Bonito Generation

by Kero Kero Bonito

Overview

It took Kero Kero Bonito four years to release their debut album, but it was worth the wait: Bonito Generation adds gleaming production values to their clever electro-pop, spotlighting their cheeky, detailed arrangements and Sarah Midori Perry's guileless vocals in the process. With tracks such as "Waking Up," which combines hip-hop-influenced brassy samples with floaty new age flutes, and "Big City," which resembles a fusion of J-pop and the sophisticated sound of the Pet Shop Boys, KKB continue the evolution toward a more polished approach that began with the 2015 single "Build It Up." While Bonito Generation's shiny surfaces highlight the similarities between the trio and other hyper-pop artists such as PC Music and SOPHIE -- particularly on the kinetic "Lipslap" -- the album also celebrates what makes Kero Kero Bonito special. Perry, Gus Lobban, and Jamie Bulled are just as comfortable with the slyly meta storytelling of "Heard a Song" and "Trampoline" as they are with songs about the joys of taking and sharing selfies ("Picture This") or a conversation between Perry and her mom and dad ("Hey Parents"). These shifts feel effortless, thanks in large part to Perry's abundant charisma, whether she's telling listeners how to relax -- instead of dance -- on "Break" or relating a list of sparkly self-affirmations in English and Japanese on "Try Me." Packed with breezy, witty, should-be hits, Bonito Generation is a winning mix of subversive art and genuine heart. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	01/11/2019
Label:	Polyvinyl
UPC:	0644110037510
Rank:	1937

Tracks

1. Waking Up
2. Heard a Song
3. Graduation
4. Fish Bowl
5. Big City
6. Break
7. Lipslap
8. Try Me
9. Paintbrush
10. Trampoline
11. Picture This
12. Hey Parents

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kero Kero Bonito   Primary Artist