ARTIFICIAL JOY / 100% PURE JOY (CD/BTR-133)

2019年のカセットテープが日本でも話題となり、SKITKLASSとのスプリット7インチも大好評だったLAのARTIFICIAL JOYがついに1stアルバムをリリース！
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ARTIFICIAL JOYがやって来た！まず道を開けろ！やつらが音を出したら密室からの解放が始まる。あとは好きにやれ、仲良くな！

緊張感やぎこちなさ、はたまた懐疑を捨てる事が出来ない様な日常に生きていないか？
鬱陶しいヤツいないか？SNSで他人の粗を突いて「自分は大丈夫」って安心感を得るつもりが気付けばストレスになっちまってるヤツ、でもやめらんないヤツ。はたまたそんな世界に無縁なヤツ。めんどくせぇからどんなんでも来い！
やつらのサウンドはそんなあんたたちにかまわず突進して来るだろう。聴いて踊っとけ！話はその後だ！って。

(ここからは落ち着いて話そうか)
えー、ARTIFICIAL JOYのサウンドというとHAGAR THE WOMBやCRASS RECORDS系統の女性ボーカルバンドを感じるものの、何か違和感を抱いく。それは決定的にひとつあった。そう、狂っている。正気じゃない事を正気でやっている。訳の分からない高揚感で群衆のど真ん中に突っ込んで行くかの如く。ギターの挑戦的で隊を率いる様なソリッドでドライビングな音。ベースやドラムなんかはもうそれを上げまくる。そのてっぺんでボーカルが陽気に狂いながら色んな表情で声を出すんだからもう痛感極まりない。
こんなん居たか。とんでもねぇな。
歌詞なんか載ってない！知りたきゃメンバーに聞け！めっちゃ良いやつらだから大丈夫！
Michiaki (The Last Survivors)

Since their 2019 cassette release and their beloved 7" split with SKITKLASS, LA's ARTIFICIAL JOY have long been on Japan's radar. And now, we are pleased to announce, ARTIFICIAL JOY has released their 1st album!

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They're here! Make way for ARTIFICIAL JOY!
It's gonna feel like the gates to a long-locked room are getting busted open when they start their set. I don't know, but I think it means we're free to be ourselves now.

Do you find yourself questioning your daily life, like you don't belong, like you're held back by something you can't shake off?
Are you kind of a killjoy? Are you addicted to social media's cycle of bullshit negativity? Are you reading this like, no, what the fuck. Whatever it is, whoever you are, you need ARTIFICIAL JOY.
Listen, dance, drown in ARTIFICIAL JOY. Let their music sink in and talk about that other shit later.

(Anyways, now for the serious part.)
Sooo some similar bands that come to mind are HAGAR THE WOMB or female vocal bands from CRASS RECORDS, but something feels off about ARTIFICIAL JOY when you list them together. My guess is, it's because they're crazy. They're most sane when they're insane.
The guitars are commanding and solid, like they're leading a squadron of troops. The bass and drums rush in and heat up the instrumentals. And at the very top, these fearless, rabid vocals full of all sorts of expressions, blaze like a banner for the songs. An explanation wouldn't do them justice, they're just wow. Wow.
Oh and if you want lyrics, go ask the band! They're great people!

Michiaki (The Last Survivors)

01.STIFF!
02.JOKES ON ME
03.TAKE MY BREATH AWAY
04.WAVE LINGUISTICS
05.A TRIP THERE AND BACK
06.ARTIFICIAL JPY
07.BETTER THAN ME
08.DOCUMENTS
09.(JESUS) SO WET