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6/10/2016

LLLL – Cruel (2015)




  • J-pop 
  • Electronic pop 
  • Alternative dance 
  • Hip-hop 
  • Breakcore 
  • Alternative pop 
  • Chillwave 
  • Breakbeat 
  • Electro pop


Comment: firstly, behind this seemingly very arbitrary, nonchalant artist name is hidden a span of 22 minutes of good and very good music, which in turn is classified as “cruel”. The only thing, which is truly cruel on it this is the frequency, which is set to change chords and rhythms incessantly and in a fast manner. The adjacent effect of it is to merge different styles with each other. At times quite disparate styles are juxtaposed against each other – dream pop, chillwave, indietronica meet breakbeat-ish and electro pop vibes. The artist exploits J-pop templates moderately not using them in an exaggerated, banal way. That`s the wisdom of an artist. I would call it “Hi-NRG” music but because the style is brought down by some European artists I am not going to do it. By listening to this handful of compositions there one should not wonder about the popularity of netlabel scene in Japan (as in one article at Pitchfork was written about it – thank you, the staff of Pitchfork but we need more reviews and articles about the topic worldwide because it involves a huge part of indie music nowadays). At times it is English, at times in Japanese. The album features the likes of Yeule, and fraqsea. At excellent Spider Web there are up such urban juggernauts as 50Cent, and 2 Pac being added to the mix to create a new feeling in the context of the issue. Given that it is an example of contemporary, catchy (electronic) pop music I do definitely say “yes”, “very ok”, “great”, “thumbs up”, “it makes my filthy soul to fly”. The audible side is as sexy as the cover print of the outing. The issue is a part of the discography of Maltine Records.