire time, poor SAWA is talking, but what she says mostly goes over my head, but it’s mostly the introduction to the album itself. 

2. MerryGoRound

Getting to the first new song off the album, MerryGoRound really comes off as a stylish song, kind of like how “ManyColors” sound which is kind of cool since they’re both upbeat and has some nice stuff going on.  I think the ad-libbing during the chorus and after-chorus sounds heavenly and it really sounds pretty to listen to.  Already a good start for the album.

3. Stars

Really, do we even have to talk about how amazing this tune is.  I’m actually surprised SAWA was able to have her indies songs featured on the album since most of the promotion of the album is for her major songs.  Stars was of course, under RAM RIDER’s eyes and he picked a great artist to unleash this J-tek tune for us.  I think mostly everyone loves this song and it is to me SAWA’s breakout song and I think everyone’s first taste.  So this song is a special one.

4. NightBus

I wonder if there’s a connection between this song and “NightDesert” from her “I Can Fly” mini-album.  I really like the piano melody for the song since it’s classy and pretty much interesting to hear something that doesn’t sound similar to anything else.  I noticed that SAWA’s voice has been steadily getting better and her high notes aren’t as terrifying as they once were.  There’s one point she stayed up on the higher register a little too long, but this song is pretty cool for a club-like tune.

5. Chocolate Zone ~Yasei no SAWA~

As the first of three interludes on the album, Chocolate Zone sounds pretty damn creepy at first…and then becomes so damn funny.  It’s kind of like a nature program and we’re supposed to be quiet because SAWA is writing lyrics for a song and in the background there’s these funny anime-ish tunes…It’s the most bizarre interlude.  BTW, the song in question she’s writing is unknown to my eats, but I bet bigger fans will pick it up.

6. Throw him away!

I thought that this song would have had some connection to the interlude, but I guess I was wrong.  Throw him away! seems to funnily be the throwaway track even thought the acoustic drive it has sounds rather pleasant but damn SAWA is singing way fast for me to keep up with her and I don’t know how she can do it. 

7. ManyColors

Her debut song!!!  Back then, I used to hate this song with a passion of a thousand suns because it just didn’t sound like what “Stars” was.  I was expecting something hardcore, but ManyColors is I like to call a very fashionable song since well, it’s roughly about colors.  Since, my initial hate when into instant love so quick, I do admit her voice when she began her career isn’t as steady as it is today, but it’s still great she included this fun song.

8. I’m a president

Back to the new songs, I’m a president sort of leaves the electropop for a little bit and features something real instruments like bass and guitar and I thought it was nice.  I do think it might be a little too slow for me, but I do like the natural sound this has and it does sort of have a Shibuya-kei feel to it so I also give points to that.  I do feel as though drags near the end, but whatever hahaha.

9. Danger Zone ~Nigero! Ayaushi Sa-World!~

Yay!  Another interlude!  Anywho, I’m guessing SAWA had something to do with this interlude because there’s some strings playing and she did say she did some with a few songs.  I kind of hear the awesomeness that’s building up in the song and I hear some of the lyrics of “Swimming Dancing” in the background and THAT MADE SENSE!  This is a build-up done right.

10. Swimming Dancing

If there was one track that can defeat “Stars”, I think Swimming Dancing would definitely be that song because not only it was produced by Taku Takahashi, it’s fuckin amazing and it’s PV was just as hardcore.  I can’t stop talking about how I love the fluttering synths and heavy club beats that flew through the song.  If there was one thing that was a little off, I think it was SAWA’s singing, but that still has a charm that left the song embedded in my head.  Best song hands down!

11. Friday Night

I’m surprised that SAWA took a rather R&B kind of sound for the next new track because it was kind of funny.  I also think the violins are from SAWA herself and I thought that was clever.  I don’t think she’s had a song set in this genre and I actually enjoyed the heavy beat and flow altogether.  Who knew she could pull this off with flying colors.

12. Planet-T

The closest and edgiest of the new songs, Planet-T has a slight D-Topia sound to it and I’m not put off by it because it’s got some cool synth parts and SAWA actually sounds good in the song.  It’s definitely got some great production behind it and can keep me dancing the entire time.  Might be one of the best of the new songs.

