A cover

A

Ayumi Hamasaki · 1999

75 min · 14 tracks · J-pop · electronic

Ebullient pop anthems intertwine with electronic beats, showcasing a vibrant blend of J-pop and dance music.

Why this album works

'A' is significant for its role in popularizing J-pop outside Japan, reaching high positions on charts like the Oricon. The EP’s innovative remixes and dynamic production influenced subsequent artists in the genre and helped establish Hamasaki as a key player in the Asian pop music scene.
Best for
ebullient anthems for celebration wave-like pacing with remixes dance floor energy boost
Context
Released on August 11, 1999, 'A' was Ayumi Hamasaki's first EP, marking her emergence as a leading figure in J-pop. This release followed her successful debut album 'A Song for XX' and solidified her status in the music industry as she began to experiment more with electronic sounds and diverse production techniques.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 too late (original version) Standout 4:20
  • 2 Trauma (original version) Standout 4:16
  • 3 End roll (original version) 4:48
  • 4 monochrome (original version) Standout 4:28
  • 5 too late (Razor ’N Guido remix) 8:12
  • 6 Trauma (Heavy Shuffle mix) 6:09
  • 7 End roll (HΛL’s mix) 4:16
  • 8 monochrome (Keith Litman’s Big City Vocal mix) 9:35
  • 9 too late (instrumental) 4:19
  • 10 Trauma (instrumental) 4:16
  • 11 End roll (instrumental) 4:48
  • 12 monochrome (instrumental) 4:30
  • 13 End roll (NEURO‐mantic mix) 5:08
  • 14 monochrome (Dub’s full color remix) 6:42

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata