A slightly deceptively named mixture of old and new.
Over the past couple of years, pop singer (and now also actress) Fukuhara Miho released the mini-albums The Soul Extreme EP and The Soul Extreme EP 2 which brought together tunes that showed her soulful side best. Her latest full length album is The Best of Soul Extreme, a collection of singles: tracks from the two EPs and also some new songs.
Included on the album are a good number of Miho's collaborations with other artists, some of which have been previously released. The first two tracks, O2 and Get Up! featuring AI and Akiko Wada both opened each of the EPs respectively, and with all the powerhouse vocals they ensure that listeners are definitely awake for the rest of the album. Miho’s only duet with a male singer also appears on this album: the single Dream On featuring the popular Miura Daichi. It's not really soul but still takes its place quite happily in the line-up with its bright, exotic sound. Miura Daichi's smooth vocals are a pleasure to listen to in his verse, but are on the gentle side and are drowned out by Miho's stronger voice and the loud percussive backing, making it very much Miho's gig. The newest single Save Me featuring British songstress Leona Lewis is a deep, slow and thoughtful piece. The strong synth drums, strings and rich sound layering make it sound more like a Leona track than a typical Miho one, but due to the similarity of their styles the line starts to blur. The two form a good diva duo, with their vocals complementing each other well.
Previously unreleased collaborations are also featured. They see Miho teaming up with Chara and old friend AI again. The characteristically raspy-voiced Chara might've seemed liked an unlikely choice of singing partner to Miho, but in the playful Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! they manage to gel together. Chara's almost childlike voice, like Macy Grey on helium, helps to bring out Miho's fun side. You Are My Reason has AI singing with Miho again to bring the album to a close. Unlike O2 it is a softer, almost balladic song in STARLIGHT vein. Again the two have great chemistry, and with their talents no one would ever worry about the vocal performances which are of course top notch—the two give us some ear-pleasing ad-libbing in the climactic finish.
Older songs STARLIGHT and Regrets Of Love appear between fresh compositions. New songs include the emotional Open Eyes, an R&B track along similar lines to STARLIGHT again. It's very reminiscent of music by Leona Lewis, with its strong bass beat and dramatic chorus. The powerful Black Star is another bass heavy, dramatic track, with a tribal beat throughout. While it's a well written song, it sounds too much like Western mainstream pop/R&B, as if Rihanna might pop up as a guest at any point. The upbeat Cinnamon Dreams is a highlight of the album, carrying an extremely catchy melody which is hard not to dance to. It won't win the Ivor Novello with its bizarre lyrics but it is a delightful guilty pleasure, like old-school Mariah Carey. The motivating You and gentle DON'T TAKE IT AWAY are less R&B and more pop, like what has appeared on her previous full-length albums.
The limited edition of the album comes with a bonus CD and DVD. The second CD contains, following the trend of the Soul Extreme EPs, Miho's covers of modern and classic Western songs (and one Japanese song). As with the main album, some of the tracks have shown up on the EPs, such as Virtual Insanity and One Day. She's obviously brave as she puts her own spin on well-loved classics such as Sir Duke, BEN and Natural Woman. Her vocal skill allows her to pull them off, and the arrangements aren't heinous deviations from originals but rather more respectful re-imaginings. Sir Duke is not too different from Stevie Wonder's, while Englishman in New York is given a mild Latin treatment. Her versions of BEN and I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) are especially good, although someone should have taken the horrific kazoo used in the latter and thrown it out of a window. The collection is a nice bonus overall, which ends with an unseasonable, but still welcome, live rendition of Koibitotachi no CHRISTMAS, better known as All I Want for Christmas Is You.
The bonus DVD features seven PVs of single releases spanning Miho's career.
The Best of Soul Extreme is ideal for those wanting a singles collection or an introduction to Miho's work, as it's a package which really demonstrates her incredible voice to the fullest. Those who have bought her EPs may feel a touch shortchanged as many of the tracks have been available previously, and they'll have to fork out for a full-priced album just for the new tracks. Fans will have to make do with this semi-"Best of" album and hope it won't be too long until she finally gives us another original full length release.
