I first discovered Lamp in 2018. It was just one of those chance encounters where the YouTube algorithm recommends a video with like barely any views, but my pea-sized brain could not remember the song title or artist for the life of me. So for two years all I could do was hum the song to myself, but by the grace of the lords and heavens above it appeared back in my YouTube recommendations. So this new album is like a godsend to me.
Album: Dusk to Dawn
Artist: Lamp
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Label: Botanical House
If you don’t know who Lamp is, you must be living under a rock or something. Lamp is a three-member Japanese band that was formed in 2000 by Yusuke Nagai (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard), Kaori Sakakibara (vocals, flute, accordion), and Taiyo Someya (guitar, synthesizer, vibraphone). Kaori is also the main vocalist in Minuano, a Japanese pop music project. They have released numerous albums and EPs, with Lamp Genso being their most well-known release (you know the one with red poppies). You know when you find an artist with one great song and you wonder if all their songs are just as great, well look no further that is exactly what Lamp is. Their entire discography is just utter perfection.
Dusk to Dawn is a lengthy album consisting of 20 tracks with a 74-minute total playtime. Maybe it takes little to impress me, but the first track is Dusk, and the last track is Dawn, like come on now that’s genius. The tracks flow into each other pretty well, but if you are one of the heathens who play an album on shuffle just know I have my eye on you.
My favorite track off of the album is “A Winter’s Day”. Kaori’s voice is just so soothing and calming, paired with the juxtaposition of Nagai’s vocals makes it a little difficult for me to describe this song. It sounds like the perfect song to start off my day. This song will certainly be in my earbuds as I walk to class.
“Moon Ride” is slightly different than what I would imagine a Lamp song to sound like, it is more experimental than other tracks on this album. They definitely included all the instruments in this track, it sort of jumps around. One of my favorite snippets of this track is around the three-minute mark, and there is this tick-tock sound like a grandfather clock. A little unexpected, but nice at the same time.
“Misty Town” is what I think jazz sounds like. I don’t know what jazz is, except for the reference in The Bee Movie, so you can disregard any commentary I make. Basically, I would envision this song in a coffee shop setting, or like frolicking in a field.
RIYL:
Ichiko Aoba
Lily Chou-Chou
Kaede
Recommended Tracks:
A Winter’s Day
Moon Ride
Misty Town
Reviewer’s Name: K Galich
Date of Review: October 14, 2023