SIRUP - Cure

Inspirational, progressive and smooth as always, "Cure" is SIRUP's 2nd full album and finds him reaching yet another level, featuring global collaborations in addition to his usual crew for a diverse range of sounds, languages and messages not only to represent the now, but also lead Japanese music into the future.

In the two years since SIRUP's last full album "Feel Good," not only are we enduring a global pandemic, we've seen issues like BLM, inequality, Anti-asian sentiment and misinformation come to the fore AND we have to deal with climate change related disasters like bushfires, hurricanes and cold snaps.

So it makes sense that SIRUP's follow up album "Cure" is a little more introspective, as SIRUP has taken the opportunity to use lockdown time to confront these issues and rethink his approach to life. While you may think "Cure" is obviously aimed at COVID-19 and the related fallout, it's actually also to cure oneself, to reassess how you see the world and whether or not that needs change.

Working again with familiar names like A.G.O, Shin Sakiura and Mori Zentaro (Soulflex), the base of the sound is still true to form with slick grooves and SIRUP's warm R&B/soul vocals, but right from the start with the track "R/W" this is SIRUP evolved as there's now more to the message. Questioning long-held beliefs on how things should be and people trying to push what is "right" onto each other, he suggests we stop looking away and confront ourselves and our values. In "Journey", he implores us to see things in terms of layers and not just two dimensions in order to reach mutual understanding. And on "Hopeless Romantic" he despairs at all the suffering in the world right now, realizing the more you hear, the more helpless you feel.

At the same time, the situation has also allowed SIRUP to expand further abroad, working with producers like ROMderful (UK), Full Crate (Netherlands) and Slom (Korea), which broadens the sonic palette to trap, Soulection-style grooves, dancehall vibes and even a little bit of trop house (courtesy of starRo). While international listeners may be more familiar with these sounds, in the context of Japanese music at large, SIRUP is way ahead of the curve. Mind you, this only works because SIRUP is versatile enough to keep up with the changes, boldly adjusting his delivery and rhythm without ever sounding unnatural.

It comes together beautifully on the future classic “Keep in Touch” where Slom delivers a delightful throwback with city pop Yamaha inspired synths and 90’s R&B 808 drums, yet it’s fully 21st century with lyrics in English, Japanese and Korean featuring SUMIN, and reflects our present ability to communicate instantaneously across borders, make connections and share cultures. SIRUP and SUMIN demonstrate a lovely dynamic taking turns to sing in each other's language, if the rest of the world could approach this ideal (musically as well!), we’d surely be in a better place.

Another highlight of the album is "Thinkin' About Us," which could have devolved into a standard ballad, but is much more interesting thanks to Yaffle's jazz stylings on the piano, pitched vocal samples, staccato drums, the swell of the synth, and an uplifting gospel inspired breakdown. And while it's likely intended for lovers, the song is broad enough to be interpreted as for friends and family, especially in these difficult times where we've all struggled and are searching for light at the end of this long dark tunnel.

Being a product of the pandemic, I had a fear that "Cure" could become dated since no one is going to want to be reminded of lockdown and social distancing when this is all over. Some of the anthemic choruses born from passion and urgency are a bit bland and empty on second thought. But it's an important chapter for SIRUP, varied enough with both danceable and soulful tracks to warrant listening for years to come, and there's not many blatant COVID-era references (other than talking about Zoom). There's a possibility that his future work may not be so actively conscious as things improve, but SIRUP and his team have consistently shown progression and a knack for writing great songs, so we have nothing to worry about and everything to look forward to. The ceiling for SIRUP simply gets higher and higher. Give me some more.