Motohiro Hata’s Halation Single (Review)

Having not seen the Itazura na Kiss anime, I never got a chance to sample Motohiro Hata’s “Kimi, Meguru, Boku,” and so, lack any level of familiarity with his works. But as I listened to the OP theme, his voice reminded me of another anime series that is very near and dear to my heart: Honey and Clover. In short, Hata’s voice in “Kimi, Meguru, Boku” is very much reminiscent of Spitz’s insert songs in Honey and Clover. If that’s the kind of sound that you enjoy, ItaKiss’s OP theme will be right up your alley.

For that matter, so will Halation. He might not deviate much from the established style that he has set in “Kimi, Meguru, Boku,” but I do think that checking out this work is worthwhile. Find out why after the jump!

Upon popping in the CD, the electric guitar part comes up, driving the introduction boldly and dramatically to set the rhythm and tempo. Once Motohiro Hata launches into “Halation,” it’s easy to be drawn into his voice, which carries a balladic air. His voice is definitely soothing, but more importantly, he sings with a great deal of passion and energy, which is especially noticeable when he goes into the higher registers. The manner in which he expresses himself in “Halation” makes it seem as though his world is lit up with happiness through the overall upbeat, optimistic tones.

The B-side, “Circles” might even be better than “Halation.” Once the guitar starts with that slow rhythm, you can’t help but feel a wave of calm as Hata sets up to tell his story. Through his singing, you can detect a sense of longing as though he were dwelling upon some past event. The slow tempo and soothing atmosphere urges you to clear your mind and reflect upon a past emotional journey and Hata’s relaxing, folksy, tone carries you back into the past extremely well.

Finally, in “Before the Morning Comes,” his voice conveys the depths of his emotions, but rather than a tone that encourages introspection, this time, the feeling he focuses upon is a yearning one that bubbles at the edge of his subconsciousness thoughts. There is an air of hope that flits about, trying its best to assure the listener that all will turn out well in the end. The only other part of note is that because this song was performed live at the Okayama Renaiss Hall, there is one part where he moves away from the microphone, and the change in the dynamics are distracting. It’s a minor fault, however, and one that does not detract from the overall pleasantness that this track, and for that matter, this album, has to offer.

Fans of Spitz’s work from Honey and Clover should definitely give Motohiro Hata’s work a shot. The music is pleasant and encourages that sense of self-reflection. If you’re looking for a nice change of pace from all those female artists, Hata would be a good one to check out for that calm, folksy feeling.

Has anyone else been a fan of Motohiro Hata’s works and would like to share other works of his that they found enjoyable?