Playful Dislocation
July 30, 2006

While it's fair to say that my latest obsession in music has been triggered by the void left by The Brilliant Green's so-called hiatus, it must be noted that there are many reasons that Asobi Seksu has essentially been on heavy, heavy rotation for a little less than two weeks.

The most obvious of these, of course, is the hypnotic vocals of lead singer Yuki Chikudate. She exudes a poppy spirit that's missing the bubbles. The music itself often feels like a cross between Judy & Mary (particularly in "Nefi + Girly") and shoegazing all-stars My Bloody Valentine. Unlike the comparisons that have been made to the latter, I find Asobi Seksu considerably more accessible and generally more fun. The term "fun," however, isn't meant to discount their musical prowess by any means: I find this as proof that you can have deeply moving music that also lets you smile.

My recommendation is to have a listen to "New Years" (available on their MySpace page), especially with the speakers as loud as possible. I think of it as a Rothko painting: Immerse yourself into it, and you'll be rewarded with a religious experience of sorts.

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