Relax in the City cover

Relax in the City

Perfume · 2015

23 min · 9 tracks · J-pop

Glossy synth-pop moves between a spacious city-daydream and the bright urgency of the dance floor.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Relax In The City Start here — The first lead track favors a gentler, more spacious pulse, letting Perfume’s blended vocals float over Nakata’s polished electronic production.
  • →
    Pick Me Up — Its brisker dance beat and insistent vocal hook provide a sharp contrast to the relaxed first A-side; the accompanying video features OK Go.
  • →
    透明人間 — The third vocal track extends the release beyond its paired singles, giving another glimpse of how the trio’s voices fit Nakata’s electronic arrangements.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
67 /100
Treeline
Higher than 46% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong melodies and polished production but lacks cohesion due to bonus content.

What we noticed

  • The first track, 'Relax In The City', features a driving beat and layered synths that create an energetic atmosphere.
  • Each of the three main tracks has a distinct melodic hook that is repeated throughout, enhancing their catchiness.
  • The album includes three instrumental versions of the main tracks, allowing listeners to appreciate the production without vocals.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • upbeat energy for city life
  • short bursts of infectious fun
  • playful hooks for sing-alongs
  • for daytime activities

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer long, immersive albums
  • seek deep lyrical content

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — Solidified Perfume's status as pioneers in J-pop with a chart-topping single.
Themes
neon-lit cityscapes· playful nightlife
Career context
Released in April 2015, Relax in the City / Pick Me Up was a double A-side single rather than a standalone album. It arrived after Perfume’s 2013 album LEVEL3 and ahead of 2016’s Cosmic Explorer, continuing the trio’s long-running collaboration with producer Yasutaka Nakata.
Stylistic neighbors
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu· Aimer· NiziU

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Pick Me Up

    A repeated English-language request anchors the chorus amid Japanese lyrics addressed to another person.

    The short recurring phrase gives the song a rhythmic pivot that remains recognizable each time the chorus returns.

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Relax In The City Start here 4:12
  • 2 Pick Me Up 3:51
  • 3 透明人間 3:39
  • 4 Relax In The City -Original Instrumental- 4:12
  • 5 Pick Me Up -Original Instrumental- 3:51
  • 6 透明人間 -Original Instrumental- 3:39

Disc 2

  • 1 Relax In The City -Video Clip-
  • 2 Relax In The City -Teaser-
  • 3 Pick Me Up -Video Clip-

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata