S.O.S. Band - Sands of Time album review
The S.O.S. Band’s - Sands of Time album offers nothing but the best in music. Sultry love songs and soulful pop ballads. The legendary production team by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced nearly half of this S.O.S. Band album. With a legendary production team such as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, you know the album is going to have wonderful songs and great ballads.
On The Rise is about a love going stronger in a relationship. Gene Dozier produced On The Rise for The S.O.S. Band.
Verse 1 makes things no secret with the fact that love is growing stronger inside a relationship. All of Verse 1 is about moving up.
[Verse 1]
Everyday I can tell our love is growing stronger
My blood runs hot
When I think of what we've got
And it's because we care for each other
That the bad times have passed us by
We're on the rise
Can't you tell?
We're moving up to love
Can't you tell?
We're moving up
Everyday is to tell that love is growing stronger. That is because both people care for each other. The bad times have passed by. Can't you tell? They’re on the rise. They are moving up to love.
Verse 2 gives a detailed description of a love journey.
[Verse 2]
Since the day we began
On our love journey
We've seen love come
And we've seen love go
We've come a long way
Since the day they began on their love journey, they both have seen love go and come. Love came and went. Only to find they’re still on the rise. Can't you tell that they are moving up to love? They are going to keep on moving throughout life. Moving up to love. They’re never gonna give up.
They’re on their way to a love with no ending and to live a life of purpose and meaning. A love with no ending is very much similar to living a life of purpose and meaning.
Sands of Time was one of their better songs which produced by the legendary production team by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Honestly this is one of their most overlooked songs produced by them. Abdul Ra'oof and Mary Davis did a wonderful job singing on the chorus.
Hours pass. The weeks turn into months. Nothing can change time as time moves forward. We are bound by the sands of time. The song is about the symbol of love. Love can be everlasting.
The lyrics shown here are an example of how love can be everlasting. This will give you an idea.
Still I watch the hourglass
Wondering when I'll see you
Longing for the person I love
Mary Davis will cure your troubles with her vocals on the song Even When You Sleep as she soothes you with her caress. Even when you sleep you’ll know that Mary is there to hug and keep you warm. Shimmering thoughts of joy run through your head. The song is a relaxing R&B/soul tune. You can feel the soothing melody of this song.
The lyrics to the chorus display dreamy imagery. Read some of the lyrics below to grasp a better understanding.:
[Chorus: Mary Davis]
Even when you sleep
You’ll know that I am there
To hug and keep you warm
And soothe you while you’re dreaming
A twinkle in your mind
Shimmering thoughts of joy
Sweet dreams, my love
Until you’re awake again
Verse 2 explains a brief summary of the sadness of being lonely.
[Verse 2: Mary Davis]
Time is loneliness
When you're not around
But I continue turning the hourglass
Mary will do anything to please her man. She’ll do the best she can. This is explained in a non-discreet manner throughout the song.
By believing in yourself you can make almost anything you ever want come true. That is what is explained during the bridge.
[Bridge: Abdul Ra'oof + Mary Davis]
Thought time had run out
I almost lost hope
(No, don't)
It's hard to keep the faith
Oh, but if you believe
You can make almost anything
You ever want come true
The S.O.S. Band offers nothing but the best in music on the song Nothing But The Best. Nothing But The Best is a smooth love ballad with a pop flair. It's no secret that Nothing But The Best is a love song.
5/5*****!
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Sonny Fortune - In Waves Of Dreams album review
Sonny Fortune - In Waves Of Dreams is an album which uses a mixture of soul and jazz music. The solos on this album are worthwhile to listen to. Sonny Fortune is a virtuoso on the flute. He plays the flute on two of the five songs off of this album. You can feel warmth and power as you listen to the jazz music from this album. In all honesty, this album is one of the most underrated and overlooked jazz albums.
In the sheet music for In Waves Of Dreams, a handful of beamed eighth notes and sixteenth notes were used. Not too many single notes were used as most notes were grouped on a tenuto. An eighth rest is used on the 5th time signature. This denotes a period of silence. A whole note/semibreve (º) is used at the beginning of 6th time signature which is located next to a whole rest. No sharp signs (#) were used though as the pitch was perfect. The soprano sax uses a bass clef.
