Album Details

• Artist: Asobi Seksu
• Album: Fluorescence
• Label: Polyvinyl
• Year of Release: 2010
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-03-14

Noise-pop rarely gets noisier or sweeter than it does when Brooklyn's Asobi Seksu is behind the wheel. Vocalist Yuki Chikudate, guitarist James Hanna and company continue to emit lush soundscapes from their Brooklyn base, with "Fluorescence" being only the latest in a memorable streak of inspired releases. Their use of shimmering guitars, abstract melodies and synth-driven prog rock would sound retro or otherwise derivative in lesser hands. Asobu Seksu uses past sounds to imagine amazing future sounds.

"Coming Up," "Trails, "Sighs, and "My Baby"  all ought to be #1 hits, as they all brilliantly straddle the line between distortion and gorgeous pop. Slower, more ambitious songs like "Ocean" and "Leave the Drummer Out There" and "Pink Light" are haunting dreamlike melodies mixed with swirling synths and guitars. Chikudate's mesmerizing vocals on top only complete the sensory overload. You can hear shoegaze, you can hear Beach Boys, and can hear Pet Shop Boys even, but Asobi Seksu are never less than daring or original in their uses of any older styles they find useful as fuel for their own.

We have come to expect this band to soar and to help us fly along with them. "Fluorescence" contains barely a flaw in its dozen tracks, and not because the band plaid it safe. Asobi Seksu take what works in their sound and constantly seek to extend its possibilities, and its depth. This time they have achieved both in often stunning, and certainly memorable fashion.

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