The queens of J-Pop, the trio Perfume, release their new album, “Nebula Romance: Part 1” a collection of 10 tracks where the group showcases their unmistakable Electro-Pop sound. As the title suggests, this is the first part of a conceptual album, themed as “the soundtrack to an imaginary movie set in space.” The second part is planned for release next year.
As always, the album was composed and produced by Yasutaka Nakata, one of Japan’s most in-demand music producers.
The album sounds quite consistent from track to track. While hearing any of the songs instantly reveals Perfume’s nostalgic Electro-Pop style, this time the group leans in a direction that reminds me more than ever of Western pop, even in parts the sound of the 80s. This results in Perfume’s traditional electro sound but somewhat more relaxed and moderate, especially in the usual amount of parts and synthesizer arrangements.
I’m not convinced that this simplification of the group’s typical sound is an artistic decision. It might be the result of fatigue from so much composing on Nakata’s part, or perhaps just an attempt to appeal to a broader international audience. Either way, I can still appreciate this offering from the group. It’s a listen, albeit relatively light, that’s quite pleasant, and the collection, with a total duration of just 35 minutes, flows very well.
This possible intention to appeal to a broader audience is clearly evident in the song “Cosmic Treat” where the group sings extended parts in English, in a considerably greater proportion than on any other occasion.
The production, decidedly and proudly digital as is traditional for Nakata, though somewhat sonically cold, sounds crystal clear and modern. Every detail of each song can be perfectly appreciated. The producer maintains the high standards for which he is known, and the three girls, A-Chan, Kashiyuka, and Nocchi, sound excellent.
Among the tracks that particularly interest me is “Love Cloud” which mixes Electro-Pop with Disco and Acid-Jazz. Following the album’s conceptual theme, I can perfectly imagine a playful alien playing the saxophone lines of this song in a space bar.
“Time Capsule” reminds me of some of Phil Collins’ songs from the 80s, due to the type of synthesized trumpet melodies it contains. Even though Perfume retains their basic sonic identity, as mentioned, the album has some notable influences from that pop era.
A track that completely breaks the mold is “Jikuuka” (“Flower of Space-Time”), which seems to be a slow and solemn traditional Japanese folk hymn, but performed in a modern way, with the girls singing nostalgically and deeply over layers of ambient synthesizers.
The song features quite poetic and evocative lyrics:
“That rain, crossing time-space,
dropped seeds into a distant future.
The world expands, blooming in silence,
like flowers, and flowers, and more flowers.
With two suns receiving light,
beautiful flower of space-time.
In a crumbling world, two people embrace,
blooming strong, strong, very strong.”
(Translation generated by Grok.)
The album closes with “Mobius” a song that greatly evokes the typical sound of video game music, mixed with Electro-Pop. Moreover, the intro undeniably recalls the power-up theme from the Mario Bros. games, something that I confess that brings a smile to my face. Among my favorite tracks from the collection, “Mobius” features synthesizer solos that remind me of some songs from the group’s previous albums.
I recommend all J-Pop fans, and even fans of Japanese video game music, to give “Nebula Romance: Part 1” a chance. It’s certainly enjoyable and contains plenty of elements that I believe will be to their liking. Its sound, which evokes Western pop, its relative simplicity compared to the group’s previous albums, as well as its short duration, make it quite accessible, so I also recommend giving it a listen if you’re a general pop fan curious about stepping into the fabulous world of J-Pop.
