宇多田ヒカル* – Distance

Much like the other hi-res Utada Hikaru remasters of 2018, these are sadly extremely poor in quality. The original CD releases were victims of the loudness war in a big way and, much like those, every track on the remasters is visibly brick-walled in the waveforms.

It's evident that none of the proper tools were used to assist with amplification artifacts, as errors and clipping are so obvious that even family and friends of mine (who listen to free Spotify) complained of "fuzziness" and "crispiness" in these tracks. The only benefit of these releases was quieter parts of tracks and certain instruments were indeed clearer, but this is offset by a clearly over-amplified Utada clipping across every chorus. The hi-res aspect actually makes the issue worse, as the clipping is only much sharper and more pronounced than it was previously.

Distance is certainly a step up in production quality over her debut album, but the total lack of dynamic range across this remaster makes it a missed opportunity.

Some recent (2019-2023) remasters of Utada b-sides and single tracks show that the original mixes are, for the most part, in decent dynamic range and quality. It's unfortunate that it appears they did not do this for these new releases.

Utada may not be well known in the states but in Japan and throughout most of Asia she is a powerhouse. This is her follow up to First Love. I'd describe that album as compareable to a Jpop version of Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera's debut albums.

Distance separates itself as Utada begins to enlist a few American RnB songwriters and producers in the effort. This album was huge, not as big as Automatic was, but to me this is the album where she really starts shining musically.

You have hits like "Can You Keep a Secret" which was on constant rotation on the music station then (Space Shower TV). "Distance" is such a pretty upbeat song about longing to be with someone. Great opening sample on "Addicted to You" that loops with a great melody right into "For You." The DarkChylde produced "Time Limit" is yet another banger. "Parody" is a tribal drum, bass driven very interesting song and if you can find the version she did for Unplugged Japan give it a listen. Also when will we get Utada Unplugged released??

I don't think there were any other Jpop artists coming to the US to record with American producers at this time period which makes for a very unique listen. And this album starts to scratch the surface of where she was headed before recording "Deep River." This really captures a time period we will never see again. So happy to have seen her when she came to NYC many years ago, as I believe she is retired from touring.

The records sound really good, the only bad part I feel is the vinyl is lacking a little depth in the basslines. But after only hearing this on CD for years I'm very happy to finally have this on vinyl.

Sound: perfect sound and volume, not background noise at all. The LP really helped me to like the record more than before!

[Note: this is a review on the PACKAGING and presentation of all 3 Utada records, not the pressing or sound quality of the records themselves. This exact review will be posted on all 3 pressing pages of the first Utada LP wave]

Overall, the presentation of the packaging for the first batch of Utada records (First Love, Distance, Deep River) is rather disappointing. Starting with the positives, the quality of the gatefolds are REALLY good: sturdy, glossy and the artwork on them all is clear. The sleeves used to store and protect the vinyl is typical of Japanese vinyl and digipak CD pressings: the clear plastic sleeves that are known to be great for record preservation (so I hear!). As for the negatives: Unfortunately, ALL of the artwork is absent. The pictures on the covers are the only ones present. The contents on the gatefold themselves are the lyrics to all the songs (including the bonus tracks not found on the first pressings!), and the records are the only thing present inside the gatefolds. If you plan on getting the extremely rare original pressings of these records: No need to! All of the first pressings of these records had the EXACT same layout (clear inner sleeves, lyrics on gatefold, absence of artwork, etc.). However, it's unfortunate that you have to spend at least 4600 yen to purchase these records. Hopefully the second wave (Ultra Blue, Heart Station, Fantome) + Hatsukoi (which had all the artwork present on the vinyl pressing) and Bad Mode will have the original artwork present since it's their first pressings!

All of Hikki’s albums are being repressed onto vinyl this year! https://www.utadahikaru.jp/en/news/detail.html?id=536869