Asobi Seksu
Emerging in 2001 at an exhilarating time for the New York club scene, singer and keyboardist Yuki Chikudate, guitarist James Hanna, bassist Glenn Waldman, and drummer Keith Hopkin formed Asobi Seksu and self released their debut album shortly after. They were praised by critics and built up a lot of buzz yet were not signed until 2004, when indie label Friendly Fire Records reissued their self titled debut. Debut single ‘I\'m Happy But You Don\'t Like Me’ was a breezy, kitsch introduction to the band and the album was an artful and unique pairing of piercing guitar walls and sugary, cooing vocals.
2006 saw the release of their second album on Friendly Fire Records, Citrus, taking the template of their debut album and expanding it tenfold, not only with the introduction of a brand new rhythm section but also in terms of ideas and creativity. Genres collide yet everyone comes out a winner, with pop tunes aplenty and enough abstract creativity to set Asobi Seksu apart.
Some wise men once said that the band draw influence from the late 80’s/ early 90’s shoegazing genre, the name arising from the motionless performing style adopted by the musicians involved, such as My Bloody Valentine. In terms of sound this may be apt but it is absolutely essential that you watch this band live, if only to see that lead singer Yuki Chikudate isn’t simply floating off into space mid way through the show; they are animated and arresting performers.
Clearly an unseen force felt that not enough people had fallen for the band’s quirky charms; One Little Indian re-released the Asobi Seksu and Citrus albums in 2007. The band have a new single out, ‘Me and Mary’, which can be heard on their MySpace, with an album to follow in early 2009 entitled Hush. The single is surely the brightest and most pop orientated song they have recorded and it is impossible not to succumb to its irresistible charm. There is more than a hint of Blondie to be found on this gem, before the single catapults off into the atmosphere, filled with fuzzy guitar feedback. It is best to become acquainted with them now before they seek world domination, otherwise you’ll be left by the wayside.
MYSPACE.COM/ASOBISEKSU: The hub all of all things Seksu, from recent blogs to brand new tracks from the forthcoming album and crazy remixes, it is essential to pay a visit to the bands MySpace.
ASOBISEKSU.COM/HOME.PHP: Interesting uninteresting fact – www.asobiseksu.com doesn’t actually work. But because we at Rockfeedback are also supersleuths, we’ve found a page on the official site that functions reet proper. Here it is.
CITRUS: “The tone of the album is overwhelmingly positive, alive in a time without worry before fear invaded our lives. Asobi Seksu have here created an album suited to its time, an expansive, buoyant collection of pop songs which wash away the cynicism of modern life and leave one feeling vibrant and alive…” – Chris O’Toole
THURSDAY:
GOODBYE:
WALK ON THE MOON: