PLASMA (2022)

So, id like to preface this by saying that I wasn't around for the release of this album. Although it came out as recently as 2022, I only started listening to the group in 2024. I didn't go into this album with any expectations that a 4 year gap between albums gives, nor did I even expect to like this album much. but, as you'll probably notice in this half-review, half-incoherent-ramble, I liked PLASMA unexpectedly much.

I'll go through each song by the order on the album and talk a bit about each one. Im not a music geek by any means so I seriously do lack the proper terminology to critique these songs. sorry! 

Plasma

I like this, but im not really sure why. It reminds me of alot of songs from perfume that I don't like (future pop-esque stuff?) but it works for me. I like the singing vocals towards the middle and the instrumentals that part is paired with. I just think it sounds good and does the album justice :)

Time Warp - v.1.1 

(I haven't listened enough to the single ver to know of any differences between versions) I like this one too, alot ! I really am bad at describing music, but this songs tempo just feels so good. The instrumental, especially the intro, just makes me feel oddly warm inside. I really don't know what im subconsciously associating with this song, but it just feels comforting somehow.

Polygon Wave (ポリゴンウェイヴ) 

Maybe the first song I heard from this album? Im really not surprised this song is as liked as (I think?) it is. It's just really catchy, and it feels like they tried something with the instrumental that paid off. This song doest feel like a YouTube outro nearly as much as a lot of newer perfume songs do, which is kind of an insane thing to say. it really just feels like Nakata actually tried, and it paid off.

Saisei (再生) 

While this song isn't an immediate skip, it's not the most refreshing thing maybe. It makes sense, this was released not too late after future pop and p cubed. I still prefer this song over majority of the ones from that era of perfume, and the song has its moments. The instrumental in particular has alot of little quirks I enjoy, with alot of subtle variation in it that keeps the song running well. I like the small bits of piano thrown in !

Spinning World　

Possibly my favorite song on this album, and I sort of struggle to put together why. Most I can really say is that it's just incredibly catchy ! I won't lie and say it reminds me alot of the early days of perfume, but you can tell this was written not too close to future pop. It has its own sound different from the instrumentals of 2018 and 2019, and I love it. I honestly couldn't care less if the song doesn't keep much variation, when what it has works so well for me. It releasing as a single ahead of the album feels perfect, this really is *the* plasma song.

Mawaru Kagami (マワルカガミ) 

Hey, this is the second perfume song I ever heard on cd! I got flow on cd for my birthday when I was still only listening to their earliest albums, and so this is one of the songs hat kind of set my image for modern perfume for a while. Bad news, I didn't enjoy it much at the time. It sounded different from the Perfume I knew at that point, and I wasn't really ready to face the fat that perfumes different-sounding newer music is also good! But, good news, I like this song a lot now in comparison. It's not exactly hall of fame material, but it's good and I enjoy it. Not much I can add here, other than its a pretty good song!

Flow 

This is the same as with Mawaru Kagami, except I didn't end up liking this one. I feel like it just sounded incredibly generic. I really don't want to be mean to this, but I feel like I could hear this in a really poorly edited YouTube tutorial from 2019 on how to install sims 4 custom content. Not my thing unfortunately, but bearable.

Mugen Loop (∞ループ)

I always forget how much I like this one until I relisten! Very good intro, I like the whispering and the beat or whatever you kids call it. The instrumental bit before the final part (does this make sense?) is so so so good. The song winding down after that is a bit repetitive, but it's earned after that instrumental 'solo'. The background the instrumentals have of this almost?? heavenly?? sound ? at parts .... I really like this song.

Drive'n The Rain 

A bit weak. I don't mind it, I think it serves it purpose well, if not a bit repetitive. I don't exactly skip it unless im in a hurry or something. It's nice enough! And they say rainbow once, and it makes me think of that reddit post from 11 year ago titled 'Perfume and gays?' asking if a-chan is homophobic. I never got my answer actually. 

Hatenabito (ハテナビト) 

Pretty good song! Not nearly as standout as spinning world and mugen loop, but it's a good addition to the album if anything. It fits the overall vibe, sounds good, just solid. Can you tell ive been writing this review without break?

Android& (アンドロイド&)

Similar to Hatenabito, but this has more to offer for me. The guitar in the intro really intrigues me, and the song sort of peaks there somehow. But, the rest is still worth a listen, or 50. It's for sure more likely to get stuck in my head during the day and lead to me just searching it up on Spotify as a cure, than a song like drive'n the rain. 

Sayonara Plastic World (さよならプラスティックワールド)

This song is very much an album closer, which, duh. It does it well I think. My favorite parts are by far the verses, where it starts to amp up a bit between lines. The instrumental that follows both is good too. Like, this is a good song, nothing mind breaking, but id for sure end up crying if this layer at the end of a perfume concert due to the sheer amount of energy itd hold in that moment?

Okay so, im not sure if that anywhere near coherent. I will not proofread it, nor attempt to make my writing any more varied, since I don't feel like it. I like this album! It doesn't really have any low lows, just a few songs that arent my tempo. I might go in and edit this when I can formulate my opinions better than just 'I like instrumental and intro :)' Hope this was readable !