alan – RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~

RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~ was alan’s 6th Japanese single. It was released October 15, 2008. It sold 5,260 copies in it’s first week and reached #23 on the charts. Xin Zhan ~RED CLIFF~ was used as the film Red Cliff’s theme song. This song represented the fire element.

Tracklist

1. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~
2. Xin Zhan ~RED CLIFF~
3. Ashita e no Sanka ~Orchestra Version~
4. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~ (Instrumental)
5. Ashita e no Sanka ~Orchestra Version~ (Instrumental)

One word: SURREAL. RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~, simply put, is amazing. It’s beginning is actually kinda dark. It has alan singing some “la la la”’s in a very chilling matter with some soft, tragedy sounding orchestral arrangement in the background. The music only gets better as it leads into the first verse, where I always get goosebumps. At about 4:30, after the second chorus, alan let’s out a spectacular vocal performance, holding a pretty long note. She should do more of those. The songs finished the same way it started, very spooky and quiet. As always, alan’s vocals are perfect, maybe giving off her best vocal performance yet. I also think that it’s the best ballad alan has released so far, and as we know, she releases pretty darn good ballads. I’m glad that it’s also been her highest first week sales since her debut.

Xin Zhan ~RED CLIFF~ is, simply put, the Chinese version of the a-side. It’s pretty much the same, though I do think it has one flaw, the amazing line hold at 4:30, which is replaced by more orchestra instrumentals.

Being a HUGE fan of Hamasaki Ayumi’s Acoustuc Orchestra albums, seeing something similar by alan got me really excited. The difference with Ashita e no Sanka ~Orchestra Version~, however, is that alan recorded new vocals for it. The song, as the name says, has a complete orchestral arrangement now, and it sounds absolutely beautiful. I prefer this version to the original.

RED CLIFF ~Shin Sen~ is easily one of alan’s best single since her debut. It’s also one of the best ballads I’ve gotten to hear this year. I’m hoping that after next single, her album will impress us as all her other work has.

♠Single Rating♠

alan – Kaze no Tegami

Kaze no Tegami was alan’s 8th single. It was released September 10, 2008. It sold 2,812 copies in it’s first week and reached #34 on the charts. This single was based on the Wind element.

Tracklist

1. Kaze no Tegami
2. Kagome
3. Kaze no Tegami (Instrumental)
4. Kagome (Instrumental)

alan continues taking new steps to different directions of music and Kaze no Tegami is no exception. I’d consider this a ballad if it weren’t for the rock elements that are present throughout the entire song. The song has an ethereal sounding beginning before changing to the hard rock sounds that lead into the chorus. I actually thought the instrumentals sounded really nice and alan’s vocals are no doubt amazing as usual. My favorite part of the song was the instrumental break after the second chorus, where alan’s vocals get real soft before going onto the final chorus. A very good rock song from alan.

Seeing an instrumental version of Kagome in the single gives me hope that we will see it in her upcoming album as this song is really good. The acoustic guitar is the prominent instrument in this soft almost ballad like(typical alan) song. I liked how her vocals were realy soft and light to accompany the minimum instruments during the verses but the chorus is where the song shines. Everything just kicks it up a notch and we get to hear lots of more instruments come into play, giving the song a bit more of a rock feeling.

Kaze no Tegami seemed like a very solid rock single from alan. I liked both songs a lot but not as much as her previous releases. Either way, both songs are great listens and a new direction from alan’s other songs, though I am in the mood for a new ballad from her…

♠Single Rating♠

alan – Sora Uta

Sora Uta was alan’s 4th single. It was released August 13, 2008. This single was based on the Sky element.

Tracklist

1. Sora Uta

2. My Stage

3. Sora Uta (Instrumental)

4. My Stage (Instrumental)

Compared to her previous singles, Sora Uta doesn’t stray far from what alan is known for releasing, but it is a step in a new direction. If it’s a good direction to be heading is another thing. The entire song has a very middle eastern sound(with the video featuring Siberian dancing) which is pushed along by the way alan uses her vocals during the verses and the different instruments used in the song. One of the most prominent is the harp. The chorus tends to not sound as middle eastern, however, due to the other instruments that kick in. Now, unlike alan’s last ballad like released, Sora Uta can be considered a mid-tempo pop song with that “alan” flare. It’s a really good song, but this would be the limit for me(in song style) for an alan release, she really can’t sound good to me now in something that isn’t like her previous songs.

My wishes were certainly not fulfilled with My Stage, a full on pop style totally different from alan’s other work. The song is very poppy and upbeat, although being mid tempo and having a very “home-y” feeling. alan’s vocals were not at all at her best in this song, which has like zero note holding. I was really disappointed with this song and really hope not to see something like it anytime soon, especially with her recently announced album for November.

Sora Uta featured a really great a-side typical of alan but lost a lot of it’s overall greatness thanks to it’s horrible anti-alan b-side. Some may actually like the song, but it wasn’t to my taste. The a-side is the only reason this single saved itself from barely obtaining a note lower than a four.

♦Single Rating♦

alan – Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~

Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~ was alan’s 3rd single. It was released July 2, 2008, sold 4,730 copies in it’s first week, 8,274 overall and reached #19 on the charts. Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~ was used as the NHK TV special program “SAVE THE FUTURE“’s theme song, as well as for the drama “My Island/Her Coral”’s ending theme song. This single was based on the Earth element.

Tracklist

1. Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~

2. Seed of Green

3. Gasshou [Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~]

4. Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~ (Instrumental)

5. Seed of Green (Instrumental)

I don’t think I can ever get tired of alan’s releases. All of her songs always seem to be some kind of ballad, but their alway so well crafted and beautiful, as well as sounding so mystical. Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~ is no exception from this. The verses are really calm and let alan’s vocals become the main instrument of the song. The chorus is a lot stronger and has a slow beat in the background along with a great orchestra composition. The space from the chorus to the next verse is filled with an amazing vocal performance from alan. After the second chorus, we get some new instruments being played until we reach the end of the song. Which slowly fades out and than stops, in such a beautiful way.

When Seed of Green starts, you can’t help but feel relaxed. It’s another ballad but takes a different direction than the a-side. alan’s vocals are more casual in this song, without holding too many long notes as she did in the first track. The instruments in the song include the piano, acoustic guitar and bells, all which do a great job of giving the song a nature type feeling. It’s a pretty nice track.

Gasshou [Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~] is the same as the original, except that it takes focus on the Choir that was present during the chorus. A nice listen.

Natsukashii Mirai ~longing future~ was such a great release. The title track was an absolute success and is what represents alan’s style of music the best. The single does a great job of representing the theme for this single, Earth.

♠Single Rating♠