I've Sound
I've Sound, or simply called I've (アイブ), is a Japanese techno, trance music production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Its songs feature the vocal talents of many different female artists, such as: AKI (aka Y. AKI), Ayana, Asuka Katagiri,Fuuran, Inosuke Tsutsumi, Eiko Shimamiya (aka PEKO or EIKO), Kaori Utatsuki, KOTOKO, Lia, Mami Kawada, MAKO, MARY, MELL, Mihi (sometimes incorrectly referred to as MIKI), MOMO, Reina, NANA, R.I.E, SHIHO, TAKAMI, YUCCO,MIKI, Yumi Matsuzawa. They have sung the theme songs for many Japanese eroge.
They have the music talents of Kazuya Takase, Tomoyuki Nakazawa, C.G mix, FISH TONE, Maiko Iuchi (Uetsu Miu), wata (from NueroSocietia), etc.
Among Japanese animation (anime) fans, I've Sound is well known for singing the theme songs to popular anime: Such as Onegai Teacher (Please Teacher) and Onegai Twins (Please Twins) - the opening songs of which were all of which were performed by KOTOKO, with the ending songs being sung by Mami Kawada. They also performed (Tori no Uta) and ending (Farewell Song) to Key's popular eroge game and anime; Air. Both of these were performed by Lia.
Originally, fans believed that I've stood for "I Love, I Live, I Leave." But it turns out that I've comes from 愛撫 (aibu), the Japanese word for "caress", which traces back to their Eroge roots.
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 the eroge gamers. These songs were used later as opening and ending credits when Kanon became an anime.
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 the otakus.
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).
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.
It is rumored that a second I've concert will be held sometime in 2007. However, it is confirmed that I've Sound will provide their first live-action theme, for the movie Real Onigokko, with KOTOKO providing the theme song which is entitled Real Onigokko, same as the title of the movie. Another live-action tie-in song will be for the live-action movie of the anime Higurashi no Naku Koro ni which will be launched by year 2008 with Eiko Shimamiya performing the intro and outro themes (which are entitled WHEEL OF FORTUNE (Unmei no Rin) and Diorama respectively).
Discography
I've Girls Compilations
Regret - First Album, released December 24 1999
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FUCK ME | Mihi (美妃) | From 吐溜 -TRASH- (Hakidame -TRASH-) |
| 2 | Last Regrets | AYANA (彩菜) | Main Song for Kanon |
| 3 | soyokaze no yukue (そよ風の行方) |
AKI | From Xchange2 |
| 4 | I will... | MARY | From Sweet Palace |
| 5 | atarashii koi no katachi (新しい恋のかたち) |
AKI | From Ribbon2 |
| 6 | utsukushiku ikitai (美しく生きたい) |
MELL | From 吐溜 -TRASH- (Hakidame -TRASH-) |
| 7 | Sweet ~koishikute~ (Sweet ～恋しくて～) |
AKI | From Sweet Palace |
| 8 | kisetsu no shizuku (季節の雫) |
R.I.E | From Pile Driver |
| 9 | Dream to the New World | Mihi | From koshchi |
| 10 | One Small Day | AKI | From Sweet Palace |
| 11 | Cross Talk | MARY | From Tsugunai |
| 12 | kaze no tadoritsuku basho (風の辿り着く場所) |
AYANA | Ending for Kanon |
| 13 | Last regrets -X'mas floor style- | Eiko Shimamiya (島宮えい子 Shimamiya Eiko) | Original Mix |
Verge - Second Album, released July 17 2000
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disk 1 | |||
| 1 | bite on the bullet -under mellow style- | MAKO | From Treating 2U |
| 2 | Grow me | AKI | Ending for Iinari |
| 3 | Take me high | R.I.E | Ending from Pile Driver |
| 4 | Fall in Love | MELL | Ending from Costume |
| 5 | Take on your will | AKI | Opening from Doushin ~San Shimai No Etude~ |
| 6 | Dreamer | Eiko Shimamiya | Opening from Senpai |
| 7 | Now and heaven | Eiko Shimamiya | from Midara na Tsumi ~Etsuraku no Shuujitsu~ (淫らな罪 ～悦楽の終日～) |
| 8 | Pure Heart ~sekai de ichiban ANATA ga suki~ (Pure Heart ~世界で一番アナタが好き~) |
AKI | Opening from Pure Heart ~Sekai De Ichiban Anata Ga Suki~ |
| 9 | Treating 2U -wrap up style- | MAKO | Ending from Treating 2U |
| 10 | tori no uta -short version- (鳥の詩) |
Lia | Opening song from Air |
| 11 | Never forget this time | MAKO | Original Mix |
| 12 | sora yori chikai yume (空より近い夢) |
MELL & MIKI | Original Mix |
| Disk 2 | |||
| 1 | freak of nature:start | AYANA | Original Mix |
| 2 | hyouketsu no yoru (氷結の夜) |
Eiko Shimamiya | Opening from Shin Ruri Iro no Yuki ~Furimukeba Tonari ni~ |
| 3 | RIDE | AKI | Ending from Doushin ~San Shimai No Etude~ |
| 4 | Two Face | AKI | Ending from Baby Face |
| 5 | freak of nature:end | AYANA | Original Mix |
| 6 | Around the Mind | Eiko Shimamiya | Opening from Mugen No Meikyuu II |
| 7 | Days of Promise | SHIHO | Ending from Dawn Slave 2 |
| 8 | uneasy | AYANA | From Ryakudatsu ~Kinpaku No Yakata Kanketsu Hen~ |
| 9 | Discrimination | AYANA | Original Mix |
| 10 | garasu no tsuki (ガラスの月) |
Eiko Shimamiya | Ending from Dawn Slave |
| 11 | verge | Eiko Shimamiya | From Zetsubou PLUS |
Disintegration - Third Album, released June 26 2002
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | namida no chikai (涙の誓い) |
KOTOKO | Opening for Triangle Hearts 3 |
| 2 | flow ~mizu no umareta basho~ (flow ~水の生まれた場所~) |
KOTOKO | Opening song for 水素 ～1/2の奇蹟～ (suiso ~1/2 no kiseki~) |
| 3 | I can't get over your best smile | KOTOKO | Music Video from Onegai Teacher DVDs |
| 4 | FLY TO THE TOP | MELL | Opening for Maverick Max |
| 5 | To lose in amber | Eiko Shimamiya | Opening from 奴隷市場 (dorei shijou) |
| 6 | resolution of soul | KOTOKO | Opening for D+VINE [LUV] Dreamcast Version. |
| 7 | Wing my Way | KOTOKO | Opening for Farland Symphony |
| 8 | DROWNING | MOMO | Opening for ryoujoku chikan jigoku (凌辱痴漢地獄) |
| 9 | Belvedia | SHIHO | Opening for DEEP ZERO |
| 10 | kimi yo, yasashii kaze ni nare (君よ、優しい風になれ) |
KOTOKO | Ending for Triangle Heart 3 |
| 11 | Birthday Eve | SHIHO | Opening for sense off |
| 12 | Disintegration | Lia | Original |
| 13 | ouji yo ~tsuki no ura kara~ (王子よ ~月の裏から~) |
Eiko Shimamiya | Original |
Lament - Fourth Album, released September 5 2003
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prey -REMIX- | SHIHO | Opening from Nightmare 4.1 |
| 2 | SNOW -Album mix- | Eiko Shimamiya | Remixed opening from SNOW |
| 3 | Face of Fact | KOTOKO | Opening for Baldr Force |
| 4 | SAVE YOUR HEART -Album mix- | KOTOKO & Kaori Utatsuki (詩月カオリ Utatsuki Kaori) | Original |
| 5 | kageri -Album Mix- (遮光 -Album mix-) |
KOTOKO | From Coda |
| 6 | bokura ga mimamoru mirai (僕らが見守る未来) |
Kaori Utatsuki bg: KOTOKO | Opening for はじらひ(hajirahi) |
| 7 | GREEDY | MOMO bg: Eiko Shimamiya | Opening for 失格医師 (shikkaku ishi) |
| 8 | Feel in tears | KOTOKO | From Heart of Heart |
| 9 | natsukusa no senro (夏草の線路 -Album mix-) |
KOTOKO & Kaori Utatsuki | From Railway ～ここにある夢～ (Railway ~Koko ni Aru Yume) |
| 10 | ame ni utau tanshikyoku (雨に歌う譚詩曲) |
Healing Leaf | Opening for ame ni utau tanshikyoku (雨に歌う譚詩曲) ~A rainbow after the rain~ |
| 11 | I pray to stop my cry -little sea style- | Mami Kawada (川田まみ Kawada Mami) | Remixed song from 凌辱痴漢地獄 (Ryoujoku Chikan Jigoku) |
| 12 | kanashimi no hana (悲しみの花) |
MELL | From 復讐 ～凌辱の刃～ (fukushuu ~ryoujoku no ha~) |
| 13 | Lament | KOTOKO | Original Song |
Out Flow - Fifth Album, released September 5 2003
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart of Hearts | KOTOKO | From Heart of Heart |
| 2 | Close to me... | KOTOKO | From effect 悪魔の仔 (akuma no ko) |
| 3 | sayonara wo oshiete ~comment te dire adieu~ (さよならを教えて ～comment te dire adieu～) |
MELL | From さよならを教えて ～comment te dire adieu～ |
| 4 | Senecio | Kaori Utatsuki | From Onegai Teacher Album, Stokesia |
| 5 | sensitive | KOTOKO | Opening for gimai ~haitoku no chigiri~ (義妹 ～背徳の契り～) |
| 6 | Wind and Wander | Mami Kawada | From Silvern gin no tsuki, mayoi no mori~ (~銀の月、迷いの森) |
| 7 | Ever stay snow | SHIHO | Opening for Snow Drop |
| 8 | kaze to kimi wo daite (風と君を抱いて) |
Mami Kawada | From miss you |
| 9 | sora wo mau tsubasa -Album mix- (空を舞う翼 -Album mix-) |
Eiko Shimamiya | Original |
| 10 | suna no shiro -The Castle of Sand- (砂の城 -The Castle of Sand-) |
Eiko Shimamiya | From the first chapter of 朱 -Aka- |
| 11 | Velocity of sound | MOMO | From Sonic Princess (ソニックプリンセス) |
| 12 | Out Flow | MELL | Original |
Collective - Sixth Album, released September 30 2005
| # | Title | Singer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automaton | Eiko Shimamiya | Opening for shin setsu ryouki no ori (真説 猟奇の檻) |
| 2 | Abyss | KOTOKO | Opening for Last Order (ラストオーダー) |
| 3 | IMMORAL | Mami Kawada | Opening for IMMORAL |
| 4 | Do You Know The Magic? | Kaori Utatsuki | Opening for 魔法はあめいろ? (mahou ha ame iro?) |
| 5 | philosophy | MOMO | Ending for 家族計画 (kazoku keikaku) |
| 6 | We survive | KOTOKO | Opening for V.G. Neo |
| 7 | Permit | MELL | Ending for 真説 猟奇の檻 (shin setsu ryouki no ori) |
| 8 | Lupe | KOTOKO | Ending for 凌辱制服女学園 ～恥蜜に濡れた制服～ (ryoujoku seifuku jogakuen ~haji mitsu ni nureta seifuku~) |
| 9 | Kiss the Future | SHIHO | Ending for 未来にキスを (mirai ni kisu wo) |
| 10 | Egen | MELL | From ソニックダイヴ (Sonic Princess: Dive) |
| 11 | Imaginary affair | KOTOKO | Opening for こなたよりかなたまで (konata yori kanata made) |
| 12 | Eclipse | Mami Kawada | From 燐月(Ringetsu) |
| 13 | Trust You're Truth ~ashita wo mamoru yakusoku~ (Trust You're Truth ～明日を守る約束～) |
KOTOKO | From Triangle Heart's SoundStage X |
| 14 | Collective | KOTOKO | Original |