Level3 (Perfume album)

Level3
Studio album by Perfume
Released October 2, 2013
Recorded 2012–13
Genre
Length 64:39
Language
Label
  • Universal J
  • Perfume
Producer Yasutaka Nakata
Perfume chronology

Love the World
(2012)		 Level3
(2013)
Limited edition cover
Singles from Level3
  1. "Spring of Life"
    Released: April 11, 2012[1]
  2. "Spending All My Time"
    Released: August 15, 2012[1]
  3. "Mirai no Museum"
    Released: February 27, 2013[1]
  4. "Magic of Love"
    Released: May 22, 2013[1]

Level3 (stylized as LEVEL3) is the fourth studio album by Japanese girl group Perfume, released on October 2, 2013 by Universal J and Perfume Records.[2] It is the group's first release under Universal J and the fifth Yasutaka Nakata-produced album under the label, following Meg's Maverick (2010). The album was conceived while they were transitioning to Universal Music Japan, and started a sub-label entitled Perfume Records. This was their first album under their own label.

Japanese producer and songwriter Yasutaka Nakata fully composed, arranged and wrote the album, just like their previous albums. Musically, Level 3 engages several electronic dance music genres and elements but still focus on their signature technopop. The album theme include partying, having fun, love and friendship. The album had spawn four singles; "Spring of Life", "Spending All My Time", "Mirai no Museum" and "Magic of Love", all managing to peak inside the top three on the Oricon Singles Chart and receiving a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Level 3 received positive reviews from most music critics, who praised the production values, composition and favored the cohesive structure that was absent on their previous albums. The album peaked at number one in Japan, making it their fourth consecutive number one studio album to date. It was certified platinum by RIAJ for shipments of 250,000 units. Perfume had promoted the album by going on their third tour Perfume 4th Tour in DOME 'LEVEL3.

Background

Japanese girl group Perfume had released three studio albums by November 2011; Game (2008), Triangle (2009) and JPN (2011). The first album peaked at number one in Japan and sold over 500,000 units in Japan with a double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[3][4] After the album peaked at number one on the Oricon chart, the album became the first technopop album to reach at number one since Yellow Magic Orchestra did so with their album Naughty Boys. According to Tokyograph, this makes Perfume only the second technopop group ever to achieve this position.[5] The next two efforts peaked at one and was certified platinum in July 2009 and December 2011 respective.[6][7]

While they were working with Japanese producer Yasutaka Nakata on their fourth album, Perfume departed from Tokuma Japan Communications and signed a deal with Universal Music Japan in order to release their work through global markets.[8] Universal Music Japan obtained rights of all of Perfume's work with Tokuma Japan Communication, but re-released JPN digitally in March 2012 in over fifty countries to begin their global releases; the groups earlier work were released afterwards.[9]

Composition and material

Resuming work with Nakata, all tracks were arranged, produced, composed and written by him.[10] Unlike their three previous albums, there is an absence of "overuse" autotune and vocoder pyrotechnics in Level 3.[11] Patrick St. Michael, writing for The Japan Times, reviewed the album and commented that the new album mixes were not "improvements" in musical development, but had called it "catchy, pop music."[12] He referred to the tracks "Spring of Life", "Spending All My Time" and "Magic of Love".[12] Noticing the "cohesiveness" of their music, Nia from the publication Selective Hearing had commented "The girls of Perfume remarked how Level3 was probably their most dance-able album."[13] Musically, the album is influenced by electronic dance music but is still vivid inside Perfume's signature "technopop" genre.[14]

Yasutaka Nakata (pictured) returned in composing, producing, writing and arranging Perfume's forth studio album.

