Level3 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 2, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2012–2013 | |||
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Length | 64:39 | |||
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Producer | Yasutaka Nakata | |||
Perfume chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from Level3 | ||||
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Level3 (stylized as LEVEL3) is the fourth studio album by Japanese girl group Perfume. It was released on October 2, 2013, by Universal J and Perfume Records. Level3 marks Perfume's fourth consecutive album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata, while Perfume contributes to the album as the lead, background vocalists, and executive producers through their self-titled record label. Recorded in Japanese and English language, Level3 is an electronic dance album that borrows numerous musical elements including J-pop, house music, and technopop.
Level3 was recorded and mixed in Japan, with the assistance of Nakata. Six different formats were released to promote the album; a standalone CD, a limited CD and DVD bundle, and a digital release. It was re-released in May 2014 as an additional bonus CD standalone edition, a 12-inch double LP, and a digital release. Two different artworks were issued for the album's cover sleeve; one has Perfume inside the set of their music video "1mm", whilst the second features body shots of Perfume and printed on transparent sheets.
Upon the album's release, it was met with favourable reviews from music critics. Critics noted the musical improvement from their previous release, and commended Nakata's production standards and its commercial appeal. Level3 was listed by several critics as one of the best albums of 2013. Commercially, Level3 was a success. It became Perfume's fourth studio album to reach the top spot on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 250,000 units. The album charted on Korea's Gaon Album Chart and Taiwan's G-Music Albums Chart.
Four singles were released from Level3, including one promotional. Its lead single "Spring of Life" reached number two on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart and atop the Japan Hot 100 chart. The second, third, and fourth singles; "Spending All My Time", "Mirai no Museum", and "Magic of Love" achieved similar success, put peaked at two on both record charts respectively. Each single was certified gold by the RIAJ company, Perfume's only album to achieve this. Promotional single "1mm" reached number nine on the Japan Hot 100 chart. Perfume promoted the album on their 2013 Dome Tour.