This is Se7en’s first Japanese album released on 2006.03.08, the same day as his third Korean album 24/7.

The album starts brilliantly with the fresh and sexy Puzzle. Opening with a heavy electronic beat and breathy tones, you immediately know it’s going to be a sexy dance song. It doesn’t disappoint. The song combines a heavy dance beat and electronic effects with a strong Rnb feel. The strong instrumentation and Se7en’s beautiful voice, that suits the genre completely, really does make the song. There is also a dominant sensual feeling to the song, thanks to Se7en’s beautiful voice and the breathy spoken parts, that completes the track. Noticeable parts include the pre-chorus, with the slight electronic effect and the catchy, smooth chorus with interesting use of numbers and the drawn out Korean phrase. Then the bridge with just the beat and Se7en breathing is just….gah. The lyrics are equally suggestive, but not in that sort of skanky gangster way. It’s a gorgeous sensual song, extremely catchy and no matter how many times I listen I still feel as if it’s the first time I’m listening; it never gets old.

The album flows into the next track, Entrance which compared to the heavy feel of Puzzle, is light and upbeat with a very airy feel. Se7en’s voice is truly melting for this song, he sounds so light and just so happy…..his voice is beautiful and so pure yet still really sexy. The instrumentation is pretty cool with a fast beat and nice electronic effects. I love how it switches near the end becoming slightly grittier with a nice rapping part before going back to the light, upbeat feel. The ending is the highlight with Se7en in his beautiful voice singing “I need you, want you” with some equally wonderful adlibbing. Overall this is a sweet and light pop number, another absolutely amazing song. It’ so catchy too!

The third track is スタートライン(Startline) another pop number this time with a slight RnB beat. The synth strings are also pretty cool. Despite Se7en’s amazing voice, and the great feel the song has: it is kind of slow and slightly tedious. When the rap suddenly comes up it’s a welcome variation to the song. The song really picks up after that with a really great bridge, and the change of instrumentation for the repetition of the chorus. The song then finishes well- I really like Se7en’s adlibbing. It’s not a bad song; however it is not the most interesting at times and it takes a while for it to start up and become interesting.

The album picks ups again with 蜃気楼-SHINKIRO-a smooth and calming down tempo number. The instrumentation is soft RnB combined with synth and electronic effects. It does have a slight dance feeling and those sensual undertones to it (like puzzle) but there’s a darker, more bittersweet, feeling. There is a great opening, but it’s even better once the first verse starts and Se7en comes in for the first verse; I love how he subtly accents his voice. Verses are followed by a lovely, light chorus where se7en sings in the most beautiful tone “fly away”- one of the things giving the song this bittersweet feeling. The song is filled with an almost longing feeling. The ending where the variation comes in, altering the chorus to sound even more airy is stunning. This is a really gorgeous song with an amazing feeling and wonderful vocals from Se7en. Again, like other song on the album it ends with some beautiful adlibbing on Se7en’s part but then he ends the song speaking “I want to be with you”- summing up the feelings of the song entirely not to mention his spoken voice is just as sexy as his sung voice. XD

Rainbow follows. The song starts with an interesting distorted keyboard and some other synth, in an almost jazz rhythm: then this annoying squeaky sound comes in and ruins everything. It would be great if that squeaky sound disappeared, but it doesn’t. The song could have been good but it’s definitely ruined by that one annoying sound

The first ballad on the album now with Last of Diary(which is found on one of his earlier Korean albums), a slow and melancholic track. A memorable piano part starts the song off, continuing to be one of the main instruments and then the song quietens and Se7en comes in sounding beautiful and sincere- really moving the song forward with such compelling emotion. Still remaining quiet, the chorus comes in and once more it’s se7en’s voice that really makes the song shine. Then the strings join in, and yes the piano and string combination isn’t so unique…but se7en’s voice…it is his voice makes this track the heartbreaking, gorgeous ballad it is. Then again the instrumentation isn’t that bad either, unlike other ballads it’s not too over the top or in your face complimenting Se7en’s vocal part well. The bridge where the song becomes slightly more frantic is also lovely. I just really love this song. It’s not the most unique, and it’s not Tattoo but it’s beautiful nonetheless.

Back to fast paced sexy dance numbers with Red Voice; it’s really a wake up call after such a slow ballad like Last of Diary. Fast energetic synth blasts out, then the chorus comes in…before the song shines in the upbeat, poppy chorus which is so very catchy. Still very sexy in a way, due to certain synth parts and the suggestive lyrics- sung by Se7en. It’s also quite lolworthy how spacey the synth sounds at time, in that sort of cool but tacky way. Overall a great, energetic dance song though. Really great and lots of fun to listen to.

