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The vocalist IBUKI has collaborated with some of the most important musicians in 21^st Japan, including the composer/guitarists MINA (DESTROSE/FATE GEAR), NARUMI (Disqualia) and Rie a.k.a. Suzaku. Those three women are all legitimate geniuses. IBUKI’s collaboration with each of them has resulted in some truly memorable, often spectacular, performances.

But IBUKI is at her most compelling on her solo releases – the singles Rise/We Are No. 1 and High Tension, and the 2019 album ExMyself, which has just been re-released in Europe with a new bonus track.

「1」

IBUKI has an instantly recognizable voice. The tonal quality is clear and powerful. You will never hear a more beautiful sound than the tone of IBUKI’s voice in “Jealousy and Desire” or “Deserted memory,” both from ExMyself.

But it is not just her voice that makes her such an interesting artist. Rather, IBUKI is fascinating because she has pursued a personal artistic vision that is remarkable for its precision, consistency and simplicity.

「2」

IBUKI composes the music and lyrics for all of the songs. Her songs are high-energy melodic metal. They often have an undercurrent of tension that is reinforced by the passion in her voice. HIGH TENSION would be the perfect title any of her works.

IBUKI’s songs are not as instantly accessible as some other artists’ works. Rather, they insinuate their way into your consciousness with repeated listening. The only instant earworm is “shake your body,” which is as catchy as one would expect from a disco metal stomp. But, IBUKI’s melodies have an inherent romanticism that makes them impossible to forget. This romanticism is evident not just in power ballads such as “Jealousy and Desire” and “Sky above,” but also in fast-paced burners such as “ExMyself” or “Rise.”

「3」

IBUKI is responsible for the synthesizer, programming, and most importantly, the arrangements. IBUKI’s arrangements are a lesson in how best to present rock music. The instrumentation consists of bass, drums and synthesizers, with programming by IBUKI herself, and guitars, played primarily by MASUMI of CROSS VEIN and Shinji.

The production is classic. Rhythm guitars bracket the voices, which occupy the center of the aural spectrum along with the bass and drums. A third and sometimes fourth guitar moves into the center during guitar solo sections.

The keyboards and synthesizers often have an important role to play during the introductions and instrumental breaks, as in “un soldat.” But they retreat into the background when IBUKI is singing. Therefore, the listener’s focus is always on IBUKI, where it should be.

「4」

IBUKI has a true gift for song arrangement. Her songs often include unexpected and dramatic moments – sometimes very brief – that surprise the listener. This strategy is something that modern artists have used to reinvigorate the standard verse-chorus-solo-bridge structure that has been the basis of popular music for over 100 years.

「5」

Take “Falling Bird,” the opening song on ExMyself, as an example. Instead of the verse leading directly into the chorus, the song takes a hard stop – no sound at all – for the briefest of seconds. The listener perks up. And the second time around, there is another hard stop, but this time, IBUKI is muttering something. The listener cannot help but take notice and wonder what she is saying.

After the third repetition of the chorus, the song changes speeds, and IBUKI sings a slow, but gorgeous bridge. Her voice suddenly changes from a full-throated roar to a gentle, enticing purr. As she finishes singing this bridge, she makes a soft, gasping sound that is as erotic as anything sung by the sublime Donna Summer in 1975 on “Love To Love You Baby.”

The bridge leads into an accelerating drum roll. But the drum roll does not yet re-ignite the song. Instead, everything drops away while the synthesizer repeats the opening theme. Eventually, the song explodes into its final climax. And there isn’t even a guitar solo in “Falling Bird.” A guitar solo is not necessary, given the fact that there are plenty of guitar pyrotechnics in the complex riff that accompanies the verses.

「6」

IBUKI employs these tricks – a sudden slowing of the beats-per-minute, an unexpected drum roll, a brief rap section – in practically every song. These elements of arrangement may seem like small things, but they add tremendous interest, and more importantly, wild excitement to her songs. This attention to detail is an indication of the care with which IBUKI approaches her craft. The listener never knows what to expect next.

「7」

The songs on ExMyself are of a uniformly high quality. “Jealousy & Desire,” with its juxtaposition of gorgeous romanticism and hard-rocking intensity, is an obvious stand-out. The key change towards the end of the song, in which IBUKI swoops up to the new key, is another of the breathtaking moments that IBUKI brings to her work.

The rhythms of “Break Out!” are irresistibly infectious. “Deserted memory” contains some of IBUKI’s most emotional moments. The yearning that she expresses with the worlds of passion contained in her voice practically jumps out of the speakers. (The speakers are Cerwin-Vega Model 211R, circa 1974, so they do have some punch.) “Sky above” is also filled with glorious levels of emotion. Every song on ExMyself has one – or more – particular virtue.

「8」

If you already own the original version of ExMyself, you must nevertheless buy the “European Special Edition” in order to get the new song “Door To The New World.” Like all of IBUKI’s work, the song moves in unexpected directions – orchestral diversions, wild guitar solos – while delivering a hard punch to the gut. The singles are also essential listening.

IBUKI’s ExMyself is a testament to the power that can be expressed by an artist who has a unique, defined, but powerful personal vision. What’s more, IBUKI insists on expressing her vision of the world in her own somewhat idiosyncratic way. IBUKI is an artist with integrity. What could be more impressive than that?

ページトップの「日本語」をクリックすると、本記事の日本語版を閲覧できます。

For the Japanese version of this article, please click on “日本語 at the top of the page.