[Request] Japanese vocalist recommendations

If you're a fan of Shimotsuki, make sure to listen to Ashiato Rhythm.

If you don't mind looking into Shikata's non-vocal works, the Hanakisou OST is great. There's a couple of vocals on there, but some of my favorite tracks on there are all instrumental.

Considering the small list of vocalists you posted, it's actually kind of hard to give recommendations. You could try Yae, but I'm not really a fan of her. Eri Kawai's probably a good one (check out Kirite, it's amazing). Maybe some stuff from the .hack OSTs as well.

Mostly just throwing some kinda similar stuff out here. Considering Shikata is unlike everything I've heard, it's kind of hard.

How ya doing, buddy?

Looks like this was who I was talking about: Fujimoto Yae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Like I said, not really a fan, and the only album I've heard from her is Blue Line, as well as Kazenone from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. I wouldn't call either of these notable though.

As for Eri Kawai, the album you mentioned there is pretty good. The other one I know of is Himawari, which is also worth a listen.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Heh, that's one of my favorite Shimotsuki songs as well, Bigblah. Never heard of Kokia myself, and she does seem interesting, though I like the instrumentals more than the vocals in that song for some reason.

Yes, Kajiura was also respnsible for the .hack//SIGN OST and the opening for .hack//ROOTS. SIGN is the one I really recommend though. I've heard other Kalafina stuff and definitely second that recommendation as well. But most things that Yuki Kajiura has worked on are pretty solid (might want to check out the Fictionjunction stuff). Though some people get put off by the fact that all of her stuff has a similar distinct style.

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Originally Posted by LiquidAcid

First of all: I dropped Noriko Mitose from my list. Her solo performances really don't knock me off my feet. Her voice is nice, but most of her tracks sound rather boring to me. However if someone has any good advice which of her work is awesome, I'll gladly put her back on the list.

Well, I can make some suggestions. Don't know how much it will help.

"Stigmata" - From Mana Khemia

"EXEC_SPHILIA/." - From Ar tonelico 2 (Get both Hymn Concert albums if you haven't already.)

"Winter Coffin~Black King's Sacrifice" - Winter Mix Vol.5 RED VERSION

"Kataha no Kotori" - Collaboration Album "message" (I recommend this whole album, really.)

"seven colors" - Little Wing works album "Thanksgiving" (I think this originally came from somewhere else, but I don't know where. Also another full album I recommend.)

For the two above mentioned albums, they contain a large number of different vocalists, so they might be helpful in finding new people you like. "message" is a collaboration of many composers along with many vocalists. For example, "Kataha no Kotori" is composed by Yoshitaka Hirota (Shadow Hearts series). It also has a Shimotsuki song (composed by Motoi Sakuraba).

If you have any interest in Naruke's work, check out the vocals by Kaori Asoh while you're at it. Wild ARMs 2's opening ("You'll Never Be Alone no Matter Where You Go") is one of my favorite songs ever. I prefer Wild ARMs 3's OST overall, though.

Another recommendation I'll make is the album murmur. It contains compositions by Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Mana, Super Mario RPG, etc.) with Chata as the vocalist. Really nice stuff overall. I haven't heard much else by Chata so I can't say what she's like in general, though.

I also recommend taking a listen to Shadow Hearts: Covenant's ending theme "GETSUREKA". I don't know anything else about the vocalist, but it's a beautiful song.

How ya doing, buddy?

Yeah, those two links look to be the right albums.

As for murmur, I took another listen to it in full and didn't like it as much as I originally did. I guess I was just remembering some of the better songs off of it and forgetting the others.

I do have drammatica and I agree, it's absolutely amazing. I've always wanted some official Legend of Mana arranges.

Originally Posted by LiquidAcid

You mean the "Moon Love Flower" one?

Maybe. I don't know the English translation off hand.

Going to grab that Shikata album now since I don't seem to have it yet.

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