26/04/2011

News: 官能昔話 Vol.7 Tracklist

Even though there are no details on the official site yet, it didn't take much searching on the animate site to find the tracklist for the next Kannou Mukashi Banashi

01. 官能道場プロローグ Kannou Mukashi Banashi Prologue
02. ソロ朗読「猫女房」 Solo Reading: Cat Concubine
03. ソロ朗読「浦島太郎」 Solo Reading: Urashima Tarou
04. ソロ朗読「はちかぶり姫」 Solo Reading: Hachikaburi-hime
05. 掛け合い話「ネズミの嫁入り」 Group Story: The Mouse's Wedding
06. 官能道場エピローグ Kannou Mukashi Banashi Epilogue


It was a little hard to find a story that matches the title  (neko nyoubou, cat concubine) but I expect it to be something like this one here, often called The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima in English. The story of Urashima Tarou is a well known one, we've probably all heard the story about Urashima Tarou visiting the Dragon Palace once. The third story is also known as 鉢かづき姫 (hachikazuki-hime) and is about a girl who has a pot (yes, like a flower pot) stuck on her head due to unfortunate circumstances. The Mouse's Wedding is a story about a family of mice trying to find the best possible groom for their beloved daughter.


I'm curious about how the stories will turn out, especially the first one...

News: 王子様(笑)シリーズ バラエティドラマCD 1st Vacation

More details on the next Oujisama (warai) CD have been released.

The princes featured in this 'variety' drama CD are those from Snow White (CV: N akai Kazuya) Cinderella (CV: Suzumura Kenichi), Rapunzel (CV: Ishida Akira) and Sleeping Beauty (CV: Onosaka Masaya).

Set to a release date somewhere in July, the theme of this CD will be 'summer'. There will also be a mini drama "a day in the life of..."


It looks like our hilarious princes will go on a summer vacation somewhere. I'm looking forward too summer style hilarity. I wonder whether the next one will be winter themed? or maybe fall?

24/04/2011

お仕事男子 vol.1 職業 サラリーマン


Oshigoto Danshi - Salaryman

Company: Broccoli
Based on: Original
Released: 2009.11.25
Official Site: http://www.broccoli.co.jp/cd/sp/oshigoto/


Oshigoto Danshi is a series of drama CDs in which you meet various guys through your work (as an OL for Green Entertainment Productions, a company that manages idols and actors). 

This is the first CD, and it pairs you off with salaryman Kanou Tatsuya (CV: Kishio Daisuke). Even though they say salaryman his job is far from the normal desk job, but no complaints there. In the company you work for it is custom that two people work together as a pair, one does the desk work and the other one is out doing all sorts of...things.

The different tracks show you working together. You've just started at the company, so Kanou is the one who has to teach you how everything works in the company. I'm not entirely sure how much time passes in this drama, but it is nice to see your relationship develop a little bit.

I somewhat expected that the setting would be that you're already dating, basically turning into an how-would-it-be-to-date-a.... fill in blank there, but instead you meet for the first time at the beginning of the CD and this basically shows your guy falling in love with you.

Kanou is your typical all-round lovable guy. Always a positive thinker and a hard worker by the sound of it. It is impossible not to like him, although I wonder whether I would actually fall in love with someone like him in reality. Fortunately, this isn't reality so we can just float along on the story. You never become all lovey-dovey, the CD ends where your actual relationship would begin.

And because the world is always a smaller place than you think, Ninomiya Masato (CV: Yusa Kouji) the character for the second CD is Kanou his nephew, and thus makes a more or less cameo appearance.


Conclusion:
I like that you don't start out as dating but that you sort of 'grow' into it. Rather fast, but still. The CD puts you through a few situations at work (normal, succes, failure) 'developing' your relationship in the progress. Even though this volume is labeled 'salaryman' like I said Kanou his work is far from normal, but what do you expect in the entertainment business ;) I wouldn't consider it an absolute 'must listen' but it is cute and entertaining so a good choice none the less.

23/04/2011

Are you Alice? - Alice Khz.2


Are you Alice - Alice Khz.2




This is one of the Are you Alice? bonus drama's. Like the previous Alice Khz this one is set as a radio show, this time hosted by Alice (the female one). The show starts with Alice denying that there was a similar radio show a little while ago and calling it a broadcast accident. While it once again parodies radio shows it also parodies the first Alice Khz.

Alice (female) her personality makes about as much a reversal as Alice his own personality. When the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat enter the show it turns all the more weird. BL jokes all over the place.

Alice (female) tries to see BL relations in everything, even making a corner in which the listeners can send in their own speculations about who Alice will end up with, and eventually turning the radio show into a show hosted by Alice (male) and the Mad Hatter with heavy BL hints.

Conclusion:
Randomness as always with the bonus drama's. This one abbandons the radio show setting a lot faster than the first one, all the more non-sensical conversations and BL jokes though. I enjoyed the first one more, but this one is still brilliant.

News: 調律葬交 Zyklus;CODE


I actually saw the announcement for this before but forgot to post it, but it looks like IM Label is starting a new series; 調律葬交 Zyklus; CODE. (I'm guessing the reading is Chouritsu Soukou Zyklus; CODE)

The official site opened the 14th, but except for a sneak preview on the story and the message that the site will officially open on 2011.05.03 there is not much to see yet.

It looks like the story will have something to do with music, or 'scores'. As this is IM Label we can bet on it that Sakurai will be in it, and I hope he will be, as protagonist.

22/04/2011

News: 週刊添い寝 to be continued.

Yes you read that right, Shuukan Soine will be continued.

Black Butterfly announced today on their twitter acount and official blog that the series will be continued. No detailed information yet, but the home page will be updated 'with the details in the near future'.

The official site has also updated with a sneak peak image of sorts (if you visit the site often you might need to refresh before it loads the correct image).

EDIT: Black Butterfly hasn't officially announced who the seiyuu are, but Messesanoh (a website for anything and everything otome) gives us more details. It looks like the seiyuu are Yoshino Hiroyuki for vol.5 and Toriumi Kousuke for vol.6. Messesanoh list the CDs for a 2011.06.24 and 2011.07.01 release.

Many thanks to Sweet_Y from the Hibiki forums for finding this.

Are you Alice? - Alice Khz.


Are you Alice? - Alice Khz.



This is one of the Are you Alice bonus drama's. In this one Alice hosts the imaginary radio show "Alice Channel". The entire drama is presented as a radio show that his hosted by Alice. It starts out believable but as the show continues more and more slip ups happen, until the Mad Hatter stops the show and makes a fully scripted restart, which of course only ends in more chaos.

Alice reads letters from the listeners, does CMs, gets scolded by the Mad Hatter and eventually does an entirely different type of show in which he answers problems of the listeners.

The entire adventure of course ends in Alice and the Mad Hatter arguing over everything, with the Cheshire Cat only making things worse (or, more hilarious to listen to)


Conclusion:
This is one of my favorite side drama's. The radio show parody is executed brilliantly. Especially the second show is brilliant, including the background music. No real knowledge of the main series is needed, although it makes some of the letters that Alice reads all the more brilliant.


Ps: As you've undoubtedly noticed, the cover of this drama CD is where I got one of the images used in the top banner, the other one being from Alice Khz.2.

21/04/2011

News: 方言恋愛 Vol.5 Character Designs

Now we finally know how our next two Hougen Renai characters look. One the left we have our strict Kanagawa boss Yamachi, and on the right Fukushima Bartender Kaname.



News: 官能昔話 Vol.7 Announced!

Kannou Mukashi Banashi 7 is a fact! The release date is set on May 25th, and the full title is 官能昔話7~日本昔話~ (Kannou Mukashi Banashi ~Nihon Mukashi Banashi~). So I expect we will be hearing more Japanese folklore, yay!.

Inoue Kazuhiko returns, this time bringing Fukuyama Jun, Hino Satoshi, Masuda Toshiki, Maeno Tomoaki as backup to make us melt.

All I can think is: YESSS!!! immediately followed by "I still need to listen to vol.6". Now if only they could get Konishi Katsuyuki and/or Koyasu Takehito in the next one I can die a happy death (especially if Koyasu-sama did one!!). Meanwhile I'll settle for this and keep praying.

Not quite unimportant, they've announced this as 'the start of season 2' which means that there is more to come. There are plenty more folklore, fairytales, and other stories to use, so let's see what the second series will bring us!

Are you Alice? - Arrest of the Heart


Are you Alice? - Arrest of the Heart


This is the Drama CD that came with the limited edition vol.3 of the Are you Alice? Manga. It starts with Alice explaining in 2 minutes what Are you Alice is about. An explanation that explains nothing and makes you wonder what he was actually talking about. What becomes clear however is that Alice is currently staying at the Castle to help the Queen of Hearts out.

While Alice is complaining about his current situation the Jack of Hearts suddenly comes up to ask Alice his advice in love. The object of Jack's affection is the Three of Hearts, nicknamed Hatano-san (pun alert).

Between Jack not being allowed to speak, his stalker like love, Alice his non-sensical plan to help Jack and Hatano-san her awkward personality this is one of the most random and most non-sensical Are you Alice short drama's yet.


Conclusion:
If you don't know Jack his back story some of the humor is lost, or some scenes don't make any sense at all so I advise having listened to Alice no Tea Party Phase two first. Not that the story intends to make any sense of course. Which is why I love it :D

16/04/2011

オリンポス


Olympos

Company: Frontier Works
Based on: Manga
Released: 2009.09.18


Based on the manga of the same name, this drama CD has two longer stories and one short bonus story. The first is story of Heinz, the second one is the story of Apollo.

In the first story Heinz (CV: Kaji Yuuki) is praying at a church to have his wish granted, to his surprise a god actually turns up and promises to grant his wish if Heinz completes a task for him. The god who turned uo is Apollo (CV: Ishida Akira), in order for his wish to be granted Heinz has to get a 'hikkikomori' (someone who has shut himself in) to go outside. Heinz is whisked away to a strange world where he has to convince someone to leave. It turns out that the person he has to convince to leave is Ganymedes (CV: Ono Daisuke), who has no intend of leaving, nor does he believe that it is possible to leave.

The second story tells about how Apollo first became interested in humans. Apollo who used to only be interested in his sister Artemis slowly develops an interest in a shrine maiden that attends his temple. Even though she doesn't know Apollo is listening she talks to him. At first Apollo only finds her annoying, but after a while he becomes interested in what she has to say.

Both stories take an interesting turn near the end. I liked the second one slightly better, it shows a different side of Apollo than the first one (where he is an absolute a**). Also, Poseidon (CV: Okiayu Ryoutarou) is hilarious in the second one.

In the short extra story Apollo and Poseidon are talking about that it became winter, but that the seasons don't matter much to the gods (even though they are wearing almost nothing). However Apollo noticed that the humans wear mufflers and suggests trying to wear one. The mental image alone is hilarious xD

Conclusion:
I really liked this drama CD. It has an interesting take on the ancient legends (btw; Ganymedes was abducted by Zeus to be his cup-bearer. I can't find a legend about Apollo speaking with one of his priestesses anywhere, but it feels like a plausible story. Besides, fiction is fun too :D
There is a second volume of the manga, and I would have really loved it if there would be a second drama CD, but I doubt it will ever be made. Sadly.

15/04/2011

男子はみんなBL!! 本当にあったBL目撃体験談


Danshi wa minna BL!! Hontou ni atta BL mokugeki taikendan


The title was just too good to pass up on this one. The fact that Okiayu Ryoutarou and Midorikawa Hikaru were in this helped too, I didn't really know Akabane Kenji before though. I was really curious about what kind of situations they would depict, and how. The idea behind this CD is that they have used actual observations from fujyoshi.jp and turned them into mini dramas. Okiayu Ryoutarou hosts a fictional the Radio Show "Climax Muteki Mousou Danshi" in which he reads fan-sent letters about real life observation of BL situations, Midorin and Akabane Kenji act out said stories.


Ummm, how can I say this? Maybe it was just that I expected more awkward or hilarious situations, but it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. Don't get me wrong, the CD is still funny enough, but just not what I expected it to be. Okiayu Ryoutarou his fake radio show is hilarious enough on its own. His over the top introductions and reactions are so overdone you just have to smile. I can't help but feel that a more genki character would have fitted the role better though.

There were two major points that were bugging me while listening to this CD. First, I can't help but wonder how much of this is real, and how much of this is made up. The stories are supposedly 'real' IE: actual observations made by visitors of the site fujyoshi.jp. But considering that some of the tracks are 10minutes long... Even if you assume the 'radio' part to be 2 minutes, that would mean someone 'overheard' 8 minutes of conversation? How exactly these situations were observed is sometimes a mystery to me as well. Most situations leave me wondering where exactly in this situation the observer was. The Department store one is probably a case on its own; I can understand it if she overheard them on the escalator, but following them into a bookstore is getting stalker-ish.

Secondly, some of these observations seem to be made during 中学校 - Junior High. Now that is just wrong. There, I said it. I can fully imagine children of that age getting into hilariously misinterpretable situations,  but hardly into the situations these stories portray. Neither do I WANT to imagine them that way. Then again, maybe it is just the outset of this CD that actively twists everything you hear (you can't NOT hear anything BL, no matter how innocent).

All of this aside, the CD portrays some really cute stories. Well more like short (8 to 10min) situations. In order they are; at the Basketball club, Gym class, shopping at the department store, on the train, at the sports festival, and on graduation day. All of them are mainly cute, mixed with some hetare xD

Conclusion:
The radio part was funny, and the actual situations cute, but this CD was simply not what I expected it to be. Or maybe I am just being fickle, I don't know. I'm curious about what other people thought, so share the thoughts people! :3

14/04/2011

感応時間III~黒つるばみの監獄~


Kannou Jikan III - Kuro tsuru ba mino Kangoku~

Company: Hituzigumo
Based on: Original
Released: 2010.12.15
Official Site: http://hituzigumo.com/lineup/gumo-0007 


The first Kannou Jikan is maybe best described as a relaxation hypnosis with wording that at times had a double meaning, while the second one had a more perverted wording. I more or less listened to this because I liked the first Kannou Jikan. The second one wasn't as good, if not to say an overdose of perverseness, but I hoped that this one would be more like the first one again.

I should have known better.

To be honest, I think that they are taking things over the top. As much as I loved the first volume, this is just plain perverted talk to the point of making me feel veeeeery uncomfortable. There is not much more that I can say about it either. Maybe that I think that tobacco, even if it is vanilla essence, wouldn't be a very good scent to get someone, ummmm, in higher spheres. Yes.

Conclusion:
If they ever release a fourth CD I'm going to give it another chance, but I really hope that they return to a more subtle wording (and setting) because this is just plain overdoing it.

13/04/2011

手塚国光: ささやかなこの願い

 
Tezuka Kunimitsu: Sasayaka na kono negai


Tezuka and Kuki Kiichi have a contest in tongue breakers, Yanagi is the referee. The drama parts are actually bonus tracks, but it is over 4 times as long as the 'main' song. Speaking of the song, it made me remember why I love Okiayu Ryoutarou so much. This is not going to be one of my favorite songs, but it is still nice to listen to.

But the drama. Crack as only Prince of Tennis can manage <3
Kiichi is on his way home when he remembers that someone said that if you say Tezuka his name trice while walking past the school gates that he would appear. Believing that it will never work he does so, and of course Tezuka appears xD After a ,to put it mildly, awkward explanation of why he is here Yanagi appears (ninja trick xD). Cue a short BL inspired scene between Tezuka and Yanagi, after which Yanagi explains that Tezuka has a passion for tongue breakers o.O

As if things weren't weird enough yet, they start a contest. The rules are simple; Tezuka and Kiichi are to repeat the same line over and over again until one of them makes a mistake. Of course they treat the contest just as a tennis match xD While the contest is going on in the background the thoughts of the 3 of them can be heard. While they start out with properly saying the line, if you keep paying attention you'll notice that it gets weirder and weirder later on.

Conclusion:
You'll probably need to know a bit about PoT for it to be funny, because the semi-out-of-character-ness adds to the crack. If you do know PoT, go and listen to it :D As a bonus, 'Dakeshimeteshimai sou sa' is played in the background near the end of the drama. Ahhh, how I love that song <3

12/04/2011

刻の男組(ときのスーパーヒーロー)」第1弾「イケメン☆桃太郎」


 Toki no Superhero) Vol. 1 Ikemen Momotaro


This is the story of Momotarou (well known Japanese folklore), but in a ridiculous way. It could have been Toki no superhero (warai) series, or anything alike. Basically that is what it is, and at least as brilliant. It starts with 'long long ago, an old couple happily lived together', after which said old couple is heard screaming at each other in some sort of argument.

For a while the story goes against what the storyteller (CV: Suwabe Junichi) says, but after a while he is slowly forgotten, to make a comeback later on. The story mostly follows the original folktale, except that the motives of most characters can be highly doubted. That, and the monkey smokes, the rooster uses a laptop to gather information, and more stuff like that.

Momotarou (CV: pretends to not want to leave the elderly couple, but once away screams that he is finally free. The monkey (CV: Miyata Kouki) pretends to be cute but that is actually just a fake personality, his actual personality is one of the worst you've ever seen. The rooster (CV: Ishida Akira) is revered as the smartest animal in the woods, but is in fact simply owns a laptop. The dog (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) has an ore-sama personality. Even though they go to oni island to save a village, they decide to sacrifice the village for their master plan to defeat the oni. Also, they seem to have crossed the ocean on a motorboat...

The music is also brilliantly out of place, all kinds of well known and/or stereotypical tunes are played in both fitting and completely unfitting situations.

The final track is a cast talk/radio announcement by Suwabe Junichi and Miyata Kouki. They start with talking about that they have no idea what to talk about. After that they simply decide to ask everyone how they felt about the recording. Puns and randomness all over the place. Also, I didn't even notice that myself, but Suwabe-san talks about the fact that all heroes in the series are named -tarou. Which ends with him listing all of them; "Momotarou, Urajima Tarou, Kintarou, Itou Kentarou..." xD


Conclusion:

It didn't make me laugh out loud like the warai series managed to do, but it was definitely fun to listen to. The over the top music is part of the fun. I would have liked for the narrator to be present in more of the story, but Momotarou his remark saying that the demon his voice sounded familiar partly made up for that.


Trivia:
Sue me, but I COMPLETELY missed that Sakurai Takahiro was the dog orz. Thus I was listening to his talk in the cast comment in compleet shock. Maybe I should pay more attention to the entire cast listing after all... *sigh* Of course, as I listened to the drama again I started to wonder how I could miss it in the first place... orz.

11/04/2011

感応時間II~深い霧に包まれた古城~


Kannou Jikan II ~Fukai Kiri ni Tsutsumareta Kojou~
 
Company: Hituzigumo
Based on: Original
Released: 2010.12.15
Website: http://hituzigumo.com/lineup/gumo-0006
 
 
Kannou Jikan is a CD series that uses semi-hypnosis and somewhat suggestive wording for your listening pleasure. This is the second CD in the series and Midorikawa Hikaru is the one entertaining us this time.

Overkill Overkill Overkill is all that I could think after listening to this. The first Kannou Jikan started far more subtle, where as this one brings you down from the start.

There is not much to be said about this, they've taken a step up from the first volume as far as the suggestiveness is concerned, and feels like that is the sole focus of this CD. But to give at least some information, Midorin does the part of your butler, who wishes nothing more than to please you. Apparently you can't walk by the way, but nothing that a little hypnosis can't cure. All of this of course have nothing to do with the actual purpose of the CD; to deliver as much smut as possible.

Conclusion:
Pure overkill delivered by Midorin his sexy voice combined with wording that can't even be called suggestive anymore - it's just plain smex, right there. I liked the first one better. It was far more subtle, had better pacing, better wording. If you feel like suicide by nosebleed however, look no further...

News: ボクたちオトコの娘


I found this while looking around the Frontier Works site and it caught my attention.

Later this month the first volume of 'Bokutachi Otoko no Ko' will be released. Apparently the story is about a new idol group. The catch? These three are actually boys.

Sakurai Seri (CV: Shimono Hiro), Mitsuya Ren (CV: Ishida Akira) and Aoyagi Tama (CV: Yonaga Tsubasa) are three boys that debut as a female idol group. And thus their days of listening to the impossible demands of the company president (CV: Konishi Katsuyuki ) or being chased by their own manager (CV: Maeno Tomoaki ) begin.

To be honest, I have no idea what kind of work this is, or what the target audience is. I just can't figure it out. BUT the cast is interesting enough to give it a try. Here is the official site, and Animate has some sample tracks up over here.

ヤンデレ天国(ヘブン) ~真誠学園 御家庭編~



Yandere Heaven ~Makoto Gakuen go Katei Hen~

Company: Holic Works
Based On: Original
Release Date: 2010.12.29
Official Site: www.hobirecords.com/yandere/index.html


Yandere Heaven is back, and better. This time the main character is loved a bit too much by her foster father (CV: Yusa Kouji) and her twin brother (CV: Matsubara Daisuke).

< insert obligatory warning about Yandere only being for those who know what they are dealing with here >

This volume was heavy. Like in the previous installments 'you' (the listener) become the object of affection of two rather dangerous characters. However, this time both characters are your family which made the setting somewhat hard to accept for me (Kakeru from the first volume was only adopted, somehow softening the setting). While technically nothing that can be labeled as incest happens, it is still your family that loves you to bits.

This probably made for a far stronger emotional impact, and you should have seen me listening to this. It probably looked very comical, but I was actually cowering at some points. Especially the scene where you have locked yourself in your room and both Naohiro and Hajime are yelling at you made me flinch. In the second volume I was too busy fangirling over Hirakawa-san his voice, but this volume really made me feel uncomfortable at times.

Luckily, the cast talk does away with all that, with Yusa and Matsubara Daisuke happily chatting about the recording, that it was impossible to identify with the characters, that Yusa has no 'dere', and puns. So as chilling as the drama can be, you'll end with a smile on your face.

A small detail I liked was that the characters from previous volumes are mentioned again. (Naohiro mentions Kakeru and Atsushi-senpai, Hajime somehow obtained stuff from Sakae, and even though Takaaki is not mentioned by name (I think) you just KNOW that the doctor they are talking about is him).

Conclusion:
The fact that this volume actually scared me at some points must mean that it was emotionally very affective. Maybe even more than before I should warn that you should only listen to this if you can stomach it. Or when you don't get as emotionally involved as myself (I was talking back to the CD, especially to Naohiro). Oh, and in case this review made you wonder whether I liked it or not: YES I LIKED IT. Me and my twisted mind

10/04/2011

木原浩勝の怪鬼宴~~旅館の怪~~

 

Kihara Hirokatsu no Kaikien -Ryokan no Kai-


Company: Natalis
Based On: Original
Release Date: 2010.08.13
Official Site: http://natalis-drama.jp/kaikien/


 This is the continuation of the first drama CD, so you need to have heard the first CD to completely understand this one. After the hauntings in the studio got worse the studio has been exorcised. However one of the seiyuu has been seeing weird things at home ever since. When the entire cast of the series they had been working on goes on a small trip to celebrate it's completion he tells his colleagues about it. One of them says that he'll ask the ghost to come haunt him, however to his surprise something really does come to haunt him.
Compared to the first CD this one is a little scarier. The story also focuses more on one (ghost)story as well. The end is really, creeeeepy. If something like that ever happens to me I won't sleep in weeks.

Conclusion:
This CD is a continuation of the first story, so it works hard on being creepier than the first. And succeeds at it. Somehow I hope that there will be a continuation again someday, because it ends in a way that leaves room for more.

09/04/2011

木原浩勝の怪鬼宴~録音スタジオの怪~


Kihara Hirokatsu no Kaikien -Rokuon Studio no Kai-



This is about a horror story taking place in a recording studio.
 
I say horror story, but it is more the telling of ghost stories. Not that that is any less scary. The story takes place in a recording studio, where after a recording one of the newer seiyuu tells his senpai that he saw something strange that morning. Somewhat expecting that no one will believe him, he is surprised that more people start to talk of similar experiences.
 
All they do is tell ghost stories, and that was more than enough to make me shiver. There are almost no sound effects that could have made the telling even scarier, but it is somehow still very effective. At times it really gave me the feeling I was there with them while they were talking. There is one very effective moment where the effects do kick in though.

