Shunka Ryougen

Blending elements of J-pop, rap, and hardcore, the experimental Japanese artist’s latest album presents a convincing balance of nihilism and hope.

Much like Dr. Strange’s deceptive abode, the Sanctum Sanctorum, which contorts reality by containing a pantheon of mazes, elongated hallways, mystical items and portals to other realms, the surface of Japanese performer Haru Nemuri ‘s music belies untold depths. It’s difficult to know what each Nemuri track will sound like because she’s as explosive as she is deconstructive. Her previous album, 2018’s Haru To Shura, bolted noise rock and electronic backbeats together and adorned a rioting vocal performance on top. On Shunka Ryougen, she explores the chemical reactions between components. Her thought process behind every track was to destroy her blueprints and then find the harmony in that destruction. The result is an album that’s more expressive, volatile and grand than anything else in her brief career.