The album opener "Enter the Sphere" utilizes techno beats and melodies, with the lyrics wanting fans to enter the world of music.[14] "Spring of Life" is a dance song that fuses musical elements of techno, electronic music and pop music.[12][14] Tracks like "Magic of Love", "Clockwork", "Dream Land" and "Furikaeru to Iru yo" incorporates a "calm" and "mellow" technopop and electropop.[15][14] "1mm" was noted for 1980s synthpop and chillout influence.[13][14] The girls vocal range was higher in the track than any other track on the album.[14] The fifth track "Mirai no Museum" is "childish" dance and electronic music that was often criticized for interrupting the musical delivery of other albums tracks; Patrick St. Michel from The Japan Times exemplified the song and felt it was "painfully out of place."[12]

Tracks like "Sleeping Beauty" and "Party Maker" were compared to the groups previous tracks "Butterfly" from Game, and "Edge" from Triangle.[14] This was based on the songs compositions, overlapping the groups vocals and lyrical content in order to focus more on the electronic music.[14] The album contains three b-side tracks on the album, which are "Point", "Handy Man" and "Daijobanai".[10] The first track contains soft drum and bass elements, while the second track blends Middle Eastern music with modern Western electronic music.[12] The latter track is a glitchy-dance song with a faster tempo than most of the album tracks.[12] "Spending All My Time" is a dance song, and is the groups first single to be sung in English language.

Promotion

Level 3 was released on 2 October 2013 in Japan both digitally and physically.[10] Two editions were released; one featuring a CD, DVD, clear slip case with the booklet, and a limited edition ten-piece transparent sheet of Perfume, while the standard edition featured a standard compact disc.[10] The cover art of the album, as well as other promotion shoots, show Perfume in a bright room, surrounded by neon lights and glass frames.[10] The promotion shoots were photographed by Hiroshi Manaka and art direction was provided by Kazuaki Seki.[10] A vinyl edition of the album was released on May 14, 2014, and was made available in clear, fluorescent yellow and fluorescent pink colors.[16]

A bonus edition was released digitally worldwide that features two new edits of their single "Spending All My Time". The album was released in the UK by Wrassle Records and Astralwerks in the United States.[17]

Singles

The album's lead single "Spring of Life" was released on digitally on 29 February 2012 and physically on 11 April that same year.[18][19] The song received favorable reviews from most music critics, who praised the musical composition and production of the single. The song peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart but reached one on Japan's Hot 100 chart, their first number one since their 2007 single "One Room Disco".[3][20] A music video was shot for the single, which shows Perfume as robots and dancing with fairy lights around them.[21] "Spending All My Time" was released on 15 August of that year as the second single.[22] The song received favorable reviews, many whom complimented the groups cross-over approach to Western music and English language. The song reached number two on both the Oricon and Hot 100 chart.[3][23] A music video was shot, which shows Perfume dancing and making dance-inspired gestures in a room.[24]

"Mirai no Museum" was released on 27 February 2013 as the third single. The song received negative remarks from critics, who criticized the songs composition and felt it was "childish."[12] The song reached number two on both the Oricon and Hot 100 chart.[3][25] A music video was shot for the song, which shows Perfume inside a comic book-style world.[26] The fourth and final single "Magic of Love" was released on 22 May of that year. The song received favorable reviews, who praised the songs lyrical content and composition. The song reached three on both the Oricon and Hot 100 chart, their first singles to miss the top two spot.[3][27] A music video was shot for the single, which shows Perfume dancing in room and features multiple figures of the members in different rooms.[28]

The song "1mm" was released digitally as a promotional single on September 18, 2013.[29] A short version of the song's music video was released on September 3, 2013, featuring the three members in a setting similar to that of the album's cover art.[30] The full version of the video premiered on October 15, 2013,[31] and is also included on the bonus DVD that accompanies the limited edition of the album.[30]

Promotion

In order to promote the release of Level3, Perfume embarked on a four-date dome tour named "Perfume 4th Tour in DOME 'LEVEL3'", including two dates at Kyocera Dome and two dates at Tokyo Dome. The tickets for both venues were sold out instantly. During the final performance of the tour on December 25, 2013, A-chan said, "Dome tours are amazing cause all the venues are domes, you know", which brought laughter to the audience. Afterwards, she started shedding tears, saying, "Thank you for spending this special day with Perfume."[32]

Critical Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The Japan Times (positive)[12]
Land of Rising [14]
SBS PopAsia (positive)[33]
Selective Hearing (positive)[13]

