Endless Pop Repetition

If you’re searching for the human element in your music, there is no need to read any further. Anamanaguchi’s squeaky clean album, Endless Fantasy, sounds like a 1980s Nintendo version of what music will be in the future (visions of Super Mario will dance in your head). It’s punchy, bright, ultra-melodic, and often feels like Andrew W.K. compressed into elevator music that was then rendered into a midi-file. Take any mainstream pop-punk band from the early 2000s and imagine their catchiest song polished to perfection and played instrumentally with drum machines and synthesizers.

The timbre of the synthesizers and the constant barrage of layered bubble-gum melody result in a very repetitive listen. Fortunately, Endless Fantasy is equipped with several mood leveling interludes that supply a much needed savory texture to the otherwise overwhelmingly sugary-sweet pop tracks that occupy most of the album. Still, some tracks stand out individually. One of the star tracks is “Meow,” with its cat-like voicing and its Sonic the Hedgehog-high octane speed (where’s the ping of Sonic collecting the rings?).

There is also “SPF 420” which, besides its intriguing name, has interesting transitions of melody warping into more melody. “Space Wax America” has memorable lead melodies reminiscent of when you beat the end boss and are basking in the glory of the end credits with your childhood best friend. The biggest disappointment is the lack of evil end boss music—Koopa’s Castle anyone? As the final notes of the last track, “Bosozoku GF,” fade out, some listeners will feel compelled to sit under a rainbow and drink down a tall glass of sweet sunshine, but other listeners will have pushed the stop button and said “game over” much sooner.