Tis’ the season to get naked
Who needs GAM? Seriously ask yourself, who needs it? Put Simply, Mikitty and Ayaya. God knows they’re close, very close, sometimes scarily so. We’ve all thought it I’m sure, some even said it. Honestly though, I never felt the need to wrap myself around all the theories, conspiracies and built up Mythology –yep, its gotten so deep their relationship has even coined it’s own mythology, scary stuff. Of course its all male minded and well, I’m not fussing too much. What’s done is done and GAM don’t look like going away anytime soon.
I find it very sweet and touching, that both Mikitty and Ayaya have a close bond. But I wasn’t too impressed when GAM exploited this. Ok, maybe deep down they actually do want to kiss the face off each other. Being a typical male, it all sounds pretty promising. But being more honest, GAM isn’t really an image I want to buy into. I’ll push all the politics aside here and simply say I don’t like GAM.
Like all Idols in it for the long run, they’re going to get older and become –Mature’ at some point. It’s just human biology after all. Still, if I’d told my mother upon turning twenty that I was thinking about kissing my best friend, she wouldn’t be too happy. My excuse “I’m just trying to be more mature mother, maybe I should wear more revealing clothes and boob grab to?” H!P seems to be taking this root with some of their Idols as they enter adulthood. Again, I think I’ll leave all the politics aside this time round, means less typing for me LOL.
Aya Matuura’s Naked Songs is a breath of fresh air. Her latest album being for me, a mature image I can be onboard with. Think Hello! Pro Hour on record and you’re half way there. Although the album isn’t totally unplugged it certainly has an acoustic feel to it. –Live’ wouldn’t be the right word to use, but with the producers opting for analogue recording with very little post-editing, everything sounds a little more, well, –Naked’. I personally love the sound of the album and what looked to be a –filler record’ based on the track listing for me, turned out to be something more.
The musicians behind Ayaya are more than capable. A jam band fit for a studio and I’m sure, just as good on the road. All the re-recorded versions of her old work such as –Doki Doki! Love Mail’ are done tastefully. If you can get your head around the sound of Naked songs, then you’ll love the few new tracks on offer, otherwise maybe not. You see, one reason why this comes off as more mature and elegant than perhaps her Image had entailed outside of this record is because it veers slightly off the pop wagon and into a jazz/lounge sensibility. Though I love jazz (done well) –Orange Pekoe’ is a good example of Japanese pop-jazz and –Nujabes’ a brilliant example of many genres combining lounge/ambient/jazz, if you don’t like this sort of thing then Naked Songs will sound a little old and boring.
However, this is an album that fits the vista I surround myself in perfectly. As an avid café goer, Naked Songs is a welcome record to add to the list of my –Coffee house soundtrack’. Clear some chairs, make a little stage and get Ayaya down to do an intimate set.
P.S the Naked Songs DVD is brilliant, it shows just how fun Ayaya had doing this record, watch ‘I Know’ at the beggining, you’ll know what I mean 😉