cocoon ep

sora tob sakana

My introduction to sora tob sakana came at a perfect time. I was out on tour with my band, feeling quite exhausted and a little homesick. As we were driving to the next destination, a bandmate randomly threw this EP on and it immediately brightened my mood. sora tob sakana are a Japanese idol group and I must admit I'm still unfamiliar with that culture. From my understanding, though, they are essentially manufactured groups consisting of young personalities and talent, backed by incredibly talented songwriters, producers, and musicians. These groups are typically hyper focused to appeal to niche groups and interests. You may be familiar with one, Babymetal, a metal idol group that has broke in North America, making it all the way to 13 on Billboard's top 200. sora tob sakana's music doesn't operate in the pop metal lane, but instead incorporates elements of math rock, which I find very interesting since pop and math rock are not typically synonymous.

To give a brief overview, the sound on this EP is whimsical, fantastical, but also very sophisticated. The instrumentation is busy and flashy, however, the more jagged and angular math rock elements are smoothed over thanks to the cutesy, quaint vocals. I believe there are three different vocalists on this EP (maybe four) and they have great chemistry, trading off almost line to line or singing in unison for a grand chorus. One voice in particular has a very sharp, trebly tone that instantly perks you up when she takes over from the other warmer, more legato performers.

The opening track ribbon begins with some twinkling tuned percussion, synthesized woodwinds, and sharp piano. It is a curious opening, a window into the fantasy world the EP is about to throw you into. An energetic drum groove joins in to build some suspense before the song explodes into blissful two-handed tapping guitar lines and an even busier drum beat. By this point, you are flying through the portal on to another world. The following track タイムマシンにさよなら (track 2) is a bit of a cross between the anime inspired EDM of Porter Robinson and the flashy musicianship of a Hakushi Hasegawa. I love the nimble synth line on this track as well as its classic monophonic sound. The phrase will occasionally break away for a brief moment for a chanted 'hey' that is incredibly fun and catchy.

The more direct math rock influences return on 夢の盗賊 (track 3) as it immediately busts in with this jangly, slightly overdriven guitar that rapidly changes chords in a dizzying fashion. I also really like the sweeping piano sound as well. The reverb and delay applied to it make the notes ring almost endlessly. tokyo sinewave goes in a much different direction. The more ambient IDM and glitchy electronic leanings provide a nice cool down moment from what has so far been a very overwhelming adventure.

The only track I didn't really care for was 透明な怪物 (track 5). All members singing in unison and the piano providing the only musical backing in the first leg of the track makes it feel like I'm listening to an elementary recital. Other than that though, this is a fantastic EP with some wonderful sung performances, captivating production, and spectacular musicianship. Again, I'm just super excited that this exists; a manufactured hyper-pop experience that incorporates influences from a genre (math rock) that is typically known for being challenging and obtuse. I think sora tob sakana have found a way to bridge those two worlds beautifully.