Yuka Kagiyama – Love Player (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)

1. Love player
2. 悪魔を眠らせて
3. Love player (Instrumental)
4. 悪魔を眠らせて (Instrumental)

Avex Trax has signed a new female artist to their label. This time its Yuka Kagiyama who brings a more rock edge to the label. Although not as in-your-face as they did in 1996 with their sub-label motorod artist Nanase Aikawa, Yuka Kagiyama is being promoted as a tough rock performer.

It’s definitely interesting to see where the marketing will go for Yuka because on one hand, what we do know of her is that she was a vocalist of a rock band during her young teenage years and is also a songwriter. But we also know that she enjoys the music of Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and FERGIE.

Her first debut single is “LOVE PLAYER” which is being used as the theme for the NTV drama “LOVE PLAY”. Yuka’s vocals are suited for a more rock-driven style. The single is electric guitar, synth and percussion driven. Good single but it didn’t stand out for me as much as I’d hoped.

The coupling track “悪魔を眠らせて” (which translates to “Sleep with the devil”) is another rock track, electric guitar and percussion driven track and for the most part, it is a decent coupling song.

The last two songs are the instrumental versions of the first two vocal tracks.

The CD insert features lyrics for both vocal tracks and includes the production credits.

So, for the first debut single, she is being promoted with tattoos on her arms while the reverse cover features her in an angelic white dress. So, with the first single, I’m not entirely sure what the main strategy to market her as… tough rock girl ala Anna Tsuchiya? And I do find it interesting that her music is being promoted on Avex Trax vs. Avex’s more edgier sub-label Cutting Edge, so it makes you wonder if her music will change but I suppose we’ll find out by the second single.

If anything, the single didn’t really stand out nor was it a single I find myself listening to again. But I suppose for her debut single, it’s an average single at best.  It’s important to note that Avex is releasing four versions of this single.  One that comes with the CD+DVD and three normal single versions with different covers.

But for now, I want to see where Yuka’s music is headed by the second single and see if the label intends to keep her focused more on rock or make her a pop star. We’ll see.

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