Game

About

GAME is the first studio album by Japanese electro-pop trio Perfume, released on April 16, 2008 through Tokuma Japan Communication. Entirely written, composed, and produced by Yasutaka Nakata of capsule, the record fuses electronic dance music, J-pop, and glossy techno-pop, with a sound that helped revive the genre in Japan’s mainstream. Perfume—consisting of Ayaka “A-chan” Nishiwaki, Yuka “Kashiyuka” Kashino, and Ayano “Nocchi” Omoto—had been active since 2000, slowly building their career through indie releases and early singles before signing with Tokuma in 2005. Working with Nakata marked a turning point: his futuristic production style, heavy use of vocoder, and sleek synth arrangements became central to the group’s identity. Between 2006 and 2008, the trio recorded GAME at Nakata’s Contemode Studio in Tokyo, with every detail—from songwriting to mixing—handled by him alone. Musically, GAME blends driving club beats with playful pop melodie, switching between high-energy tracks like “Polyrhythm,” “Ceramic Girl,” and “Secret Secret,” dreamy mid-tempos such as “Macaroni” and “Take Me, Take Me,” and bright, cutesy pop moments like “Baby Cruising Love” and “Chocolate Disco.” There’s even a touch of English-language lyric, a rarity for the group at the time. The album’s varied styles reflect Nakata’s goal of reimagining techno-pop for a new generation, taking cues from pioneers like Yellow Magic Orchestra while infusing it with modern electro and J-pop sensibilitie. The album was preceded by three singles: the Fan Service (Sweet) EP featuring “Chocolate Disco” and “Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow” (2007), the nationwide hit “Polyrhythm,” and the double A-side “Baby Cruising Love / Macaroni.” “Polyrhythm” in particular became a cultural phenomenon, appearing in commercial, TV show, and later in Pixar’s Cars 2. Several album tracks were also tied to advertising campaign, helping Perfume reach a wider audience. Upon release, GAME debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, making Perfume only the second techno-pop act in history—after Yellow Magic Orchestra—to top the chart. It went on to be certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for shipments exceeding 500,000 copie, becoming their best-selling album. Critics gave it mixed to positive reviews at the time, praising its innovative sound, infectious hook, and production quality, though some felt it was overly polished. Over the year, however, GAME has been widely reappraised as a landmark J-pop album and a defining release in Perfume’s career, credited with sparking a wave of electro-pop acts in late-2000s Japan. To support the album, Perfume embarked on the GAME Tour 2008, selling out venues across Japan, including a milestone performance at Nippon Budokan. Live footage from the tour was later released on DVD, which topped the Oricon DVD chart and earned a gold certification. Today, GAME remains one of Perfume’s most celebrated work, featuring fan favorites like “Polyrhythm,” “Chocolate Disco,” “Baby Cruising Love,” “Macaroni,” and “Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow.” Its blend of futuristic production and catchy pop songwriting not only solidified Perfume’s place in Japanese pop history but also influenced the global perception of J-pop as a cutting-edge, genre-bending force. Tracklist: 1. Polyrhythm (ポリリズム) – 4:09 2. Plastic Smile – 4:36 3. Game – 5:06 4. Baby Cruising Love – 4:41 5. Chocolate Disco (チョコレイト・ディスコ) – 3:46 6. Macaroni (マカロニ) – 4:39 7. Ceramic Girl (セラミックガール) – 4:34 8. Take Me, Take Me – 5:28 9. Secret Secret (シークレットシークレット) – 4:57 10. Butterfly – 5:41 11. Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow – 3:49 .

via Last.fm

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →