Japanese three-piece souvenir keeps quite a low profile online. I found it hard to find much information about them at all. For me, it’s like they have emerged from the mist, fully formed.
A confusing Spotify bio and virtually no info anywhere create an aura of a band that is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. What really matters, though, is that ‘reservoir’ is (apparently) their second album, and has bags of raw character and inventive, flowing ideas.
‘Sometimes I’ – Buzzing guitars and fret squeaks create a stripped-back sound that introduces the album in this 58-second track. A prickly dissonance and a vocal rich in accent haunt the track in this perfect shot across the bows.
‘My Neighbor’ – A wonderfully raw sound, the guitars have a beautiful tone, and you can hear every note as a funky groove is played out. The vocals are bare and feel authentically organic and vulnerable. This bristles with electricity – for me, it reminds me of the intense, excited energy of a composition being born and developing in front of your eyes. A brilliantly exciting track – this is going to be hard to beat!
‘ggg’ – There is a live recording feel here, with a workmanlike production. A cool descending repeated line is a great example of the free-wheeling playfulness of this album. I don’t speak the language, but despite this, it really does feel like a conversation – a connection.
‘Double Screen’ – A slower pace and a lop-sided beat combine with spikey guitars to create a jagged sound. The vocal feels almost improvised with its complex, evolving melody. Things are pushed to the ragged edge, and everything walks a tightrope between clarity and distortion. I loved the chugging, prowling, muscular pulse.
‘Time’ – I liked the intimate sound, with its warm bass notes and close guitar. Here, the vocal sits back slightly, moving with the rhythm. It’s a short, funky track that packs a lot of creativity into its 100 seconds.
‘Layout’ – This band certainly knows how to extract every shred of groove and melody from their instruments. Let’s not forget there are only 3 of them! This is a great example, with a strong bass line and contrasting guitars. It sounds slightly jazzy whilst maintaining that satisfyingly heavy rock groove. For me, the guttural, grinding guitar sound is the star of the show here.
‘Noah’ – The simple, unvarnished power of these grunge-infused tracks feels soaked in sludge as they twist and lurch here and there. Hooks continue to flow as each track constantly surprises. There is so much musicality, though – I could happily sit here in this groove forever.
‘NYC Hvy’ – A slightly lighter, floating vocal appears, and things feel a little calmer – at first. Soon, raw vocal harmonies feature heavily, and they give the track a rough and ready sound that feels in-the-moment and immediate. A pureness that feels alive and urgent.
‘Morioka’ – The guitar squeaks like a frightened mouse, and a simple rhythm moves in plenty of space. Layers quickly build, though, with crashes and splashes, backing vocals and a meandering vocal melody that is hard to dissect. When the track finished, I found myself going straight back to the beginning, bewildered and unsure of what had just happened.
‘reservoir’ feels like a band in full creative flow, pouring out their ideas before they become too refined. They’ve captured the excitement of creation perfectly, finalising songs before they become overworked or sterile. It’s a brilliant process that avoids overdubs and preserves that unfiltered, magical energy.
It’s loose in the best way, creating effortless grooves and a relaxed, flowing sound that packs a wicked punch of elastic vocals, explosive drums and snarling guitars.
With only three members to worry about, there’s a concentrated crunch in those drums, a brilliant expressiveness in those guitars, and a raw emotion in those vocals. It all fuses into a shockingly dense avalanche of an album.
I have no idea how long souvenir has been around or what their history is – apparently, ‘reservoir’ is their second album. All you need to know is that this is a mysterious force, forging a unique path of raw creativity.
Written by Grubby
