chichi
So, I checked out this album, and honestly, it’s fine. Like, it’s got some solid production and a few really nice moments, but there’s something about it that just didn’t grab me. The album’s a bit longer than it needs to be, and a lot of the tracks start to blur together—not because of cool seamless transitions or anything, but because they just sound too similar to one another. The mix/mastering also feels off at times, but I guess it fits with the whole “emotional indie RPG” vibe it’s going for.
If I had to rate it, I’d probably put it in the 60-70 range. It’s enjoyable enough, but it doesn’t really do anything that stands out, and there are some rough spots along the way. Honestly, I think part of that comes from the fact that the album seems really focused on its storyline. Like, it feels like the artist rushed to get the whole thing out on specific dates to match the story, and while I get the appeal of tying music to a narrative, when it gets in the way of the music itself, it just doesn’t work as well.
Now, after hearing this, I can’t help but notice a ton of influences from artists like Jane Remover and Underscores. It’s not just that it sounds inspired by them—it feels like it’s straight-up pulling from their sound, almost to the point where it’s hard to tell if I’m listening to a draft of a Jane Remover album or something that’s trying to copy their style. There’s this whole mix of game-OST influence and vocals that make me think of those artists, too. It’s not subtle, and if you’re familiar with Jane Remover or Underscores, it’s hard not to notice.
Being inspired by other artists isn’t automatically a bad thing, but here, it kind of works against the album. It doesn’t really add anything new to the mix—it just repeats what’s been done already, but not as well. The execution feels a little rushed, and the mixes aren’t as clean as they could be. I’ve seen people comparing this to Porter Robinson’s SMILE! :D, but honestly, the comparison to Jane Remover and Underscores is much stronger.
If I hadn’t already listened to those artists, I might have enjoyed this album a bit more. But as it is, it feels like it’s trying really hard to be its own thing while relying heavily on the sound and style of others. It’s clear that Niomi has talent, and there’s definitely potential here, but I’d love to hear something that feels more unique and polished in the future.
NIOMI - CHICHI
RATING - 6.5/10
FAVORITE TRACK - N/A
GENRE - Art Pop, Hyper, Noise Pop