Aio Punch
Aio Punch is an extended play by Japanese singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka. It was released on March 26, 2014, through Avex Trax.
Background
Following the release of her love-song compilation Love Is Best, Otsuka would not release a new album under her real name for approximately four and half years. During this period, she released her first extended play under the name Love, entitled Love It, while between 2012 and 2013, she served as vocalist of the band Rabbit, and they released their first and only album in December 2012.In 2013, in order to commemorate Otsuka's tenth anniversary in the music industry, on March 19, 2014, Avex released the DVD and Blu-ray Love Is Born 10th Anniversary 2013. This album became the second installment to commemorate such occasion. Aio Punch is a self-cover mini album, including six tracks with completely different arrangements, and new vocals. On her Official website, the songs were described as to been "reborn with a mature charm, creating a stylish atmosphere."
Four of the six tracks included on the album are heavily influenced by jazz elements, except the two songs re-arranged by Noboru Abe from Studio Apartment, which are influenced by electronic music. This was the first time Abe collaborated with Otsuka, and he would eventually be in charge of the sound of two studio albums for her in the future, Love Tricky and Love Honey. All the songs on the album include subtitles referencing drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
One month before the release of this EP, an album titled 10th Anniversary Commemorative “Aio Punch” Original Ver. Collection +4 was made available on iTunes, including the original versions of the songs from the album plus four bonus tracks.