Release Date: February 25, 2015
Track Listing
- Parallel World
- Daydreamin
- Doki Doki
- Mira Creation
- Kaze no Shippo
- Symphony No. 1
- Mirai e no Sign
- Owari wa Hajimari
- Sora (Music Edition bonus track)
Review
Ayami Muto is the first full-scale solo idol act on the Amuse label. Before her solo debut, she was a member of the idol group Karen Girl’s (under the name AYAMI) until 2009, when the group was dissolved.
In 2010 Sakura Gakuin was formed as an eight-member unit with Muto as their leader. She stayed in the group until graduating in the spring of 2012. 13 months after graduation; she started her activities as a solo act.
So far, she has released two cover albums (DNA1980 volumes 1 and 2) and two original full-length albums. 2014’s Eien to Shunkan and this year’s I-POP.
Most of the up-tempo songs on this album fit somewhere in the world of Electro Pop. Since these songs are highly pop rather than club-influenced, I would say that the Electro Musume era of Morning Musume ’14 might be a fair comparison regarding sound.
The only single released from I-POP so far is Parallel World. Give that a listen and see if you agree with the assessment above.
Other songs sound more like the typical ear candy that is well-produced idol pop music. Mira Creation and Mirai e no Sign are fine examples. Oddly there is only one slower track on I-POP (Kaze no Shippo), but it is quite a nice piano-driven piece that breaks from all the genki idol material.
Overall, I-POP is an enjoyable listen, and if you’re willing to give it a chance, it should make a great addition to your idol pop collection.