Conclusion:
Nothing too scary (I managed to listen it to the end after all) but still chilling enough to make you cuddle in your blankets and not stick a hand or foot out at any cost. This is actually part one, but it can also be listened to alone. There are no surprise scare moments, but I like my horror this way; slow and creeping, there might be something, there might me nothing.

07/04/2011

かれぺっと 3キャラトークCD「鬼畜、草食、年上」

Kare Pet 3 Chara Talk CD Kichiku, Soushoku, Toshiue



Apparently this is based on the mobile game 'Kare Pet'. From what I gather it is a game in which you 'raise' a boyfriend, and depending on the choices you make his character changes. You don't really need the game to understand this talk CD though.

The CD begins with all three characters gathering at an izakaya to think of what kind of place you (the listener) would like to go this winter (Kichiku answer: 'her bed' xD). However it turns out you were also present at the time so you give them one hell of a scare. The next three tracks are all three characters talking to you for a bit.

In the final track they want to climb in bed with you, and argue a bit about who gets to sleep with you, to eventually decide they'll go chibi so that all of them can hop into your bed.
Finally there is a short free talk, Hirakawa-san is cute as always. Talking a bit about doing conversations between 3 people all by himself and what kind of character he would be (toshiue-soushoku-crossover).

Conclusion:
The first thing I noticed is that this is very short really, only 20min. The freetalk is actually the longest track xD  While you don't need to know the game to make sense of the CD it is probably more enjoyable if you do. But it is cute none the less. If you are a fan of Hirarin it is nice as a quick snack, otherwise you don't miss anything by not listening to this.

06/04/2011

Brother Android 03 - Guy



Brother Android 03 - Guy


This is the third of the four Brother Android CDs. This time your brother is named Guy (CV: Maeno Tomoaki). In the first track you (still as a child) receive Guy as a birthday present from your Parents. It turns out that your parents are never home, so in return they have sent you Guy to keep you company.

The CD shows scenes of your life with Guy, both when you were still a child and when you are older. In the beginning Guy is exactly like I would expect from an android; he acts almost solely on data and doesn't seem to understand feelings much. This does make him very honest, although a bit to straight forward at times xD

Guy actually notices your feelings for him, and is aware of his own feelings becoming more than brotherly but tries his best to remain just your 'brother'. This results in him keeping some distance with you in a clumsy way. After a talk with you he stops acting distant, but he does keep remembering you that he is your brother.

This situation makes the CD somewhat bittersweet. Even though you are together, Guy reminds you that he is only your brother. I liked this entry a lot. You can really notice that Guy sounds like an android in the beginning and more like a 'person' in the end. On a side note; his fascination with house hold appliances is really funny.


The concept itself remains interesting, and this entry is a bit different thanks to it being bittersweet. On the other hand that did leave me with a slightly sad feeling when it ended.

05/04/2011

官能昔話6 ~戦国恋絵巻~

Kannou Mukashi returns! And how! The moment I saw this I wanted to listen to it, but seeing how I was supposed to go to work that wasn't the best moment. I did have something to look forward to the entire day though. The review is once again a bit long because I'm reviewing all the tracks separately (^-^;)


Kannou Mukashi Banashi ~Sengoku Koi Emaki~


Recap: Kannou Mukashi Banashi is a series that tells well know tales in a... slightly different way. Each volume contains several stories, all done by a different seiyuu. The series uses a special recording method called 3D dummy microphone, a microphone shaped like a face. using this technology you can hear the voice of the seiyuu as if they're talking right into your ear (when using headphones or earphones.

This volumes centers on stories from warlords in the sengoku era. This means that all characters that are mentioned are actually historical people. The stories though... that is probably a whole different story *smirk*

The prologue and epilogue, are once again done by Inoue Kazuhiko. The prologue is always something to look forward too. This one made me even happier than normal because he thanks everyone for listening and mentions that 'this will not be the last time we meet'. Other than that the prologue is as wonderfully suggestive as always.

The first story is that of Oda Nobunaga and is told by Suzumura Kenichi. The story centers on his arranged marriage with the daughter of another warlord. In the beginning he treats her almost like an enemy, but rapidly becomes attracted to her. Especially his attitude in the beginning is sexy~

The second story is that of Date Masamune and is told by Miki Shinichirou. Masamune is injured when he is small and loses his right eye, after which his mother scorns for his ugly looks. The story is about Masamune and his fiance, at first he assumes that she thinks of him as ugly just like every one else does. However she truly loves him. Miki Shinichirou his voice is already sexy when he is only talking, just imagine it getting close to your ear.

The third story is that of Hosokawa Tadaoki and is told by Hirakawa Daisuke. Again an arranged marriage is the center of this story (can't be helped, most marriages were arranged at that time). Tadaoki only sees his marriage as a purely political matter, but becomes very protective of his wife. What can I say? It is Hirakawa Daisuke, whispering in my ear, and he goes slightly yandere over protective. WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR? I thought that I fell asleep during his story, twice, but I probably literally fainted while listening to his voice xD

The last story centers on young Yoroku and Kiheiji. The two of them end up going on a fetch quest to get something for Uesugi Kenshin. After the more serious first three stories this one is much lighter to the point of comical.

