New album titled 'MADE IN JAPAN'

[truehappiness]

Spoiler:

ということで、まずはご報告！

今年も109ニュースでツアー密着をさせていただくことになりました！

といっても、まだ現場へはお邪魔していないのですが、

その代わりになんと！！！

今回のツアーのセットリストにも組み込まれていてるという、

まもなく解禁されるNEWアルバムに収録予定の新曲を聴かせていただくことができました！


個人的な感想となりますが、記名原稿でこういう書き方をすることは、

正直、おこがましいなとか、書いた自分が批評されそうで怖いなとか、

思うことがあるんです。

それでも、今回はハッキリ明言したいと思います。



浜崎あゆみが“覚醒”した――と。



「MADE IN JAPAN」というタイトルを背負うに相応しい、

四季の艶やかな色彩や温度感を感じさせる楽曲はもちろんのこと、

激しさ、たくましさ、清らかさ、可愛らしさ、その裏にある孤独や闇……



浜崎あゆみという人物が抱える多面性をこれほどまでに音楽と融合したアルバムが、

かつてあっただろうか？




ちょっと前に、ayuがLAに拠点を移した時期。あれは、浜崎あゆみにとって

もはやココにたどり着くための必然だったんだなと、改めて感じたんです。



というのも、帰国後にリリースしたすべての曲がいわばウォーミングアップで、

ココにきて、一気に突き抜けた感を感じたというか――。


「自分が恥ずかしくて、逃げたくて、大事なモノを手放してしまったのかもしれない」



帰国後に、そんな本音を口にした彼女が、



私には音楽しかないんだ。

私の居場所はココなんだ。



と、洗いざらいむき出しにして挑んだアルバム。それがコレなんだ――と。



そうして、丸裸になった彼女が着地した新たなNEXT LEVELでは、

聴きなれた歌声も、かつてないほどの変化を遂げていたり、


いったい、浜崎あゆみに何が起こったの？？



と、高揚しまくり。こんなに興奮しながら、何度も何度も聴き直したアルバムは

久しぶり…いや、もしかしたら初めてかもしれません。



20年近く歌を歌い続けてくれば、安定とか円熟とかって言葉が

普通は当てはまるものかと思うんですが、



やっぱり、違う！そうじゃない！



「MADE IN JAPAN」で浜崎あゆみが自ら導き出したものは“覚醒”





さらに激しく、さらに切なく、さらに愛らしく、さらにたおやかに。



こんなayuを待ってた！そんなアルバムであることは間違いないと断言します！



そして、

この新曲たちを織り交ぜてのツアーは、いったいどんなことになっちゃうんだ？？？

と、大興奮冷めやらぬまま、今週末は本番直前のリハーサルに突撃してまいります！



ぜひぜひ、お楽しみに！！！！！



Text/Takako Tsuriya

Seems that they got to listen to a majority of the album and 109news is going to be around for the tour again. We should expect lots of pictures!

Main points relating to the music seem to be:
- the album seems to reflect the colors/temperatures of the four seasons
- "Hamasaki Ayumi has awakened"
- the album has cuteness, loneliness, darkness, clarity, strength, and intensity... (seems like a pretty mixed album!)

And songs from the new album are definitely going to be mixed into the tour.

[rainbow_smile]

I'm really bad at Japanese, but that's what I understood from the article:

Seems like they're saying that the lyrics are similar to her signature writing style, it's honest and self-critical? The songs remind of the four seasons: fierce, strong, pure, sweet, something about solitude and darkness... It combines different sides of Ayumi Hamasaki. They also said something about her coming back to Japan after being away in LA,, and the music after that has been some sort of a warming-up for her?

Apparently this album is a return to form, "awakening" of Ayumi Hamasaki, a new NEXT LEVEL and was challenging for her. "That's the Ayu we've been waiting for"

The tour will include the new songs.

[oaristos]

Originally Posted by rainbow_smile

Apparently this album is a return to form, "awakening" of Ayumi Hamasaki, a new NEXT LEVEL and was challenging for her. "That's the Ayu we've been waiting for"

That's pretty exciting even though NEXT LEVEL is not my favorite album of hers. However, I think we can expect something different and not so "safe" this time, so that's great

Don't know what to think about an album whose songs follow the seasons of the year. If MADE IN JAPAN is so sonically diverse, I'd like to have a few interludes to keep the album balanced! Let's see.

[truehappiness]

It makes sense that she keeps referring to the four seasons in TA entries now that we kinda know the intention of the tracks' sound. I still think a fall concert set is gonna happen!

