^I got your point regarding it's not futuristic enough to be called future pop, there is some point that I found it's more retro rather than futuristic. And I totally agree that Nakata is delaying their ability to go beyond their limit. I always wonder why he would allow MEG or Ami Suzuki to write their own lyrics but it never happen for Perfume? It's not like they didn't want to though
Shifting for another procuder is kinda impossible IMO, for some reason it won't be "perfume" again without Nakata, unless they are going for a solo career (?), which I found it's likely possible in the future.
Regarding the new album, I listened it for quite a few times, and it still sound better so far, although Cosmic Explorer is still my most favorite album. Future Pop is actually one of the album that I can listen without skipping any songs, compared to JPN and LEVEL 3 which contain album tracks that sounds like a rejected nursery-anime-ish songs.