そのままで。。。comes next and for a moment you are tricked into thinking it’s a ballad with the opening piano part, before the slow RnB beat comes in along with the rest of the instrumentation. The synth strings in this song are really well used. This is a laid-back RnB track with very nice simple instrumentation that allows Se7ens voice to shine. I really love the pre-chorus, and then the chorus itself is very expressive as well and I like the tone of Se7en’s voice in both parts. His adlibbing at one point is stunning too. It’s a little un-interesting at times, the slow beat almost relaxing in the wrong way but certain parts of this song are really beautiful.

Track 9, STYLE is a really amazing song- a fast dance number with an upbeat, urgent feeling. There is something a little dark, and mature about this song. Starting with a great opening blending accented strings and synth with a heavy beat before Se7en comes in, sounding beautiful and putting all the right emotion in like always. The instrumentation is also really great: I love the synth, and the accented strings are really interesting. I don’t mind how repetitive parts of the instrumentation are, because the song varies in other ways and never sounds boring. The way they overlay Se7en’s adlibbing over the final chorus is so brilliant too. This is a wonderful track, kind of bittersweet and very dramatic in its own way.

Another favourite of mine is next, and indeed it was this song that first made me stop and go “wow. Se7en”. It all started with this one song, FOREVER MIND. Starting quietly and laid-back with some amazing synthetic instrumentation and absolutely gorgeous expressive vocals from Se7en, the song goes into the pre-chorus: and I really love the ask and answer used here, and then the bit I still get surprised from when the song suddenly changes becoming loud and dramatic for the powerful chorus. It’s a gorgeous transition. There is another sudden change for the instrumental break- with some very nice instrumentation indeed before the song slips back into the chorus again. The way Se7en speaks and adlibs in this song is so sexy too. The lyrics are so romantic though, and overall the song feels that way- dramatic and powerful but hopeful and upbeat. Either way it’s got a great feeling. It’s an amazing song.

Key of Love is much like そのままで。。。was with very laid back RnB instrumentation. The song has a really sweet feeling to it, and I like the instrumentation and softer feel to the song. It’s a pretty and relaxing track even if it doesn’t stand out.

光 which follows is a rather nice, upbeat dance number. The instrumentation is really great, and I love how the song totally changes getting such a sense of urgency for the chorus. It’s a trick used multiple times on the album, but it never fails to create some very dramatic and interesting songs! The instrumental break with the smothered voices is kind of cool too. This is another great track.

Lastly the album ends with Forever, a nice ballad to end the album. I don’t really like it, it’s not very interesting. However Se7en gives a beautiful sincere vocal performance that prevents it from being a truly bad song.

Overall rating: 9/10 (Great. Recommended)
Favourite Tracks: Puzzle, Entrance, Last of Diary, Red Voice, STYLE, FOREVER MIND

This is an absolutely amazing album from Se7en. Only a mature and talented artist like Se7en could produce something as compelling as this. It is not quite the same as the sort of his Korean music; however it still has those elements in it which is combined with a more mainstream pop sound. I’m glad that Se7en did not go down the cheesy Jpop route and instead found such a unique and refreshing style. Ok, admittedly there’s not much variety on the album, there’s the hot dance numbers, some more laid-back RnB numbers and then some slow ballads. But every time it’s just so beautiful and each song presents something unique in its own way. Se7en’s voice really makes the album though, his voice is so beautiful and so sexy- and he gives off the same charisma he does when he performs that makes even the not-so-good tracks on here shine.

I’m always listening to this album. It was what first made me love se7en, and it’s one of my favourite albums from him- with a lot of favourite songs on it. Not only was this the album that first got me into him, and from there I checked out his Korean albums (which are really incredible, perhaps better than this or at least at the same level) which was part of me getting into Kpop ^_^

Listening to it though makes me realise how I really wish Se7en had concentrated on doing more in Japan instead of going to America and singing about how he likes them girls : ( He has found his style here and he could easily have taken over Japan. I mean it is the second largest music industry in the world- why did he just leave it behind after one album? And also just look at the lyrics to Puzzle, it’s sexy but the same time kind of classy and romantic. It goes about saying it in a good way. It’s so much better compared to the annoying lyrics of Girls. And look at the covers!! Man, he’s so hot. I really want his longer hair back instead of him looking like some damn Yakuza (I know they are Japanese and not Korean but still you know what I mean).

Anyway, I really like Se7en’s Japanese stuff. This is an incredible album. Se7en is really very talented.