Customer Reviews

Kahimi Karie

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

OK, so Kahimi's vocals are breathy, underpowered, lacking in range and stylization, and so ethereal they are oftimes buried in the mix; her attempts at enunciating English words are feeble and scatter-shot, to say nothing of her French (in which she sings a couple songs)... but none of that really matters, because, all totaled, the way she-of-the-funky-green-hair sings is utterly sexy, disarming and relentlessly charming, possibly because of all its shortcomings. I shouldn't like this, but I do - a lot. This is pure bubble gum pop, but of the sincerest and most refreshing kind. The final song, "The Way You Close Your Eyes," seems like the perfect end-credits music to a teenage romance where everything unexpectedly works out well in the end - a reassuring message welcome in these bleak days. I have to say, of all the albums released in the 1990's, this is the one I would chose to play over and over again (though I'm not sure if that's more a compliment to Kahimi or a statement about the sad state of current music). This music makes me happy.

There are so many reasons why I should not like this album.Kahimi writes only one track, and does very little except sing andlook pretty. But I don't think she needs to do anything else. Her true pop sensibilities make her so incredibly adorable, that I can't imagine saying anything negative about her or this compilation. Most of the songwriting on this album comes courtesy of the always over-looked Momus, and the Japanese wonderboy Cornelius. Kahimi's collaborations with both of these artists' songs has breathed life into the compositions. Her breathy, sexy vocals are impressive not because of her vocal range (which is small at best) but because of her innate ability to sing pop songs. And not pop songs in an Aguilera-type fashion, but in a post-post-modern Japanese fashion. With influences from all over the world (Parisian, American, Asian, etc), Kahimi is a true pop artist. And that is what I love about her. She doesn't try to be anything she isn't. There's a truthfulness to her superficiality that is so amazingly NOW...I am smitten.

this is simply spellbinding. kahimi's soft voice works a world of sound with ecclectic (not trite) music. it revolves around a world occupied by serge gainsborogh, komida, space and gert wilden. kahimi's background in photography gives her the eye for music; the ear can help you create the music but the eye allows you to see where it's going, and that is her special place in music.....a visionary.

I'm a bit late in discovering Kahimi Karie, I know.
But I must say this CD sound much fresher and innovative than many of the CD's I listened to this year.
In a funny way, it sound to me as a combination of Vanessa Paradis sing to the Beatles tunes...

K.K., a Japanese native, Paris resident, sings in English-French with her thin, high whispering voice, which fit together perfectly to the melodies by her collaborators; usually Cornelius - her former boyfriend and Momus. The result is sensual, stylish, unique and pleasurable compilation.

lighten up, people! this is pure pop music, nothing more, and kahimi doesnt claim to be john lennon or something, so get off her back! in a world where britney spears, christina aguilera and the like are considered "good" pop music by the brainless couch potatoes of the world, kahimi is showing us the potential that fun ear candy can have!word to your mutha!

Japanese, English, and French--three great languages that go great together on this fun album by Kahimi Karie. Her whispy vocals at times stray from being ethereal to almost being grating, but the solid instrumentals backing her save the tracks when they start to wear thin. In particular, the song "Dis-Moi Quelque Chose Avant De Dormir" is a gem, and almost worth the price of the album alone.

If you can understand the meaning of the lyrics of "la lecon de Francais", and "ma langue au chat", you will see how adorable those songs are, and even love her much more! And her voice...! She is awesome.

I first heard of Kahimi Karie from Momus, the "analogue baroque" pop provocateur who raved about her in the liner notes to his album PING PONG, which included a performance by him of the song "Lolitapop Dollhouse" which he wrote for Kahimi. This album is a collection of singles and other tracks compiled as Kahimi's first U.S. release, and I was very excited for the start of her career in this country, even more so after I listened to this album, because it's really good.

Publicized as the Shibuya-Kei Princess in Japan, Kahimi's music is certainly very Shibuya-Kei, mixing in elements of pop (French, American and Japanese), jazz, electro and more. Her kittenish little-girl voice seems limiting, but in fact she's able to tackle big beat pop songs like "Good Morning World", harder-driving electropop like "Le Roi Soleil", and delicate pastoral tunes like "The Way You Close Your Eyes" with equal aplomb. A few songs on the album were written or co-written by Cornelius, with whom Kahimi had a brief relationship, and his lively "Candyman" is one of the high points of the record. Kahimi also has a great way with covers; she stamps a brand-new personality on Astrud Gilberto's classic bossa nova "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie" and Serge Gainsbourg's "Serieux Comme le Plaisir" without erasing what made the originals so good. Possibly the best moment (on an album filled with them) is the bouncy acoustic-led "Mike Alway's Diary", the title track to her debut LP from 1992. I don't know if it's a re-recording or not, because I've never been able to acquire a copy of that album.

Unfortunately, this disc didn't usher in Kahimi Karie's superstardom in the U.S., and after one more domestic release (K.K.K.K.K.), her record labels stopped shipping her albums to the States. Which basically means that I'm going to be spending a fortune buying her catalogue as imports, because I really have enjoyed everything I've heard from her and I want it all. In 20 years, when my kids are complaining to you about how their dad can't afford to send them to college, you can look back to this review for the reason why.

Her whisper-like,pretty soft vocals are the best and most appealing I ever heard in music,which sounds like pretty candy-girl pop.BUT THERES A MAJOR PROBLEM to this recording. The recording of her ultra-pretty-whisper-like vocals should of been much louder in volume.(not changed in anyway but louder in the mix). I found it very disappointing that the volume of her vocals were NOT AT ALL loud enough in wonderful emotional tracks like CANDYMAN,MIKE ALWAYS DIARY,ZOOM UP! and many others. Didn't the producers of this cd realize that her vocals were the MOST important element in this music and should of been considered as the lead instrument???(my heart is broken). That is why I gave this cd 3 stars.

Girlfriend of the French singer-song writer Katerine, Kahimi Karie is the righteous heir to the throne of "Queen of Japanese Pop". The talented girl had done so many brilliant works (ie Larme De Crocodile, Le Roi Soleil..etc) perviously thus her ability to make out good music was widely recongised. Yet another top class album K.K.K.K.K. has shown the capability of this gifted girl in a brand new dimension. Like what Nick Currie(aka Momus) suggested, she would eventually bang the world with a storm. If you want me to tell you a reason to buy this album, the answer would be simple: Because Kahimi Is The Queen!