Following the seismic announcement that 2026 will mark the final year for ASP, with all WACK-affiliated groups set to conclude activities as the agency undergoes a full-scale reset, the Japanese alternative idol group begins the countdown with their sixth major single “Pipe Dream,” dropping January 14. The three-track single sees ASP continuing to blur the lines between idol, rock, and underground culture. Title track “Pipe Dream” and accompanying song “JUSHO” are produced, sound-designed, and composed by Yohji Igarashi, a DJ and producer whose résumé spans work with ATARASHII GAKKO!, kZm, and HIYADAM, and who also operates as one half of Ski Yu & Yohji Igarashi alongside King Gnu drummer Ski Yu. Lyrics for both tracks are written by Pecori, MC of Japanese hip hop group ODD Foot Works and the creative force behind Number_i’s viral hits “INZM” and “GOAT,” which have amassed over 200 million YouTube plays. The Igarashi and Pecori partnership previously powered ASP’s single “BA-BY,” and their return brings a familiar intensity to this pivotal moment.
“Pipe Dream” pairs finely detailed guitar work with lyrics that capture emotional instability without ever losing resolve, an introspective yet forceful track that hits with direct emotional weight. “JUSHO” offers a bittersweet composition with layered lyrics reflecting ASP’s current state with striking clarity, while closing track “Warp!!” follows the trajectory set by the upbeat single “Get New MIRAI.” Produced once again by Japanese rock band Age Factory, “Warp!!” fuses high-speed momentum with a lingering sense of melancholy, its explosive energy and forward-thrusting hooks creating the sensation of being warped onward. The single’s vivid, surreal cover artwork is directed by JACKSON kaki, who also crafted the striking visuals for “BA-BY,” built in 3DCG with distorted expressions and uncanny atmosphere that mirror the tension, urgency, and controlled chaos defining ASP at this pivotal moment. With the end now in sight, “Pipe Dream” carries the weight of a group wrestling with uncertainty while standing their ground, not a farewell yet but something that acknowledges everything coming.