In addition to the previously-released lead single “The Princess and the Clock,” we’re blessed with two new tracks written in both Japanese and English: “21/04/20” (named after the day it was written, one year ago exactly) and “Well Rested.” The former is a mid tempo alt pop jam with buoyant and loungey synths shimmering under Sarah Midori Perry’s sweetly, dream-like singing voice. Civilization II is a titanic force of a record that both expands on the original’s wondrously glitchy palette of sounds, but also elaborates on its poignant messages. Today it finally arrives, and Kero Kero Bonito have delivered big time. Of course, naming it Civilization I implied a forthcoming sequel. In just three songs, KKB delivered some of their most imaginative and forward-thinking work to date. That record saw them re-incorporating maximal synth and drum machine soundscapes, with evocative themes alluding to environmental degradation, societal tension, and the foreshadowing of a potential apocalypse. In 2019 they threw another curveball and leveled up hard on the Civilization I EP. They’ve also done so much for the DIY scene over the last several years, and have since evolved into one of the best bands in the game. Kero Kero Bonito are pushing the pop music sphere to futuristic new heights via their hyper-kinetic blend of electronic, alt-rock, and noise pop stylings. The alt-pop trio’s youthful energy was certainly not lost through quarantine, as their refreshing Civilisation II EP solidifies the band’s unmatched eclectic and youthful spirit.English alt pop trailblazers deliver big time on wondrous Civilization I sequel Kero Kero Bonito’s three-track EP comes at the perfect time, acting as a reminder of the blooming spring and a beacon of hope for a sunnier summer to come. It ties the EP together as the song that integrates varying beats, drum-like taps, as well as the space-y and electric sounds that are woven throughout the album. As the EP’s finale, “Well Rested” plays temporally with futuristic concepts, as the track alludes to ideas of resurrection, as well as the ambiguity of morality. The EP closes out with the seven-minute “Well Rested,” which is a remix of the longest song they’ve ever written, “Rest Stop” from their second studio album, Time ’n’ Place. It’s a smooth intermediary between the first track’s upbeat rhythms and the more rhythmic and lengthy concluding song. Although not as explosive as “The Princess and the Clock,” “21/04/20” highlights Sarah Perry’s dreamy vocals, as she melodically brings to life details of flowers in bloom and conversations with friends. On the contrary, “21/04/20” diverges from fiction and maintains a grip on the present, as it references a specific day in lockdown. Right from the EP’s get-go, it’s clear the trio is unafraid to continuously push creative boundaries, whether it’s through relying only on vintage hardware to produce experimental synth sounds or crafting an enticing fairytale world out of thin air. Jacobs, which delicately unfolds the fictional story in a visual format. The track is also accompanied by a beautifully animated video illustrated by Dan W. The song was written pre-COVID, but its themes of isolation remain as relevant as ever. The EP opens with “The Princess and the Clock,” a colorful and fast-paced song that, according to the band, details the kidnapping, imprisonment, and idolization of a young explorer who dreams of escape. Like Civilisation I, the three-track EP was entirely produced and recorded in Lobban’s bedroom, and, as stated by Polyvinyl Records, each song progresses through the different tenses of past, present, and future. The trio, consisting of Sarah Midori Perry (Sarah Bonito), Gus Lobban, and Jamie Bulled are known for their genre-bending sound that mixes J-pop, video-game-esque effects, and silky, youthful vocals. The London-based art-pop band’s most recent EP, Civilisation II -a sequel to their preceding Civilisation I EP, which came out in September 2019- bursts with pent-up energy. Listening to the work of certain artists scratches the pandemic-induced itch to dash to the club and dance with strangers- Kero Kero Bonito is one of them.
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