Testset - ALL HAZE (2025) Hi-Res

Testset is a four-member band that began full-scale activities in 2022 after Yoshinori Sunahara and Leo Imai, former members of METAFIVE led by Yukihiro Takahashi, joined forces with Kenichi Shirane (GREAT3) and Seiichi Nagai (Soutaisei Riron) to perform at Fuji Rock Festival in 2021 as a "special lineup" of METAFIVE. Their origins have often led to comparisons with METAFIVE, and while their sound shares commonalities, such as sharp, danceable arrangements, the vision they present is naturally different.

Sunahara, a former member of Denki Groove, is a maestro of electronic music, primarily techno. His own solo albums exude a deep love for techno. The three members, Imai, Shirane, and Nagai, all of whom have extensive careers in rock and pop, joined forces, resulting in music bursting with originality and a chemistry that is often overlooked. Testset does not have a designated leader. Production and arrangements are handled under the band name, and songwriting, including lyrics, is apparently done by the individual members contributing their own ideas. While Sunahara seems to be dedicated to supporting the image the band members are projecting through mixing and mastering, his impressive skill is evident in the sense of unity that permeates the album.

Their first full-length album, "1STST," released in 2023, was impressive for its light, synth-pop flavor, almost evocative of Yukihiro Takahashi's vocals. In contrast, this album feels more rock-influenced, with tracks like the opening "Dry Action Pump" and Imai's poignant vocals on "Deleter." That said, their signature pop tunes, like the pre-release single "Vapour Cream" and "The Haze," composed by drummer Shirane, are still present. One particularly memorable track is guitarist Nagai's "Neuromancer," which is likely inspired by William Gibson's famous cyberbank novel, but its sound is a masterful piece that evokes a slightly twisted take on 1980s British new wave.

Dystopia has been frequently depicted in dramas and anime both in Japan and abroad in recent years. What was the future, which was neither ideal nor dark, that we glimpsed in the '80s, when there was no threat of AI? It would be interesting to reminisce about such things while interpreting the imagery of this album. Now is the time to savor Testset's message, which goes beyond nostalgia and invites listeners to new horizons, while carrying the elegant "Japanese techno" that could be said to be a direct descendant of YMO.