# Nebula Romance: Part I

Nebula Romance: Part I (Japanese: ネビュラロマンス 前篇, Hepburn: Nebyura Romansu Zenpen) is the eighth studio album and first concept album by Japanese music group Perfume. It was released digitally on September 20, 2024, and on physical formats on October 30, 2024, through Perfume Records/Polydor Records.

## Background and development

Nebula Romance commemorates Perfume's twentieth anniversary of their major debut on September 21, 2024, as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the beginning of activities as a group, which occurred at end of that year. It is the first installment of a two-part concept album, which has been described as "a soundtrack for an imaginary film set in space, with the three members portraying an epic drama in the cosmos". Several of the album tracks ("Cosmic Treat," "Starlight Dreams", "Mobius") reference space-related themes.
For the recording of Nebula Romance Part 1, Perfume adopted a significantly different approach to their usual recording process, marking a departure from previous methods. Traditionally, the members of Perfume would record their parts one at a time, with each member waiting for their turn to record their vocals. However, for this album, the recording process was restructured: instead of recording each song individually with one person at a time, the group shifted to a new system where each member recorded two songs at a time in a scheduled manner. This change allowed for a more streamlined process, with each member participating more actively in the recording sessions over a shorter period. One of the most notable changes was that Yasutaka Nakata would be directly involved in the recording process, as this time he focused primarily on the music side. The recording of vocals was overseen by a director, who worked closely with the group, while Nakata remained focused on the overall sound and production of the album. This shift in responsibilities meant that the members were unaware of their vocal assignments until they received the completed album, unlike previous albums, where they would often have a clearer idea of their parts during the recording sessions. During recording sessions, multiple takes were recorded -sometimes as many as five per phrase- allowing for a range of options to be chosen in post-production. This new method of recording created an element of anticipation for the members, as they were unsure which take would ultimately be selected for the final version of the song. The absence of Nakata’s immediate, hands-on feedback also contributed to a more exploratory recording process.

## Release

The entire album was made available for streaming and download on digital platforms on September 20, 2024, the day before their 20th anniversary. The physical formats of the album were released on October 30 on three different formats: regular edition, limited edition, and a fan-club exclusive "P.T.A." edition. The limited edition features a Blu-ray or DVD with radio content and other special features, while the fan-club version includes footage from Perfume's fan-club only tour "P.T.A. 15th & 10th Anniversary 'Perfume to Anata' Hall Tour 2023". Both limited editions included a Nebula Romance emblem badge as an enclosed gift.

## Promotion

The album was preceded by three songs: "Sumikko Disco", which was first released on digital platforms in November 2023; "The Light", which was premiered live during Perfume's Asia Tour in June 2024; and "Love Cloud", which was previously included as the b-side of their single "Moon" released in September 2024. A music video was filmed for the song "Cosmic Treat", which served as a trailer for the album’s movie concept.
"Sumikko Disco" was used as theme song for the Fanworks animated movie Sumikko Gurashi: Tsugihagi Kōjō no Fushigi na Ko, which premiered in November 2023. "Ima Ima Ima" was used as theme song of Perfume's immersive exhibit Perfume Disco-Graphy: 25 years of Traces and Miracles (25年の軌跡と奇跡, Nijūgo-nen no Kiseki to Kiseki) held at the Tokyo Node in Toranomon Hills, Tokyo. "Cosmic Treat" was used as ending theme for the television anime series Beyblade X which premiered in October 2024.

## Critical reception

Writing for Rockin'On Japan magazine, music journalist Sayako Oki gave a positive review on the album, commenting: "The album’s sound design intricately blends the vocals with a detailed portrayal of a futuristic space city, showcasing sophisticated techniques that transcend temporal trends. Notable elements include the extensive use of melody to complement the lyrics and a meticulous arrangement of music that emphasizes sonic depth and precision." She noted that given its nature as a two-part space-themed concept album, the album "allows for the vocals to shine with purity and brilliance, unimpeded by the instrumental intensity" and provides a "unique, immersive experience that is rare in music, offering a distinct alternative to visual media such as films or television dramas." Futhermore, she recognized that following their twentieth anniversary, "Perfume continues to take on challenges as a cohesive group, which exemplifies the true spirit of an 'adventure'".
In the November 2024 issue of Tower Records' Bounce magazine, music critic Takao Kito noted that despite being reminiscent of their earlier work, Nebula Romance: Part I introduce new trials and approaches which "create a sound that, while similar, is distinct from their previous works", providing “Cosmic Treat” and “Starlight Dreams” as examples which incorporate retro-futuristic elements. Kito commented that while Perfume distances themselves from current trends with this record, it still remains faithful to the art form that they have established, while also showcasing significant development.

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Yasutaka Nakata

## Tour

To promote the album, Perfume embarked on their domestic tour Perfume 10th Tour ZOZ5 "Nebula Romance" Episode 1, which began on December 28, 2024, in Kanagawa.

## Charts

Weekly chart performance for Nebula Romance: Part I :
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 5 |
| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon) | 3 |
| Japanese Top Albums Sales (Billboard Japan) | 5 |
| Japanese Top Download Albums (Billboard Japan) | 2 |