POLKADOT STINGRAY are a fairly frequent feature of these roundups, though admittedly not all of their output in recent years has been entirely to my tastes. That hardly matters though, with the band celebrating its 5th anniversary this year and marking the occasion with the release of a new mini-album in “Shinseiki”. With it brings some new ideas, such as some full blown rapping on lead song “SQUEEZE” while tracks like “sp813” and “Megami” stay a bit more true to the band’s core sound in recent years. For me personally “Togemeku Spica” is the highlight here, though slap bass and noodly guitar riffs might not be what the band are typically known for they certainly compliment Shizuka’s vocals well. All in all a very fitting way to mark the group’s 5th birthday and probably the best tie-up filled mini-album you’re likely to hear in a long time.
