Asobi Seksu [Digipak] by Asobi Seksu (CD, Jan-2004, Friendly Fire Recordings)

We already know what happens when you cross Kevin Shields with Japan—a couple of going-through-the-motions tracks for the Coppolatastic Lost In Translation, which I believe was a film about the magnificent adventures of a twelve foot high arse. Or something like that. Oh yes, and cultural alienation. But what if Kevin Shields was a woman, spoke Japanese, and actually still released records? Well my friends, what truly magical times we would be living in then.

It’s not quite that simple, obviously. But anyone using delay pedals, shared male/female vocal parts and ...well...noisy bits (towering walls of sound, sonic audioscapes, waves of texture—whatever) is going to set off the My Bloody Valentine alarm in that journalistic part of the brain which deals with handy comparison. It’s just left of the part which deals with being a morally-impaired scumbag, and it works like the batphone. Feature of music attributable to someone else at the pinnacle of a pre-existing genre? Woop woop woop!

Asobi Seksu, happily, have less conventional aspects which enable them to stand out from the soupy mass of disenfranchised kids eyeing up those sexy Boss effects. Yuki Chikudate’s bilingualism shines brightly through the creme de gaze, with a number of her measured performances being delivered in Japanese. As well as this being excellent news for the gormless types who hang around the internet obsessively debating just how unbelievably kawaii everything is, it also provides an intriguing contrast to the English deliveries. Whilst those lay open the lovelorn scars of romance in plain view, the tracks presented in an unfamiliar tongue retain an added element of mystery. You can take the hint with bouncy opener "I’m Happy But You Don’t Like Me", but the semi-chanted "Asobi Masho" is rather more enigmatic. This guessing game, and even the simple charm of a different set of phonetics for a change, keeps the interest levels perky.

It is just great to hear the guitar riffs of this band. I really think it deserves some attention since it is a underground band but with awesome musical ideas. They even sing in Japanesee!!! and also they switch the vocals on some songs (some of them are sing by the girl and some of them by the guy). If you have the chance to listen to this bad, please do!!! You won't be regressful.