Sonny used many instruments in layers on the song Revelation. However the song sounds dated for a song that was recorded in the mid-70s.
Thoughts uses a mellow tuned double bass viola to accommodate the jazz sound. The tempo is not too upbeat but is mid tempo instead. Angel Allende puts down some nice work on the congas. Thoughts uses a 7|4 time signature. Not many songs use the tricky 7|4 time signature.
4/5****
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Happy Tooth & Dug - All in Your Head EP review
All in Your Head marked a departure from Happy Tooth & Dug’s previous album W.H.Y.G.O.D.W.H.Y from 2015. Their latest album All in Your Head centers around Effingham’s guitar riffs with each member filling in the blanks as the riffs evolved to songs. Recording sessions were held in a single room live-tracked as opposed to the meticulous recording and arrangements of the group’s debut.
The band’s indie-rock roots really show here on this EP with the raw gritty rock sound. The raw gritty rock sound is what stands out the most. Happy Tooth & Dug seemed to have mixed the sounds of blues and rock thus creating a blues rock fusion.
The lyrical themes on this album are often dark. The whole EP taps into darker more aggressive styles than the band has previously explored. Happy Tooth & Dug is known for addressing hard-to-discuss topics which are personally enough to be relatable. However there is a hint of optimism as the whole EP is filled with great moments. All in Your Head is an EP that has 5 songs with a duration of 18 minutes in length. Much shorter than your usual album. The only downside is that the instrumentation overlaps their vocals making lyrics hard to decipher. Vocals are quite monotonous also.
La Fin is the opening track for their EP. What is interesting about La Fin is how the song goes back and forth with using different time signatures. The song goes back and forth between using 5|4 and 6|8 time signatures. Some may think 6|8 is such a strange time signature. There are many song which use the 5|4 time signature in their songs.
La Fin discusses the dark side of not having money to spend on things such as bills or art. Read these lyrics:
“I work a job to make money to spend it on art/To make art about hating my job and about no money for bills or art/Taxing profits” People lose faith when it comes to working and not having any money for art. An example how people stay in a cycle of poverty.
Always A Threat has a feel of soft rock. Honestly the song has a mixture of soft rock, Hawaiian surf rock, and 50s rock. This is point in the EP where the mood and lyrical content start to change. You can tell by how the guitar notes are played that the mood is downtempo and has a negative vibe. Having friends that don’t believe in the future or their choices is quite dark and questionable. Not everyone feels the same feelings.
Good For You sounds very much similar to a blues rock song. The monotonous vocals, vibe, and mood give that away. For a song titled Good For You, the song surely has a dark vibe which is much different from the average Happy Tooth & Dug song. The average Happy Tooth & Dug song are about great moments with a hint of optimism. The only downside is the distortion from the instruments playing makes listening to the lyrics difficult.
Never has that gritty rock edge and sound. Similar to what you would hear a rock band playing at a nightclub. Hard rock meets pop rock on Never.
Never takes place during night time. It’s another sleepless night. It’s another one of those nights where you stay awake and can’t sleep at all. People stay awake at night to escape from their own reality and themselves. You never gave up but gave in nonetheless. Shortcomings are forthcomings. However there is a glimpse of hope and optimism in the lyrics. For example, such as these lyrics: “I know I’m not alone/Tell myself everything is fine a hundred times till I’m fine”
You have made it this far to get down with the get down. So get over yourself.
3/5***
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Mad One – Poetic Science / I Shoulda single review
Mad One – Poetic Science / I Shoulda is an interesting hip hop cassette single which came from San Antonio, Texas. This cassette single has a more East Coast hip hop vibe than the typical southern rap of that time. Classic mid-90s hip hop b-boy joints from the underground. True hip hop at its finest. Real talk! Now finding this cassette will be difficult because it is extremely rare. Not that many copies seemed to have been pressed.
Avicii was the in-house producer for this single. He produced all 2 songs.
