An electro-rap group founded in 2011 by two high school friends, Charisma.com is a real UFO in the Japanese music scene. They visited Europe for the first time last October as part of the Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival. Bubbly and energetic, MC Itsuka and DJ Gonchi ignited the stage of Trianon two nights in a row. The two musicians regaled their fans with electro-pop melodies, all accompanied by the sometimes scathing, ironic lyrics.
The band released on March 2nd a new mini-album entitled Aidoro C. The album artwork already sets the tone. The two musicians wear heart-shaped headgear made up of colorful flowers, while they themselves are dressed and masked in white. Solemn, they look at the camera seriously. Polished and neat, the design attracts and makes listeners want to discover what lies behind.
Not surprisingly, the mini-album starts with upbeat and catchy pop sounds. The choruses of Sapuriminal Diet and Honenuki ni koishite are very catchy. Coupled with Itsuka's rapping and carried by the dynamic and rhythmic turntable thrusts by Gonchi, the two pieces leave a very good impression on the listener.
PH4 then comes to soften the atmosphere of the very punchy album. Airy and sweet, it flows into the ears like a stream of small, bursting bubbles, or like water coming forth from a fountain. This change is really necessary after the highly repetitive Koshikake Rap. After this moment of sweetness, the bubbles are back again, but this time in the form of champagne bubbles with sparkling piece, Bell Sassa. Worthy to be a video game music track, pop melodies contrast brilliantly with Itsuka's rapping. Finally, the highlight of this charming album, Jidoll, makes listeners want to dance a samba or wild salsa to electro and Latin rhythms.
Alternating rap, pop and electro with the finesse of a maestro, the duo take listeners into their offbeat and funny universe. Full of charm and dynamism, first-time listeners of Charisma.com will not be bored for even a second, except perhaps during Koshikake Rap. However, for the most savvy of fans, it is regrettable that the structure of Aidoro C is so similar to Ai Ai Syndrome. Regardless, Charisma.com has produced a very good album, but with no real surprise.
