Bristol’s Super-Frog Saves Tokyo returns with Beams, a daring second album that channels the spirit of the ’90s dance scene while embracing the polish of modern production. Out soon via Electronic Architecture, the 8-track collection is designed as both a club-ready arsenal and an immersive listening experience — weaving nostalgia into forward-thinking electronic sound design.
Influenced by the golden era of electronica, Beams fuses punchy rhythms, lush analog synths, melodic hooks, and emotional undercurrents. “It’s an album borne of a singular vision,” says David Harrison, the artist behind Super-Frog Saves Tokyo. “Each track stands on its own, but they also connect — they’re built to work together as a whole piece. It’s music that straddles genres from Balearic trance to ear-splitting techno, via ambient soundscapes, but at all times remaining anchored with memorable hooks and melodies.”
Opening track “Drench” eases listeners in with Vangelis-like strings and distant piano washes before erupting into warped percussion and one of Harrison’s most dynamic basslines to date. The energy escalates with “Scream,” a collision of analog bass, glitchy builds, and techno percussion, while “Mondrago” offers a Balearic pause with sweeping pads and strings. Lead single “Clarion” pushes into pulsing trance across nine minutes, followed by the sparse ambient textures of “Ascend.”
Highlights continue with “Minds,” where acid flourishes and stop-start structures recall the exhilaration of ’90s techno, while “Insidious” dives headfirst into glitch-heavy chaos with distorted bass and percussion. Closing track “Lumière” embraces Italo-disco inspiration, pairing piano-driven riffs with shimmering Balearic grooves to deliver a radiant finale.
Whether in the sweaty intensity of a packed club or through headphones in solitude, Beams resonates as a warm yet sharp-edged statement from an artist unafraid to blur boundaries.