Are You Elovetric? – A Wild Ride Through Electro Chaos
Joujouka’s Are You Elovetric? is the kind of album that punches you in the face and then asks if you’re having fun. Released back in 2005, this chaotic blend of electronic madness, Goa trance vibes, and techno beats feels like it was cooked up in some neon-lit basement between Israel and Japan. With labels like NMC Music Ltd. and Radiosonic Records backing it, the project screams ambition—and maybe a little bit of reckless genius.
Let’s cut to the chase: this isn’t your mom’s chill playlist. It’s an assault on your ears, but one you’ll secretly enjoy. Tracks like “Pipes of Peace” and “Dancing to Your Heart” stick with you—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re weird as hell.
Take “Pipes of Peace,” for example. This track hits hard right outta the gate, throwing down layers of pulsing synths that feel like they’re trying to break free from the speakers. Tsuyoshi Suzuki clearly had something to prove here, and damn does he deliver. The production has this raw edge—like Hugo Nicolson (who engineered part of it) decided not to over-polish anything. And good call, dude. Over-polishing would’ve killed its soul. There’s just enough grit left in there to make you wanna crank the volume till your neighbors hate you.
Then there’s “Dancing to Your Heart.” Oh man, where do I even start? Kyono lays down vocals so smooth they almost distract you from the fact that the beat underneath could power a spaceship. Almost. This song doesn’t just ask you to dance—it demands it. You can picture sweaty club kids losing their minds to this banger, hands flailing, bodies colliding. If you don’t move when this comes on, check your pulse. You might be dead.
The rest of the album keeps the energy high, though it dips into territory that feels more experimental than accessible. Stuff like “Invade01” and “Let the Wave Flow 2003” shows off Joujouka’s range, but honestly, after hearing those first couple tracks, everything else starts blending together. Not saying it’s bad—it’s just… a lot. Like, sensory overload kinda lot.
What really stands out about Are You Elovetric? is how unapologetically itself it is. No one involved seemed interested in playing it safe. From Masahiko Kono’s wild art direction to Jet More adding her voice to “Let the Wave Flow 2003,” every piece of this puzzle screams creativity on steroids. Even the mastering by Isao Kumano gives the whole thing a polished-yet-dangerous vibe, like a knife sharpened just enough to cut deep without breaking skin.
So yeah, this album ain’t for everyone. But if you’re into music that challenges you, pisses you off a little, and makes you wanna lose control, give it a shot. Just don’t blame me if your brain melts halfway through.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this now feels like stepping into a time capsule. In 2005, people were still figuring out what electronic music could really do. Listening to Are You Elovetric?, you get the sense that Joujouka wasn’t just following trends—they were trying to create new ones. Did they succeed? Maybe not fully. But at least they went down swinging.
