miyavi - Hi no hikari sae todoka nai kono basho de feat. SUGIZO

miyavi's first single for 2008, featuring SUGIZO, could be easily characterized as an exciting teaser, qualities obvious from the very first hearing. Bringing together a wild plethora of music elements in just two songs and still keeping true to his personal sound, one can only wonder how well this talented but young musician can handle the self-assigned task of bringing "neo vizualizm" to the world.

With the first sighs of miyavi's boyish voice, Hi no Hikari sae Todokanai Kono Basho de softly flows in along with all the characteristics of a ballad, creating beautiful, serene images. It brings back memories of his earlier works, but the improvement in his voice and hints of maturity are clearly shown. Soon enough, the song speeds up and there is no room left for doubts; this is definitely no ballad, as far as the common use of the term goes. miyavi's new style takes over and DJ 1, 2's turntable and TYKO's beatboxing become more and more powerful. The sound may be too confusing at some points, but the sheer joy of the music never lets you stop nodding to the beat. The appealing guitar riffs build up along with the artist's cries and reach an intense peak, which unfortunately is somewhat spoiled by the constant background rapping. Lasting more than five minutes, the song leaves you asking for more, perhaps due to the beautifully abrupt ending.

The B-side, My name iz Oresama.com, is an up-beat hip hop song. Its lyrics state the artist's current musical orientation, but the statement has been made before on previous releases in much more intriguing ways. Furthermore, the rhythm is quite flat, which in this case leads to a fairly monotonous result. Overall, it is not an unattractive track, but it sounds more like a backstage rapping session, albeit an amusing one. Only after a couple of listens does it begin to fit with the title track, toning down the overly-technical and serious feeling of Hi no Hikari... Following the pattern, this track also comes to a sudden, anticlimactic end and lasts for less than three minutes.

The regular version comes with the instrumental version of Hi no Hikari sae Todokanai Kono Basho de, which surprisingly plays a key part on the CD, offering some sense of completion. Without the MC and heavy scratching, the melodies and instruments can now clearly shine. On the other hand, the limited edition, while lacking in closure, will not disappoint. The picturesque and lively PV, together with the making of Sakihokoru Hana no Yo ni will give you the complete audio and visual MYV experience!

While the single may be too diverse for first-time listeners and does admittedly have some weak moments, Hi no Hikari sae Todokanai Kono Basho de is a 'must have' for fans of miyavi and SUGIZO. All in all, it is a solid release thanks to the skills and the experimental character of the artist, and it succeeds in building up anticipation for the soon to come album!