T H E
On T H E, tricot make complicated time signatures sound completely natural. Guitars cut across each other, the drums respond to every movement, and the singing keeps the songs accessible. The Japanese quartet have plenty of ideas, but usually present them with the directness of a good indie band. You can follow the music without constantly taking its rhythms apart.
The strength lies in the interaction between the musicians. A guitar part can sound angular and restless while the voice provides a clear melody. That balance survives when the band play harder. POOL has a fierce energy that goes beyond speed or accuracy. It gives the technical approach an immediate physical impact.
More familiar song structures are used well too. artsick has a clear melodic foundation, with enough guitar movement to keep the repetitions interesting. The gentler Swimmer brings the band's accessible side further forward. The voice has more room, without tricot suddenly removing all the tension. おやすみ then shows how effective a rising vocal melody can be within this setup.
The dry production brings advantages and limitations. You can hear the individual parts clearly, but the sound sometimes lacks the space that could let the melodies develop further. The voice also sits quite prominently in front. This makes recurring melodic patterns more noticeable than they need to be. Across the full running time, the almost constant activity can become tiring too.
That does little to weaken the conviction behind this debut. T H E sounds lively and distinctive because tricot keep their technical playing connected to the songs. It is a strong choice for anyone who wants sharp guitar music that keeps finding an unexpected direction to take.
