Heartbreaker is the seventh studio album by Romanian singer Inna. It was released for streaming on YouTube by Global Records on 27 November and is set to be issued for digital download on 4 December 2020.
Miki Sato (佐藤ミキ) is a Japanese pop singer under SACRA MUSIC. She made her debut in 2020 with the release of her debut single “Namonai Hana”, which was used as the ending theme to the anime series “Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Raihousha-hen”.
Release Date: December 02, 2020
Tracklist:
1.名もない花 2.Play the real 3.Mirror 4.名もない花 -maeshima soshi remix- 5.名もない花 -Instrumental-
Bravo to Sony UK for choosing the music of the most wonderful time of the year to shine a stream of fairy lights on the tree, uh, I mean chart topping stars of tomorrow. And by choosing probable living relative of ol’ Kris Kringle himself, Steve Anderson, to help out with production – well, it is a musical production guaranteed to make your season merry and bright. First up is the lush, engaging vocal of Kaory who puts her own spin on Elton’s Step Into Christmas. The sumptuous production values of the original have been stripped away to showcase the innocent magic of the lyrics – something that feels vital for the times we are living in. With a Spanish guitar influence, delicate chimes and a sleigh ride of a tambourine percussion, Kaory is swaddled in a graceful instrumental that both caresses and elevates her charming voice. When she sings lines such as “step into Christmas/the admission’s free”, there is such earnest sincerity in her voice that it (purposefully or not) makes it feel like an anthem for the times we are living in. Christmas is what you make it and Kaory’s sprightly invitation is one that is pretty darn tooting hard to resist.
If that wasn’t enough there is a haunting Spanish language version of Silent Night. Just a shimmering and beautifully played guitar (so reverent yet powerful it surely is heaven sent) and Kaory’s crystalline singing, the angst of the world around you fades away and you are immersed into a starry starry night where wondrous things feel possible. I love that such a simple yet effective vocal-instrument duet can perform such a gift – making this a timeless yet timely addition to the late night holiday playlist you pop on when your mind is a wandering and you wish to focus it on elegant hope. Her take on White Christmas is equally as poignant and mesmerising. The soothing piano accompaniment helps Kaory (and the listener) savour every single word, accentuating the meaning of each evergreen word. When she sings in Spanish, it is proof that language and music have no geographic boundaries – the glistening combination of instrument and voice is so exquisite I could weep with joy.
Across the EP, Kaory has expressed What Christmas Means To Me and made it an intimate, joyous affair. Where there is melancholy, Kaory’s voice lends a sense of hope – and where there is happiness, she enhances it by infusing her singing with a contagious optimism. Jingle bell percussion & girl-group harmonies all caress Kaory’s performance like tinsel wrapped around the most ornate of Christmas trees. The key change and added hand clap effects nudge you into a state of festive merriment that will stay with you all the live long day. Play whenever you want the musical equivalent of a hug from your dearest friend. All the songs on this lilting EP are not only your new future favourite oldies but a demonstration of what an expressive and diverse artist Kaory promises to be. I’ll step into Christmas with her anytime, but follow her career long past new year…
Tracklist:
01.Step into Christmas 02.Noche De Paz (Silent Night) 03.What Christmas Means to Me 04.White Christmas/Blanca Navidad
Konishi Manami release an original album titled “Cure” on November 25.
Konishi started her music activities in 2016, then released her first album “Here We Go” in 2018. With the theme “an adult’s pop album,” Konishi gave it the title “Cure” to convey the message “to me, music is courage, something that will push my back, and a type of therapeutic treatment.”
For this album, Kameda Seiji, Goto Masafumi, Horigome Takaki, and Kan Sano participated as producers. They each produced one original song and one cover song.
1.Southern Wind 2.風神雷神 3.Stardust 4.Seven Seas 5.Universe 6.Across the Sky 7.Cyber Moon 8.Sunrise 9.Kingdom of the Sun 10.Odyssey 11.Angela 12.Time Paradox 2020 <新録音>
OVERALL RATING: 3 stars
Tracklist:
1.World Journey 2.Jungle Safari 3.Rudra 4.Emerald Isle 5.Heika Sojo -兵戈槍攘- 6.Grand Circle 7.Summer Carnival 8.British Memories 9.Tel Megiddo 10.Last Eden
OVERALL RATING:3 stars
Guitarist Rie a.k.a. Suzaku release two new albums on November 25th.
World Journey contain ten instrumentals, inspired by countries such as Brazil, Britain and China. The album features teenage drumming prodigy Kanade Sato, ELFRIEDE bassist Rina Hoshino, TOKYO GROOVE JYOSHI bassist Juna Serita and TRIX bassist Mitsuru Sutoh.
On the same day, Rie also release the compilation Best of Instrumental. Intended to commemorate the tenth anniversary of her solo career, its twelve tracks include five from 2012’s Kingdom of the Sun and three from Seven Seas. It feature two new compositions and a rerecording of Time Paradox, originally released on 2011’s Mother Earth.