Fishing
chelmico
genre: hip-hop/ pop/ rap • release date: 2019
chelmico has been around for a while, but they might have gone under your radar for all that time. in their album Fishing they explore a side of Japanese hip-hop rarely seen in the outside of their country. at first blush, the album is a bit of a flawed experience. songs and structure yield primarily to chelmico’s excitable natures. yet in the same way Fishing is flawed, it also finds a unique voice that’s pure fun to be around. chelmico seem more than happy making music that suits their idea of sound rather than something pristine. for all of that, i really like Fishing.
i don’t intend to say that duo Rachel Watashiga and Mamiko Suzuki create their sound with careless abandon. i’m quite sure they’ve considered each aspect of this album from the bottom up. however that doesn’t mean some parts of it are outside of my taste. meanwhile a handful of tracks do a great job in expressing their unique style. it’s meant to be carefree and fun. listening to their music i can feel a deliberate choice to keep the groove loose. this is where chelmico really shines. it’s refreshing to listen to music that isn’t crafted in a lab or labored over in dire pursuit of perfection. my sense is that chelmico are well in-tune, bombastic and little off-beat, a lifestyle choice that comes through Fishing, loud and clear, beat for beat.
at its best, tracks like “himitsu” score a home-run. the track is constantly bouncing off piano keys and deep bass-y beats with a floaty mindset. Rachel and Mamiko alternate each other with a fast paced rap or a duo chorus. they feel in sync at every point. “himitsu” never falters. it feels like an important insight to the current hip-hop scene in Japan. at their best, i really enjoy their back-and-forth interplay. the women excel when they build off their relationship together.
“Balloon” comes in close behind. it’s chill, it’s upbeat, it goes wherever chelmico decides to take it. its incredibly refreshing to listen to, not just upbeat rap, but lighthearted rap by a female duo coming from Japan. “Balloon” has a few piano riffs, some blown out bass, and a little bit lighthearted flow. it’s not a complicated track, but one that feels great to revisit.
“Summer Days” comes in fast and heavy. it feels determined to tell the world they should be taking chelmico seriously. even though their style is loose and lighthearted, “Summer Days” locks in for the album. Rachel and Mamiko press on relentlessly over some crunchy deep bass. there’s a pressure not felt prior to this on the album. chelmico makes a statement, “our music is relaxed, but we can show up when we feel like it” and they do.
“Switch” is the last one worth mentioning. it’s a little wild, but finding it on its own terms results in a great time. chelmico muddles into their wild side, but just enough to feel enticing. i can tell they’re having a blast making these songs. it’s one of those scenarios where you can join the party or sit it out while everyone else has a party. “Switch” feels a bit closer to that Japanese stage pop feel, but i really like it.
beyond this the album decides its own way. whether you are in or out. i’m not even a fan of most of it, but i cant help but put my guard down when i hear the story of “Beer Bear” halfway through the album. or when “Bye” comes on to turn on the lights for one final song. truly, the album falls short in its homogeneous sound. it all sounds a bit to similar or connected in build. for all the parts i love “himitsu” or “Balloon” are also the reasons the rest of the album falls short, too much of one thing. it makes a repeat listen feel samey and bloated. as an EP this would fare much better, as a concise format. while i do adore the bizarre story of Beer Bear, and i appreciate the “Fishing - Interlude”, i wonder how its meant to bring the work together. my brain tries a bit too hard to connect these aloof dots. and i can’t knock “Sōkenbicha no Rap (爽健美茶のラップ)” for being clearly identifiable as a chelmico song, yet it sounds more like noise than
even going through the album now, i cant help but be endeared more than my taste wants to allow. the hooks of “himitsu” pull me in, while the duo do what they feel is best. they’re here to make what suits their taste, not others’. in the process they’ve made something that feels so relaxed and welcoming, its a true wonder they haven’t found a passionate fandom. chelmico is not a perfect act, they don’t intend to be. my read is, they’re happy being exactly what they are, but you’re welcome if you decide to come along. i can’t stand by every one of their songs, but that doesn’t mean i cant find them incredibly exciting. Fishing is the perfect example of when a score will fail to encapsulate an experience. i don’t care it’s not perfect, but i’m thrilled it exists.
written by
Marcus Landeros
- highlights -
Himitsu (ひみつ)
Balloon
Summer Day
switch
track list:
EXIT
Sōkenbicha no Rap (爽健美茶のラップ)
Himitsu (ひみつ)
Navy Love
Balloon
Fishing (Interlude)
BEER BEAR
12:37
Summer Day
Nakanaori Mura (仲直り村)
Switch (switch)
Bye
