Sakamoto Maaya - Hajimari no umi

Singer, voice actress and now songwriter Sakamoto Maaya has continued her collaraboration with anime series "Tamayura" with single number 22. Hajimari no umi, released on 31st July, is the opening song to the second series, "Tamayura - More Aggressive".

The main track has been arranged by Mori Toshiyuki, the same arranger of Maaya's other theme song for "Tamayura" Okaerinasai. As a result it has a lot of similar details: light xylophone, a subtle acoustic guitar melody and barely there drums. Hajimari no umi is even more in the easy listening department than its predecessor, having a thoroughly relaxed attitude. Maaya doesn't have to break a sweat to deliver the simplistic tune, which is so placid that either its choice as the opening song or the naming of the anime can't be anything but totally ironic. After a while the sweetness of Maaya's perfect vocals and the repeats of the chorus may make you start to hum it offhandedly, but in the way that elevator tunes do after a couple of floors. In short it serves a purpose in mood setting for the anime, but is otherwise quite unremarkable. If it hadn't been written for an anime it's unlikely that it would have seen the light of day as a single release of its own.

B-side Itsumo no tokoro de, whilst being a much more lively piece of pop-rock, still doesn't fare much better with its utter genericness.

That would have been it for this single, if not for the last two tracks. Also included is Okaerinasai Acoustic Ver., which is exactly as described. With its minimalist make up of vocals, piano and acoustic guitar it manages to be gently moving and is far more endearing than the title track. The final track is a recording from Maaya's "Roots of SSW" 2013 tour date at Bunkamura Orchard Hall. The bonus track MEDLEY is a 14 minute condensation of her back catalogue, starting with the vibrant Mameshiba and going through the years to end with the inspiriting Hikari are. Sections of classics such as PURACHINA, Kiseki no umi and, the most recent of the bunch, MAGIC NUMBER feature. The emotional Yubiwa, which shows up in the middle astride an a cappella rendition of Yakusoku wa iranai, is pure Maaya magic. This track alone makes the single worth buying.

Maaya's 22nd single really is split down the middle. Fans of her more sedate work or the anime "Tamayura" will want it for the title track, but those after a great trip down memory lane and some proper anime tunes really shouldn't miss out on this.