O’o’s new single "Tako-Tsubo" is like taking a bubble tea break inside a retro video game—quirky, jumpy, and completely infectious. You’ve got Japan-inspired references flying around like confetti, giving the whole thing a lighthearted manga vibe, as if Sailor Moon just swapped her tiara for a synthesizer. And it works!
The story? Oh, just your typical octopus heartbreak. You know, that classic tale of a poor eight-armed cephalopod facing a grim fate, then transforming into the ultimate symbol of heartache. (Really, haven't we all been there?) But this is no sob story. The singer spins a weirdly charming tale, while the producer’s synths go rogue, as if they’re hopped up on too much caffeine, darting between your ears with an energy that makes you want to hit the dance floor—or at least tap your foot while wondering what just happened.
It’s a delicious contradiction. On the one hand, you’ve got this danceable, happy-go-lucky beat that screams, "Let’s have some fun!" But lurking underneath is the octopus’s tragic fate, making the whole thing feel like an emotional rollercoaster in a kawaii disguise. The synths sound like they’re having a party of their own, bouncing off the walls, refusing to stay in their lane.
"Tako-Tsubo" is a brilliant teaser for O’O’s upcoming album Songs of Wishes and Bones. If the rest of the album is anything like this, expect more of the same delightful madness—plus, maybe a few more heartbroken sea creatures.
Review by Thomas Imposter