I've Sound

I've Sound, or simply called I've (アイブ, Aibu), is a Japanese techno/trance music production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different female vocalists, known as utahime (歌姫) to their fans.

They have created the theme songs for many Japanese adult games, most famously the opening "Tori no Uta" to Key's popular adult visual novel and anime Air. More recently, they have been creating the theme songs to anime series. Among anime fans, I've Sound is well known for providing the theme songs to such series as Black Lagoon, the Please! franchise (Please Teacher! and Please Twins!), the Shakugan no Shana series, Starship Operators, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, the Hayate the Combat Butler series, Nanatsuiro Drops, and Toaru Majutsu no Index.

History

I've has been active since 1998, although at the time they were not known as "I've". They are formed by members of the six-member Takase Fight. During this time they produced music for tsushin karaoke and adult game brands based in Hokkaidō. They also made two tracks for the Dancemania series, If You Were Here (by Jennifer) and Is This The Way You Kill A Love (by Gina), both featured in Dance Dance Revolution.

They first assumed the name "I've" when they were going to work on the adult game Lips: egao no yukue in the autumn of 1998. Production for the game was later cancelled, but this, however, sparked their ties with Visual Art's, a computer game and software maker that most of I've's subsequent works are released under.

The first game I've officially produced music for was Hakidame: Trash, produced by Zero (a brand of Visual Art's) and released in February 1999, where they were credited as I've Sound. The game featured the songs Fuck Me and Utsukushiku Ikitai.

I've's big break came when the popular adult PC game Kanon by Key was released in 1999, featuring the theme songs Last Regrets and Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho, both arranged by I've. This gained them a burst of fame among eroge gamers. These songs were used later as Inside soundtracks at Kanon (2002 Version) and as opening and ending credits (2006 remake).

They released their first compilation album, Regret in December 1999.

In 2002, I've was hired to produce the music for their first anime series, Please Teacher!, which helped to further spread their name among otaku, and exposed them internationally.

In April 2004, Kotoko, one of I've's vocalists who worked on Please Teacher, made her major debut with the album Hane. This was followed by Mami Kawada's major debut (Radiance single) in February 2005, and Eiko Shimamiya's (Ulysses album) the same year in April. Mell and sound creator C.G mix made their major releases in 2006 (Red Fraction single and In Your Life album respectively). Most recently, Kaori Utatsuki also joined the ranks in August 2007 with the single Shining Stars Bless.

I've held their first concert on October 15, 2005 at Nippon Budokan.

In the weeks before the concert approached they launched a web radio I've Talk Jam, hosted by SHIHO with Kazuya Takase and Tomoyuki Nakazawa as regulars, and had a different I've vocalist appear as guest for each show. It ended after nine shows, shortly before the Budokan concert took place.

I've Sound provided their first live-action theme for the movie Real Onigokko, with Kotoko singing the theme song of the same name. Another live-action tie-in song was for the live-action movie of the anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni which was released in 2008 with Eiko Shimamiya performing the intro and outro themes (Wheel of Fortune (Unmei no Wa) and Diorama respectively).

Members

Sound creators

• C.G mix
• Kazuya Takase (高瀬一矢) - the founder of I've Sound
• Maiko Iuchi (井内舞子) - also known as Miu Uetsu (羽越実有)
• Tomoyuki Nakazawa (中沢伴行)

Current artists

• C.G mix
• Kaori Utatsuki (詩月カオリ)
• Mami Kawada (川田まみ)
• Mell (める)
• Airi Kirishima (桐島愛里)
• Nami Maisaki (舞崎なみ)
• Rin Asami (朝見琳)

Former and guest artists

• Aki (also known as Y.Aki)
• Ayana (彩菜)
• Asame Miyazaki (宮崎麻芽) - Kotoko under a different name.
• Asuka Katagiri (片桐明日香) - Aki under a different name.
• Atsuhiko Nakatsubo (中坪淳彦), better known as FISH TONE
• Chiyo
• Eiko Shimamiya (島みやえい子) - also known as Eiko, Peko, 島宮えい子 (before 2006)
• Fuuran (風蘭) - Lia under a different name.
• Hiromi Satō (佐藤裕美)
• Iku
• Inosuke Tsutsumi (堤伊之助) - since Inosuke Tsutsumi is a fictitious person, the singer's real identity is unknown, but there are unconfirmed rumors that he is actually Kazuya Takase.
• Kotoko (ことこ)
• Lia
• MAKO
• Mary
• Mihi (美妃, occasionally mistaken for Miki)
• Miki
• Momo
• Orihime (織姫) - Mell under a different name.
• Outer - Kotoko under a different name.
• Reina (怜奈)
• R.I.E
• Rimikka
• Shiho
• Takami
• Usagi Tachibana (橘うさぎ) - Miki under a different name.
• Wata (NueroSocietia)
• Yucco (Yukko)
• Yumi Matsuzawa (松澤由美)

Other staff

• Fukuko Tsujiuchi (辻内富久子) - artist manager
• Haruhiko "Harry" Yoshida (吉田春彦) - live band member for I've concerts, drums
• Hiroyuki Kobayashi (小林拡幸) - tour driver/at large
• Michihito Terayama (寺山亨史) - artist manager
• Naoki Itagaki (板垣直基)
• Takeshi Ozaki (尾崎武士)- guitar arrangements, live band member for I've concerts
• Yasutaka Ipposhi (一法師康孝) Executive Producer of I've Sound.

Discography

Main article: I've Sound discography

Girls Compilation albums

• regret (1999)
• verge (2000)
• disintegration (2002)
• Lament (2003)
• Out Flow (2003)
• Collective (2005)
• Extract (2010)

Concept albums

• Short Circuit (2003)
• Short Circuit II (2007)
• Short Circuit III (2010)

Comic Market releases

• Dirty Gift (2002)
• Mixed Up: I've Remix Style (2004)
• I've Mania Tracks Vol.I (2007)
• The Front Line Covers (2008)
• I've Mania Tracks Vol.II (2009)
• I've Mania Tracks Vol.III (2010)

Other CDs

• I've Hard Stuff - Luding Out (?)
• I've Cure Trance Vol.1 - Psychedelic (?)
• I've Cure Trance Vol.2 - Psychedelic GOA (?)
• I've Trance Magic Vol.1 (?)
• I've Trance Magic Vol.2 (?)
• I've Trance Magic Vol.3 (?)
• I've verve - circle001 - Beyond the underground groove (?)
• I've verve - circle002 - beat spellbound-agitation mix (?)
• I've verve - circle003 - electronica-mayhem (?)
• I've verve - circle004 - Psychedelic Trance Edition (?)
• I've verve - circle005 - Psychedelic Trance Edition - Journey of Space Exploration- (?)
• I've Cure Trance Vol.3 - Psychedelic IBIZA (?)
• Master Groove Circle (2008)
• I've Sound 10th Anniversary: Departed to the future Special CD Box (2009)
• Master Groove Circle 2 (2009)
• I've Sound 10th Anniversary Departed to the Future (2009)

Videos

• I've in Budokan 2005: Open the Birth Gate (2006)
• Short Circuit II Premium Show in Tokyo (2007)
• I've in Budokan 2009: Departed to the future (2009)

External links

• Low Trance Assembly: I've Sound official site (Japanese)
• Low Trance Assembly: I've USA
• I've Sound Explorer (Japanese)