[WORLD GROOVE] Currently listening to hiro – Special Box

December 21, 2007 by Dennis Amith 

 

ARTIST: hiro

ALBUM: Special Box

LABEL: SONIC GROOVE

CATALOG #:  AVCD-16082

DURATION: [disc 1] 1:17:47, [disc 2] 56:40, [disc 3/DVD]:  86 minutes

RELEASED: February 1, 2006 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

DISC 1: Single Collection

1. Mitsumeteitai
2. AS TIME GOES BY
3. Bright Daylight
4. What’s up!
5. Treasure
6. Your innocence
7. Confession
8. love you
9. Eternal Place
10. Notice my mind
11. Baby don’t cry
12. Ai ga Naiteru
13. Hikari no Naka de
14. clover
15. hero*
16. Send My Love for you

DISC 2: Remix Collection

1. Baby don’t cry -extended version-
2. sunlight -extended version-
3. Ai ga haiteru -Nitelist Remix-
4. clover -Gira mundo primero remix-
5. Namida -SWAG’s Remix-
6. ME AND YOU (Riding Waves) -Version 2-
7. LOVE IS SHOUTING OUT
8. Confession-M -Control Mix-
9. Baby don’t cry -world’s end girlfriend remix-
10. Mitsumeteitai – DJ Hasebe Remix PART 2-

DISC 3 (DVD): Clips Collection – Region 2, 4:3, Duration: 86 minutes

1. Mitsumeteitai
2. AS TIME GOES BY
3. Bright Daylight
4. Treasure
5. Your innocence
6. Confession
7. love you
8. Eternal Place
9. Notice my mind
10. Baby don’t cry
11. Ai ga haiteru
12. Hikari no Naka de
13. clover
14. hero*

SPECIAL FEATURE: Off Shot – 15:48

When it comes to hiro (Shimabukuro Hiro) or any other member of SPEED, I always look forward to their music.  Having watched SPEED since before they released their first CD single, purchasing their first CD single, album, VHS video, etc.

Earlier in 2007, we have seen the release of Uehara Takako’s collection and last year was the release of the special limited edition box set release from hiro.

Hiro has always had that distinct voice because of her high pitched vocals and she added something special to SPEED because of those vocals.

Since SPEED broke up, from August 1999 from her first CD single release of “AS TIME GOES BY” up to her 13th CD single “Hero*”, a special box set was released.

The box set contains three disc’s.  The first being her singles collection which contains a total of 16 songs (13 CD singles) and includes “Mitsumete Itai” (a solo song that was on SPEED’s “ALL MY TRUE LOVE” CD Single) and two unreleased songs “What’s up!” and “Send My Love for you”.

The second disc features a remix collection which includes ten songs.  Remixes feature a Latin-style for songs such as “Ai ga haiteru” and “clover”, others incorporating a very cool underground style that goes from jungle to techno to trip hop.  A very good balance of remixed music, pumping new life into her CD singles.  Definitely thought the remix album was very fresh and unique for her music which is a great addition to the box set.

The third disc is a DVD featuring her music videos for her 13 CD singles plus the music video for “Mitsumeteitai”.

The DVD features a special feature off-shot showing an interview with hiro, watching hiro shop and behind-the-scenes of the making of her music video that is almost 16 minutes long.  For those who have been collecting hiro’s DVD’s, one thing that is not included in the Clip Collection is the music video for “IN SEASON” (from her album “Brilliant”) which was a special music video for the release of her “BRILLIANT ON FILMS” DVD release.

The CD’s are in 3 CD jewel cases and each case featuring a CD insert.  The first featuring lyrics to the songs and a picture of the CD single next to the lyrics.  The second insert for the remix collection features lyrics.  The third disc, the DVD insert is nearly identical to the first insert featuring a picture of the CD single and the lyrics to it.

If you are a hiro fan, you really can’t go wrong with this box set release.  Not only do you get all her CD singles (plus three other songs), a remix album and a DVD with all her music video clips from 1999-2006.

Also, a major plus because the label could have separated these to different volumes which many Japanese labels have done with many other artists.

Of course, you can purchase the CD Single Collection and the DVD Clip Collection separately but really, you want the box set because the remix album is definitely worth owning.

So, if you dig her music or are curious and want to make a purchase of a hiro release, I highly recommend checking out the Special Box.