Fukuoka’s Monoqlo Panda bill themselves as a “Depression Pop” band, which in my opinion is selling themselves a bit short. Do most of the songs on their debut album “Nostalgia” have a veneer of hazy gloominess to them? Sure, but once you get past that you find a collection of songs spanning an array of different musical styles. Vocalist Kanda Misaki has some very interesting and varied vocal delivery on a number of these songs, but the emotion behind said delivery is a constant presence. “Nostalgia” isn’t the sort of album that I’d usually seek out, but I’m glad I did. The middle stretch of the album in particular has some great songs, and when you consider they’re selling this thing for a paltry 500 yen you really can’t go wrong here.
Buy on Amazon JP: Regular Edition
Buy on CDJapan: Regular Edition
