Ongaku Cafe (The ’90s): UA – 11 (1996)

UA was one of the rare, fresh and unique performers to come out of the mid-90’s and her debut album ’11’ was one of my must-buy’s of 1996

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ARTIST: UA

ALBUM: 11

LABEL: VICTOR ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CATALOG #: VICL-823

DURATION: 1:05:29

RELEASE DATE: October 23, 1996

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1. Rizumu (rhythm)
2. Ookina Kini Amaete
3. Ochita Hoshi
4. Bara iro
5. Zerii (Jelly)
6. himawari
7. kumo ga chigireru toki
8. jounetsu
9. akai hana
10. Mizuiro
11. Randebu
12. * Secret track – Jounetsu (original version)

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The following review was done back in 1996:

I absolute love UA’s debut album “11”.

How I got into her music was by seeing a short clip of her fourth CD single “Jounetsu”. The song was tearing up the charts and I just remembered how difficult of a time of obtaining the CD single for it and by the time Kinokuniya SF would get it in, it would sell out.

Eventually, I had my friend who worked at the store to contact me when her first album “11” came out and sure enough, I was able to buy it.

If anything, I was more surprised overall with the album because I thought she was more of a soul R&B style of pop artist but listening to the various tracks on the album, you pretty much learn that she’s a musical artist that can adjust to various styles of music.

UA’s (which means “flower” in Swahili) music is an interesting blend of rock, jazz, reggae, funk and folk. For this album, there was a good attention towards R&B beats but incorporation of brass and funky guitar.

The first track is a good example of that, as you get these very nice beats and the brass section just playing in the background and making this track one of the cooler tracks on the album.

The second track “Ookina Kini Amaete” and seventh track “Kumo ga chigireru toki” shows a different side of UA’s music as it incorporates a rock feel, while the former has a European, almost Irish music type of feel to it.

The fifth track “Bara iro” shows that underground side as you get a distorted sound, an interesting bass line and incorporating it with jungle beats while UA just sings. It’s a pretty cool track

The sixth track “Zerii” (or jelly) and seventh track “himawari” are tracks with a deep bass drum and has that 90’s DJ Krush style of musical feel.

Another track showcasing different styles of music was the tenth track “Mizuiro” which had an enka, traditional Japanese musical style.

So, suffice to say that I was surprised by the different styles of music in each track. If there was something tying the music together on this album were the use of different drum beats. Including tracks like “Mizuiro” that features a Japanese traditional style, there is that underlying electronic drum in the background.

And the underground beats and music on this album was courtesy with a few collaborations such as Osawa Shinichi (Mondo Grosso) and Takemura Nobukazu was not only a surprise but definitely were pretty cool collaborations.

But as much as I was surprised by the music, I was more surprised by the song “Jounetsu”. The main reason why I purchased this album.

When I first received the album, I put it on track 8 and was so pissed off because the song I wanted so badly “Jounetsu” was given a king wadada dub version and it was too different. As much as I am open to dub, I just wanted the original version of “Jounetsu” and was so ticked.

As mentioned before, I had been trying to obtain the original CD single but it was always sold out. But one day, I was cleaning my car and had the CD playing and let it play through. And all of a sudden, the original version of “Jounetsu” started to play!

I was stoked and surprised and had to check out the CD and see what I missed. It appears there was a secret 12th track. Right after the final song “Randebuu” (or rendezvous), there is about a minute of empty noise and then the original “Jounetsu” is featured.

I never listened to the final track all that much but I couldn’t believe that the song I have been wanting so badly was hidden at the end.

Needless to say, from that time on, I have always checked every album or CD single for any easter egg. So, it was a pleasant surprise.

The CD insert booklet features the lyrics of the songs featured on the album.

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Since purchasing this album, I have since purchased older CD singles, other albums and even her music when she was part of the band AJICO.

But “11” is my first major foray into the UA world and embracing her music. Many times commuting to college, listening to this album and not knowing there was a hidden track and then just being shocked and so stoked to find the original “Jounetsu”. Good times!

UA is one of the unique Japanese artists that is so diverse in her overall musical style that I enjoyed the majority of the tracks on the album and I do recommend “11”!