[mizuki-7]

Apparently this album is a return to form, "awakening" of Ayumi Hamasaki, a new NEXT LEVEL and was challenging for her. "That's the Ayu we've been waiting for"

Thank You !!
I'm always a bit sceptical when I hear sentence like this because it's the best way to be disappointed if it's not what I actually wanted lol but if it's true YEAH !!

[truehappiness]

I hope the album sounds as diverse as they're hyping it to be! I'm expecting something a bit like Rock'n'Roll Circus or (miss)understood as far as genres go.

[truehappiness]

I think they just used the words "NEXT LEVEL" to mean that she's "stepped her game up".

[oaristos]

^ Oh, got it! Thanks I thought they were actually comparing MIJ to NEXT LEVEL.

[Uknow!]

I can't wait...

[TheRainbow]

I hope it's sonically nothing like NEXT LEVEL though lol.

[mizuki-7]

I expect a good balance between ballads, slow/mid-tempo and up-tempo songs! This idea is interesting if it's well done I can imagine this album starting with bright songs but rather mid-tempo, following with more energic songs and finish gradually with calmer songs ! All will depend of the work of arrangeur if they have been able to really re-create the atmosphere Ayumi wanted to do =)

[rainbow_smile]

That's the quote where they're talking about next level:

そうして、丸裸になった彼女が着地した新たなNEXT LEVELでは、

聴きなれた歌声も、かつてないほどの変化を遂げていたり、

いったい、浜崎あゆみに何が起こったの？？

So I'm not sure if they're talking about the album (since they wrote it in English and with all capitals, just like the album title), or just saying that she's stepping her game up.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by rainbow_smile

That's the quote where they're talking about next level:


So I'm not sure if they're talking about the album (since they wrote it in English and with all capitals, just like the album title), or just saying that she's stepping her game up.

I figured it was a cute nod at NEXT LEVEL. I don't think they would name drop an album for any reason other than a nod/reference for Ayu fans to get. Tsuriko/Takako Tsuriya has done nearly all of the official Ayu interviews/articles since the beginning of her career so I could see her putting in little things that only fans would "get" as an easter egg.

[Coelacanth]

Hoping for at least a few songs with a 'fuller' sound (i.e., synth elements as an accompaniment rather than the fundamental template of the song).

and if you're going to have a digital 'rock' song, the mixing at least has to be good (Last minute/Sorrows vs. count down)

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

OK interesting...so are we expecting an official announcement soon, or is it just going to drop like Beyonce does? I don't see the latter being very smart for sales, but it would make me happy!

[Coelacanth]

I feel like it's gonna be a 'surprise' drop. Having no official announcement when there's news stories about the album floating around is a bit odd.

[mizuki-7]

^
She has nothing to loose at this point I wouldn't be surprised if the album drop digitally the same day as the tour start with a physical release the following wednesday !

[Gustavopc]

I think they are referring to the album cause of the way they have capitalized it, and they probably meant so cause that was a path almost new to her when she did NEXT LEVEL. If that's it, I'm curious to hear what will be the new sound she'll bring to this album. I'm crossing fingers for a real rock track and a Shape of love-ish ballad.

[Surreal17]

Mad World reminds me of everywhere nowhere, talkin 2 myself, Mirrorcle World and rollin' so I'm really excited about this track.

Mad World : "Tell me, if it were you, how would you live in this era？ / Tell me, for I'm already sincerely nauseated with this era / Where should my real intentions be?"
Comparision:
everywhere nowhere : "The more convenient the products become / The more inconvenient our hearts become / I wonder if some day / Man may be symbolized, too"
talkin 2 myself : "Just because this is the age full of information and temptations / We should make the choices of our own / You know / That creation comes after destruction"
Mirrorcle World : "Did I imagine this kind of future? / Did you imagine this kind of future? / Did I wish for this kind of future? / Did you wish for this kind of future?"
rollin' : "The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth / The world is rolling around at the speed of rebirth / It's falling into confusion, and despair and desire come to us alternately / We can't continue to live in the traditional way"

All these songs are written from a broader point of view and they either come as warning, advice, disappointment or awakening from the false complacement the world has fallen in. Mad World may have something to do with the cyber bullying that ayu was recently talking.
Also, as genres are concerned, we have 2 types for this sort of lyrics : upbeat euphoric trippy (everywhere nowhere, rollin') or hard rock (talkin 2 myself, Mirrorcle World).

[Heavenly]

The four seasons theme ?
Welle, that's the open door to Spring Diary and Fall/Autumn Diary