Here is the first loot of the Japan Expo; at the Wasabi Record booth, Kanon Wakeshima’s new album collector version. It will be released tomorrow in Europe, and on the 27th for the rest of the world ( not only Japan ). Since it has yet to be officially released, I will just provide some sample and a bit of history. Anyway, it’s certainly already available in download somewhere on the intraweb.

Kanon Wakeshima is certainly known to western public thanks to the ending of Vampire Knight, Still Doll. I’m quite surprised over the fact that she has her album released abroad, but other than that, I greatly welcome the move and hope that other singer will follow this path.
Now, let me be frank, the ending of Vampire Knight didn’t leave me an impression; meaning I didn’t download the ending single and I don’t remember the name of the singer. It was very dark, fitting for the anime, maybe too dark for my taste. But I became interested in Kanon Wakeshima thanks to a small concert she held at Paris’ Maison de la Culture Japonaise ( House of Japanese Culture ). She did it at the beginning of a gothic lolita fashion show for a very small audience, maybe 200 persons max. She opened with Still Doll, which allowed me to recognize her. Other than being a great singer, she is also very beautiful and a great violoncellist.

Now the two other song certainly marked me most, and having such a small room and audience for a concert was bliss for the ears. Shinku no Fatalism and L’espoir ~Mahou no Akai Ito~ are bright compared to Still Doll. All 3 are featured in her first album, Shinshoku Dolce. This album is a mix of genre, but it is quite on the dark side.

Now, Shōjo Jikake no Libretto: Lolitawork Libretto is a little bit less dark, and more gothic. It also seems to me that her style is more definite in this one. The theme is based around girls’ imagination. Limited edition includes a cardboard jacket and a DVD with the PV for LOLITAWORK LIBRETTO ~Storytelling by solita~.

The european package includes 2 booklets, 1 in japanese, the other one is the translation in english of the lyrics. There is also a card featuring Kanon’s drawing, and her photo on the other side. Now in term of music, there is 13 tracks on the CD. Like Shinshoku Dolce, there are 2 smalls instrumentals one for prologue and epilogue.

First vocal one is Kajitsu no Keikoku, starting first with the instrument, and of course, her cello. Ok I can cheat since I have the translation and tell you that it’s about a forbidden fruit. But for an opening, it’s quite close to how Shiku no Fatalism opened Shinsoku Dolce; strong cello, impressive vocal.

Second vocal is Heroine Syndrome. If you liked these 2, I think you will like the rest. Afteral, this was for a me an impulsive buy, without having ever heard one song from this album, and in the end, I like it overall, which is quite rare. Sellers told me that I had good taste, and that it’s rare from a man ^^;.

Now for those who love her dark style, it’s a lot less present, but the most dark one is certainly celmisia, but it doesn’t trump Still Doll.

Last track, is not the epilogue surprisingly. It’s LOLITAWORK LIBRETTO ~Storytelling by solita~ which is also on the DVD. The PV is quite impressive, featuring a wicked world of literature and fairy tales. Of course, she has a beautiful dress and you can see 2 of her 3 cello. Now, there is also someone else in the PV, solita, a young french vocalist. Now, even if I’m french, I had a hard time to understand since it’s too creamy, but that’s certainly a wanted effect since the song is based around call and response. I regret not having seen the 3D version at the Japan Expo as it seems like something which would profit from it. I didn’t plan to put the full PV, but since it’s already on Youtube, there is little point. Of course, Youtube quality sucks and doesn’t do it justice.

For starters, listen to the Umineko’s single. Usually I download an anime single for the opening I heard and liked. I just give a try or two to the other tracks but it’s really rare that I catch my attention. When it comes to music I’m quite picky, and my MP3 player is just filled with tracks I like. Now with the Umineko’s single, it’s simple, I like the other vocal, and even more than the opening.

VII

This composition is greatly reminiscent of Kanon Wakeshima, with the presence of the cielo. It’s also quite eery. If I had to image the song, it would be a girl with her doll, walking in the street by a cold night of winter in a dark creepy town, and suddenly, it lights up. Of course I have no idea of the lyrics but that’s the image I have. What I find very nice is that the music is clearly cut in part, the slow beginning which extends for 2 minutes, then a beat up part to finish with another slow one, rewinding the doll.

Kin-iro no Choushou ~Uruwashi no Bansan~

Katakoi

These are the 2 tracks which came with the game opening. Kin-iro got another clear cut composition, with a slow dark lamenting beginning, with impressive vocal, then mid-way the tone changes. Does it remind some witch laughter?

Katakoi is a bit the intruder here, as it’s not as dark as the other two, and fits the jpop category. But it’s a very nice song, one of my all time favorite. I first prefered Kin-iro in this single but Katakoi slowly grew within me. In fact, Shikata Akiko’s style is far wider than what you might have heard from Umineko.

Let’s rewind time to her oldest work now. I have already covered Haikyo to Rakuen a long time ago, and some of the tracks got remixed over time. For instance Se l’aura spira. A short song which I greatly like and noteworthy is the Italian lyrics, which can be found in several of her songs. The song got instrumental remix in VIRIDIAN, a music box album, and Hanakisou Symphonic.

Haiko to Rakuen – Se l’aura Spira
Viridian – Se l’aura Spira
Hanakisou Symphonic – Se l’aura Spira

It’s really a simple music, and that’s certainly what I like the best about it, total opposite of VII in term of atmosphere. Through all her doujin album, she has made several remix from Haikyo To Rakuen and other, and I recommend to listen to them as it’s another take. Haikyo to Rakuen and Kalliope’s Radio Yohou/ラヂヲ予報, Hanakisou Soundtracks and Hanakisou Symphonic Winter/Kuroto/玄冬のテーマ, Hanakisou’s theme. In fact I have never totally dug in these albums as I need time to appreciate music; not as a background noise, but truly for what it’s. As I’m writing this post, I’m completing my collection as well.

Hanakisou Soundtrack – Kuroto
Hanakisou Symphonic – Kuroto no Thema

Haikyo to Rakuen – Radio Yohou
Kalliope – Radio Yohou

Shikata Akiko as I discovered her 1 year ago certainly placed herself within my favorite list of composer and vocalist. She has several unique style, which I hope listeners will appreciate as much as me.

In 2002, she released Haikyo to Rakuen, with 11 tracks. This album was a huge success and it’s easy to understand why. Listening to it is like traveling. Shikata Akiko makes people traveling thanks to her style, quite folkloric. It’s a bit celtic, a bit middle age, and still modern. It start with a song in Italian “Come raggio di sol”, with lots of vocal, chorus, and a few string instrument. I heard that she also sings the chorus. If you liked Umineko’s vocal, and this one, chance are you will love the whole album.

The first 5 tracks are my favorite and it’s rare that I like more than 2 tracks in an album. Second one “Roma no Musume”  is really folkloric. I can easily imagine a party around the fire in a small village, with people dancing. It does change from the usual JPOP. Next track is rather soothing, with some impressive vocal. Really, it’s a nice album that I recommend to listen if you like that style of music. As always, it’s in FLAC, and zipped this time.

Haikyo to Rakuen

Aside of this, she also have 2 commercial albums, but they don’t have the same touch as this one, but are still good. She also worked on Ar Tonelico so some of you might have already heard her before.