cf!! (cf exclamation exclamation) – Riddle (2023)
Born and raised in Japan, but now residing in the UK, cf!! (cf exclamation exclamation) has a diverse sound that is difficult to imitate. A one-man band, the Japanese musician/illustrator combines the hypnotic sounds of traditional Japanese music with the intoxicating heaviness of rock – either way, he’ll ensnare your senses from the first chord. Inspired by the likes of The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elliott Smith and Chet Baker, cf!! (exclamation exclamation) brings old-school wonder to modern-day beats. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Riddle’.
Already featured on Sinusoidal Music, Eat This Rock, JPGchief, and FV Music Blog, cf!! (exclamation exclamation) is reaching audiences on a global scale, although this is my introduction to the lad. Following his single ‘Moko Made’, ‘Riddle’ is cf!! (exclamation exclamation)’s first release in two years. Blasting into 2023 in a melodic way, ‘Riddle’ leans towards the rock sounds of the 90s with tinges of Nirvana slivering through the track. Yet, while the song is primarily a rock song, hints of funk can be heard in the arrangement alongside light traditional Japanese sounds in the background. Tossing you from pillar to post in a sonic whirlpool, ‘Riddle’ is a kaleidoscopic twirl suffocating you with its harmonic tones…suffocation in a good way.
While the melody can hold its own with each instrument showing prominence before coming together as a whole, cf!! (exclamation exclamation)’s vocals add something unique to ‘Riddle’. The guitar solo at the end is a heart-stopping swell as it merges with pounding drums, but his voice traipses along the hard-hitting tune. A slight funk is held in his dulcet tones reminiscent of Wild Cherry with a Jimi Hendrix guitar style sliding through ‘Riddle’.
As an illustrator, cf!! (exclamation exclamation) has an eye for animation alongside his ear for awesome music. In addition to the single, he released an official music video for ‘Riddle’ that can be viewed below or on his YouTube channel:
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from cf!! (exclamation exclamation), check out his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
