Japanese Jukebox: Sakanaction’s DocumentaLy Review

Sakanaction represents the best of Japanese alternative rock music today. The group’s electronic and rock balance teeters more heavily to the techno dance side in their fifth album DocumentaLy; and the output is simply phenomenal.

It’s easy to gush over tracks like “Bach No Senritsu Wo Yoru Ni Kiita Sei Desu,” “Identity” and “Rookie.” These singles were released over the past year and a half, and they will more than hook you into buying the album. But what is amazing is how these tracks are woven back into a complete album that makes you feel like you are hearing them again for the first time.

The album starts with the bongo thumper “Identity” (originally released in 2010) which certainly gets the hips shaking and the toes wiggling, but underneath the drums you can still hear the guitar rock elements. Yet the album transitions to the next song “Monochrome Tokyo” which pulls out the bleeps and bloops and pours on thick 80’s Prince-sounding synth. It really only takes these first two tracks to set the pace of the album.

The remainder of the album is a digital fantasy that echoes 80’s synth of Flock of Seagulls, the danciest-stuff Trent Reznor ever released and modern artists like Miike Snow. Sonically, DocumentaLy is an album that must surround you. Playing these tracks on your computer does not do it justice. Either throw on ear buds or crank up your car stereo to get the full effect of all the little noises that pop in and out of your left and right speakers.

Even a quiet track like “Endless” (above) picks up momentum and slightly pumps the bpm. When the album slows in “Ryussen” it’s a floaty space suit walk that still manages to picks up alien noises and interference from outer space. And then DocumentaLy ends on a more emotional note, where lead singer Ichiro Yamaguchi cries out in the very Peter Gabriel-esque song “Years”. And more interesting still, is the final track “Document” where the electronic instruments also cry out in a warbling sound to dramatic effect.

DocumentaLy is as excellent album and close to perfect as you are going to get. We can only hope Sakanaction continues to find a way to outdo themselves.

9.8 out of 10 Highly Recommended