I Shoulda uses sick beats and a mean bass guitar. The "sometimes" sample actually adds to the rawness of the beat despite not being in sync. The song I Shoulda uses high tape compression in terms of sound quality. The lyrics are good but the mixing is bad. Mad One attacks the mass with vernacular lyrical skills.
I Shoulda original sampled Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me. Now Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On has been sampled several times in music. That is where the “Sometimes I get a good feeling" sample came from. That sample has been used in music throughout several years.
You get done one by one by his tongue. So fuck your guns. Did you hear me clear? You gettin' dropped when I found your group. Oops, did I expose your bros as fake? Why even walk on my path when your toes will break? Fools await to realize that your time is through cause I shoulda been signed back in 92.
He’ll bring the pain like Method Man when he breaks up your grill. My agenda is contenders who contest.
Mad One is a dope rapper from another dimension. Did I mention that is what the song Dimension is about? Either way, Mad One takes us into the third dimension on the song Dimension.
Mad One takes us to the third dimension with his vernacular lyrical skills with the use of metaphors, creative flows, and punch lines. His Texas intellect is what he calls the third dimension. He can get your intellect in jeopardy.
You see, Mad One has been living in the darkness for some time now. He is the baddest of the unsigned. He enters ceremonies with the humblest of attitudes. By doing this, he engages in battle raps. For example, these lyrics are battle raps.: “I flatter crews, but if they battle I'ma have to batter crews/So who's the next kid in line for execution?/I'm ready to go to war for I'm blind with revolution”
In conclusion, he sinks into your thoughts like telepathy. If lead leaks, then you'll fit the description of a dead beast. So cease. You only bring yourself mental tension. Pay attention. For you have now entered the third dimension. You've been warned. So beware of the contender.
4/5****!!
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Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water album review
Avril Lavigne’s Head Above Water album was an emotional comeback for her after battling Lyme Disease which took years to recover from. Canadian popstar Avril Lavigne almost never fails to disappoint her fans or her audience. Head Above Water is filled with pop-rock ballads and piano pop ballads. Her pop ballads are as powerful as ever.
Half of the album is filled with the usual love songs such as Crush, Tell Me When It’s Over, Love Me Insane, and Souvenir. You can’t have an Avril Lavigne album without love songs. Crush, Birdie, and Love Me Insane are dead giveaways of love songs.
So far 2019 has proven to be a good year for her. She has had to songs chart the BillBoards with moderate success. The lead single Head Above Water charted #64 on the BillBoard with moderate success in both 2018 and 2019. Tell Me When It’s Over charted #36 in the US and charted #20 in Canada.
Head Above Water was an emotional comeback for her as the song served as her comeback to music. The song Head Above Water is about fighting morality and death. Not many people know thins but Avril was making references to religion in the chorus. Avril Lavigne wrote this piano pop ballad herself basing the song on her fighting morality and death after being diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Head Above Water is a powerful piano driven pop-rock ballad.
The title track served as the lead single coincidentally enough. This has proven time again in pop music to name your album the same title of your lead single. However Avril shocked fans by naming her album the same title as the lead single. So to say. Avril did right choosing Head Above Water to be a lead single.
Musically speaking, the F major key is used for the most part which coincides with her vocal range used on this song. Her vocal range spans from low F3 to high F5.
Warrior is a bar none, fade all type of song. The song is about how Avril is a warrior who can fight her own battles that she know she will win. She shows resilience by not giving up throughout the song. The song has a power punk vibe. Warrior would have been a good thrash metal ballad given the appropriate title.
Avril will pick her battles because she knows she will in the war. Steadier than steel she is ready with her shield and sword. She has gathered all her strength for more. There is no backing down for her as she will not back down. No, Avril won't break. She is not afraid to do whatever it takes. She is a warrior. She is a warrior who fights for her life.
Like a soldier all through the night, she fights with all her might. She will survive. She fights like a viking.
These lyrics show her resilience:
Like a soldier all through the night
And I won’t give up, I will survive, I'm a warrior
And I'm stronger, that's why I'm alive
I will conquer, time after time
I'll never falter, I will survive, I'm a warrior
She’ll be fighting through the day and night like a viking. She’ll be marching through the darkness 'til the morning lights. Even when it's harder, she won’t stop. Avril won't drop until victory is hers.
