Kai Natsu - Shinkokyu No Hitsuyo (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Album Review)

August 4, 2008 by Dennis Amith

“The first major label mini-album release from Kai Natsu. Definitely for those wanting a refreshing change from electric-guitar driven rock music and those wanting more keyboard and acoustic guitar-driven music.”

ARTIST: Kai Natsu

ALBUM: Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo

LABEL: Tearbridge Records

CATALOG #: NFCD-27104

DURATION: 24:26

RELEASE DATE: July 16, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

深呼吸の必要
ラビュー
つまさき金魚
天の川
SUPER ECHO

The first major label mini-album release from pop/rock artist Kai Natsu.

I know, for some, you may be wondering who Kai Natsu is? The 25-year-old singer/songwriter/musician is the daughter of 70s/80s Kai Band rocker Kai Yoshihiro and actress Takeda Kahori.

Not wanting to be known because of her father’s success, Natsu would perform live on the streets in her hometown and by 2005-2006, would release two indie mini-albums and in one of the rarest situations, the indie artist was invited to perform the national anthem at a Yakult Swallows vs. Hanshin Tigers baseball game in April 2007.

This led to her second Indies CD single “Drive” to be release and coincide with the campaign to promote Toumei Expressway and lead to her first indies album “Namida” released in August 2007.

Eventually, this led to her being picked up by Avex Entertainment and her first mini-album “Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo” (Needing to take a deep breath) release through their sub-label Tearbridge Records in July 2008.

So, naturally not too many things are known about this new artist just yet but her profile shows that she is a big fan of bands and music artists such as BUMP OF CHICKEN, Spitz, Yaida Hitomi, Arai Yumi and Kururi to name a few. She’s also a big fan of “NARUTO” and “One Piece” and enjoys playing the piano and guitar.

So, listening to her first mini-album “Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo”, all songs are written by Natsu and the music is pretty much rock-based and when I listened to her music, I thought about American singer Vanessa Carlton and her track “A Thousand Miles” and “Ordinary Day”.

More in a musical sense that I can picture Kai Natsu being an artist that you can see her jamming on a piano or an acoustic guitar. Not even in a similar sense to a Moritaka Chisato or a Shiina Ringo.

The style is of a BUMP OF CHICKEN, Kururi style in a musical sense sans the hard guitar riffs.

Take a track like “Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo” which is a sweet rock song that is overall innocent but then you get to the second track “Love You” which is a totally different style. More acoustic guitar driven and kind of has that reggae-like style of vocals.

And then the fifth and final track “SUPER ECHO”, a rock track that just feels Vanessa Carlton-like. A very cool overall rock track.

So, I’ve listened to this album several times and figure out what came in to mind and I realize that you have your J-rock female vocalists who go for that hard sound which electric guitar is the instrument that drives the music. For Kai Natsu’s music, I see the piano and acoustic guitar really coming out through her music mostly.

And I have to admit, after listening to a lot of Japanese female artists in more of a hard rock mode, it was a fresh change to hear a female music artist where her piano playing and acoustic guitar were more prominent.

And when I hear that, I think of Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton and even a Michelle Branch. Which is definitely not a bad thing since I enjoy these and the music they produce.

But with so many Japanese female artists, I think that this would probably be my pedestrian way of giving a comparison and if you like the music of these three women, you probably might dig Kai Natsu’s music.

As for the CD insert, the insert featured the lyrics and production credits of the tracks

Kai Natsu performing one of her indie hits to a live audience on keyboard

So, Kai Natsu’s “Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo” is an album which was interesting to listen to, especially having reviewed so many female rock-based CD singles and albums.

Definitely a fresh change and to listen to it several times and actually make me think of how to distinguish her from other Japanese music artists and what comparisons can be made.

But so far in her career, she’s been able to make some significant strides as an indies musical artist and now the transition to a major label, it will be interesting to see how she is promoted from here on out.

Her music will definitely appeal to those wanting some fresh and different and there are some standout tracks on this album but for now, I would like to see a major CD single release from Kai Natsu and to see how she further develops with the major label.

But there are tracks that do stand out such as “ラビュー” and “SUPER ECHO” and definitely shows potential for this artist. “Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo” is fresh, vibrant and definitely is something different. Also, how great to see another female vocalist in Japan that is multi-talented with various musical instruments.

But in Japan, it all comes down to artist promotion and visibility, so we’ll have to wait and see how her music is marketed from here on in. All in all, a cool mini-album worth checking out!