Shimatani Hitomi - Shinku

Shimatani Hitomi's latest single should be listened to bearing in mind the context - it is not a standard pop song but rather a grandiose dance track for the game A.C.E3. This is a genre that Shimatani Hitomi nearly always handles deftly and this single is no exception.

Shinku is a solid dance track; Hitomi's voice carries the song well and remains strong over the thudding bass. It is well constructed with a decent tempo that fits well with a grand melody of synth strings, if a little hard to pigeonhole as to genre. The concept of the song means it does have that particular sound of a game theme song with the unusual blend of orchestrated melody, dance beat, and the occasional electric guitar. However this is a game theme done very well. Shinku is a confident and exciting piece of music in which Shimatani Hitomi's vocals shine.

While at times Ai no Shi can feel like a generic Final Fantasy-style ballad, the occasional traditional elements and Hitomi's voice transform this into something quite a bit more interesting. Ai no Shi is a beautiful lounge style piano-led ballad although one with some hints of a more traditional Japanese style. Hitomi's vocals highlights this traditional sound in the accent she places on certain notes and throughout her voice is beautifully clear with the right amount of emotion. It is gentle and simple, building to a climax near the end with the addition of a chorus. Beyond that, Hitomi does not complicate the ballad with further unnecessary instruments and the result is a delightful piece of music.

Shinku (A.C.E3 version) really shows that this single is meant for a game. It opens in a magnificent and dramatic orchestral style with jabbing strings and choral voices, before merging effortlessly into the original Shinku. The transition to the dance track works well and adds a further level of depth to the track for the shorter game version. If this had been the original Shinku, it might have seemed pretentious, but within its context this version of Shinku is fantastically exciting.

The single is further accompanied by instrumental tracks for Shinku and Ai no Shi

Shimatani Hitomi's latest single is a strong release and a particularly recommended example of a dance track designed for anime/games. It won't appeal to all but the single is a lot of fun to listen to with three strong, individual tracks.