SAKI drops “PLUVIA” — A mixed bag of riffs

Japan’s guitar player SAKI (known from NEMOPHILA and Mary’s Blood) released her new solo instrumental record, “PLUVIA”. Ten tracks, no vocals, guitar doing all the talking. Gus G guests on “Flores a Flores”, while “GERMINANS” brings in both Frédéric Leclercq and drummer Senri Kawaguchi, three appearances that add some flavor without really redefining the record’s direction.

The album bounces between hard rock and something closer to pop, with a 90’s radio undertone surfacing here and there. That range shows some versatility on SAKI‘s part, though it also means the record doesn’t always settle into a clear identity. A collection of solid ideas that don’t always feel like they’re building toward the same place.

SAKI‘s playing is clean and confident throughout, that much is easy to appreciate. The rain concept running through the album is a nice framing, even if it’s more felt in spirit than obvious in the actual songwriting, listeners may or may not pick up on it without the title guiding them.

Highlights: “THE EMPRESS“, “翠雨“, and “Flores a Flores,” the latter helped along by Gus G’s guest spot.

“PLUVIA” shows SAKI is a capable player with a clear command of her instrument, even if the songwriting doesn’t always find a strong hook to match the technique. Not an album that demands repeat listens, but not one to dismiss either.