Album review: Ayaka - First message

In the midst of female J-idols prancing around with blonde weaves, robot faces, looking like hoes in their music videos and mimicking the sounds of US R&B on their studio albums, there is Ayaka. A young woman who is all about the craft. She's pretty cute. I'll admit I wouldn't mind seeing her with a long weave, a mini, skirt, knee length boots with a 3-inch heel whilst popping her back and booty. But her image and music as is more than suffices, and the fact they don't have to play second fiddle to a sexed up westernised image makes her music all the more substantial and easier to take seriously.

The first thing that caught my attention about Ayaka were her vocals. She has a voice on her that is way beyond her years. She is able to channel her inner Cheryl Crow and sing with an untamed grit and rawness, and also sing beautifully and melodically in high keys that could teach Hikaru Utada a thing or two. Her voice is a definitely her instrument and she puts it to great effect to sell each song. Even if you cannot understand a word of Japanese, you're somehow able to understand the mood context of each song - purely because of the way in which Ayaka sings them. Her voice never once plays second fiddle to the music. It partners it.

First message has a very consistent sound, with its live drums and acoustic guitars, but the sound never bores due to the different moods that each song evokes via the arrangements. You'd never guess it going by her miserable mug on the album cover, but the majority of the songs on First message are very upbeat: sticking to a formula of electric guitars, strummy acoustic guitars, soft bass, pianos and live drums which all come together to give songs a real sense of bustle and energy - and this is before Ayaka even opens her mouth to sing.

"Start to 0 (Love)", "Real voice", "Stay with me" and the Latin tinged "Melody" are all feel good numbers that execute the Ayaka formula to a tee and are more than enough to get ya feet tapping, head bopping and a shoulder working. Anthemic choruses and Ayaka singing her heart out make these songs irresistible and winners every which way. Whilst near enough the whole of First message is up-tempo, things do slow down on three occasions. Four songs into the album is "Blue days", which is my personal favourite song. It's one of the most emotionally driven pieces to come from Ayaka and her voice hits me every time. I remember hearing it play for the first time on the Japanese drama Suppli (Sapuri) and thinking "Damn. I need to get this her album". If a relationship of your gets shot to hell and your heart's breaking like a plate that's just hit the floor, then this is the song you curl up to in a corner to with the lights off and cry like a bitch to. A brilliantly emotive song and an album highlight. "I believe" is a piano and strings laden ballad. It comes straight after "Blue days" and serves a nice contrast. Ayaka's vocals have a lot more colour on this song and the chorus feels optimistic. As a stand alone song it's solid, but it has more impact being placed after "Blue days", acting almost as a remedy to it. The album closes with the ballad "Mikadzuki". As with "I believe" Ayaka's vocals stand at the forefront, with a piano playing away in the background and things building when the drums, guitars and a string section emerge two thirds of the way into the song. At this point in the album Ayaka has nothing to prove, but she closes the album with this solid ballad all the same and leaves you with no doubt in your mind that she is a true talent and wanting more.

Ayaka's debut is fantastic and a breath of fresh air. Those looking for something a little different, raw and care free should definitely check this album out. I look forward to her follow up as her debut left me incredibly intrigued and wanting a lot more. I can't wait to see what Ayaka brings to the table with her follow up.

RATING: 8 / 10

Album highlights:
■ Start to 0 (Love)
■ Real voice
■ Blue days ★ J's fave
■ I believe
■ Melody
■ Mikadzuki