Nebula Romance: Part II (Japanese: ネビュラロマンス 後篇, Hepburn: Nebyura Romansu Kōhen) is the ninth studio album and second concept album by Japanese music group Perfume. It was released digitally on August 18, 2025, and on physical formats on September 17, 2025, via Polydor Records and Perfume Records.[1][2]
| Nebula Romance: Part II | ||||
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 Digital and regular edition cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 18, 2025 (digital) September 17, 2025 (physical) | |||
| Recorded | 2023–2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:12 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Yasutaka Nakata | |||
| Perfume chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Nebula Romance: Part II | ||||
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Background and development
editNebula Romance: Part II completes the two-part concept album initiated with Nebula Romance: Part I to mark Perfume's twentieth anniversary of their major label debut on September 21, 2005, and their twenty-fifth anniversary since their formation in 2000.[2][3] While the first part focused on a grand cosmic drama, the second part portrays Perfume's progression into a new dimension and serves as the narrative conclusion of the narrative of a fictional sci-fi movie soundtrack.[2]
The creative process behind the two-part album was largely shaped by producer Yasutaka Nakata, with the group members having minimal involvement in its initial development. Nakata crafted the album as a sci-fi narrative soundtrack, with the members discovering the full scope of its story only after its completion. Ayano Omoto (Nocchi) commented on the group's limited insight into Nakata’s vision, stating, “We asked Nakata-san if we could do something where the dots in our career would connect… and then he came back with this two-part album concept and story, which totally surprised us.” She further highlighted their reactive role in the process, noting, “Just as the fans are imagining things while listening to the album, we’re also having fun guessing what Nakata-san means by what he creates. We’re like, ‘Is this what it’s about?’”[4] Unlike previous projects where Nakata was present during recording sessions to provide real-time feedback, the production for Nebula Romance saw him focusing solely on creation, delivering detailed demos with explicit instructions for the trio.[5] These demos outlined specific vocal techniques, including chorus layering, cut-off points, and vibrato usage.[5] A director oversaw the recording process, ensuring the vocals emphasized the members’ individual voices with minimal effects.[5] Group member Ayaka Nishiwaki (A-chan) expressed her surprise upon realizing that her vibratos were kept in the final versions of the songs, stating: "Usually, any vibrato or emotional bits get cut, but Nakata kept those parts where my love for singing came through. I was like, “Wow, Nakata-san has a heart!”".[6]
The album sound evolves through influences from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with melodies that carry a nostalgic feel. Group member Yuka Kashino (Kashiyuka) described the album as Perfume's "most conceptual yet nostalgic" album to date.[5]
Promotion
editThe album was preceded by the single "Moon" released in 2023, as well as "Human Factory -Denzō Ningen-", "Nebula Romance", and "Meguloop", released as digital singles in 2025. "Moon" was used as theme song for the Fuji TV drama Barakamon; "Human Factory -Denzō Ningen-" was used as theme song for the film Showtime 7; "Nebula Romance" was used as the main track for the NTT Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka; "Meguloop" was used as theme song for the drama Chihayafuru: Meguri. Additionally, the album track "Solar Wind" was used as a commercial song for Bandai's Gundam Card Game.[2]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Yasutaka Nakata.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cipher" | 2:03 |
| 2. | "Saikidō Sekai" (再起動世界) | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Nebula Romance" (ネビュラロマンス) | 4:00 |
| 4. | "Solar Wind" (ソーラ・ウィンド) | 4:15 |
| 5. | "Virtual Fantasy" | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Teenage Dreams" | 4:23 |
| 7. | "Human Factory -Denzō Ningen-" (Human Factory -電造人間-) | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Moon" | 3:01 |
| 9. | "Exit" | 5:05 |
| 10. | "Meguloop" (巡ループ) | 4:12 |
| Total length: | 38:12 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[7] | 30 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[8] | 19 |
References
edit- ^ "Perfume New ALBUM "ネビュラロマンス 後篇"". Perfume Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Perfumeのコンセプトアルバム「ネビュラロマンス 後篇」が9月にCDリリース決定". Ongaku Natalie (in Japanese). July 10, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ "Perfume、コスチューム新装 銃を持つ新ビジュアル披露 神々しい3人の姿も…アルバムジャケ写公開". Oricon News (in Japanese). July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ Omoto, Ayano (August 20, 2025). "Ayano Omoto interview with Nagoya Tokai Radio's program "Life Hacks"" [最初にお願いしたのが、なんとなくこう自分たちの活動の中でこの点と点が実は繋がってたみたいなことができたら面白いよね、ぐらいの 中田さん にはお願いをしていて、そうしたらこんな前後篇に渡るアルバムの構想と物語が出てきて、なんで驚いている感じですね。(...) なんかアルバム聴いてファンのみんながこう妄想してくれてるみたいに、私たちも 中田さん から出てくるものに対してなんかこうなのかな？みたいな考えるのが楽しい。]. 名古屋 東海ラジオ 「LIFE HACKS」 (in Japanese). YouTube. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Kashino, Yuka (August 2, 2025). "Yuka Kashino interview with Osaka FM802's program "Upbeat!"" [今までは 中田さん がレコーディング全て立ち合って録ってる最中からもっとここうして、もっとこうしたい、ってやってたんですけど、今回から制作方法が変わって、 中田さん は立ち合わずに制作に専念して、ディレクターさんが立ち合ってくれたんですけど。もうデモ音からどういう風に歌ってほしいが明確に決まっていて、コーラスはこうやって入れたいとか、ここはこうやって切ってほしいとか。だからビブラートはこうやって入れてほしいみたいなのも全部決まってたんですよ。]. FM802 「UPBEAT！」 (in Japanese). YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ Nishikawa, Ayaka (August 20, 2025). "Ayaka Nishikawa interview with FM Fukuoka's "Hyper Night Program Now!!"" [なんかいつもだったらビブラートがちょっと出ちゃったところとかはカットされて採用されないこと多かったんですけど、なんか私のそういう部分自分が歌が好きだって思った時に出てしまうそういう感情というか歌心、そういう部分もなんか採用してくれてて、ああああ、中田さん にその心あったんだ。]. FM福岡 (in Japanese). YouTube. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-09-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 27, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 28, 2025.