MiChi’s Chest, Hidemi Uematsu’s Chaos and Aira Mitsuki’s Face
HALCALI is not HALICALI and tommy heavenly6 needs to STOP

Recommended reading. broomhead has ventured back to his blog after a small break to address some recent PVs. I think the most attractive part of his writing in these two recent entries is how straightforward it is–there’s no beating around the bush about what he does and doesn’t like. There are too many snarky one-liners to quote, so I’ll just leave it up to you, the reader, to go take a look at these posts. I think I have to say something about broomhead’s confusion on a particular group’s name, though:

I’ve always thought HALCALI’s name was HALICALI. I was pretty disappointed when I finally noticed the error of my ways. HALICALI just has a better ring to it, whereas HALCALI is boring. I’m trying to not let this disappointment cloud my impeccable judgment, but it is very difficult.

Impeccable judgement! Hahah… oh, sorry, right. Actually, I thought the same thing about HALCALI’s name for the longest time–it weirded me out when I realized there was no “i” there. Maybe we were thinking of cali≠gari?

Techno-Jabber (a.k.a The Current State of T-Pop)

Selryam has posted a primer of sorts on technopop artists. It has short bios for Nakata Yasutaka, Perfume, MEG, Suzuki Ami, Aira Mitsuki, SAWA, Momoi Haruko, COLTEMONIKHA and Genki Rockets. Selryam also explains where these artists fit within the technopop landscape. I feel this also sort of creates a hierarchy of each individual act’s importance to the technopop boom, with Nakata and Perfume being at the top and the likes of MEG, Suzuki Ami and Aira Mitsuki being a rung below those two. It is a great read, whether you are already into technopop or wanting to get into it.

COPY - Aira Mitsuki
Namida no Saki ni - Crystal Kay

Ethan of Radiantdawn takes track-by-track look at COPY, the first album from Aira Mitsuki. The conclusion is that the album is a solid effort and Aira Mitsuki is “one of the best technopop artists out there.”

Furthermore, Ethan also reviewed Namida no Saki ni, a single from Crystal Kay. Ethan enjoys it for its remixes as well as the a-side.

Aira Mitsuki - C.O.P.Y (Kurayami Monogatari)
Airi Mitsuki - COPY (Both Editions) (Lost Wing)
COPY [Aira Mitsuki - Debut Album] (Vitamin Drop)

Three blogs tackle technopop artist Aira Mitsuki’s first album, C.O.P.Y, and I’m honestly amazed that they all found so much to say about it as they did. Not that there’s anything wrong with the album, but technopop can be hard to write about, especially if you don’t have the ear for it (if you find yourself zoning out or dozing off while listening, I guess), so kudos to the bloggers for being able to scrutinize every track without resorting to “it’s got a good beat, it’s fun, I liked it” over and over again. Everybody seems to enjoy it in the end, although the level of enthusiasm varies–Megumi (of Lost Wing) makes sure to note that she feels Aira’s success is due to a good producer, while Selryam hands out a fair grade of B to the release. So if this is your kind of thing, you’ve got three reviews to pick from, and a ton of different opinions to read.

Aira Mitsuki “Robot Honey”

chipple shares information on Aira Mitsuki’s latest single coming out a few days before Hallowe’en. I find it surprising that the single information came out before her debut album released. She’s been a pretty busy girl.

Just wondering but who else is confused on what single number this is? I’ve seen sites call it her 2nd single. It IS her 4th in reality, but I also read somewhere that she released her 3rd single as an independent single from her label making Robot Honey her 3rd official single. Anyone else want to take a stab at it?

Either way, more technopop means more love! I’m still waiting for my copy of COPY in the mail…

Hamasaki Ayumi - Mirrorcle World
Aira Mitsuki - Darling Wondering Staring / STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER

Jin takes a look at Hamasaki Ayumi’s Mirrorcle World and is really in love with the single. Jin also looks at Aira Mitsuki’s Darling Wondering Staring / STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER and finds it to be Aira’s best effort.

『COPY』

ky_chin of the contemode LiveJournal community shares details about the technopop artist’s debut album from her official site. It releases on the 3rd of September so mark your calendars! This album would definitely be a welcome addition to the CD collection, though I’ll wait until I hear some reviews. I don’t exactly see this one flying off the shelves so I won’t have to worry about availability, unlike that other technopop group that recently released its first real album. *cough cough* I hope I get proved wrong.

Either way, times are getting interesting in the technopop world…

Hey! Say! JUMP - Your Seed / Bouken Rider
High-King - C\C (Cinderella\Complex)
Aira Mitsuki - China Discotica

Jin at Sora to Kujira is reviewing a pretty diverse range of J-music. The first review covers Johnny’s/boybands with Hey! Say! JUMP’s Your Seed / Bouken Rider. A slightly more mature sound by HSJ stands out to Jin. The second review meets the H!P/girlpop needs by taking a look at High-King’s C\C (Cinderella\Complex). Jin is really impressed by this lead track, calling “one of the best H!P songs released ever.”, and enjoys the b-side (”Kioku no Meiro”) just as well. And finally, Jin touches on electropop in this review of Aira Mitsuki’s China Discotica, which Jin enjoys.

Aira Mitsuki - China Discotica (Kurayami Monogatari)
[single] China Discotica (Radiant Dawn)
Darling Wondering Staring / STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER [Aira Mitsuki - 3rd Single] (Vitamin Drop)

Kurayami Monogatari reviews Aira’s second single, “China Discotica,” and enjoys it.

Radiant Dawn also reviews - and also enjoys for that matter - “China Discotica” as well. RD finds the song to be “so fun and upbeat” that “you can’t help but dance to it.”

Selryam of Vitamin Drop reviews Aira’s 3rd single, “Darling Wondering Staring / STAR FRUITS SURF RIDER.” Selryam gets more in-depth in discussing each track. While Selryam does seem to enjoy Aira and this single, the review is critical of the effects used on her vocals.

C-ute - 江戸の手毬唄 II [6th Single]
Aira Mitsuki - チャイナ・ディスコティカ [2nd Single]
Ishida Yuko - Changes [2nd Single]

At Amai Wana, amaiyume reviews C-ute’s Edo no Temari Uta II, Aira Mitsuki’s China Discotica and Ishida Yuko’s Changes. All of them get amaiyume’s seal of approval.

One day after reading Amai Wana, I’m gonna be uttering the phrase “in order to promote the single, a PV for ____ was made” in my sleep.

Aira Mitsuki - Colorful Tokyo Sounds no9 / China Discotia

Millhouse from the OPV team takes a look at Aira Mitsuki and reviews two songs by her. If Millhouse is correct in saying that Aira Mitsuki is like Perfume, then I am very interested. Regardless of whether she is or isn’t, this is a nice overview that may interest people in learning more about her.