On their fourth LP, the Japanese underground duo present another studio effort in the vein of their classic On the Love Beach album. Intricate folk ballads and lo-fi experimentation shape this recording into an elaborate pop affair. Calling to mind Kevin Ayers in its sweet naiveté, this album marks a new approach for the Osaka group. Where stripped-back minimalism was the signature of three exquisite previous albums, On the Love Beach, The True World, and The True Sun, their simple arrangements are laced with a richer texture on this recording. Beach Boys, Robert Wyatt, and Nick Drake are summoned on these Baroque pop arrangements, while the candid lo-fi mood is still in still safely intact. The higher production standards only aid their delicate pop sensibility, adding further detail to their crafted folk-inflected pop. – Skip Jansen
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