🤡

im shocked. everytime i am about to enter a life-changing musical experience, i never expect it. last time it was 'Dark Space III', an Atmospheric Black Metal album which was a random recommendation from Reddit but didnt look like a zzile! 100, then it was 'Kagayaki', which was a recommendation by @angecritter, but i dismissed it from the beginning. i could make a case for every 100 rated album i have that i never would have seen these albums being in my 100s before listening to them (aside from 'Luv(sic) Hexalogy'), and this time its no different.

first off, yes this is a single and im not denying that, but similar to 'You Will Find Your Way Home Safely', i think of it more like an EP in my head, even if it isnt. i stumbled onto it as one of the few missing puzzle pieces to my YABUJIN deep dive. previously, i thought of the ligonis era as one of the most unremarkable ones, but it easily proves me wrong from the second that it starts, sampling '午睡にたらす釣り糸' by Pearl Brothers (its from an anime OST, i need to listen to it ig) and a few more samples that i havent picked apart, before four and a half minutes in going into very Post-Punk-like drums and bass and into another entrancing section, almost Lounge-esque if you ask me. this section carries on for the majority of the song and its honestly one of the most sonically pleasing and otherwordly experiences ive ever had. incredibly dark and psychedelic, feels like a scene from a detective movie that is slowly deteriorating, like the infamous Suicide Mouse creepypasta, but much more subtle. instruments get layered and layered but it never becomes overbearing or straight up comedically offtune, like a lot of YABUJIN's post-2021 works feel like, everything is in harmony and it paints an incredible image.

this is easily one of the most memorable experiences ive had in recent times and its an absolute must-hear in the incredibly inconsistent discography of YABUJIN. its easily my favourite thing he made and i think i might end up chasing this high again for ages.

edit:
8th Jun 2025

this is in my top 5 albums now. its a single. its the second time a single has made its way up there, but this time it feels worth it. i have no idea how long it will last there.