Best in Music: May 2006 Edition

Asobi Seksu – Citrus (Friendly Fire)

It’s impossible for a new shoegaze band to evade comparisons to My Bloody Valentine. After all, MBV—specifically, Loveless of ‘91—is this genre’s zenith and it’s only legitimate that they’ve become a barometer for bands that follow. It’s been 15 years since and many have attempted to surpass the standard but still, MBV’s prevailing ascendancy on the genre remains. The newest to challenge MBV’s reign, and actually have a fighting chance, is Brooklyn’s Asobi Seksu with their second album, Citrus. In competition with MBV’s Kevin Shields, guitarist James Hanna--with guitar effects rich in density, texture and diversity--creates an ethereal cloud of sound you can glide through. And elevating aloft the wave of guitars, front-woman Yuki Chikudate falsettos angelically, alternating between Japanese and English lyrics. They distance themselves from further comparisons though with pop melodies so nectarous that Citrus should have been a guilty pleasure if it wasn’t for the depth in sound. That joined by eighth-note basslines and a buoyant rhythm section and listening to Asobi Seksu will more likely cause you to dance around than incessantly gaze at your shoes. Nearly everything about Citrus is gracious and transcendent that it can comfortably stand next to Loveless. We may be looking at a new shoegaze standard.

[New Years | Thursday | Red Sea]

Phoenix – It’s Never Been Like That (Astralwerks/EMI)

That song Bill Murray described over the phone to his wife in Lost in Translation, that great music he heard at that posh Japanese party that he had to find out what it was, that’s Phoenix’s “Too Young”. Prior to 2006, this French quartet has a few musical treasures like that song (see also: “If I Ever Feel Better”) but their singles have never translated into an LP success. With It’s Never Been Like That, the band lowers the alt-disco house volume that eluded them an album breakthrough. For more consistency, it’s replaced by a more Strokes-like American easy-rock style for this third album and they made a better Strokes album than the Strokes did this year. This isn’t a complete genre overhaul; hints of this have been bubbling randomly in their track collection. They just abandoned the French pop synths and euro-R&B drumbeat in favor of clean staccato guitars and relentless snare blasts, resulting in a more confident identity. The tracks aren’t lyrical marvels, but with vocalist Thomas Mars’ airy delivery sweeping off your feet, he could be singing the words to OMD’s “How Bizzare” and it’ll go unnoticed. The May release is timely; its breeziness is perfect for summer and this album will be “soundtracking” your own life, and you’ll be raving about this album rather than just that song.

[Consolation Prize | Long Distance Call | One Time Too Many]

Booka Shade – Movements (Get Physical)

After a long Friday at work, I was hastily walking from the train to my friend’s house (where I park my car for free), Suddenly, Movements started playing on the iPod and I find my steps subliminally trying to mimic its infectious rhythm. I find my cheeks elevating upon listening to its sonorous synths and intoxicating basslines. Even during a situation when I was extremely anxious to finally relax at a comfortable environment, I devised a longer path to my destination, giving myself a longer listen of this album. If a dance record can inject a second wave of enthusiasm and inspire unexplained movements from your tired body , you know that dance record is the shit. It’s irrelevant whether I’m Travolta-strutting down a sidewalk, popping purple pills in Berlin, or chilling in Ibiza (where Booka Shade toured alongside Mylo and Röyksopp); Movements equally suit all types of ambiance, mood, or speaker size. It equally emits warmth to all types of listeners; not warmth from a laptop, but warmth that feels human. Its range in style—techno-pop, microhouse, 80’s electo-funk, minimal—makes this album more than a regular thump-thump electronica record. This is dance music so perfect it can’t help but move you. How can you argue against your subconscious?

[Night Falls | Paper Moon | Darko]