Tracklist
1. Rain
2. my place
3. Together
4. Two
5. Jazz chocolat
6. Mirai Youzouzu II -Piano Version-
7. Moonshine~tsukiakari~
8. Komorebi -Original Piece For Two-
9. Rain -Instrumental-
10. Moonshine ~tsukiakari~ - Instrumental-
11. Chiri to Techin -Main Theme Long Version-

poco A poco is Matsushita Nao’s second album, but her first to feature any vocal work. It was released on October 10, 2007.

First off, this album won’t be enjoyed by anyone who needs vocals, because there are only three songs that feature any vocals. So I’ll start with the vocal pieces. Rain is a gorgeous piece with sad, wistful vocals. The arrangement is so beautiful with the piano and acoustic guitar. So, so beautiful, I just love it. The second vocal piece is Two, with another lovely arrangement this time using strings and flute as well. The melodies are just as pretty, but not as good as Rain. The last vocal piece is her previously released single, Moonshine~tsukiakari~; it’s a gorgeous ballad with a lovely piano arrangement.

The rest of the tracks are instrumentals, which are of course all piano based. my place and Mirai Yousouzo II are just piano. myy place is slow paced with a bit of a sad feeling, which would suit a ballad nicely. Mirai Yousouzo II is a really quiet piece, but quite relaxing with its simple chords and melody. Komorebi -Original Piece for Two - is a piano only track as well that has contains prominent themes from the previous Two.

My personal favorite out of the instrumentals is Together. It’s a little jazzy, upbeat, and utilizes strings beautifully. Plus, the melody, while simple, is very pretty. Jazz chocolat is, obviously, a jazz-influences piece, using string bass and drum set. It’s really fun and has some nice beats, too. The album ends with Chiri to Techin - Main Theme Long Version-, which feels a bit more epic, especially with an orchestra backing up the piano.

I like to work while listening to this album. Every piece is pleasing to the ears and isn’t distracting to other things. But, at the same time, you can just sit down and enjoy it as it is. Love this album….what a treat! I wonder if I can get some of the sheet music somewhere.

Buy this album: CD only

Tracklist
1. Moonshine~tsukiakari~
2. Sleepwalker
3. Moonshine~tsukiakari~ -Instrumental-
4. Sleepwalker -Instrumental-

You may recognize Matsushita Nao as an actress, not a musician or vocalist. She played the part of singer-songwriter Tachibana Asami in the Japanese drama Taiyou no Uta, who was a talented pianist. I was somewhat surprised to hear that Matsushita Nao is actually a gifted pianist. In fact, she has already released once instrumental album called dolce. However, Moonshine~tsukiakari~ is her first single and her vocal debut. It was released on July 11, 2007.

Moonshine~tsukiakari~ has a lovely arrangement featuring, of course, piano. It’s a ballad that starts off sounding tragic, but turns into an uplifting melody by the chorus. Mastushita Nao’s voice is not the most strong or powerful, but it has a soft, lovely quality to it. And she can really hit the high notes. The bridge is my favorite part of the song and I love all the piano runs in the arrangement.

Sleepwalker is another ballad, but with a more lounge-y feeling, especially with the snapping and percussion. It has a faster tempo and utilizes strings. The verses are soft and more relaxed, but everything comes in in the chorus. I like the ending, about the last minute or so, the most with the extra background vocals and the full arrangement.

Okay, so Mastushita Nao’s not on her way to becoming the next big pop sensation, but her songs have gorgeous arrangements and her vocals are quite good. I wonder if she’ll ever write a rock song or play around with electronica. And I really want to hear the full version of ‘Wish,’ the song she sang in the Taiyou no Uta dorama.