by David Wilikofsky
LLRR (pronounced “lew-lew-low-low”) are a Kyoto based band who formed in 2017. Made up of vocalist Minami Yokota, guitarist Yuzuru Sano and drummer Takaya Tani, the group makes abrasive, complex rock music that touches on everything from hardcore to no wave to pop. < = >, their debut EP, was released last year exclusively on streaming platforms. Although I missed it at the time, it recently came to my attention when Call and Response Records gave it a proper physical release earlier this month. Thank goodness for that; with < = >, LLRR have recorded a joyous set of rock songs that show off their experimental chops and pop instincts.
LLRR’s brand of deconstructed, spiky rock is a tricky proposition; it often sounds chaotic and messy but requires meticulous construction and consummate musicianship to pull off. “Psycho Prism” is a great example of the band striking this balance. It’s a track that, on the surface, seems a bit rough around the edges; buoyed by an angular melody, it moves forward in fits and starts with squalls of feedback interspersed throughout. But the small details speak to the tightness of the band. They’re able to pause the song’s herky jerky melody for a split second, only to immediately jump back in without missing a beat. When the track crescendos into a cloud of buzzing guitar feedback, the group locks back into that initial groove at a moment’s notice. No matter how chaotic things sound, they’re in complete control.
At times, < = > almost feels like the work of a mad scientist. They throw together different genres, rhythms and melodies in a single three minute track, yet it all works. I believe there are two reasons for this. First, no matter how crazy or fractured things get, at each track’s center beats a pop heart; I dare you to listen to opener “週末のフール” or “Anonymous” and not get their angular, spiky melodies that drive them lodged in your head. Perhaps more importantly, there’s a palpable sense of joy in this music. The band sounds like they’re having a blast as they twist and turn these songs, and as a listener you can’t help but be drawn in.
While < = > was initially released quietly, its music is anything but. With this reissue, hopefully a lot more people are able to discover LLRR’s delightfully skewed take on rock.