Souvenir is Wish You Were Here revisited. Avril wishes her man to spend his whole life with her in a relationship of love that will last forever.
Avril does not want her man to leave her. She will be in disbelief if he leaves her. Avril hopes this love will last a life time. She wants this love to last forever. She wants him to spend his whole life with her. She holds him tight not letting him go. She tells him, “Stay awake with me the whole night.”
That is what these lyrics are a reference to: “I hope this summer breeze will last more than a season”
The man ends up leaving Avril. This leads to Avril asking him a handful of questions in the chorus. Avril asks him the following questions during the chorus.: Can I keep you as a souvenir? Can I take your shirt to dry my tears? Can I meet you here this time next year? Can I keep you as a souvenir?
Verse 2 is where she begins to envision how she wants things to be. This is where the gets intimate and clingy.
[Verse 2]
I taste salt in the air and in your sweater that I sleep in
I dream of us riding bikes at sunset by the ocean
Those were giddy days, lazy days
Sipping rosé, time to waste (Sipping rosé, time to waste)
The last line in the chorus is a reference to Wish You Were Here from her 2011 album. Read the lyrics to the chorus.
[Chorus]
Can I keep you as a souvenir?
Can I take your shirt to dry my tears?
Can I meet you here this time next year?
Can I keep you as a souvenir?
We could take a chance and disappear
We could run away, get outta here
Can I keep you as a souvenir?
Wish you were here
Avril develops a sentimental attachment to her man and grows to love him. She does not want him to leave. The souvenir she is asking him is sentimental to her. Moods used to describe this song are romantic and sentimental.
4/5****!
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NorthWind Wolves - Mountains and Darkness album review
Mountains and Darkness is the second album by NorthWind Wolves released by BLACK LION RECORDS for 2019. Fans of black metal will enjoy this album! This is an album you will regret missing out on if you have not already heard the songs. The album has that darkened grim as their first album Dark... Cold...Grim... did. One word to describe this album is dark. Perfect black metal.
Before Dawns First Light serves as the opening track for this album. It’s the calm before the storm. Despite the title, Before Dawns First Light has a dark black metal sound.
Before Dawns First Light starts off with an array of off key synths. Things get dark real quick as the guitars get to playing. The mood is similar to a dark night surrounding a castle. The black metal begins and the song goes into dark territory quickly.
The snow-capped Mountains in the distance that night shone like crystal ice. The angels cry. The world will burn. Night will turn to day. Is it Evil who rules the day? Look to the moon in the night before the Dawn's first light.
Things get very grim towards the end as death occurs.
'Til death descends and I slip away...
No more regrets 'cause I'm here to stay
I'm in your corner and I'll Be by your side
I'm so Fucking evil, I know that you lied
The venom in my fangs now on your breath
The Sun is Fading, Prepare for your Death.
Ludmilla the Witch is a twisted black metal tale about a witch named Ludmilla.
Ludmilla is a witch. Her skin pale as snow like a ghost in the night. Visions of her spirit haunt in the light of day and in the night. She gave you everything you wanted and needed. However it feels as if every choice made just wasn't right. She is the source of everlasting evil, bringer of unholy death. Looks and personality can be deceiving.
Ludmilla casts a spell during the chorus. These lyrics explain what happens when beauty and darkness meet each other.
Skin pale as snow like a ghost in the night...
You've casted a spell and poisoned my sight...
When beauty and darkness align for true pain...
The wicked Ludmilla emerges again...
When beauty and darkness meet each is when Ludmilla casts a spell. The skies blacken. Her Basilisk Demons to crush you tonight. Mysterium winters of unholy light. Ludmilla's still watching with every last breath. She is the bringer of death. Her Basilisk Demons to crush you tonight. The ones who die are innocent.
Lord of winter and death is a wicked dark death metal song about how the world will end in fire. It’s a brash driven black metal song. Some people have said the world will end in fire in an eternal blaze. A curse by wicked frozen skies. Only time will tell. Valley of Twin Peaks is now covered in blood from an aftermath of a battle. Lost souls fill the air. Royal Knights with noble sights patrol these borders now. To sum it all up, the world will end in an eternal blaze of fire.
