Time to break out your glow sticks everyone! After eight years of little more than re-releases, techno-pop duo Denki Groove released two new singles, Shonen Young and Mononoke Dance, on December 5, 2007 and February 14, 2008 respectively. This all lead up to a full-length album, which was released on April 2, 2008, titled J-Pop.
After listening to “Zizo,” it's tempting to think that this album was aimed at the elderly techno fans. That deep bass line is there but it's not quite as thumping as it used to be. The synths are there but they are toned down too. I think I might have even heard some snapping and a harmonica in there as well. This whole second half of the album just doesn't seem to fit with the first half.
While I've never been a huge fan of the techno genre, I can appreciate a really good techno song. Unfortunately, there isn't really a stand-out techno song here. Almost all of the songs from the first half of the album sound exactly the same while the second half puts everyone to sleep. It is really and truly confusing. Techno songs don't have to have the same sound. Experiment with some different instruments; try a different setting on your synthesizer. Just give me something to get excited about. I hope that for their 20th anniversary next year they can create at least one awesome song because there isn't one here.