I've Sound, or simply called , is a Japanese

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...

trance music Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged from the British new-age music scene and the early 1990s German techno and hardcore scenes. Trance music is characterized by a tempo generally lying between 135–150 beats per minute ( ...

production group based in

Sapporo ( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...

Hokkaidō is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different vocalists, known as to their fans. They have created the theme songs for many Japanese adult games, most famously the opening "

Tori no Uta is a Japanese trance song sung by Lia, written by Jun Maeda, composed by Shinji Orito, and arranged by Kazuya Takase. The song was recorded at Paramount Studio in Los Angeles by the visual novel studio Key through their record label Key Sounds ...

" to the visual novel '' Air'' by

Key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

. More recently, they have been creating the theme songs to

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

series. Among anime fans, I've Sound is well known for providing the theme songs to such series as the ''Please!'' franchise (''

Please Teacher! is an anime television series directed by Yasunori Ide, written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and produced by Bandai Visual. It was later adapted into a manga and light novel and centers on a group of friends and the odd things that happen to them a ...

'' and '' Please Twins!''), ''Kanon'', '' Air'', ''

Kannazuki no Miko is a Japanese ''Yuri (genre), yuri'' manga series created by Kaishaku (manga group), Kaishaku. The series, centering on the relationship between main characters Himeko and Chikane, also has elements of mecha themes in its plot. The 14-chapter ...

'', '' Black Lagoon'', the ''

Shakugan no Shana , also known simply as , is a Japanese light novel series written by Yashichiro Takahashi with illustrations by Noizi Ito. ASCII Media Works published 26 novels from November 2002 to November 2012 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The ...

'' series, '' Starship Operators'', '' Higurashi no Naku Koro ni'', the '' Hayate the Combat Butler'' series, ''

Nanatsuiro Drops is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by UNiSONSHIFT and released on April 21, 2006 for Windows. The game was later ported to the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. A light novel, written by Tamaki Ichikawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito, ...

'', '' A Certain Magical Index'', '' Rideback'', '' Sky Girls'', '' High School DxD'', '' Jormungand'', '' Tokyo Ravens'', ''

To Love-Ru is a Japanese manga series written by Saki Hasemi and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' magazine from April 2006 to August 2009, and the chapters collected into 18 ''tank� ...

'' series, ''

Waiting in the Summer is a 2012 Japanese anime television series animated by J.C.Staff, produced by Genco and Geneon, and directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai. The screenplay was written by Yōsuke Kuroda with original character design by Taraku Uon, who both contributed ...

'', '' Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea'', '' Aokana: Four Rhythm Across the Blue'' and ''

Girly Air Force is a Japanese light novel series written by Kōji Natsumi and illustrated by Asagi Tōsaka. A manga adaptation by Takahiro Seguchi launched in ''Monthly Shōnen Ace'' in October 2018, and an anime television series adaptation by Satelight air ...

''.

History

I've was founded in 1998 by members of the six-member Takase Fight. During this time they produced music for tsushin

karaoke Karaoke (; ; , clipped compound of Japanese ''kara'' "empty" and ''ōkesutora'' "orchestra") is a type of interactive entertainment usually offered in clubs and bars, where people sing along to recorded music using a microphone. The music is ...

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" while working on the eroge ''Lips: egao no yukue'' in the autumn of 1998. Although production for the game was later cancelled, they were able to establish 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 produced music for was ''Hakidame: Trash'', produced by Zero (a brand of Visual Art's), 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 PC game '' Kanon'' by

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 later used as insert songs during Kanon's 2002 anime adaptation, and later as the main opening and ending themes in that anime's 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, ''

'', 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 single "Radiance" single in February 2005, and

Eiko Shimamiya , also called Eiko or Peko, is a female J-pop singer-songwriter, and producer who is currently affiliated with Heart Company. She is best known for singing the opening themes of the anime series ''Higurashi When They Cry''. Eiko also handles a s ...

'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 is a J-pop singer who is signed to Geneon Universal Entertainment. She is a former member of the music production group I've Sound based in Sapporo, Japan. She has performed several songs for eroge together with the other I've Sound members. In A ...

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 The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally built for the inaugural Olympic judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics. While its primary purpose is to host martial arts con ...

. In 2012, Mami Kawada released her fourth album, ''

Square the Circle Squaring the circle is a problem in geometry first proposed in Greek mathematics. It is the challenge of constructing a square with the area of a circle by using only a finite number of steps with a compass and straightedge. The difficulty ...

'' including her last singles used as theme songs for the anime A Certain Magical Index and the third season of

. Larval Stage Planning released their second single, which was used as the opening song for High School DxD. In August 2012, a new volume of the Girls compilation series was released, and MAKO, a vocalist who had been a guest singer of the group twelve years before, made a surprising return. In 2013 and after having suffered an unknown disease, MELL left I've Sound and released a compilation album of her most successful songs.

released "Going on", her second mini album and also announced her retirement.

