Kahimi Karie - Le Roi Soleil

Le Roi Soleil is Kahimi Karie's third mini-album, originally released by Trattoria in 1996 and co-produced by Karie with Keigo Oyamada. By this point her whisper-soft vocal style and cosmopolitan approach to pop had become instantly recognisable, and the record expands that world through collaborations with writers and producers including Momus and Katerine.

The six-track mini-album moves freely between French pop, indie pop, Brazilian influence and the playful sophistication associated with Shibuya-kei. The title track was written by Momus and arranged by Oyamada, while Take It Easy My Brother Charlie draws on the Astrud Gilberto songbook.

Two tracks helped carry Kahimi Karie to a broader audience in Japan. Le Roi Soleil was used in a Morinaga Hi-Chew commercial, while Humming ga Kikoeru became the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime Chibi Maruko-chan and has continued to find new listeners through online rediscovery and cover versions.

This Japanese pressing presents Le Roi Soleil on black vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM, housed in a single-pocket jacket with a lyric sheet.