The previous volumes of Kannou Mukashi Banashi used to tell the stories in such a way that everything got a double meaning. The later volumes were a bit more direct, but in this one there is no doubt about what is going on. At all. The epilogue was pure overkill. Wait for Inoue Kazuhiko's "I'll be back", it is guaranteed to send you into a final fit of giggling and squeeling <3

04/04/2011

方言恋愛 Vol.3



Hougen Renai Vol.3


Hougen Renai translates into something as 'Dialect Love', which is exactly what it is. Hougen Renai tells two stories, each one takes place in a different part of Japan. The whole charm of the series is that the dialect of the location where the story supposedly takes placed is used. This volume has two new prefectures; Fukuoka and Niigata. I was looking forward to this release not only because I love the series, but also because Hirakawa Daisuke does the character for Niigata :3

But first Fukuoka. The Heroine is a high school student who visits a temple in Fukuoka to pray for succes on her entrance exams. There she meets the priest Kunitake Yoshito and his childhood friend Kaori. As she seems far too tense about her exams Yoshito decides to drag her around the city to relax for a bit.

The first few lines made me want to pull my hair out in frustration, Fukuoka ben is NOT an easy dialect to listen to. In fact, it is probably one of the worst and most difficult dialects to understand. It is probably best to listen to the entire story more than once, because the dialect takes a while to get used to so you might miss some things in the beginning. Although Yoshito does cut back a bit on the dialect when talking with the heroine. Who sounds just too cute btw!! Not squeeky-high-voice-cute, but actually cute.

The second story takes place partly in Niigata and partly in Tokyo, but it is the Niigata dialect that takes a central place in the plot. This time the heroine works for a museum and visits Niigata to obtain a specific painting for an exhibition. In the Shinkansen she meets Oshimi Keigo who is an actor. She lends him her phone because the batteries of his own one are drained, and as thanks he shows her around later on. They exchange their mail address before they both return to Tokyo, where the rest of the story takes place.

On the website they described this story to be "as pure as white snow" and I agree, it is very cute. The Niigata dialect is easy to understand. This is also the first time that the dialect itself plays a central part in the plot; Keigo, who was struggling with how to portray his characters in a sincere way, discovers that it is much easier for him to be sincere when he talks in his own dialect.

As always, I really like that the heroine has a voice, it allows for more complicated stories than when you can only listen. In both stories I got the feeling that there was more interaction with other characters, and that through that the focus was more on the dialect this time. This also made the stories seem much more natural, and gave them a fresh feeling.

Conclusion:
So far this is my favorite CD in the series. As much a Fukuoka-ben frustrates me, the story was fun so it was enjoyable. I might even say it was fun to try and understand everything he says. The second story was just too cute, and I liked that the dialect actually played a central role.
That, and it was Hirakawa Daisuke so what more do I want? :3

03/04/2011

名作文学(笑) VSシリーズ 北風VS太陽


Meisaku Bungaku (warai) VS Series - Kitakaze VS Taiyou



This is originally a well known literary work in which the North Wind  challenges the Sun to see who will first succeed to make a lone traveler take  off his coat. In this CD this tale is being told in various setting: Host club,  Original, Sangoku battle, Police story, and Door-to-door selling.

The first track turns the both of them into hosts. The one challenges the other to see can make the next customer order a bottle of champagne first. However   the  next customer is a man who came to retrieve his daughter... Hearing both   of them trying to convince the man to order all kind of things while trying to   'help' him was rather amusing.

The second track tells the (almost) original version of the story. While the   previous track was amusing to listen to this one first made me laugh out loud   (well, allmost. I couldn't really laugh in the train...xD). The music used when  the sun uses his SUNSHINE ATTACK was to brilliant.

In the third track both of them are now strategists in the Sangoku era. An  entirely new Sangoku era in which Mobile phones already existed. The first one  to defeat the opposing army is the winner. Once again the sun makes use of his  SUNSHINE ATTACK while the North Wind uses the online weather forecast to make  use of a sudden wind blowing from the north.

The forth time they are both police officers trying to get a suspect to admit   his crime. More speciffically, the man from the second track who was arrested   for taking all his clothes off in public. And a good cop - bad cop act begins~!  xD

The last story is a door-to-door selling contest. The sun is trying to sell   make-up while the North Wind is trying to sell forgot-whatever-he-was-trying-to-sell. The effect of the make-up is just too brilliant.

Conclusion:
Even though the result of the match is the same every time (it follows the  original setting after all) it is interesting to hear how they managed to turn  it into a different settings. Another interesting thing is that they keep the  same (or almost the same) personality every time. In the beginning I had some  problems keeping the voices apart, especially when the discussion got more  heated. BUT it was a brilliant CD that I recommend to everyone.

