When looking through an active artist’s discography, you may find that their current sound has strayed from their original music. Other times, you may feel disappointed that your favorite song from an artist is nothing like their other work. For better or worse, this phenomenon is all too common for most artists. However, the Japanese indie rock band Lamp often releases projects that reflect their distinct musical approaches. This remains true for their latest album, Dusk to Dawn.

The Shibuya-Kei trio known as Lamp first formed in the year 2000 during the members’ college years in Japan. Since then, a sum of eight albums have been released to date. Through twenty years of activity, Lamp has gained a massive fanbase in domestic and international regions, thanks to their extensive discography. The release of their latest album, Dusk to Dawn, was long-awaited, to say the least, but was met with a wonderful response. A large part of this positive reaction is because this album perfectly blends Lamp’s diverse musical styles. 

Those who listen to Lamp are primarily aware of the band’s bouncy, playful sounds of bossa nova. After all, this genre of music is prominent in their 2003 debut album, Soyokaze Apartment Room 201. The first half of Dusk to Dawn allows Lamp to revisit their love for bossa nova and soft jazz through tracks such as “August Calendar” and “Weekend.” Lamp also creates a more urban atmosphere through lighter songs like “As Time Goes By” and “Her Watch.” For avid listeners of city pop, this project has exactly what you are looking for.

My favorite aspect of Lamp’s discography is their soft and soothing acoustic instrumentals, which were primarily seen in their 2008 project Lamp Genso. To my surprise, Lamp delved back into this mellow, hypnotic sound in the second half of Dusk to Dawn. Throughout the latter section of this album, Lamp beautifully delivered their unique guitar melodies without overshadowing other elements of each song. Moreover, the band’s ethereal, gentle vocals radiate alongside their impressive instrumentals. Together, these elements intertwine to create blissful and serene soundscapes, as seen in tracks like “Autumn Letter” and “Summer Triangle,” which are by far my favorite songs of this album. 

Dusk to Dawn is an album of nostalgia that encapsulates the band’s feelings that resurface as time passes. Through this musical project, the band reflects on their lingering memories associated with each yearly season or time of day. If you are looking for an abundance of new music, there are twenty exceptional tracks on Dusk to Dawn that are waiting for you!