The long-standing Japanese act, literally, as the Guiness World Record holders for “Long Running Rock Band with the Same Musicians (female),” Scandal makes a short but sweet return following last year’s latest full-length Luminous, in the form of Love, Spark, Joy. An effectively named EP to say the least, given the sounds that emanate from it over the course of these four tracks, even with one of them being a cover track. While it’s a short 14-minutes in length, it’s never lacking in fun.
Opening with “Terra Boy,” there’s nothing but funky riffing and a soaring dance-able chorus to sink your teeth into. It’s such a fun and upbeat track, augmented by it’s driving tempo and thoroughly playful melodies that compel you to move along with the music. It leads into the swinging and melodic “どうかしてるって [Must Be Out of My Mind],” which elevates the infectious nature of the music with it’s clapping moments and Haruna’s catchy vocalwork on the chorus. The way the guitar melody pulls you in is one of the song’s strongest features, and again features this festive tone that feels like it’s meant to be a fantastic live cut. The last of the new original songs is “Soundly,” which takes the energy down a bit from the opening rocking feel of the first two songs, but Tomomi’s basswork gently rumbles in the background, and Haruna’s graceful vocals stand out for their elegant passion and grace as the song’s chorus swells. The last song is a cover of the classic, “Oh, Pretty Woman,” by Roy Orbison. It fits nicely into the EP’s tone, even if it’s played a bit straight for the most part. But notably, the drumming from Rina stands out quite a bit, from it’s pounding tone, giving the song a more modern energy.
Scandal have been doing their thing for 16 years at this point. If you are in the mood for some fun, engaging, and upbeat rock, Scandal have this down to a science. Love, Spark, Joy is bound to leave you with a smile and seeking out more of their music. Thankfully for anyone new to the fold, there’s an extensive discography to indulge in, as we await the group’s first US run in three years this June.