13. Eat It All ~Live in Sa-World~

As the final interlude, Eat It All definitely is the interlude that was made to dance to since it’s actually got beats and a lot of SAWA spelling going on.  I’m surprised this wasn’t a full track because just like “Planet-T” this one makes me get up and dance since it has a pretty heavy beat and cool arrangement behind it.

14. I Can Fly

To be honest, of the main promotional songs from the mini-albums, I have to say that I Can Fly is the weakest for me because it’s just a little annoying for me.  It might be the background vocals or SAWA’s lack of keeping herself in pitch for most of the song that did me in like that.  I just never connected with this song at all.

15. Ai ni Iku yo

Then we get into the last mini-album released in the era and Ai ni Iku yo sounds so strange after going through the album because SAWA’s vocals sound so different and more cuter than normal.  I really did enjoy the song as time went by because the video was pretty darn cute as well.  It’s not as good as a bunch of other songs released in the era, but it’s SAWA’s “cute” song and it worked at least.

16. Dream about…

As the final full song, it seems that Dream about… is the closest thing we’ll get to a ballad.  To me it feels like she’s yelling again like she did in “Swimming Dancing” but it doesn’t work here for some reason.  At least she calms down a bit for the verses, but it still doesn’t feel comfortable to me.  Has a slight Christmas-y feel to it, and it sort of fit the circus theme the most of the new songs.

17. Thank you for visiting ~My name is…~

As we do get an outro, it sounds really pretty and closes the album as a perfect little bow.  I just like how she’s saying that we’ve found something amazing and how she’s telling us to bring her chocolate…and we find out that SAWA’s name is actually Suzy Brown….that right there made me laugh so damn hardcore XD

Tracks Recommended

• Swimming Dancing
• Stars
• Planet-T
• NightBus
• Friday Night

Song of Avoidance

• I Can Fly

Yes, with Kalafina’s “Red Moon” and school food punishment’s “amp-reflection” they both produced great songs from amazing artists which the idea of having these new ideas and sounds to make a cohesive album and it worked since I loved them.  SAWA though has made it known that she can do amazing songs with a touch of humor to make it hilarious to wonder how she was able to string these songs together in a fashion that it makes me smile.  I’ll say it, I want to stay in Sa-World for a while since it’s filled with different angles to SAWA for one thing and her songs are fun and easy to listen to *RECOMMENDED*

SAWA – Ai ni Iku yo April 15, 2010

Track Listing

1. Ai ni Iku yo
2. JetCoaster
3. Cider
4. SuperLooper
5. Samba de Mar -NAKATSUKATAKESHI remix- (Limited edition only)

1. Ai ni Iku yo

I’m not sure why we’re still on this rather rollercoaster of main songs.  I mean bad, good, bad, good and at least Ai ni Iku yo is for me in the middle because it’s catchy as all hell, but I don’t think SAWA is really meant to be a “cute” type of a singer.  I like that it is a bit slower than previous songs and the chorus is omg good,  but cute is definitely not her style at all.

2. JetCoaster

Hey!  A latin track coming from SAWA?  Ok she’s delved in the past in this genre that’s for sure like “Sing It Back” or even “green”.  I actually really enjoyed this tropical tune and makes me wanna move with it since it flows nicely and the random English lines she pulls are done quite nicely as well.  I was definitely surprised by this and this is also a style I’d like to see more from SAWA.

3. Cider

I love how the opening is just cracking open a can of cider and pouring it in a glass as the sound rushes to open.  Once again, we’re back to cute SAWA, but the song has changed a bit here and I love the rather joyous arrangement and the added strings were a nice touch.  It’s funny that the song comes off more like a disco song than electropop.

4. SuperLooper

Finally, a new RAM RIDER song, even though this song existed for quite a while (about the time “TIME&SPACE” was released).  Once again though I think SuperLooper is the stand out on the mini-album even though it feels a little more lazy than “Stars” which is definitely not a good thing in this case.  I do like how RAM RIDER did make the song a bit more cute for SAWA without going overboard, but “Stars” is still the best.

5. Samba de Mar -NAKATSUKATAKESHI remix-

Most people wouldn’t know this but Samba de Mar was a song SAWA covered last year for Takeshi Nakatsuka and on here it was remixed for the mini-album.  Just like the title implies it is a samba and a pretty exciting style to because there’s a lot of deep drums and a lot of colorful brass as well.  Being a remix worked out as well because there’s synths available and put in the right spots. Very good remix!

