Koda Kumi - Gentle Words

Just a few months after her breakthrough, Koda Kumi presented her new single Gentle Words to the public.

The title song is calm, and a slight Arabic touch is recognizable, even if it is so minor that it seems to nearly inconspicuous. From time to time, scratching, hip-hop elements liven up the song. The next track, with wailing of sirens and a truly gangster beat, is Without Your Love, and it sounds threatening! The catchy rhythm, the interesting synthesizer and Koda’s singing make the song pretty entertaining.

The next track is far more leisurely. Saigo no Ame possesses a strong, roaring bass and instantly makes you feel like you're sitting in an old bar. The dim, smoky atmosphere comes from the accompanying piano and acoustic guitar. The bright bridge itself, with its unusual high keyboard notes, sound a bit spacey. The obligatory instrumental tracks are also included on the single.

It seems that Koda was still looking for her style with this single; a lot of elements are used in the songs - and they are mostly well-rounded, but all in all, Gentle Words is missing that certain something. Without Your Love makes up for it by being a powerful song with great presentation, and it's the one on the single worth listening to.