5/5*****!
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Jewell - Black Diamond album review
Jewell’s self-titled album gives the music industry what it’s been definitely missing. Singing with real talent and actual lyrics along with sultry R&B sounds. This is definitely what R&B needs now. The Death Row sound needs to come back.
Black Diamond contains material recorded on Death Row during the mid-90’s. Some of these songs have never been released before. Some songs are brand new despite having been leaked online to the internet years ago. Jewell’s self-titled album is actually the Black Diamond album under a different name. Half of this album was produced by Demetrius “Meech” Shipp. She is a great vocalist regardless of who does production.
Jewell’s Black Diamond album was supposed to be released in mid-1995. But of course being that the album was recorded on Death Row Records, the label dropped the ball on songstress Jewell by not releasing her album that year but instead nearly 2 decades later in 2011 on the Canadian label WIDEawake Entertainment. It’s a shame Death Row didn't do more with artists like Jewell, the former first lady of Death Row Records.
Sadly many people did not support the release of her album because WIDEawake did not properly master the album with upgraded technology. Some songs on this album were not mixed and mastered properly. Many Death Row fans viewed this WIDEawake/Death Row release as a bootleg. A lack of proper mastering, leaks, and bad timing are what led to low album sales which was unfortunate for Jewell, Death Row, and WIDEawake. Former Death Row fans viewed WIDEawake as a joke. At least we are blessed with this album and are able to purchase it.
Death Row fans called the album cover an awful album cover. She’s standing there offering a view of her left leg. The photograph used on the front album cover is an old Death Row promo photograph. A few people have said the album cover looks like it was created using MS Paint in a timespan of 5 minute. Notice how the color scheme is grayscale. Many Death Row fans viewed this WIDEawake/Death Row release as a bootleg. This is because the cover does not even say the title of the album on it.
Recognize is a slow jam which is unsurprisingly another love song by Jewell. Recognize sounds very much similar to Devante Swing’s production style. One has to wonder if Devante Swing had his hands in producing this song for Jewell. She is a great vocalist regardless of who does production.
A love as sweet as this only comes once in a lifetime. There’s so much on her mind when it comes to love. It’s superficial. She wants her man to recognize how their love is. They don’t have to play games. She is not searching for fame.
Jewell is going to make everything feel better. She is better with love. She can stop the pain so it won’t come back again. Won’t you give her a try? She doesn’t give out empty promises. No need to push away from her. There is no need to push her away. Don’t push away her love. Love has to be her destiny. Jewell can make things better with love.
Only One is another smooth Death Row Records R&B cut by Jewell that was left in the vault for years. You will love her voice especially on this track! The bass and beats will rattle your speakers. Her angelic vocals give music a breath of fresh air. This is simply beautiful.
Betcha She Don't Love You is Jewell’s cover of Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King - Betcha She Don't Love You. Jewell did a beautiful job of covering this song herself with the Death Row in-house production team.
The mixing on Wantcha With Me is very low budget as hearing her vocals is difficult. The song seems to not have been mixed and mastered properly. Static noises can be heard in some places during the song.
Black Diamond is a song which compliments black men and women all over the world. It’s about black love. Black Diamond was supposed to be the first single off the Black Diamond album in 1995. However that single never saw light of day because Dr. Dre didn’t know how to produce her songs or fit her into the Death Row mold.
5/5*****!
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Rell – The Remedy album review
Rell – The Remedy is an album that was only issued as CD promo by Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001. This album was one of the three albums that he recorded during his time at Roc-A-Fella Records. All of the three album he recorded on that label remain unreleased to this day. This was because the label did not know how to promote R&B artists and the producers had disagreements with Rell himself. This album was supposed to be released on Elektra and Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001, but that never happened due to business politics. It's a shame this album didn't come out. It is just so annoying that never happened.
Regardless of business politics, Rell – The Remedy remains an all time classic and an impossible to find R&B album. Most of the songs on this album are killer slow R&B songs with a soulful touch. Rell graces the mic with his singing.
