edit: Seiko is 54 and still is an idol, I don't think age is a problem here
I wouldn't call Ayu an idol either... Idols must have a mostly controverse-free image and tend to follow a mold through their whole careers (Namie for example, has a very clean image that is set around the ideal of a cool, sexy but classy woman that wears short skirts and high boots and dance. And this is what she has been doing for the last 20+ years). Not only Ayu frequently changes her image, she also push bondauries both on a cultural and on a aesthetic level.
As far as they propose to do (Ayumi being a controversial live performer and Hikki being a introspect and more intelectual studio artist), they both are at the same level of artistry, if there's even a way to determine that. I wish Ayu had gone through a hiatus back in 2008... And it's not that I'm disliking her releases, IMO it's almost a miracle she can release stuff with the quality she does considering how frequently she releases new music, and imo a bad release for Ayu's standart still is way above the average for the pop market, but letting the public miss her a little would be good for her image.
--
I took some time to listen to Fantτme, btw. I'm afraid I'm not impressed... Not that it's a bad release (and Hikki's bad is still good when compared to the rest of the market), but I found it to be... too safe, I guess? At least sound-wise, I like my Hikki alittle wilder and weirder
. But it's a smart move considering she is just coming from a long hiatus... Something too different could pontentially alienate her public.