ALBUM REVIEW:
ISSHO-NI!!!!
BY STRAWBERRY STATION
Written By: Zach
Published on: May 21st, 2026
After four years, UK-based future funk artist Strawberry Station has returned to release a full-fledged album, ISSHO-NI!!!! The time between album releases has seen some experiments and singles here and there to keep listeners interested while allowing some different forms of expression. In 2024, Strawberry dropped Strawberry Computer Entertainment Europe, a walk into the burgeoning Y2K and low-poly jungle soundscape, which shows his ability to branch out into neighboring genres. I am still fond of Berry Aesthetics, the collaboration album Strawberry dropped under his “Berry Good Records” label, which featured new and classic vaporwave artists.
So what has Mr. Station taken from these past singles, collaborations, and detours into different genres? ISSHO-NI!!!! gives us a variety pack of new and old future funk sounds we have come to remember, as well as where this genre can go for future releases. Starting with the opening track that bears the same name as the album.
“ISSHO-NI!!!!” gives us a refresher on what Strawberry Station’s known for: classic French house drums with anime samples, particularly sparkle effects you might find in anime like Urusei Yatsura and Sailor Moon. Tracks like “ISSHO-NI!!!!” and the preceding “Horenaosu” and “Snow White” present the listener with a familiar soundscape that harkens back to the genre’s founding. This can be seen as a safe opening by some and stale by others; it’s all a matter of perspective when it comes to a genre with an established aesthetic and look. As a long-time vaporwave enjoyer, I understand the stigma all too well.
It’s a good thing, then, that Strawberry Station has some added features on this album. Our first is the title “Lucy in the DAW With Sidechain,” which features Toronto-based artist FreshAppleSlices. It’s worth noting that these two have collaborated before, recently on the track “Gone So Long”. On “Lucy,” we only get a hint of Strawberry’s usual anime sheen with a strong lean into disco with a sample of “Disco Lucy” by Wilton Place Street Band.
Not far down the tracklist do we find another great feature on this album with “Hideway” featuring Zai Kowen, an Argentina-based future funk artist who has worked with Strawberry before on “Smoothie Remixes”. The inclusion of vocaloid sampling elevates this track to something akin to kawaii super bass, a genre some might say is a cousin to future funk. During my listening sessions, I found myself coming back to this track multiple times, and it’s one I might add to my regular listening playlist.
From there, the back half of the album takes on a different vibe. We aren’t slowing down per se, but the beats are not as bombastic and the sugary sweet kawaii anime samplings, while still present, are not as forward as they were in the first half of the album. Tracks like “Feels Like I Know You” offer a nice groove that can sometimes slip into chiptune; the vibe is more chill than roof-raising. This trend of genre shifting is even more present on the penultimate track, “More than Friends,” which takes the tried and true chopped and screwed vocal samplings of vaporwave and gives it a funky BPM that I can’t help but appreciate. This all ends with the final track “Matteru,” which is so down-tempo it sounds like this was meant for a different album altogether. If this album were meant to be your typical upbeat slice-of-life anime, “Matteru” would be the ethereal ending theme, with all the characters gazing up at the stars.
In the end, “ISSHO-NI!!!!” gives us a sampling of what we have come to expect from Strawberry Station while also providing us with tracks that show he’s capable of new and, dare I say, exciting things. Earlier, I said it was the mark of any artist to be aware of the changing times in a genre or scene. While I believe it’s important to adapt, reminding listeners of what came before is important so that it’s carried over by newer artists. You can pick up a physical copy of ISSHO-NI!!!! On My Pet Flamingo’s Bandcamp in Vinyl or Cassette.
Favorite track: Hideway ft Zai Kowen