Bring It On Home is a killer slow track laced and graced with Rell’s vocals. The song also has a holy vibe due to the organ that is used.
Rell has the candles lit for a romantic night placed next to a bottle of yellow champagne in a bucket of ice. Rell tells this girl he can be the freak that she likes. He keeps it low-key like a real player should. He asks her to bring it home. There’s no sense in them wasting time. He’s got what she wants. She’s all that Rell needs.
A minute into the song is where Rell brings it on home with his soulful vocals. An organ used in the background takes this song into church.
Say It Ain't So is a heartbreaking song about how Rell’s lover became a totally different person. The song Say It Ain't So is a tale of heartbreak, sadness, and betrayal. Say It Ain't So was produced by North Carolina producer Mike City.
All of this time Rell thought he was the only one that mattered to her. He was so convinced that they were headed in the right direction. Now it’s as if she were a totally different person. It’s as if she were someone else. She changed like the weather changes. Her kisses are cold as a winter freeze in Alaska.
Rell explains mysterious calls he has been receiving. There’s been so many different numbers. She never knew about the notes he found on the windshield of her car. Is this the kind of thanks he gets for loving her the way he did? Rell loved her faithfully. He tells her to keep her phony smiles. Her heart has been missing for a while. The picture has never been clearer.
Never Stop is similar to a D’Angelo song with the smooth funkiness of guitars, alto singing, sultry background vocals, and hip hop beats. The smooth funkiness of guitars gives Never Stop a funk soul vibe. Never Stop a killer track laced and graced with Rell’s vocals.
The moment he saw her, there was no doubt in his mind that he had to get next to her. In just of matter of time, Rell makes his move. She is working her body like nobody else on the dance floor. Rell wants to give her more. Things didn’t take too long for Rell to observe that she was ready. It’s love he is looking for.
If That’s My Baby is a slow jam which is a soft mellow ballad produced by Mike City. The song has a warm vibe.
Get Up is an upbeat R&B song laced with hip hop infused beats. A bit of soothing xylophones and vibraphones are added in the mix to smoothen the sound out.
Cloud 9 is a slow jam perfect for baby making music. Rell’s voice is lovely on this song. It’s what you would expect from Rell. The song was used on the State Property movie. Cloud 9 was produced by Oshea Hunter. The song has a warm vibe.
5/5*****!!
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Lil Ai - Going My Way single review
Going My Way is one of Lil Ai’s lesser known singles. Despite having one of the songs used a theme song for a TV show, her single remained largely unnoticed. Now Lil Ai isn’t exactly the best of J-Pop. What she compensates in flows, her lyrics and subjects matter are nothing new.
Lil Ai ridiculed the absence individual selfishness on Going My Way. Going My Way is a tribute to herself. She is perfectly happy. Lil Ai, her self, was impressed with he results of the song Going My Way to the point where she often talks about it when brought up. Finding your way and living your way yourself is what this track is all about.
Going My Way is about finding your way and living your way yourself. Keep pushing your way without hesitation. Also, Going My Way is about finding your way in the world. Is it not cool to find your own way? Well Lil Ai breaks down all barriers with her pop raps on here. The track turns into an avant-garde theme. However in reality, Japanese society is still very conformist. It is a very good direction that her voice quality contains freshness. She calls on producing everything, such as choreography, stage composition, makeup, and styling.
Ain’t Nobody is a song that would eventually turn into Nobody on the 2003 album Ryukyu Rhymer. The sounds on Ain’t Nobody are very futuristic. It seems that Lil Ai was experimenting with the styles of electronic music, dance music, and techno. Ain’t nobody can love you like Lil Ai is the motto of this song written by Lil Ai. Ain’t Nobody was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW.
Never uses the elements, clips, and sounds of upbeat dance music. Lil Ai makes you a slave to the rhythm with her futuristic sounds and beats. Never was used as the theme song for the NTV JP show あんグラ☆NOW also. Lil Ai experiments with rock music on Never also.
*Lil Ai is a female pop singer from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.
*Lil Ai (リルアイ) is Ai Kawamitsu (アイ川満愛) [Kawamitsu Ai (川満愛)].
3/5***
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