 

 

It does suck that Ai ni Iku yo turned out to be meh when compared to “Swimming Dancing” for sure because of the less interesting arrangements found here and my sort of mehness at her being cute in her songs.  The two latin tracks and SuperLooper were what made the single listenable, but the other two tracks are just a little ehhhh.

SAWA – Swimming Dancing November 24, 2009

Track Listing

1. Swimming Dancing
2. World-Wide Tea Party
3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-
4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-
5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-
6. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good night Remix-
7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix- (Limited Edition only)
8. Stars -Jazzin’park 32 good morning Remix- (Limited Edition only)

1. Swimming Dancing

When I read the news that Taku from m-flo was going to produce SAWA’s next single, I thought it was farce and totally out of his way, but then came the covers and I was wondering where he was going to take her.  Honestly, Taku has a thing for making his women scream in their songs with the exception being Rie fu (weird huh?).  Still, I have to say I’m in LOVE with Swimming Dancing.  It’s a great electronica track that fits in with the other Taku songs that were amazingly shown off this year.  The best thing though, is the PV that went with the song.  I’ve never seen SAWA look so serious and yet sexy at the same time.  What an amazing song.

2. World-Wide Tea Party

The lone other track, World-Wide Tea Party starts off with a lone piano before the synths kind of mesh in with it.  SAWA starts off the song pretty nice and it kind of rubs off as a darker song.  When the chorus comes in the song gets more digital and darker and sounds a little like Sowelu’s “MATERIAL WORLD” but, more focused on the piano and less on the synths.  It’s interesting, but it’s not “Swimming Dancing”.

3. Swimming Dancing -RYUKYUDISKO Remix-

The first of the many remixes on this mini-album, is rather experimental for sure.  Instead of the loudness of the original, it seems things have been taken down a level and SAWA’s vocals has definitely been toned down in volume and filtered out as well.  It’s a more naturistic take of the original, and while it feels more like what the cover was expressing, it’s not bad.

4. World-Wide Tea Party -Kentaro Takizawa BIG ROOM Remix-

Unlike the originals darker route, the remix for World-Wide Tea Party feels right and even better than the original take of it.  It’s got an awesome beat going and SAWA’s vocals didn’t seem so out of place.  I have to give props to Kentaro for making such a great remix.

5. ManyColors -Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix-

Hmmm, I’m actually surprised she’d dive back and bring ManyColors back to be remixed.  Now my initial complain for the original was because of her vocals were ear-piercing.  Well, she didn’t resing this at all, but I feel like ManyColors isn’t too bad given the right arrangement and luckily Yukihiro redid the arrangement to not be so jarring.  In other words, good remix.

6. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good night Remix-

Yep, the other indies lead song, Stars is an amazing song when you look at it.  I mean seriously that was electronica genius from RAM RIDER.  On here, it’s been remixed twice by the same guys and yet they differ from each other quite a lot.  The good night version is a great remix since it represents the night side quite nicely (and even throws a guitar solo)

7. Swimming Dancing -Extended Club Mix-

Yeah, its a club mix, so everyone should know how they start up.  Since it’s not really that much longer than the original, there’s nothing much to really note about the song…well there is.  I’m prolly not the only one who hears this but it seems the music is less loud and full like the original and SAWA’s vocals aren’t as refined.  Still, Swimming Dancing is a great song, but I’ll take the original’s flow IMO.

8. Stars -Jazzin’park 31 good morning Remix-

On the other side of the coin, the good morning remix of Stars feels like waking up for sure.  Then again, can you see stars when you wake up in the morning?  I really like the energetic latinness of the song and it’s fun and simply easy on the ears. 

 

 

Hands down, this entire single is the best thing she’s released in her career.  Swimming Dancing in nothing short of amazing and ranks up with “Stars” as her best song.  World-Wide Tea Party is rather unusual for both SAWA and Taku….not the usual fare.  Honestly, the single really took off with all of the remixes.  They were so far apart from the original and yet sounded so much better than other remixes.  It’s rather awesome *RECOMMENDED*