02/04/2011

官能昔話2~アンデルセン童話~


Kannou Mukashi Banashi 2 ~Andersen Douwa~


Kannou Mukashbanashi is a series that tells well known tales in a... slightly different way. Each volume contains several stories, all done by a different seiyuu. The series uses a special recording method called 3D dummy microphone, a microphone shaped like a head. using this technology you can hear the voice of the seiyuu as if they're talking right into your ear (when using headphones or earphones), and they've made sure that they talk very eroi. This volume contains stories based on the fairy tales by Andersen.

We start out with Inoue Kazuhiko once again explaining that headphones should be used to listen to this drama CD, and testing whether you've put them on properly. This time he instructs you to 'open [the headphone] wider' or in case of earphones 'insert the earphones deeper'. Here we go again~

Like I already mentioned, all of the stories in this volume are based on famous fairy tales by Andersen. Inoue-san once again acts as the person that loosely links all of the stories, by telling you the stories that his master (Andersen) wrote.

The first story is The Little Mermaid and is told by Sakurai Takahiro. We probably all know the Disney version of this one, which actually follows the original pretty closely, except that the original doesn't have a happy end xD This one does follow the original though. As much as I love Sakurai his voice, couldn't bring myself to really like this story. It just didn't leave as much impact as the others.

The second story is that of the Match-selling Girl and is told by Yusa Kouji.
I don't think this is a very well known story, but I might be wrong. At any rate it is a story about a girl who tries to sell matches while it is snowing outside. As she lights a match to try and keep herself warm she sees an image of a warm home with a warm meal that is all to tempting. I know I'd be instantly tempted if a voice like that invited me for sure...

The third story is that of the Snow Queen and is told by Miyano Mamoru. I couldn't remember the story at all to be honest. A magical mirror that in which everything that is beautiful seem ugly and twisted and everything that is ugly and puny will seem beautiful and important breaks and scatters over the world. When the childhood friends Kai and Gerda are playing outside two splinters fall into Kai his eye and heart. Kai changes from kind and warm to cold, and eventually marries the Ice Queen. Gerda goes after him to bring him back. Mamo-chan actually has a pretty versatile voice range, making this story interesting to listen to.

The fourth story is that of the King with Invisible Clothes (I don't know the actual name of the story) and is told by all of the seiyuu. Mamo-chan voices the role of the King who is deceived by two fake tailors (Sakurai and Yusa) into wearing invisible clothes. Like before this last story is less serious, and there is much less ero. Although the scene in which they 'dress' the king is... xD


Conclusion:
Inoue-san his introduction is brilliant just as before. While I didn't like the first story all that much I loved the rest. Hearing these well known stories told this way is just too entertaining. Ehm, my perverted mind has absolutely nothing to do with this. Nothing at all.

01/04/2011

Hituzigumo April Fools




Aaaand Hituzigumo their April Fools is online as well. The above video was posted on their home page as their new work. It is a workout dvd that will get your body into shape by just looking at the gorgeous body and dancing of Subaru up there.

I wonder where they got all the dance moves from.... it is pretty amusing to watch and the voice over has some hilarious moments  ("... and on disk three he will pull you into bed and -oops I've been talking too much.")

I'd almost like it if they actually released this.

週刊添い寝CDシリーズ vol.4 壮介


Shuukan Soine CD Vol.4 Sousuke


A CD in which your boyfriend cuddles next to you in bed and talks with you until you fall asleep. The fourth and last volume in the series, this one is voiced by Terashima Takuma.

I don't know whether 'soine' would be the right term for this CD. As you might have predicted by the cover and the seiyuu for this one, Sousuke is your typical genki character. The CD also starts with him not wanting to go to bed at all, and I have to say his genki-ness is addictive. It only made me feel more awake than wanting to fall asleep xD

Sousuke is really cute. Genki brats, kids, guys aren't really my type, but I have to admit that he sounds like someone who is a lot of fun to be around. He has a cute way of teasing you, and reacts even cuter when you tease him back. The story he tells was very cute as well, although it had some very illogical moments (I guess that are fairy tales for you xD)
When you've fallen asleep his real kindness show, I really loved the part where he talks on his own. Although it still kept me awake more then wanting to fall asleep. The wake up track is just like I imagined; Sousuke doesn't let you get up. (even though you were already up - he simply pulls you back into bed).

Apparently this was the first time Terashima-san did a recording with dummy head mic. Like everyone he is entertaining himself with trying different positions and listening to the effect. One of his last comments is actually sort of rude (he also says so himself xD) but it was intended in a cute way so no harm done xD. He also however explained a bit about how the recording works which is interesting.

Because Sousuke is a genki(ish) character he started out with a bit of a disadvantage, but he managed to turn the situation around. He'll never be my favorite but I had a lot of fun listening to this CD. I know a lot of you have a soft spot for genki characters, so I know you'll have a lot of fun with this =)

IM Label April Fools

IM Label is having a bit of an elaborate Aprils Fool joke; their entire site has turned into a website for the fictional adventure game "RishuJeriku Duet".


Characters from one of their series, 'teidenshoujo to hanemushi no orchestra', are used as the supposed characters for the game. The site has a character page, story details and voice samples, banners, and all.

Go and check it out as long as the site will remain up if you like