Zico has returned with a duet challenge, which isn’t uncommon for him. Most of his current success has been by means of pairings with feminine artists. Duet hyperlinks him up him with YOASOBI’s Ikura (credited as Lilas) and straddles the road between Ok-pop, J-pop and international pop. In different phrases, it needs to be proper inside my wheelhouse!
Earlier than speaking in regards to the music, I really feel it’s mandatory to debate YOASOBI. For my cash, no single artist has had a better affect on trendy J-pop than them. Certain, the business’s many rock bands proceed to dominate, however that’s all the time been the case. Relating to poppier efforts, YOASOBI’s fitful, hyper-busy manufacturing model has change into so ubiquitous that I hardly get pleasure from it anymore. I used to be by no means an enormous YOASOBI fan to start with, however now that everybody is peddling their very own model of the sound it looks like J-pop as an entire has misplaced its sense of musical variety.
This brings me to Duet, which is a reasonably ‘down the center’ fusing of Zico’s and YOASOBI’s core sounds. The general model is “quirky” in a means that’s not quirky anymore as a result of we’ve heard it so typically. Zico’s stream is fast-paced and stuffed with character. Ikura provides an analogous vitality, although her tone is way totally different. What we find yourself with is 2 dynamic characters speak-singing at a fast tempo over a energetic mattress of chopped percussion. It’s not my factor in any respect, however I’m joyful if it’s yours!
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C