For their 30-year debut anniversary, Japanese band sugar plant decided to be the ones to give out a gift. In honor of the 30-year mark since their first album in 1995, the band spent 2025 releasing remasters and reinterpretations of their previous songs, and the anniversary’s final step is their upcoming album, “one dream, one star”. “anything”, the single covered in this review, will be coming out with the album in March.
“anything” immediately drew me in with its sweet sound and groovy synths. Between soft vocals and angelic synths, the song transmits a peaceful energy to the listener, while also bringing interesting elements to the table for those who like to look out for the subtle details. The chord progression keeps it interesting by subverting genre expectations, and small things — such as the bell sounds and the strings nearing the end — make for a really sweet-sounding song filled with ear candy. With a dreamy vibe incredibly fitting for its lyrics, the track also has one of the catchiest leads I’ve listened to in a while.
With a consistently calm yet interesting (and sometimes experimental) sound throughout their release history, sugar plant established themselves as an indie band definitely worth checking out. Though their sound mostly fits within the indie rock genre, influenced by The Velvet Underground, Yo La Tengo, and Galaxie 500, they also take inspiration from the clubbing and Japanese post-rock scenes. Having had the honor to listen to their earlier works, I can’t help but be curious as to what new and nostalgic elements the album will bring. For now, replaying “anything” will have to do.
Written by Ella Lipp
