'L.D.K' is THE capsule album for those uninitiated. It sits at the exact intersection between the cute loungetronica of their early work and the hedonistic electro house they became known for. As with my favorite Yasutaka Nakata productions, many of these songs carry a longing feeling buried deep within layers of thumping bass, distorted synths, and vocals (Toshiko Koshijima) processed into oblivion.

The opening three-track stretch is flawless, with 'Teleportation''s almost punishing mixing and start-stop pummeling drum'n'bass beat making it an early highlight. Gems don’t stop showing up later in the album—the appropriately soaring 'Glider,' which may be the best tack here, boasts a chorus that takes me somewhere that only the chorus of PERFUME’s 'Edge' (also produced by Nakata) has let me glimpse before.

Capsule pre- and post-L.D.K can feel like the work of two completely different bands at first, but hearing the two styles deliciously contrasting within this release (the title track into 'twinkle twinkle poppp!' is particularly hilarious) reveals a clear throughline of earworm vocal melodies, densely layered electronic production, and, most importantly, an unrelenting earnestness and sincerity that always leave me in a better mood than before I pressed play.

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