Larval Stage Planning is a Japanese J-pop group formed in 2010 and is signed to Lantis. The group is also a member of the Sapporo-based music production group I've Sound. History Members The group was formed by veteran singer and then-I've Sound vocalist Eiko Sh ...

released "Sympathy" the opening theme song for the second season of High School DxD, and also announced that they were preparing their first album. In 2014, Nami Maisaki and Rin Asami announced their graduation from I've Sound, leaving Larval Stage Planning only with Airi Kirishima, as a solo project. However, in the end of the year, an unexpected turnaround was announced, when Nami Maisaki returned to the group as the new Sound Creator, now stylized as NAMI. In the same year,

IKU Iku or IKU may refer to: Languages * Iku language (ISO 639: ikv), a Plateau language of Nigeria * Arhuaco language (ISO 639: arh), also known as Ikʉ, a Chibchan language of Colombia * Inuktitut (ISO 639: iku), an Inuit language of Canada Other u ...

signed with I've, now as an Official I've Girl, and also three new singers called RINA, Minori Kitamura and marriage blue were presented at Comiket Market 87, with the "I've MANIA TRACKS NEW WAVE" release. Although only RINA has been confirmed as a member of the group, marriage blue remains in business with I've as a partnership. In 2016, Mami Kawada, the last of the first generation of I've singers, announced her retirement from singing, and started her works as composer, outside I've. On the same year, IKU released a new single, called "Kimi no Namae". The three songs were composed by herself and arranged by Kazuya Takase and Takeshi Ozaki. In 2017, Sound Creators Takeshi Ozaki,

Maiko Iuchi is a Japanese composer and arranger. Much of her work is for video games and anime. Biography Iuchi was born in Hiroshima. She learned piano and percussion from a young age. As a high school student, she performed as a drummer in various band ...

and Tomoyuki Nakazawa left I've too. In the same year, I've released its 10th I've Girls Compilation, entitled "ALIVE". Also, YUZUNO, RINA and marriage blue made their debuts with the singles "Light and dark", "Shine your light" and "§-section-", respectively. In 2018, IKU released her third album on March 30, called "TERMINAL", her first entirely produced by I've. On July 11, C.G mix released a single called "daybreak", and also, on August 18, YUZUNO and RINA each released their second single, called "Luminous" and "Laboratory", respectively. On December, I've announced two new singers: Asuka Sato and Leina. It was also announced Yuzuno's graduation from I've Sound, with a memorial album called "PINK POISON" to be released in March 2019. In 2019, I've followed major releases under its own label. C.G mix released his third album "ADVANCE" and a self-cover mini-album "the other side", Asuka Sato made her debut with the EP "D＊ BACKUP" and Leina released her second EP "NOISE". Also, RINA got her first anime tie-up song "awake from the deep", which was an insert song for the fourth episode of

. On July 30, she released her first album "PRISMATICA". In the same year, Airi Kirishima left the group. In 2020, Asuka Sato is going to release her second EP "CROSSOVER", on February 7.

Members

Sound creators

Singers

Discography

''Girls Compilation'' albums

* ''

regret Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable. Regret is related to perceived opportunity. Its intensity varies over time after the decision, in regard ...

'' (1999) * '' verge'' (2000) * '' disintegration'' (2002) * ''

Lament A lament or lamentation is a passionate expression of grief, often in music, poetry, or song form. The grief is most often born of regret, or mourning. Laments can also be expressed in a verbal manner in which participants lament about somethin ...

'' (2003) * '' Out Flow'' (2003) * ''

Collective A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together to achieve a common objective. Collectives can differ from cooperatives in that they are not necessarily focused upon an ...

'' (2005) * ''EXTRACT'' (2010) * ''LEVEL OCTAVE'' (2012) * ''Evidence nine'' (2014) * The Time - Twelve Colors (2016) * ''ALIVE'' (2017)

Concept albums

* ''

Short Circuit A short circuit (sometimes abbreviated to short or s/c) is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance. This results in an excessive current flowing through the circuit ...

'' (2003) * '' Short Circuit II'' (2007) * '' Short Circuit III'' (2010)

Comic Market releases

* ''

Dirty Gift Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debris: scattered pieces of waste or remains * Dust: a genera ...

'' (2002) * '' Mixed Up: I've Remix Style'' (2004) * ''

I've Mania Tracks Vol.I I've Sound, or simply called , 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 vocalists, known as to their fa ...

'' (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)

References

External links

Low Trance Assembly: I've Sound official site
* {{Authority control Anime musical groups Japanese electronic music groups Techno music groups Trance music groups Japanese pop music groups Musical groups from Hokkaido