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Yeah I know, with the resurgence of the Y2K aesthetic and the direction a lot of mainstream pop is going towards, and also with the occasional appearances of Serani Poji and Capsule tracks on TikTok, it's quite obvious that the whole theme that Tapeworms are delving into with this album has been trending for quite some time now. One can also draw many parallels to it's style, like Kero Kero Bonito's late 2010's releases, Madgalena Bay's material and also the more mature tracks from Perfume's 2000's material can be brought up, especially in regards to the album's dancier moments. Still, "Grand Voyage" does have some signature elements that can be noticed.

The album's aesthetic is mainly portrayed by the, now, retrofuturistic synths and sounds, as well as some chiptune-ish and glitchy bits here and there. Margot's singing is quite reminiscent of the vocals in the aforementioned Perfume material, being a bit robotic in tone, with some light processing and effects present, lightly contradicting the album's overall playful tone, but still following along with it's futuristic vibe. Although the album follows an electronic-heavy sound, Tapeworms' signature element here would be the fuzzy guitars that are present throughout the album, giving a more powerful and intense sound, without necessarily being in the forefront, compositionally speaking, whilst also acting as a throwback to the band's earlier style. Perhaps "Playground" could be the album's most guitar-heavy track, with some more prominent riffing being present compared to other tracks.

It's character is generally really playful with some nostalgic touches also being present. I think it's easy to connect the nostalgic-part that's being conveyed here with the overall aesthetic that Tapeworms is going for. As for the playfullness, a part of it is built on the tracks' songwriting, incorporating lots of movement and also a few unexpected bits here and there, without going too far. A noteworthy moment would be the glitchy part on the second repetition of the chorus on "Pitch Pop", which is a moment I absolutely love and it's a track that would be the album's absolute banger. The key changes on "IRL" also feel pretty intriguing and generally lots of the melodies around the album can be really catchy and lots of the harmonies present feel very pleasant once noticed.

Structurally, "Grand Voyage" flows really nicely. The way "Window Seat" is structured is really interesting, making it work really well as a continuation to the opener by building energy as the track progresses. There are various samples and recordings scattered around the album, and also an interlude, which can feel a bit gimmicky, however they do add to the album's continuity and help present the album's theme a bit more. It feels like an album made to be listened to front to back, which can be quite rare in this music style in the past few years. My only gripe on this part it would be the closing track, which although really nice, can feel too long.

"Grand Voyage" can be seen as a product of it's time, especially since it's whole theme and aesthetic is built on the internet's current trends, but this didn't prevent me from really enjoying this record and it's highlights and playing it over and over again!!