Voice (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version) DVD Region 2

The songs in the album are clearly divided into four categories - dance, mid-tempo easy listening, rock, and traditional slow-tempo ballad. The most versatile genre out of the four is dance, which takes up 5 tracks out of the 14-track album. Voice starts off with Life (Track 1), the theme song for the drama of the same name. The arrangement makes the song more of a power ballad-rock dance hybrid, but the composition is split by two conflicting halves – a darker, more brooding verse, and a lighter chorus that plays like an electronic arrangement-driven mid-90s J-pop track more suited for the vocals of a girl group like Speed.

The album's second dance track, Sakura ~Hanagasumi~ (Track 2), is an elegant dance track more suited for Mika's voice. While the album version - remixed to a dance track by renowned house DJ Daishi Dance - is a bombastic and energetic take on the original ballad without losing its sophisticated elegance, it also feels unnecessary. With its graceful composition and exquisite arrangement that also recalls memories of Nakashima's last "sakura"-named track Sakura Iro Mau Koro, the original ballad version on the single is clearly the more effective version of the song and should've been included on the album instead.

Coincidentally, the two best dance tracks of Voice both feature lyrics by Nakashima herself. Focus (Track 3) is a pop-dance track with a rich arrangement that features horn instruments in addition to interesting electronic-produced musical elements throughout. Unlike Sakura, its fast-paced composition also suits the song's style perfectly, with all the elements coming together for a modern dance track that actually fits Nakashima's sensibilities.

Despite having a different songwriter and producer, Trust Your Voice (Track 8) shares a similar sound with Focus. As a result, it also shares many of its strengths. With an arrangement that features a heavier drum and background chorus presence, Trust Your Voice is a considerably lighter dance song that has the same dynamic urban energy that makes Focus equally effective as a Mika Nakashima dance song.

While Trust Your Voice composer/arranger Lori Fine (of the duo Coldfeet) concentrated more of her effort on the ballads in Yes, she shows her versatility here by not only staying away from the ballads, but also by working on both the dance songs and the more hardcore rock tracks. In collaboration with comedienne trio Morisanchu (as background vocals), Coldfeet contributes to the album with I Don't Know (Track 10) and Shut Up (Track 11). Featuring angry outbursts at nosy fans, paparazzi, fashion experts, and possibly an ex-boyfriend, Nakashima recalls her Nana image as she lets loose on everything that pisses her off as a pop star and a disgruntled lover. Featuring Nakashima herself as the co-writer of the lyrics (along with Fine), the two rock tracks mark the rare occasion where the singer really sounds like she's having fun singing. While there's really no need to include the comedienne trio, plenty of credit should go to them for inspiring easily the most involving tracks on Voice.

As proven by sales figures, Nakashima's most popular genre has always been ballads. With her unusually haunting young voice, the vocals of these songs alone are enough to make those record company-mandated ballads stand out. The ballad with the most potential for commercial success on the album is Orion (Track 5), the second theme song of the drama Ryusei no Kizuna (in which Nakashima has a minor role). With its catchy and affecting chorus, the song may be Nakashima's most conventional ballad yet in terms of arrangement and composition. However, as always, Nakashima's powerful yet frail voice brings a nice balance, even as songwriter Rui Momoda's busy arrangement nearly undoes the emotional impact of the composition.

On the other hand, songwriters/producers Akihisa Matzura and Takefumi Haketa show that simpler is better with My Gentleman (Track 7) and Koen (Track 14), respectively. The two ballads find commonality in their abilities to affect with minimal arrangements. My Gentleman features only two acoustic guitars strumming away in the background, leaving Nakashima to carry the song with its composition and her delivery. However, Nakashima wisely doesn't use her voice to dominate the song, employing instead a gentle delivery style that matches well with the overall tone of the song.

While titular track Koen (it means "Voice" in Japanese) also features a similarly minimalist arrangement, the traditional ballad composition allows Nakashima to give a vocal showcase as it challenges her range. Unlike My Gentleman, which achieves its intended effect with a balance of its various musical elements, Koen's success hinges almost purely on Nakashima's voice because of the conventional melody.

Voice is clearly Nakashima's most commercially-friendly work in a long time. It doesn't really take any experimental approach to any of its genres (Focus doesn't mark the first use of horns in Nakashima's albums) and it has a smooth pacing that makes its 72 minutes go by faster than her previous albums. Unlike Music, Nakashima seems at peace with the listener-friendly tracks here, and she even seems to be having fun at points when she strips off her cold exterior. However, the refined elegance of her old works that set her apart early in her career is also evidently fading away. Perhaps the album title suggests that even if she sheds her old musical style, the signature Mika Nakashima voice that fans know and love will always remain. It may not be enough assurance for fans of her older work, but it should definitely be enough to satisfy fans of this album.

Recommended Tracks: Sakura ~ Hanagasumi (Daishi Dance) (Track 2), Focus (Track 3), Orion (Track 5), My Gentleman (Track 7), Trust Your Voice (Track 8), I Don't Know (Track 10), Shut Up (Track 11), Koen (Track 14)

by Kevin Ma