Anna Tsuchiya + Yoko Kanno + MIYAVI = WIN

J-rocker Anna Tsuchiya has one helluva voice. Whether singing in Japanese or English, her sound is one that is instantly recognizable. For her latest single, “Master Blaster”, she teams up with some legendary musicians. The Queen of Anime music, Yoko Kanno, and Visual-Kei guitarist virtuoso, MIYAVI.

This song, while enjoyable and full of energy, sometimes forgets what musical genre it’s in. It starts with a very 90′s style intro (think P.Diddy’s “Come with Me” from the U.S. Godzilla OST), then jumps straight into a modern country groove that would feel at home on CMT. From there, it grows into a medley of j-rock power ballad rhythms with Kanno’s strings punching through it all. MIYAVI’s solo feels restrained, but given the song’s multiple personalities, it works. Over all of this is Tsuchiya’s signature vocals. For someone who claims she lost her fluency of the English language when she was 7, she has kept such an advanced understanding of it. Not once do I strain to comprehend what she’s saying.

Overall, the song definitely has an epic feel to it, and while I like it, I don’t love it (though it’s growing on me). Check out the music video after the break, complete with a bar brawl.

masterblaster by Anna Tsuchiya feat. Yoko Kanno and MIYAVI