It’s the fluttery and fizzy edges of “Starship” that really stand out. Fukuoka artist Happypills mostly finds a middle ground between indie-pop and larger Japanese rock bands such as Galileo Galilei, Asian Kung-Fu Generation and maybe a little bit of Supercar. For the most part, “Starship” is a straightforward gallop, anchored by the slightly obscured vocals really playing up the melancholy sweetness. Fine and good, but it’s the little electronic ripples on the edges that make this one worth listening to. They add a woozy, out-of-place feel to an otherwise standard rock number, which makes the central longing all the more palpable. Get it here, or listen above.
