REVIEW

The first EP from Tokyo-based alternative rock band nannou.

Formed around 2010, the band released their first album “suicide underground” in 2015. After several lineup changes, this EP was recorded by seheru (Vo/Key), yu (Gt), takosuke (Ba/Cho), and tayu (Dr), though bassist takosuke departed shortly after the release.

Built around noisy guitars layered with delicate arpeggios and keyboards, the EP is anchored by vocals steeped in deep melancholy, drifting with an almost spectral presence. Drawing on the decadent elegance once associated with 4AD, nannou weave together elements of gothic rock, alternative, shoegaze, and progressive music, filtered through a distinctly Japanese sense of wabi-sabi. The result suggests a unique aesthetic where fragility and intensity coexist.

Key tracks include:

#1 “Fatal Words lie with me” – A striking opener, led by a plaintive, searching vocal that conveys a strong sense of yearning.

#2 “Kyozou” – Hollow vocals and desolate noise heighten feelings of isolation, creating a stark, emotionally charged atmosphere.

#3 “Gunjyou” – Showcases intricate rhythm work and a clear progressive sensibility beneath its brooding surface.

#4 “slow” – Amid a storm of noise, keyboards and vocals melt seamlessly together, closing the EP on an immersive, hypnotic note.

While the release-party performance reportedly leaned heavier and more metal-oriented in terms of sheer volume, the recorded versions reveal a more dreamlike, shoegaze-inflected beauty. Beyond shoegaze listeners, fans of gothic rock and visual kei may also find much to appreciate here.