Level 3 received positive reviews from most music critics. Patrick St. Michel, writing for The Japan Times, said "this is Perfume’s longest album yet, and it can drag. Yet the strongest moments come when Nakata incorporates EDM sounds in novel ways." He went on to say "The bulk of [“Level3″] feels like a live-show preview, but with enough great sonic moments sprinkled throughout to make it enjoyable at home, too."[12] Nia from Selective Hearing had praised the albums cohesive and "interesting" structure, commenting "I found it to be Perfume’s most cohesive and interesting album since Game. This is an album that provides the danciest of dance songs and the calmest of calm songs and everything in-between." She then commented that "It may not be as good as Game, but it comes pretty damn close."[13]

Writing for Land of Rising, Alex Shenmue awarded the album nine out of ten. He commented "Everything is extremely well balanced [...] all of these aspects are present in [LEVEL3] and perfectly mixed together, maintaining a constant Techno/Dance soul that guarantees a clear personality to the entire album."[14] He concluded "LEVEL3 is the past, the present and the future of Perfume, the perfect portrait of this group and of their long and successful career. It’s time to leave the past behind and realize that, right now, LEVEL3 is the best Perfume album out there."[14] Dr. J from SBS PopAsia commended the albums composition, and said "Overall, this album is a great way to consolidate all of Perfume’s recent work into a package with a pretty, futuristic and multi-coloured bow [...]"[33]

Commercial performance

Level3 debuted at number one on both the Oricon Daily Albums Chart and Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, selling 87,640 copies in its first day of release and 165,748 copies in its first week.[34][35]

The Bonus Edition of the album, released on October 22, 2014 by Astralwerks label, debuted at the number twelve on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 4,724 copies sold.[36]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Yasutaka Nakata. 

No. Title Length
1. "Enter the Sphere"   3:35
2. "Spring of Life" (Album-mix) 5:59
3. "Magic of Love" (Album-mix) 4:16
4. "Clockwork"   4:32
5. "1mm"   4:17
6. "未来のミュージアム" (Mirai no Museum; Museum of the Future) 3:21
7. "Party Maker"   7:20
8. "ふりかえるといるよ" (Furikaeru to iru yo; I look back and you're there) 6:15
9. "ポイント" (Point) 3:46
10. "だいじょばない" (Daijobanai; I'm not okay) 3:03
11. "Handy Man"   4:05
12. "Sleeping Beauty"   4:52
13. "Spending All My Time" (Album-mix) 4:02
14. "Dream Land"   5:16

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Level3.[38]

  • Michiyo Goda – product coordination
  • Tatsuro Hatanaka – supervision
  • Shoji Steve Inoda – A&R
  • Masahiro Kazumoto – executive producer
  • Hiroshi Manaka – photography
  • Yasutaka Nakata – arrangement, production
  • Yusuke Oka – product management
  • Yokichi Osato – supervision
  • Kazuaki Seki – art direction
  • Daichi Shiono – design
  • Kazumasa Takase – product management

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Japanese Albums Chart[35] 1
South Korean Albums Chart[39] 43
Taiwanese International Albums Chart[40] 4
Taiwanese J-Pop Albums Chart[41] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Japanese Albums Chart[42] 23

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Japan (RIAJ)[43] Platinum 234,294[42]

