Body (Aaamyyy album)

Body is the debut studio album by Japanese electronic musician Aaamyyy, released on February 6, 2019.

Body
Studio album by
Aaamyyy
ReleasedFebruary 6, 2019 (2019-02-06)
Recorded2018-19
Genreelectropop
Length34:18
LanguageJapanese
LabelSpace Shower Music
ProducerAaamyyy
Aaamyyy chronology
Etcetra EP
(2018)		 Body
(2019)		 Weekend / Maborosi / Etcetra
(2019)
Singles from Body
  1. "Over My Dead Body"
    Released: January 30, 2019

Background and development

Aaamyyy first worked as a musician in the early 2010s after returning to Japan from Canada, as a member of electropop groups Go Retro and Eimie.[1] In 2017 and 2018, Aaamyyy made her solo debut, releasing a series of three extended plays digitally and on cassette.[2] Aaamyyy began recording Body in October 2018.[3] A concept album set in 2615, the release was inspired by Netflix television shows such as Black Mirror and Maniac (2018).[4]

The album featured collaborations with four musicians: Matton, vocalist for the Japanese band Paellas, Conyplankton from Tawings, and two US-based musicians, Computer Magic and Jil.[5] Aaamyyy traveled to New York to collaborate with these musicians, which was shot for a Space Shower TV programme called Plan B.[6] Aaamyyy first met Danielle Johnson of Computer Magic when she interviewed her after coming to Japan, and felt like Johnson was an extremely similar artist musically. The pair created "Z" in a three hour session primarily on an omnichord.[7] Aaamyyy's session with Jil lasted around 20 hours, and she felt like the band created music similarly to her own band, Tempalay.[7]

The cover artwork was produced by Margt, a Brooklyn-based creative team.[8] The cover artwork and promotional photoshoot was shot in New York during her trip.[3]

The album closes with the song "Eyes", a song from her previous release Etcetra EP (2018). Originally a different track was intended to be released in its place, but Aaamyyy could not secure the rights to the song.[4]

Promotion and release

"Over My Dead Body" was used as the leading promotional track frm the album,[3] and was released as a digital single on January 30, a week before the album's release.[9] Aaamyyy held a two-date promotional tour for the release of Body: one performance in Shibuya, Tokyo on 9 March, followed bu a performance in Osaka on March 30.[8]

Reception

Music journalist Tomoyuki Mori highlighted the album as one that had the potential to get popular outside of Japan, noting Body's "distinctive groove, incorporating alternative R&B and bass music". He praised Aaamyyy's songwriting and trackmaking skills, especially the storymaking in "Over My Dead Body", feeling that the lyrics "painted a feeling of romantic loss (despite the flightening title)", while her vocals simultaneously expressed dread and warmth.[10] Daisuke Sawada of Bounce described the album as a collection of songs with light synths interwoven with strong melodies, and felt that he could feel her potential as a pop maker on this album. He singled out the urban R&B-style songs "Island" and new jack swing influenced "Ain't no Tame" as having an "exquisite" arrangement.[5] CDJournal reviewers felt that Body was a strong work with a surprisingly low-key techno, funk and electropop atmosphere.[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Aaamyyy, except where noted..

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."β2615" 1:31
2."Gaia" 3:16
3."Subject J" (被験者J Hikensha J) 3:13
4."Z" (featuring Computer Magic)Aaamyyy, Danielle Johnson4:21
5."Poli Sci" (ポリシー Porishī) 2:25
6."Island" (featuring Matton)Aaamyyy, Matton3:27
7."Ain't no Tame" (愛のため Ai no Tame, "For Love") 4:37
8."All by Myself" (featuring Jil)Aaamyyy, Jil3:29
9."Over My Dead Body" (屍を越えてゆけ Shikabane o Koete Yuke) 4:51
10."Eyes" (featuring Cony Plankton) 3:06
Total length:34:18

Charts
Charts (2019) Peak
position
Japan Oricon weekly albums[12] 198

Release history
Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan February 6, 2019 (2019-02-06)[13] CD, digital download, online streaming Space Shower Music PECF-3222
South Korea February 28, 2019 (2019-02-28)[14] Digital download Musicaroma
Japan August 7, 2019 (2019-08-07)[15] LP Record Space Shower JSLP116

References
  1. Shoichi Miyake (February 5, 2018). "90s Memories : Interview with AAAMYYY about 『MABOROSI EP』" (in Japanese). Neol. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  2. Daiki Takaku (February 14, 2019). 【REVIEW】AAAMYYYの歌う、“BODY”からの解放──1stフル・アルバムをハイレゾ配信開始 (in Japanese). Real Sound. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  3. Amy Nonaka (March 11, 2019). ちょっとノスタルジーを感じつつ、未来を考える1stフルアルバム『BODY』を携えてライブを開催AAAMYYYのソロ活動に迫るインタビュー (in Japanese). Pia. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. Russell Thomas (March 13, 2019). "Aaamyyy whips up a synth-heavy soundscape for the year 2615". The Japan Times. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  5. AAAMYYY / BODY [紙ジャケット仕様] (in Japanese). Tower Records. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  6. Takuro Ueno (February 10, 2019). 「ミニマムでシンプル」を実践するAAAMYYY、謎めいた作品の奥にあるもの (in Japanese). Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  7. Atsutake Kaneko (February 7, 2019). AAAMYYY『BODY』 Tempalayの鍵盤奏者でもある才媛が等身大のエレポップで描くSF的世界 (in Japanese). Mikiki. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  8. AAAMYYY 、1stアルバム『BODY』詳細公開 PAELLAS MATTONフィーチャリング曲も収録 (in Japanese). Real Sound. January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  9. "屍を越えてゆけ" (in Japanese). Ototoy. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  10. Tomoyuki Mori (February 5, 2019). Nulbarich、Nissy、Eve……海外でも通用する可能性を持った日本のアーティストの新作 (in Japanese). Real Sound. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  11. AAAMYYY / BODY [紙ジャケット仕様] (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  12. "BODY". Oricon. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  13. "AAAMYYY BODY" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  14. "Body" (in Korean). Bugs. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  15. ガールズ・シンセ・ポップ、2019年の傑作『BODY』が限定アナログ化 (in Japanese). HMV. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
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