Still riding the intergalactic beam of techno confections last heard on 2016's
Cosmic Explorer, Japanese trio
Perfume delivered another batch of synth-washed digital dance tunes with sixth album
Future Pop. Split between high-energy J-pop sweetness ("Chorairin") and polished rave-worthy anthems ("Tenku"), the set is an unrelenting party, packed with hypnotic beats and effervescent joy. From the ebullient "TOKYO GIRL" and the atmospheric dub-bounce of "Mugenmirai" to the cutesy back-to-back of "Tiny Baby" and "Let Me Know,"
Future Pop lives up to its name, providing an apt soundtrack for a night out in Shibuya, circa 2099. They even dip their toes into the tropics with the sunny "Everyday" and dial it down darker with the near-industrial EBM-assault of "FUSION." While not a giant evolutionary leap by any means,
Perfume are specialists in this arena, further sharpening their sound without losing track of what has made their music so addictive in the first place. ~ Neil Z. Yeung