Koda Kumi - 4 hot wave

I will truthfully admit that 4 hot wave is my introduction to the works of Koda Kumi and on my initial first listen to this maxi-single I was impressed with the diversity that Kumi has managed to display. Seeming to fit into the category of a perfect summer single, 4 hot wave displays Kumi’s ability to delve into the genres of rock, pop, R’n’B and dance and sell them effortlessly.

01) INTRODUCTION ~I'll be there~
As the mere title suggests, what you see is what you get. A gentle introduction to the single that doesn’t grate on the ears and most importantly doesn’t over exert itself in an attempt to impress. Just enough of a taste to get you in the mood for the second track on the single.

02) ningyou-hime
From a tranquil introduction we smash into a pop-rock song that blends Kumi’s slightly distorted vocals over a strong performance from her backing band. Unlike some pop acts that attempt to create rock music, Kumi has the ability to make this song enjoyable to listen to with her slightly harsh edge on the lyrics and although this can be tagged as a slow paced rock song, it still packs a punch with its attitude. This song is definitely one of those numbers that should be remembered for having a good guitar solo and (thankfully) not overpowering the vocals. All in all a promising second track for the single and as a stand-alone: fantastic!

03)I’ll be there
From rock we shift into a mid-tempo pop song that breathes your good old summer classic. Blending acoustic guitar with Kumi’s raw yet liquid vocals and R’n’B undertones, I’ll be there is one of those songs that is excellent to sing along to in the last months of the summer. Kumi blends minimal English lyrics into this song (mainly the title) and does so that one can understand her. The song picks up the pace at the chorus, not immensely, but one could argue that if the chorus was too fast it would effectively ruin this song. I’ll be there is one of those songs suited to a day on the beach - fun yet uncomplicated.

04) INTERLUDE ~JUICY / ningyo-hime~
This interlude blends both of the above songs to make an interesting R’n’B mid-way point in the single to lead into JUICY, which it does flawlessly.

05) JUICY
An R’n’B song that is on par of those released in the West, Kumi adopts a faster pace which is a welcome (and suitable) contrast to I’ll be there. With a feel of the Orient melded into the backing track and layered vocals, this song once again features English lyrics which are understandable. JUICY is a smooth R’n’B song with unmistakable sexual undertones and Kumi conveys this seduction in both her lyrics and the music.

06) With your smile
The single finishes with one last surprise - a dance track! This song is definitely the liveliest on the single and once again, Kumi impresses me with her ability to take her voice to a slightly higher pitch to create a fun filled, atmospheric tune. With your smile has to be my least favourite on this single however; somehow I feel that this track is lacking atmosphere and as soon as I have finished listening to it, I forget immediately what it sounds like in comparison to the other tracks! A good effort by Kumi, but not one that I would have rushed out to buy if it had been released by itself.

07) OUTRODUCTION ~With your smile~
For this ending track, we are offered a slightly classical themed song that is once again a contrast to the entirety of this single. Perhaps this track was offered as a wind down? Either way, this track is short and sweet just like the first and ends the single perfectly. If one has the patience to listen to the end of this “outroduction”, one can hear ningyou-hime accompanied by piano, with a slight R’n’B overtone.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10. For my first ever listen of Kumi’s works, I was impressed with the overall diversity of this single and her ability to blend her vocals to whatever genre she desires. This single in itself is an excellent introduction to the range that Kumi possesses and I would recommend this single to anyone who craves a good summer single. Despite having some weak points on the single (mainly the sixth track), the good definitely outweighs the bad and if you are a fan of Kumi’s, this is well worth the investment.