Kana Nishino Esperanza

CDCD+DVD

Esperanza is the 16^th single of Kana Nishino. The covers show Kana in bohemian’s style with a sunrise background. As the title is Esperanza, I think it’s a sunrise & not a sunset. I love that orange colours theme. However, the covers miss something: a smile. Kana would be more beautiful with a smile on her face.

01. Esperanza is a Spanish word who means hope. So the songs as Spanish sound. It’s a pop song with rhythmic & swinging sounds. But there is something that prevents me from liking this song totally. Before the end I find it boring. Maybe, it’s too long. The pv is not really interesting. I already forgot what we can see. I know that Kana is singing but what else?

02. Thinking of You is the first b-side of Esperanza. It’s a mid-tempo ballad who mixes RnB & pop sounds. You can find this kind of b-side in almost each of her single. So, this song is so-so.

03. ONLY ONE is an electro pop song. I don’t like it. It’s boring, repetitive & has a lot of simple sounds that you can find in a lot of songs in the world. I’m totally disappointed by this song.

3,5/5

Kou Shibasaki Circle Cycle

CDCD+DVD

Kou Shibasaki released her 5^th called Circle Cycle in May 2011. She’s really pretty on the black & white covers. Even if you don’t see her face very well, I like the tambourine one so much!

01. wish starts the album. It comes from her 21th single. It’s a mid tempo ballad. It’s really different from her previous ballad. The arrangements are well done & Kou’s voice is amazing.

02. Parallel World Reading is an electro pop song. Usually I’m not a big fan of her rhythmic song but that one is amazing. At the beginning you can hear the sentence “close your eyes”. If I close my eyes I can see different sky come & go behind my eyelids. This song is full of colours.

03. Mukei Spirit is the title song of her 20^th single. It’s an upbeat song with electro sounds. I’m not a big fan of this song even if I don’t hate it too. In fact, she’s similar to Parallel World Reading a bit. For me, Mukei Spirit is the prototype of the second track & the PWR is the improved version. The pv of Mukei Spirit is nice. The rhythm follows song’s one!

04. The Circle of Love starts with a pop rock introduction. Some electro sounds are add to the arrangements that are amazing. I really like this song. It’s like you can see the sound to form circle in front of you.

05. Graspin’ all of it stop the electro wave. The pop rock sound dominates the song. The chorus remind me some rock song that you can hear in the 90’s in Europe. The rhythm is dynamic & makes you move the bottom!

06. EUPHORIA cut the dynamic songs series. The song was released for the first time on her EUPHORIA single. It’s a wonderful mid tempo ballad. The chorus is really powerful. I’m totally addicted to EUPHORIA. The pv is beautiful too. Watch it if you didn’t do it again!

07.Next To Me is a ballad again. It’s really sweet & quiet after EUPHORIA. However I found the verse a bit boring. Maybe this song would be better if it wasn’t after the amazing EUPHORIA. The brightness of EUPHORIA throws a shadow on Next To Me.

08. Gemoni Chronicle is the b-side on her Mukei Spirit single. It’s an upbeat song with some dark electro sounds. Kou’s voice is a bit drowns out by the sounds. It’s a pity. The song would better if you can hear her voice correctly in some parts maybe the chorus! It’s the only disadvantage of this song.

09. Sayonalove is an electro pop song who sounds happier than Gemoni Chronicle. This song is simple however it’s a nice song.

10. Focus is an electro pop song with weird rhythms. There are a lot of short breaks in the verses. The song is a bit repetitive & it becomes boring at the end.

11. Eine Klein, a little in German. The verses are really sweet, quiet & pop. The chorus have more electro sounds. If the electro sounds wouldn’t exist in the arrangement, Eine klein could be a mid tempo ballad. The outcome is really nice.

12. Rougeno Dengon: is a pop song. The notes seem to dance & to cast in a happy world. The atmosphere that is created is magic. It’s like you enter in a forest & see fairies who dance among the leaves & flowers. & play between the mushrooms near a river.

13. Philosophia: is the song I like the least of this album. It’s a pop song that sounds as a mixing between Eine Klein & Rougeno Dengon. Both songs are great but the mixing between the two arrangements is weird. Moreover, I found the verses boring.

18/20

Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou/ Climber x Climber

Jacket A CD+DVD Jacket B CD+DVD

Jacket C CD only

Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou/ Climber x Climber is the 10^th single of BREAKERZ. What can I say on the covers? AMAZING of course. The traditional Japanese outfit + the scenery are devilish hot!! I totally love those covers. I’m not a fan of the Climber x Climber theme one.

01. Tsukiyo no Itazura no Mahou is the first a-side of the single. The intro is made up of traditional Japanese sound + rockish sound. DAIGO’s voice is really sexy. Seriously this song is totally amazing. I fell in love at the first listening. The pv is totally amazing & hot too. Attention to bleeding nose XD. The song is used as the ending of Detective Conan.

02. Climber x Climber is the second a-side of the single. The sound is totally different from the first song. It’s a pop rock song that can remind some of their old songs. Honestly I prefer the first track of the single but CxC is nice too. The pv is not one of my favourite BKZ pv.

03. Arigatou~Beautiful Day~is the b-side of this wonderful single. All member sings in that song. It’s a pop ballad. It’s sweet & nice. BKZ says Thank U beautiful day & I say us Thank U for this beautiful single.

4,37/5

Nana Mizuki SCARLET KNIGHT

SCARLET KNIGHT is the 23rd single of Nana Mizuki. When I saw the cover of SCARLET KNIGHT, the stars overran in my eyes. Nana is so beautiful in that red dress. Even if there’s none crown, she looks as a queen.

01. SCARLET KNIGHT is the opening of the DOG DAYS anime. Personally I didn’t watch the anime. So, I can’t say if it suits to it. The only thing I can say is the song & the pv are amazing. It’s true that the song remind me others Nana’s opening. But I can’t help me to love that kind of song.

02. HIGH-STEPPER is really different from SCARLET KNIGHT. It’s always a pop song but you have to add some electro sound on it. It doesn’t have the opening/ending feeling in that song. However I like it too.

5/5

Shoko Nakagawa Sakura Iro

CDCD+DVD

The 13^th single & the first 2011 single of Shoko Nakagawa called Sakura Iro. The title suits to the spring (the single was release in April). The colour scheme of the single is Pink! It’s normal when you see the title XD. The covers are really pretty. Shocotan is really so cute in her little dress with petals that fly around her.

01. Sakura Iro is dynamic Shocotan song as I love them!! When I listen to it my battery is reloaded & my smile is on my face for the full day! Unfortunately the pv doesn’t follow the song. I missed her cute & original pv so much!

02. MARSHMALLOW is the first b-side of the single. The song is similar to Sakura Iro. It’s a dynamic pop song.

03. Lavender is a dynamic pop song again but the sound it’s different from the two first songs. You can hear a chorus that repeat some words while Shoko Nakagawa sings.

4,9/5