Release history

Region Date Format Edition Label Ref.
Japan October 2, 2013 CD Standard
  • Universal J
  • Perfume
 [44]
CD + DVD Limited [37]
Taiwan October 4, 2013 CD Standard Universal [45]
CD + DVD Limited [46]
Japan October 16, 2013 Digital download Standard
  • Universal J
  • Perfume
 [47]
South Korea CD Universal [48]
Germany October 18, 2013
  • CD
  • digital download
 [49][50]
CD + DVD Limited [51]
Japan May 14, 2014 LP Standard
  • Universal J
  • Perfume
 [52]
United Kingdom October 6, 2014 Digital download Bonus Edition Wrasse [53]
Japan October 7, 2014
  • Universal J
  • Perfume
 [54]
October 22, 2014 CD [17]
United Kingdom October 27, 2014 Wrasse [55]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Discography – Perfume – Single" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Perfume ／ LEVEL3" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Perfumeの作品 [Perfume Products]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年3月" [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (March 2009)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 10, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Perfume becomes first technopop group at #1 since YMO". tokyograph.com. April 23, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  6. ↑ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年7月" [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (July 2009)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 10, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2011年11月" [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (November 2011)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. December 10, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Perfume世界展開に向けレーベル移籍！今春CM曲リリース" (in Japanese). Natalie. February 29, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Album ″JPN″ now available at iTunes Music Store". Perfume's Official International Site. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "Level 3" (Album). Perfume. Universal Music Japan; Universal J; Perfume Records. 2013.
  11. ↑ Level3 (Perfume album) at AllMusic
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 St. Michael, Patrick (22 October 2015). "Perfume "Level 3"". The Japan Times. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Nia (29 November 2013). "Perfume - Level 3 album review". Selective Hearing. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 14.10 Shenmue, Alex (29 October 2014). "Perfume - Level 3 album review". Land of Rising. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Unknown, author. "Perfume / Magic of Love [CD/DVD]". CDJournal. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Perfume東京ドーム映像＆「LEVEL3」アナログ盤を春発売" (in Japanese). Natalie. February 14, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "LEVEL3[Bonus Edition]" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Perfume Official Site｜INFORMATION | RELEASE". Perfume-web.jp. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  19. ↑ "Spring of Life" (CD and DVD single). Perfume. Universal Music Japan; Universal J; Perfume Records. 2012.
  20. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). April 1, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  21. ↑ "[MV] Perfume「Spring of Life」". Youtube.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Spending All My Time - Single - Perfume". iTunes Store (US). 15 August 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  24. ↑ "[MV] Perfume「Spending All My Time」". Youtube.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  25. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 6, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  26. ↑ "[MV] Perfume「未来のミュージアム」". Youtube.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  27. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 30, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  28. ↑ "[MV] Perfume 「Magic of Love」". Youtube.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "1mm – Single by Perfume". iTunes Store (JP). Apple. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Perfume: New Album "LEVEL3" & Video "1mm"". JpopAsia. September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  31. ↑ Macias, Patrick (October 15, 2013). "VIDEO: The New PV from Perfume,「1mm」". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  32. ↑ Shiso (December 27, 2013). "Perfume wrap up their 1st Dome tour". TokyoHive. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Dr. J. "Album Review: Perfume - Level 3". SBS PopAsia. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  34. ↑ "2013年10月01日のCDアルバムデイリーランキング" [Daily Albums Chart: 2013.10.01] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "2013年09月30日～2013年10月06日のCDアルバム週間ランキング" [Weekly Albums Chart: 2013.09.30 – 2013.10.06] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  36. ↑ "2014年10月20日〜2014年10月26日のCDアルバム週間ランキング" [Weekly Albums Chart: 2014.10.20 – 2014.10.26] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "LEVEL3[初回限定盤][+DVD]" [Perfume – LEVEL3 [Limited Edition] [+ DVD]] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  38. ↑ Level3 (CD liner notes). Perfume. Universal J. 2013. UPCP-1001.
  39. ↑ "2013년 43주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Weekly Top 20 – International Chart (2013/10/04 – 2013/10/10)" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Weekly Top 20 – J-Pop Chart (2013/10/04 – 2013/10/10)" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "アルバム TOP100" [Album Top 100] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Perfume – Level3" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  44. ↑ "LEVEL3[通常盤]" [Perfume – LEVEL3 [Regular Edition]] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  45. ↑ "LEVEL 3 通常盤" (in Chinese). Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  46. ↑ "LEVEL 3 初回限定盤CD+DVD" (in Chinese). Universal Music Taiwan. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Level 3 by Perfume". iTunes Store (JP). Apple. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Level3" (in Korean). Universal Music Korea. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Level 3" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Level3: Perfume: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Level 3 (CD+DVD)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  52. ↑ "LEVEL3[アナログ盤][Color Vinyl イエロー]" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Level3 (Bonus Edition)". 7digital (UK). Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Level 3 (Bonus Edition) by Perfume". iTunes Store (JP). Apple. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  55. ↑ "LEVEL3 (Bonus Edition)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 20, 2014.