Mariko Ide started making music at the tender age of 15. Her sixth single,
Style, was released under Avex several years later, but her longstanding experience with reggae music paid off.
At first there's only a hammering bass in the “original mix” of
Style, but more quickly than expected, a casual reggae flair comes into play with a lot of trumpets;
Mariko’s pleasant, deep voice supports the impression of a relaxed enjoyment of life. As for the “L.B.B. disco mix,” a funky ground beat covers the well-known melody. All in all, the disco mix never gets too pop but remains well-balanced.
With the third remix, you get the feeling that you’re listen to
Style from far away.
Mariko’s alienated voice is mostly responsible for this impression. The track comes slowly into play, but it is always unapproachable and mysterious, which makes this version pretty fascinating. Subsequently, there is the ballad of the CD,
Slow. A more fitting title couldn’t have been picked because
Slow is really slow. However, the acoustic touch leaves no time for boredom, and as another positive side effect, the song is particularly gentle.
Despite the relaxed impression,
Style is more interesting for fans of the genre and the older generation. Dabblers will probably find
Mariko’s single too old-fashioned and leisurely-paced. Nevertheless, if you're curious about her music, you can listen to a sample on her at her
official homepage.
