Many thanks to Jessica Stan for contributing this for review.
Released by Toshiba EMI under their Eastworld label, this is a single from artist Kotono Shibuya. While she fits the idol category, she is generally better known as an actress rather than a singer. This mini-CD includes just two vocal tracks along with their corresponding karaoke versions. Both songs are tied to Capcom projects: the first is the ending theme for the TV show Guyferd (1996), co-produced by Capcom and Toho, and the second serves as the opening theme for the video game Mega Man X3.
The first track, "Befriend," the ending theme for Guyferd, is genuinely enjoyable. Shibuya's voice is pleasant and pairs well with the upbeat tempo, resulting in a song that feels lively and energetic. The arrangement is varied, with shifts between more dynamic and softer sections that complement the vocals and allow her voice to remain the focal point.
The second track, "One More Time," the opening for Mega Man X3, is more instrumentally driven. The guitar work is prominent, at times nearly overshadowing Shibuya's vocals at the beginning. Eventually, her singing emerges as the highlight of the track. While it has its moments, the background music can feel overpowering, making this song less compelling than "Befriend."
The karaoke versions included aren't strictly instrumental. "Befriend" in particular is unusual, as Shibuya's vocals are still faintly audible beneath the music at times. The karaoke version of "One More Time" fares better, though it still retains some backing chorus elements. Worth bringing up that these two tracks are the only unique ones off this release too versus the Seven-Star Fighting God Guyferd Original Soundtrack (TOCT-9458). While this release did predate that one by about 20 days, it makes it pretty hard to recommend unless someone is eager for those two karaoke versions.
Overall, this is a decent single. Now rating these releases can be tricky, as it's a single and it has a really good song. So in a way it set out what it was supposed to do. However, the standout "Befriend" accounts for just 25% of the CD's content, making it hard to weigh the overall value. Anyway, keep that in mind with the score below. |
