Kero Kero Bonito's most recent EP "TOTEP" is a darker, more nocturnal adventure than ever before for the band, while still keeping things on the twee side.
The entire album is very melodic, especially concerning the vocals. Despite being sinister throughout, Sarah Bonito's vocals are as light sounding as before while managing some of her most catchy hooks at the same time.
The lyrics themselves are more intelligent and introspective, commenting on relationships, loneliness, belonging, and more. This is a huge change from their 2016 release "Bonito Generation", which kept things as simplistic and cute as possible.
Kero Kero Bonito is a band that has polarized people since "Bonito Generation" and its overly happy electropop. "TOTEP" is sure to polarize even more, as past fans realize how little it's like their recent LP. If they can look past this change, however, they're in for a treat.
The best song on the album is "Only Acting", with a phenomenal music video to pair with it. It contains a fantastic hook along with a thoroughly confusing noise segment that convulses finally into chops of white noise.
Though it is better when paired with their music video, "Only Acting" shows both how good Kero Kero Bonito are at their old pop hooks, as well as how creative they can be experimentally with noise. In this, they are both shedding the old and creating new in one song, seamlessly and without any trouble.
The other songs on the EP are not as good as "Only Acting", though still have their moments of peak melodies and vocal performances. The first song "The One True Path" starts off grimy and shiny at the same time with its bass and synths. It kicks the album off well, with conviction and energy.
"You Know How It Is" is most likely the weakest song on the album, but is still an interesting lo-fi piece with a wicked guitar solo near the end that would probably work better in an entire album as a whole. It calls back to both My Bloody Valentine and The Beach Boys with its sound.
"Cinema", the last song on the album, is, in my opinion, the most interesting song besides the obvious "Only Acting". "Cinema" is a duller and more laid back sound than Kero Kero has really ever gone for before. It's a sleepy and beautiful antiseptic synth tune, and a genius way to end the short EP as a whole.
Kero Kero Bonito show they are creative and versatile artists that are not afraid to take risks with "TOTEP". Even if this EP could be stronger, it shows much promise for the future when Kero Kero obtain more experience in this experimentation they're already so solid at.
Personally, I love the combination of twee and noise and find it endearing that Kero Kero are experimenting as they are. Their original electropop sound was one that can tire easy, and as such it is good they are branching out more while keeping their original sound at the same time. I am very much looking forward to what the future has in store for the band.
