Kirinji -- Koi no Kehai（恋の気配）

It was my anime buddy who first informed me about the singer-songwriter kotringo（コトリンゴ）, aka Rieko Miyoshi（三吉里絵子）because of her version of the classic folk song "Kanashikute Yarikirenai"（悲しくてやりきれない）as the theme song for the acclaimed movie "Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni"（この世界の片隅に）that we watched at his place a few years ago. Then, I realized on watching episodes of one of my favourite anime "Koufuku Graffiti"（幸福グラフィティー）, the Osaka-born singer had also composed the show's eclectic soundtrack, although the theme songs weren't handled by her.

Another surprise regarding kotringo was in store for me on learning that she had been a member of the band Kirinji（キリンジ）between 2013 and 2017, and she joined one of my favourite bands in the same year that founding member Yasuyuki Horigome（堀込泰行）had left for his own solo work. I read one comment underneath one Kirinji YouTube video which stated that when kotringo was with them that the band was truly special back at that time and that she's still missed.

That is indeed high praise considering that I've been very impressed with Kirinji's last two albums, "Ai wo aru dake, Subete"（愛をあるだけ、すべて）and "Cherish" which were produced after kotringo's departure. I can only imagine what Kirinji must have been like back then, but I got a little inspiration just recently on hearing "Koi no Kehai" (The Sign of Love), a track from Kirinji's 12th album "Neo", released in August 2016 and the final album with kotringo as a band member.

Written and composed by Kirinji vocalist Takaki Horigome（堀米孝樹）, kotringo is the main vocalist here, and that delicate and breathy voice of hers really helps lift the amazing and soothing melody. The arrangement is also helped by that quirky spacey keyboard that hints at what Kirinji was going to do in the next two albums. Other lovely ingredients are the onomatopoeia used in the lyrics, the whistling and what sounds like a steel pedal guitar. Something undeniably strange and romantic is taking place surrounding the lyrics depicting the classic illustration of autumn being the season of love fading away in Japanese music.

At this rate, once I return to buying CDs again, I'm going to have to add "Neo" to the Kirinji collection. By the way, the album had the highest ranking in the band's career by placing at No. 11 on Oricon, although I don't know how well their latest album "cherish" has fared.