Maki Goto is back (and on good terms with UFA?)

After almost 2 years of tempting us with her Avex career relaunch, Maki Goto is finally going to release her debut mini-album on the 28th of July, titled “One“.  We’ve seen her start a blog, train in LA, release a number of digital singles and eventually a mini-album under the SWEET BLACK name and start the year with the sudden death of her mother – it by no means has been an easy journey to get to this point.

So with her latest album impending, how will this all work out for Maki?  A return to J-Pop we’ve been told – which I didn’t belive when I heard it.  Maki sits so well with RnB (especially considering those almost naked magazine pictures which have been splashed all over the internet – some say classy, personally I say skank).  Her voice also was very different from the 2 queens of RnB in Japan in that it’s quite sweet and not as deep.  However, from listening to the singles, Maki seems to be trying to make her own kind of music, rather than mussel in on disputed territory – a much more original way to go!

The other surprise is that Piccolo Town, one of UFAs labels is going to be releasing a “greatest hits” compilation of Maki’s work from 2001-2007 on August 25th.  Along with Mini Moni, W, Miki Fujimoto and Coconuts Musume, Maki was one of the inactive artists who missed out on a Hello! Project compilation album at the end of 2008, despite being one of their most influential and famous acts, and there’s been constant speculation over whether her old songs will be used at concerts or not.  The new CD’s blub also gives promotion to her new album which is obviously under AVEX’s label Rythm Zone.  But being realistic, this is mostly business however, with UFA and Avex cautiously scratching each others backs to make a bit more cash.

It makes me think that all this animosity is mostly stirred up and never actually exists between former artists and UFA (with the exception of Ai Kago) – this is business after all.  Maki has spoken multiple times on her radio show about her past as a Morning Musume member, which is undoubtedly a major contributing factor to her fame.  She also sent a bouquet of flowers to the Elder’s graduation concert last year which was publicly displayed.  Okay, the timing was dodgy that she left soon after her brother’s arrest, after being alleged to have an affair with one of his accomplices, but at the same time, I think H!P would never have been able to push her career in the way she wanted it to go.  Her back catalogue was becoming pretty unsuitable for transferring amongst the members, in that I think even H!P would maybe have some reservations about letting Frances & Aiko perform a rendition and dance routine of “SOME BOYS! TOUCH” (have you all got that horrible image in your heads now?).

But on to the music, the major factor which most of us (hopefully) will be judging Maki on.  “Eyes” is the second preview from the album which has been released and has re-enforced that Maki will be returning to pop (which I’m surprised at).  Musically it reminds me of early Hello! Project songs, but vocally Maki’s developed a beautifully deep edge to her voice.  The first preview released before this was “Houseki“, another dance number demonstrating Maki’s clear vocals.

I’m looking forward to the release of this mini-album now, even if it’s only 5 tracks long.  Hopefully Maki may be the first former H!P member to have “graduated” and had some kind of musical success.

“One” will be released on the 28th of July in Limited edition (with DVD), a special Don Quixote edition and regular.

1. Houseki
2. EYES
3. Wagamama
4. Ienai Kedo
5. Hana Uta -hanauta-

And here’s the preview of “Eyes” – the toilet scenes remind me a bit of “The Peace“