Not going to lie – footwork-maker Weezy’s new album On Nukes caught my attention from the rows of new Bandcamp releases because of the title. The general lack of socially aware music in Japan…especially on the always hot-button issue of nuclear energy/weapons, a topic that became relevant once again earlier this month following North Korea’s nuclear missile test…makes anything boasting even a potentially controversial title worth checking out. This collection of dance songs isn’t quite the finger to the government Hiroshima’s CRZKNY provided last year nor does it capture the weird vibes post Fukushima as nailed by Goth-Trad – the first three songs on On Nukes are pretty straightforward footwork cuts, all jittery chopped-up samples and skittery beats. They also happen to be really good, highlighted by the smooth, jazz-teasing groove of “All Your Love.” Opener “Ah (ADHD)” lives up to its title, all nervous electronic plonks and ping-ponging vocal samples that’s disorienting at its best meaning.

The back half of On Nukes gets closer to the political. “Future” features the line “the future is cold” over chilly, grim production, Weezy letting that sentence play out over and over again to drive home the bleakness of tomorrow. “Nuclear Energy” boasts the least subtle title here…even moreso than the title track…although the song itself isn’t quite as shiver-inducing as future, as it even boasts some fun-sounding horns. Final track “On Nukes” sounds more ominous, featuring some electronics bringing to mind broken ice-cream-truck sirens and some unintelligible vocal patters. Weezy definitely seems like he wants to say something about nuclear power, but the music isn’t always committed to that idea (save “Future” and, to some degree, the title song, which certainly sounds spooky). Even then, this a solid footwork release, and one at least trying to be socially aware, which is more than a lot of music out there right now. Get it here.