Miso Extra - Earcandy (2025) [Hi-Res]

Album review

Anglo-Japanese artist Miso Extra’s first debut album, Earcandy, translating literally as “honey for the ears,” emerged out of a desire for pure pleasure. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London, the singer has shaped her record into a culinary concept in which she reflects her multicultural upbringing. Based on umami, the album contains a collection of short, two- or three-minute tracks that she intriguingly relates to plates of tapas.

In the sauce, there’s a lot of R&B inspiration, throwing us back to the golden age of the 90s and the finesse of Aaliyah and Janet Jackson. It’s almost as if Miso Extra spent her youth singing their hooks and gimmicks in the shower, so effortlessly does she roll them out, as on the tracks “Pop” and “Slow Down,” composed by DJ Boring, or the unstoppable “Good Kisses,” featuring Metronomy. On “Certified,” she displays the same ease around a more electro production, and even crosses into emo territory at times too (“Done”). The album ends on a more ‘organic’ note, with the soulful “Earcandy,” which perfectly sums up this sweet summer record. And for dessert? A Qobuzissime, of course! © Smaël Bouaici



Tracklist:
1 Love Train
2 POP
3 Good Kisses
4 Certified
5 Playboi
6 Done.
7 Moshi Moshi (interlude)
8 Slow Down
9 Ghostly
10 Don't Care
11 Candy Crushin'
12 Earcandy