KIX-S -- Mata Aeru...（また逢える…）

Some time ago, Fireminer inquired about some of the female pop-rock bands that had been prevalent around the late 80s and early 90s, and he mentioned about the group KIX-S. I knew about Princess Princess and Pink Sapphire at the time but that was back when I was residing in Gunma Prefecture. KIX-S was also a band that I had heard about but didn't really get to know partially because I was back in Toronto for a few years, and at the time, if I were getting CDs through the "Eye-Ai" mail order, I was focusing on those singers that I knew and was comfortable with. As far as I was concerned, KIX-S was another one of those units alongside ZARD, ZYYG and WANDS which seemed to get its names in all-caps after being inspired by a Scrabble game.

KIX-S consisted of vocalist/lyricist Tsukasa Hamaguchi（浜口司）and guitarist/composer Miharu Ataka（安宅美春）, and had their run between 1991 and 1999. Releasing a total of 14 singles and 8 original albums during this period, their most successful single was their debut "Mata Aeru..." (We'll See Each Other Again) from July 1992.

If there were the ideal song to accompany a woman heading up to the top of a windy hill to yell out her undying love for that special someone, "Mata Aeru..." would probably be it. Written by Hamaguchi and composed by Ataka, this has become the pop/rock ballad to signify amore for that lover who has gone far away for the next little while. Indeed, it's wistful, powerful and declarative and a message that distance is no obstacle for the feelings between two folks. Plus, that arrangement has become quite natsukashii.

"Mata Aeru..." was their greatest hit as it reached No. 2 on Oricon and became the 28th-ranked single for 1992. It has been included in their 3rd album "One Night Heaven" from June of that year which peaked at No. 24, and there has also been an acoustic version in their follow-up album "Virginity" from December 1992. That got all the way up to No. 14.

Also participating in the chorus for the original recording were guitarist Seiichiro Kuribayashi（栗林誠一郎）, who has helped out bands such as DEEN, B.B. Queens and ZARD, and 90s hit singer Maki Ohguro（大黒摩季）.