ASOBI SEKSU – Citrus

Asobi Seksu is one of many bands who are recreating the distorted ambient sound popularized in the early 1990s. Heavy rhythms overlaid with vocals both ethereal and frenetic give Citrus a huge sound that Phil Spector might approve of. Conversely, their few minimalist tracks tend to work the best, due in part to the smart use of slide guitar on songs like “Stings.” Despite claims to the contrary, Asobi Seksu continues to sound like a hybrid of The Cocteau Twins, Lush, and (perhaps most importantly) My Bloody Valentine. I rarely mention album art, but beautiful packaging really gives Citrus an edge. While their influences are generally overstated, Asobi Seksu ultimately has more appeal than the acts they emulate.

(Friendly Fire Recordings, PMB #79, 202 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211)