Aki Koike -- Naked Natural

 

Welcome to Urban Contemporary Friday on KKP. Compared with the early part of the week when the weather gave us for a few days what the Japanese go through for a few months, it's gotten pleasantly cool here in the GTA. However, I'm sure that the sun worshippers are a bit disappointed, but I'm also certain that some of those hot and hazy days will still be coming.

Back in 2022, I wrote an article about a not-particularly-well-known R&B singer by the name of Aki Koike（小池映）and her groovy song "Ichi Byo"（1秒）. Well, from the same 1997 album "Pure Touch of White", I give you "Naked Natural" which is also another slice of fine Japanese R&B thanks to the songwriters: Koike herself and Satoshi Kadokura（門倉聡）. Love the piano chords, the bubbly bass and the singer's sultry delivery. Perfect since Koike is inviting some fortunate man for a roll in the hay, so to speak.

Aki Koike -- Ichi Byo（1秒）

 

Regrettably, I couldn't find much information on the singer-songwriter Aki Koike（小池映）outside of what she has released for her discography which might be as many as 7 singles and 4 albums between 1995 and 2000. 

KKP contributor HRLE92, i.e. YouTube's Island Fantasia, placed one of Koike's albums onto his channel last year. "Pure Touch of White" is her 1997 album and that first track "Ichi Byo" (One Second) is already burrowing its way into my head due to its slow groove. Written and composed by Koike with Satoshi Kadokura（門倉聡）also helping out on the melody, it's a nice and casual night walk through the city. Considering that I had thought of Misia and Hikaru Utada（宇多田ヒカル）as the vanguard of the new J-R&B at the end of the 20th century, hearing Koike for the first time, I think that I may have to adjust my thinking somewhat. At the same time, I am also reminded of chanteuse Harumi Tsuyuzaki（露崎春女）as well.