I’ll rave about Ryugujo to anybody who will pay attention. Their Deep Wave EP earlier this 12 months is among the many most enjoyable items of music launched in 2024 and I’ve related hopes for his or her first full album later this month. Lead observe Urashima is extra ‘assertion of intent’ than full tune, making it a curious alternative for promotion.

As with all their music, Urashima is the brainchild of producer/mentor Avu-chan. It’s a pure extension of the strong worldbuilding they’ve displayed up to now and seems like an prolonged album intro. Its taut, two-minute operating time doesn’t supply sufficient area for growth, making it their weakest single but. Nonetheless, Urashima manages to suit fairly a little bit of content material into this slender body. It jogs my memory of unit observe Seafood launched earlier this 12 months, although it lacks a few of that observe’s distinctive sonic punches.

What stands out most is Ryugujo’s efficiency. As all the time, they throw all the things they’ve into the observe, sneering and snarling their means by every second. They discover character in imperfection — a very essential asset on this age of AI-perfected pop tune sheen. The verses are as a lot dialog as they’re rap, taunting the listener with off-kilter movement. I’m most keen on the incantation-like hook and transient bridge that injects further drama to Urashima‘s remaining moments. If I had it my means, the tune would go  one other minute and construct additional upon these strengths, however Urashima stays a truncated tease. Hopefully the album takes its time to flesh out this potential.

Grade: B